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Navigating Intimacy – A Two Day Exploration into Boundaries & Desires

Name: Navigating Intimacy – A Two Day Exploration into Boundaries & Desires
Start: 2024-07-06T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2024-07-07T18:00:00+02:00
Location: Amsterdam Weesperzijde – see email

July 6 @ 10:00 - July 7 @ 18:00 CEST

Sold out for three years in a row – we’re back!

Tune in to your Navigation System for a happy, healthy, human life where you feel empowered and in charge of your intimate experiences – with TEDx Speaker Wilrieke Sophia.

Most of us have learned to ignore our boundaries and desires. And this is problematic. By not knowing what it is that we want, we turn to the next best thing: we do what others want. Or what we think others want. Or what we think society wants.

Making choices in this way is very often not fulfilling. On the contrary: we might cross our boundaries, or even traumatize ourselves.

Especially in the realms of intimacy, there’s a lot to gain.

What happens inside you, when you meet someone you really like and want to connect with?

Can you decide for yourself what speed you want things to move? Can you tell them exactly how you do and don’t want to be touched? Do you feel confident about what you would like to explore with them?

Or, perhaps, do you feel insecure? Are you an ‘all-or-nothing’ intimacy type, where once you say yes to someone, it’s hard to say no to certain things (because you said yes to connecting, right)? Do you always find yourself being attracted to the ‘wrong’ types who leave you feeling used and empty?

Our Inner Navigation System

We all have an inner compass that tells us exactly what we want and don’t want: our Inner Navigation System. Your built-in GPS.

Tuning in to our Navigation System will connect us to what we want and need. It can help us to navigate life in a way that is nourishing, empowering, and fulfilling.

This is an incomplete list of benefits of a strong connection to your Navigation System:

no longer depending on others to make your choice
being able to say ‘no’ to things you don’t want
being able to say full-hearted ‘YES’ to the things you do want
clarity on where negotiation/compromise is possible, and what your hard limits are
feeling empowered in intimate situations
having access to a broader spectrum of options of connection than sex/no sex
increased self-confidence

We can learn to contact this Navigation System

When we let go of the conditioning that we carry in our nervous system, and rewire ourselves, we can change the way we interact with others.

When we slow down and start listening, we can sensitize our connection to our Navigation System. And once we know how it works, we can always go back.

And not just in the bedroom!

Intimacy is an amazing playground to explore our Navigation System. But strengthening my connection with my inner Navigation System has also helped me make confident decisions around running my business, parenting my kids, establishing boundaries towards friends, stopping online bullies, flirting with new people, and feeling confident when I find myself in parties where I don’t know anyone.

Navigating Intimacy is a playground in which, for two days, you will learn how your Navigation System communicates with you in your unique way. You will learn about your boundaries and desires, and practice in a playful way.

Some of the things that we’ll explore:

the difference between a real ‘yes’ and a conditioned ‘yes’;
the power of saying ‘no’ and how it doesn’t have to end an interaction, but rather navigate it;
all the ways in which you consciously or unconsciously try to manipulate others into your hidden desires;
touching and being touched for your pleasure;
getting a Ph.D. in asking for what you want;
a conscious laboratory to practice and strengthen your skills.

The workshop consists of practical exercises, reflection, sharing, and a guided space to practice. You’ll work alone, in pairs, and in other group constellations.

For who is this event?

No prior experience in any bodywork, personal growth workshop or otherwise is needed. This workshop is in no way a replacement for therapeutic care. Participation is not recommended for people with severe unprocessed trauma or diagnoses.

This workshop will contain touch and may contain (partial) nudity. This will always be a personal choice and is never necessary for full participation in the workshop. There will be no sexual interaction of any kind.

We welcome people of all genders, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds and otherwise. This workshop is suited for singles, couples, and people in other relationship constellations.

We welcome folks with disabilities. We can adapt exercises so that they fit you. Where we can we will support you. If you have a person/animal that supports you in daily activities that you need to bring for your care, they can of course come with you without buying a ticket. Please reach out if you have special needs, and we will discuss how we can support you. In case we cannot comfort your needs, we will honestly let you know.

This event is for you if:

you are curious about how you operate
you are willing to dive into a weekend that is intense but may change your life forever
you want to feel more secure about yourself and learn how to step up for yourself

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This event is NOT for you if:

you are not willing to accept another person’s ‘no’
we actively stand for inclusion. This means that in the event no racism, discrimination, misogyny, ableism, or shaming of bodies, sexualities, gender etc are tolerated. If this is something you cannot commit to, this is not your community.
we accept all political viewpoints and personal opinions, but we also actively stand against the spread of misinformation and disinformation. If you are looking for places to share your viewpoints on vaccine shedding, this is not your community.
we MAY ask for a covid quick test, or another way to minimise the risk of spreading covid at this event. If this is principally against your values, you may want to reconsider signing up.

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SOME PRACTICAL INFORMATION
In the week before the event, you will receive an email with detailed information for this day including the address and what to bring. Make sure you sign up with the email address that you use. Check your spam filter if you did not receive an email seven days before the event (if you have unsubscribed from our newsletter, these emails cannot reach you!).

On this page, you find elaborate information about our events, and many frequently asked questions >>> https://www.exploringdeeper.com/FAQ

This is a page that speaks more explicitly about rules of conduct during our workshops >>>

Rules of Conduct

Timings:
Saturday: 10.00h – 18.00h (doors open at 9.30h)
Sunday: 11.00h – 18.00h

ACCESSIBILITY

This workshop space is called De Ruimte – we are in the room DOWNSTAIRS. The specific venue for this weekend is located on the ground floor of a building. There is a height difference to enter the venue through the front door that may cause problems for wheelchairs. There is a backdoor without height differences. There is a bathroom that is not a specific all-access bathroom, but that is fairly spacious and private. There are stairs to reach the kitchen area. There are mattresses and you can lie down as much as you can.

There is a small fridge. There are no cooking/heating facilities. There are (shared) showers.

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If you are curious about our Guidelines for Team Members, feel free to check the full document out here: https://www.exploringdeeper.com/ethics

For all events, Exploring Deeper’s Terms and Conditions apply: https://www.exploringdeeper.com/terms-and-conditions/.

To stay updated about workshops, and events and to read Wilrieke’s blog (with hundreds of articles and videos about topics like non-monogamy, sexuality, and dealing with insecurities), check www.exploringdeeper.com and sign up for our newsletter!