August 17th, 2024
Temple of Joy
Are you feeling disconnected? Do you struggle to get out of your head? Are you feeling blocked?
Join me in a sensory experience that invites you to play, create, dream and rest.
Temple of a Joy is a sensory workshop that invites you to play, create, dream and rest.
In our space, you will be guided through sensory play, collage-zine-making, somatic movement, and gentle meditation.
We will be centring questions such as:
“What does a temple of joy taste like?”, “What sounds of worship echo in our temples of joy?”
“What are the textures of joy?”,“What are the shapes of joy?”
We will open the workshop with a joyful meditation, then be guided to explore textures, materials, and images through collage-zine-making, then you will co-create your temple of joy in small groups. We will close by embodying the shapes of joy in our bodies, and sharing our reflections into the shape.
If you want to express yourself more authentically, connect to your intuition, let go of perfectionism, come home to your inner child, and are hungry for nourishing vibes …
This is for you, mate!
What’s included?
🌀Guided somatic movement led by Poonam
💗An intimate sharing space to listen and reflect
☁️ A nourishing space to reimagine, explore and play
✂️ Juicy materials and delicious textures to collage
🍏 Herbal teas & fruit to keep you nourished
✨ A goodie bag of textures to take home with you
In our sensory experience, you will:
Learn through play and co-create in small groups
Explore the mystery of textures, imagery and materials through collaging
Move your body in your own way, exploring the rhythms and sounds of global cultures - joyful and free of judgements!
Slow down and connect the present moment
Connect with other warm, kind, supportive folks
Experience details
Date + times
🗓️ Saturday 17th August, 2024
🕗 1:30pm - 6:00pm
Flow of the experience:
1:30pm - 1:45pm: Arrivals
1:45pm - 2:00pm: Welcome + group introductions
2:00pm - 2:15pm: Joyful meditation practice
2:15pm - 3:45pm: Collage-zine-making
3:45pm- 4:00pm: Tea break
4:00pm - 5:00pm: Build temples of joy in small groups
5:00pm - 5:30pm: Somatic movement + closing
6:00pm: Goodbyes
*Please note the flow of the experience, may be subject to change. I hold the spaces intuitively, and will invite you to also feel into what you need.
Where: 📍Chocolate Studios, Old Street,
Studio is 48 Chocolate Studios, 7 Shepherdess Place, N1 7LJ.
Nearest tube station: Old Street, Liverpool Street
Overground station: Shoreditch High Street
See FAQ for further travel details.
If you’re coming on your own, rest assured you’ll be surrounded by warm and welcoming vibes.
Warm words from past attendees & clients
“I left the experience with a big ball of warmth with me - lots of excitement, curiosity and feeling held.”
“I left the retreat with new memories, gratitude, motivation to seek out new ways to develop creative practice in my own home space.”
— Workshop participants
“Being held in Poonam's presence felt like such a blessing. She offers a steady field that allowed my body and being to soak up the unconditional love and support I was so needing at a challenging time of self-doubt and confusion. Through observing my body through textures, I discovered the wisdom in my own art. The qualities of my painting are changing, the light is getting brighter and I'm seeing less of the darkness.”
- Painter
“Poonam held a nurturing creative workshop with warmth and generosity. Our members felt safe enough to share questions with a level of honesty and depth that I had not seen before in this programme. Our members left the workshop with practical exercises for grounding, setting boundaries and self-exploration; and left feeling courageous and motivated.”
— Metal Arts
“The zine-making and stitching which felt very therapeutic. You held the space to create without judgement - I am so grateful to have experienced this rare space.”
“The arts and crafts - the stitching really took me back to learning as a child with my nani. I also realised I didn't need it to be 'perfect.' I found the workshop so deeply meditative.”
— Workshop participants
“Poonam facilitates her workshops with care, intent, and grace. Her warm, and grounding presence warm supported the participants to feel in safe hands. They were able to spend some creative time reflecting on themselves and their practise, which opened the doors for some rich conversations in the afternoon.”
