Winter 2020 Skill Set Overview
What happens in your 20s when all of the structure in your life is swiftly whisked away? How can you design that structure back into your life in a way that supports you mentally, physically, financially, spiritually, intellectually? How can you build the life and the world you want? What does being an adult even mean? Skill Set’s Winter Retreat took on these questions and more as we tackled closing the learning gaps from our education up until the present and the skills that are necessary for young adulthood.
Winter 2020 Skill Set Workshops included:
Inhabiting a Body: Have you ever been curious, struggled, or felt confused about your relationship with your body? Have you ever felt frustrated or lost with all the messages sent to us about our bodies from the media, the medical field, our families, academia, our churches, or that random lady at the grocery store? Let’s talk about it! In this workshop we will explore movements such as Health At Every Size, Bodily Autonomy, and Body Liberation. We will learn and develop skills around how to create a more kind, curious, relaxed, and compassionate relationship with our bodies and how to build a life of nourishment and energy by way of food and connection.
Bend to Mend: Yoga has become a popular part of or culture, both as a fitness routine and as a health remedy. Many of us have heard our friends and family exclaim “Yoga changed my life!” Or, perhaps a doctor or therapist has looked at you with a sympathetic head nod and asked “Have you tried yoga?” when you tell them you’ve been feeling stressed, depressed, or anxious. Despite its popularity, many of us still have questions about yoga or feel intimidated by it. This is an opportunity to ask any question you may have about yoga, learn how to use it as healing tool for your mental health, and try out the physical practice, as well as practice meditation. In this workshop, we will:
The Wave: The Wave is an exercise in movement, vulnerability, and emotional release, and is fueled by the catharsis of shared experience. Led by Elena, it is one rendition of a guided meditation and movement workshop that had profound impacts on her teenage sense of self and how comfortable she felt in her body. Participants move to a carefully curated playlist that slowly builds in intensity, and falls after its peak. It requires no dance experience whatsoever (actually, those with less experience may be at a slight advantage!) and has consistently been a powerful and healing experience for participants of many ages
Personal Finance for Young People: This workshop will provide space to learn and share about personal finance, and participants are encouraged to share questions and experiences based on their level of comfort. One of the goals of this workshop is to encourage people to talk more openly about money with their friends, partners and families. We learn about IRAs, compound interest, long-term saving, basics of investing and how financial stress can have a negative impact on individuals and relationships. Social responsibility and ethics will also be an important part of our discussion.
Conversation About Relationships: Dialogue-based workshop focused on interpersonal relationships.
Martial Arts: Introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Self Offense: Workshop combining dialogue and movement focusing on personal safety.
Winter 2020 Skill Set Workshops included:
Inhabiting a Body: Have you ever been curious, struggled, or felt confused about your relationship with your body? Have you ever felt frustrated or lost with all the messages sent to us about our bodies from the media, the medical field, our families, academia, our churches, or that random lady at the grocery store? Let’s talk about it! In this workshop we will explore movements such as Health At Every Size, Bodily Autonomy, and Body Liberation. We will learn and develop skills around how to create a more kind, curious, relaxed, and compassionate relationship with our bodies and how to build a life of nourishment and energy by way of food and connection.
Bend to Mend: Yoga has become a popular part of or culture, both as a fitness routine and as a health remedy. Many of us have heard our friends and family exclaim “Yoga changed my life!” Or, perhaps a doctor or therapist has looked at you with a sympathetic head nod and asked “Have you tried yoga?” when you tell them you’ve been feeling stressed, depressed, or anxious. Despite its popularity, many of us still have questions about yoga or feel intimidated by it. This is an opportunity to ask any question you may have about yoga, learn how to use it as healing tool for your mental health, and try out the physical practice, as well as practice meditation. In this workshop, we will:
- Learn empowering, accessible, and evidence-based ways to integrate yoga into your life
- Discover a pathway to reconnect with your sense of self, using breath and movement
- Unpack how to participate in yoga while being mindful of it’s origins and potential appropriation
- Participate in guided meditation and a gentle, all-levels yoga practice (no previous experience required-accessible for all bodies and abilities- if you have a question or concern about your ability to participate, let us know!)
The Wave: The Wave is an exercise in movement, vulnerability, and emotional release, and is fueled by the catharsis of shared experience. Led by Elena, it is one rendition of a guided meditation and movement workshop that had profound impacts on her teenage sense of self and how comfortable she felt in her body. Participants move to a carefully curated playlist that slowly builds in intensity, and falls after its peak. It requires no dance experience whatsoever (actually, those with less experience may be at a slight advantage!) and has consistently been a powerful and healing experience for participants of many ages
Personal Finance for Young People: This workshop will provide space to learn and share about personal finance, and participants are encouraged to share questions and experiences based on their level of comfort. One of the goals of this workshop is to encourage people to talk more openly about money with their friends, partners and families. We learn about IRAs, compound interest, long-term saving, basics of investing and how financial stress can have a negative impact on individuals and relationships. Social responsibility and ethics will also be an important part of our discussion.
Conversation About Relationships: Dialogue-based workshop focused on interpersonal relationships.
Martial Arts: Introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Self Offense: Workshop combining dialogue and movement focusing on personal safety.
