The Theme for the month is simplification for our liver health and integrity for wood element support.

Our livers, detoxification systems, immune systems, and nervous systems have A LOT to process. Most of us are consuming all day long; food, drink, supplements, medications, information, media, opinions, entertainment, and more. Stimulation in all it’s forms has to be processed and integrated into our lives and bodies. Most of our bodies are overwhelmed yet our brains are addicted to complexity and stimulation. Even when it causes chronic stress, anxiety, disregulation, and disconnection from our innate inner knowing of what is healthy and enough for us. It’s hard to unwind from that and I’d like to support a small group of people to do this, or at least turn in this direction of simplification and integrity.

I’ve been offering ongoing weekly practice classes (somatic meditation and movement) based on the 5 Elements in Chinese Medicine. Spring is Wood Element and the associated organs are the Liver and Gallbladder. Wood Element has a lot to do with our mind, intelligence, the clarity with which we think, and our central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord.

This cleanse will not involve juicing or fasting or adding in detox supplements or herbs. Fasting, unless you are sick or have a strong spiritual purpose for doing it, is too stressful for most people. The 4 weeks will include a 1 hr support group and a 90 min practice class on each Sunday afternoon with an hour break in between. You will receive homework for the week and then we will check in about how it’s going each week in the following group.

How much time is required?

2.5 hours on 4 Sunday afternoons + around 30 mins daily for practices.

On the whole we will be simplifying, which means you should have more time, not less.

Do I have to attend all sessions to participate? Will there be recordings available?

No and no.

You do not have to attend all the sessions. You are welcome to participate as you wish. However, sessions will not be recorded, and I will not be providing any handouts. You will need to show up and take notes to get the full benefit. I will show up and be your accountability buddy but you’ve got to do the work.

What will the support group be like?

This is time for sharing and check-in’s about how it’s going and for me to impart some recommendations as a focus for the week.

What will the Practice Class be like?

I will guide you through a series of practices intended to move stagnation in the body as well as nourish, calm, and ground you. The intention is fundamentally to be in somatic awareness and practicing presence for the duration of class. I am inspired by many traditions and methods for these classes: qigong, nei gong, stretching, self-massage, body-mind centering, feldenkris, and more. These practice classes are usually experienced by participants as very relaxing. You are always invited to modify things to your comfort level or follow your body in another direction. If you have complex trauma and do not feel safe being “inside” your body for extended periods of time these classes are not appropriate for you. Please seek a Somatic Experiencing or Trauma informed therapist to support you. I don’t have capacity to do this, especially over zoom, and it’s not my area of expertise. I am a deep practitioner of meditation so things are always heading in that direction in my classes even if we are not actually sitting still for very long. Although there is more movement than stillness these sessions are best suited for practitioners of meditation or people who would enjoy receiving support cultivating a practice.

Practice classes are open to everyone, you do not need to be joining the spring liver cleanse support group to join the weekly movement class. Here is a link to register for Zoom participation. For in person please RSVP via text or email and I will get you the location if there is space.

Why I offer by donation / dana?

Dana is a buddhist term that means generosity. I like making support available to more people and trusting the flow of life serving life. Also, offering things by donation helps me loosen expectations and experiment. I am offering to share my practice and experience with you if it supports your practice and integrity. Donate based on how helpful the experience actually was to you. This feels like real value. If it was valuable give what you can afford, if it wasn’t just give me the feedback as to why (feedback either way is helpful, thank you!). For this reason I prefer you send Dana at the end of the weekly sessions, or at the end of the series, that way your contribution can reflect actual value of what benefit you received + the reality of your budget.

How to register?

Contact me with your email and I will send you a zoom registration link when it’s ready.

malijarvislmt@gmail.com / 541-633-3456