Envision your body as a living landscape:
Your fascia, a connective web of mycelium,
Your arteries and veins, flowing rivers of life.
Your gut microbiome, an abundant orchard.
Your neural pathways, a collection of star constellations in the sky.
Your muscle fibres, cross patterning bark along a tree trunk.
You hold within you a utopia. An ever-evolving ecosystem.
A reminder of inherent interconnectedness with the more-than-human world.

A movement workshop exploring eco-somatics and our Inner Utopia. Drawing on the principles of eco-Somatics and inspired by Joanna Macy’s work.Through embodied movement practices, breathing exercises, visualisation techniques, and attuning to our senses, you will be gently guided through a 75-minute practice, exploring how the earth’s elements—earth, wind, fire, and water—reside both within and around us.

Under the theme of utopia, "The Verdant Body" workshop envisions a harmonious integration of our bodies with the more-than-human world. It reminds us that we are living microorganisms within the broader natural ecosystem. By rekindling our connection to these primordial energies, we can cultivate an internal utopia, a sanctuary of balance and peace, where our bodies thrive in harmony with the natural world.

In a world driven by the relentless dystopia of capitalism, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the pressures of societal and self-imposed expectations. We often find ourselves severed from the immediate sensations of our bodies. The body as a machine, to be used and controlled, rather than something that is to be nurtured, and listened to. This immersive movement experience will nurture a sense of co-regulation between your inner landscape and the verdant tapestry of life surrounding.  This workshop invite you to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the grounding elements of nature. We invite you to deeply listen to your body’s natural rhythms and curiosities. To remind ourselves we ARE nature. That we can connect to a utopia that already exists within our verdant body.

Jodi

Jodi has been working in the movement industry in Melbourne for over six years  teaching at some of the city’s most recognised Pilates studios. Her passion and dedication to the art and science of movement for total body health have earned her a dedicated student following.

More recently, Jodi has been studying and applying the teachings of somatics and the influence that movement has on our mind-body connection. Adding to her arsenal of experience, Jodi also has knowledge and interest in injury rehab and prevention.

All of Jodi’s offerings are trauma-informed, taking into consideration the way past trauma may manifest in our bodies physically.  Jodi’s essence is one of compassionate vitality – she provides a nurturing space where you will feel completely supported during your movement exploration.

Albee

Albee, the director and co-founder of Green Monday Studios (formerly Mangal Studios), has been dancing since she was four years old. Movement has always been her chosen form of communication, serving as a source o regulation, inquiry, and self-expression. Her business, Conscious Practice, extends from these foundational beliefs.

Albee's journey spans diverse disciplines, including Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga, Trauma-Informed Facilitation, Chair Yoga, Embodied Yin, Meditation, Mantra/Chanting, Somatic Wisdom, BMC Technique, Dance Therapy, Yogic and Non-Dual Philosophy, Poetry, Mangala Creative Dance, Improvisation, and Performance Art. 

Spiritual discourse is a core component of Albee’s classes, reflecting her commitment to the traditional teachings of yoga. She aims to teach through a de-colonial and liberatory lens, acknowledging the lineages and cultural roots of yoga. Albee also engages in politics and social justice, often discussing these perspectives from a philosophical lens in her sessions.