Cuddles & Consent Playshop

A community playshop on platonic touch + personal agency! Consent is creative - practice saying NO, hone into your YES, + use your VOICE
About this Event
Get Closer. Feel Safer.

Can you imagine a world where nobody feared a violation of their boundaries? Where everyone felt safe in their bodies and confident in asking for what they want? It's possible, and it starts with practice, education, and empathy!

Consent and Cuddles is a community playshop experience designed for adults age 18+.

It's time to get closer and feel safer together.

Asking for what you want isn't always easy.

Do you find yourself saying yes to things you don't really want?

Don't worry - being brave and living authentically is a skill you can learn, just like anything else!

Join us in a queer-centered, trauma-informed environment where we'll talk about, role play, and practice these essential life skills.

“I came for the cuddles. I left with a foundation upon which to build healthier, happier & more fulfilling relationships.”
These interactive, intentional exercises will explore skills that build relational intelligence + positive, reciprocal relationships.

Here's what you can expect:
🌈 Collaboration in consent
🌟 Exploring power and privilege
💡 Understanding trauma responses
🧘‍♀️ Techniques for self-soothing
⚠️ Recognizing manipulation and coercion
🔄 Learning how to repair when we mess up
🔥 Directly asking for what you desire
💬 Sensing into the edges of desire
🙅‍♀️ Remembering that 'No' is a complete sentence
💭 Changing your mind is okay

Dismantle the culture of coercion that we've been conditioned to expect by creating safety, fun, and ease!
DEPROGRAM your people-pleasing + conflict avoidance.

Cuddle workshops offer more than just a feel-good experience. They create a safely boundaried space to:
🤝 Connect with others
👐 Give and receive quality non-sexual touch
🔍 Discover and let go of hidden agendas around physical contact
🌱 Playfully explore your boundaries and challenges around touch
🛠️ Gain tools for getting more satisfactory touch in your life
💪 Learn how to say no (and yes) powerfully and comfortably
😊 Experience the joy and deep relaxation of close physical contact

Come join us and embark on this journey of self-discovery and empowerment. It's time to embrace your personal agency and cultivate positive, reciprocal relationships. Don't miss out on this transformative experience!

RSVP now and secure your spot at Consent and Cuddles!

Let's make consent creative and cuddles consensual. 💖

Testimonials

"I came to this class not knowing what to expect. I signed up because I’m generally comfortable experiencing new things. This class stretched me in great ways!

In the past I’ve had difficulty asking for what I want — + frankly even understanding what I want. Is this something I actually want or is it something others have conditioned me to want? This class was amazingly helpful to me.

I was able to experience the feeling of saying Yes + saying No in a context that was completely safe. Its clear I’m at the beginning of my journey but I do plan on going back!

I’d suggest this class to anyone looking to create a safe place for themselves and others and looking for connection after COVID. I hope to attend next time + participate more!" - H.K.

“Learning to tune into my desire & express what I truly want. Practicing facing rejection and sitting with the uncomfortable feelings that arise. Reframing rejection as healthy boundary setting. Experiencing the joy and exhiliration of receiving a YES. Learning to check-in and make adjustments throughout. Getting into the nuances of it all and safely experimenting. Much needed platonic physical, mental and emotional connection. These are some of my many takeaways from Lior’s thoughtful, carefully designed Cuddles and Consent workshop. I aim to apply these lessons to all my relationships."

"Lior! The cuddle workshop was fantastic. Thanks so much for your work. Your playful energy + clear instruction made it a safe place to be brave + ask for what I wanted.

I got to know myself better because of my experience. It has been great for my understanding + communication about what kinds of relationships I want." Elisha C.

Community Agreements
We are each responsible for our own energy. To create a brave space, we agree to follow these boundaries:

1. Listen with curiosity + speak from experience using "I" statements + making space for those who talk less often.
2. Maintain confidentiality, what happens in circle stays in circle.
3. Show up! Respect everyone's experience by arriving to class 5 min early set up rather than interrupting the experience with late arrivals. Doors close 10 min after class starts. No late entries or early departures, it interrupts the experience for everyone.
4. Honor your limits! Be honest about your capabilities. Your needs are not an inconvenience. You are autonomous over your experience. Advocate for yourself, what you want + what you enjoy! You can sit out on any part of the workshop that makes you feel uncomfortable.
5. You may feel 𝕤*𝕩𝕦𝕒𝕝 energy awaken within your body, that is welcome + OK! However, we don't act on our arousal, or subject others to non-consenting involvement in our arousal experience.
6. Unplug! This is a lucid + tech-free event. Leave your phone OFF and IN YOUR CAR, do not bring it into the studio.
7. Arrive sober with no substances on your person.
8. Clothing: Wear your comfiest layers! Undergarments must remain on and no hands are permitted beneath layers. Think PJ party style!
9. Safety is a great concern for our group. We make every effort to create a safe and boundaried environment in which to explore physical contact. Many of the members in our group are attending for healing purposes, some to heal from some form of past physical abuse. With this in mind, please do not make contact via this group with anyone you have not met. Contacting people you don't know may undermine that feeling of safety and may scare off those who would otherwise benefit.