- The Barbican
“Poonam’s sun-like energy supported me through the process. Her capacity to hold what is and value it and see it for its richness is healing to experience in itself. I felt a deep sense of being seen and validated in my existence. Being seen as a poet and an artist without needing to justify anything, too.”
— Poet + Artist
FAQs
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- Nearest tube is OLD STREET (Northern Line)
- When you come off the tube at Old Street take EXIT 4, following signs for Moorfield eye hospital & City road.
- Once out of the tube, walk up City road past with Starbucks (on your left) continue round the small bend in the road, once you have walked passed Moorfields hospital on the left, continue a little further on and you will see Itsu and then Nandos over on the right hand side of the road.
- Cross over at the lights just after Nandos (so you are now on the same side as Nandos). On the corner you will see Shepherdess Café, take the first right around the café onto Shepherdess Walk and immediately turn right onto Shepherdess Place before the Eagle pub
- It is a long cobbled street past the police gates and continue towards flats and black iron gate. You will see a wooden sign saying chocolate studios.
- Use the small black panel to enter code : 4175.
- Studio complex entrance (just under the grey stairs on the left as you come through the gate) - follow the signs for the event.
- The full address of the studio is 48 Chocolate Studios, 7 Shepherdess Place, N1 7LJ.
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Wear something loose and comfortable that you can move around in and sit on the mat with. Bring socks, a light jumper or shawl incase you feel chilly.
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Yes, we will be providing herbal teas and fruit. Please note, we cannot cater for any dietary requirements. You are also welcome to bring vegetarian/vegan snacks. Please respect the space rules and leave oily snacks or or food at home.
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Yes! You don’t need any experience dance, movement or creativity. We just ask you to be willing to be open and curious to see what emerges from our experience together.
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Register by Friday 5th July to receive our early bird discount! Registration opens Friday 28th June 2024, and closes Friday 5th July 2024.
General tickets are £65, and will be available when early bird tickets are sold out.
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Yes, we will be providing yoga mats
Gentle notes on our experience together:
Connecting to our bodies and breath can sometimes surface feelings, and emotions. You may realise this type of grounding isn’t supportive for your needs. Please listen to what you need and pay attention to what feels good and safe in your body.
Trust your pacing and feel into your capacity. You do not have to engage in any movements or reflections, you are welcome to sit or lay down and soften in silence.
Letting go of fixing and striving for perfection: Imagine that nobody in the room needs fixing, including yourself.
Kindness: Be kind to yourself, others, and our spaces.
Honour the sacred: Some sensations, experiences and feelings can’t be spoken or shared. Savour those precious moments and let them rest within you.
Slow down: Attune to what is happening within you, breathe and pause. Feel the vibe of the space, sensations within your body, the rhythm of your breath
Self-focus: Share your own thoughts, feelings, observations, and experiences. Don’t speak for others or assume the experience of others.
Easy does it: Try not to pack too much into the rest of your evening. Allow spaciousness as the evening unwinds.
We do not tolerate any BS behaviour. We have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination, period. We welcome all bodies of culture and respect the diverse lived experience, nuances, and backgrounds of our community. There is no space for "-ists", "-isms", or "-phobias." We reserve the right to remove anyone from our space if they are causing harm in the space.
🌸Disclaimer
Poonam leads these workshops as a somatic coach and creative facilitator. Our retreat does not offer 1-2-1 support, address trauma or mental health challenges. This workshop is not a form of therapy or counselling. This retreat will involve invitations to engage in holistic practices, which often will include somatic movement mindfulness exercises,
These practices are optional and offered with the intention to increase self-awareness, cultivate self-love, and reconnect you to yourself and your community.
Our work is always an invitation. Please note that these activities (in the same way as speech) are always optional and remember to only ever do/ share what is comfortable for you.
💌 Contact details
If you have any questions or thoughts, email me on