If you have been contacted by somebody you do not know and you feel uncomfortable about it please do not respond to them and instead get in touch with me.
Thank you for Co-Creating Consent!


Consent workshops play a crucial role in promoting a culture of respect, understanding, and empowerment.

Key Benefits:

1. Clarifying Consent: Consent workshops help individuals understand the concept of consent comprehensively. Participants learn that consent is an active, ongoing process that involves clear communication, mutual agreement, and respect for boundaries. Workshops provide clarity on what constitutes consent and what behaviors are considered non-consensual.
2. Preventing Sexual Violence: By educating participants about consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships, workshops help prevent sexual violence and harassment. Participants learn about the importance of respecting personal boundaries and recognizing signs of coercion or manipulation. This knowledge empowers individuals to intervene in situations where consent is violated and to support survivors of sexual violence.
3. Empowering Individuals: Consent workshops empower individuals to assert their boundaries confidently and to advocate for their rights. Participants learn how to communicate their desires, preferences, and limits effectively, both in intimate relationships and in other social interactions. This empowerment helps individuals develop a stronger sense of self-esteem and agency.
4. Fostering Respectful Relationships: Consent workshops promote the development of respectful, consensual relationships based on communication, trust, and mutual understanding. Participants learn how to navigate consent in various contexts, including friendships, romantic partnerships, and professional relationships. By fostering respect for others' autonomy and boundaries, workshops contribute to healthier and more positive social interactions.
5. Challenging Harmful Norms: Consent workshops challenge harmful societal norms and attitudes related to gender, power, and sexuality. Participants explore how these norms contribute to a culture of coercion, victim-blaming, and inequality. By raising awareness of these issues, workshops encourage critical reflection and promote social change toward a more equitable and inclusive society.
6. Promoting Inclusivity: Consent workshops recognize that consent is not only relevant to sexual interactions but also applies to various aspects of human interaction, including touch, communication, and decision-making. Workshops address the importance of respecting diverse identities, experiences, and cultural norms in discussions of consent. This promotes inclusivity and ensures that everyone's perspectives and boundaries are valued and respected.
7. Building Community Accountability: Consent workshops encourage community members to take collective responsibility for creating safe, respectful environments. Participants learn how to intervene as active bystanders when they witness behaviors that may violate consent or perpetuate harm. By fostering a culture of accountability, workshops contribute to the prevention of harm and the promotion of collective well-being.

Overall, consent workshops play a vital role in promoting consent, respect, and safety in various social contexts. By providing education, empowerment, and community-building opportunities, these workshops contribute to the creation of a more equitable and inclusive society.

Meet Your Instructor

A certified cuddlist, Usui Reiki Master, and Yogi, Lior Allay is a holistic healer with comprehensive training blending a spectrum of ancient yoga traditions with modern trauma-informed somatics, dance, + the latest data science for a flexible approach to self-discovery that is accessible for people from all walks of life.

They specialize in creating body-positive experiences for healing shame + unlocking human potential. They believe in the transformative power of nudity to find peace in our bodies & build intentional community through moments of genuine connection.

Exercises in this playshop are primarily based on Betty Martin's Wheel of Consent framework and Creating Consent Culture by Marcia Baczynski + Erica Scott

Come experience the magic for yourself!


Pricing Accessability

Being honest with yourself and your financial situation grows strong and sustainable communities based in equity and justice. It also respects the work of creators like myself who have families to support + rent to pay. When I am paid fairly, I am able to invest more time/ resources to free/lower cost offerings.

If you cannot afford a full price ticket, please reach out to me at [email protected] with your name, pronouns, and the price that would be accessible to request a discount code or a free volunteer ticket. These are HIGHLY LIMITED as our studio space is capped at 30.
This is a change from our previous sliding scale pricing to support the intentional scaling of my curriculum. My intention is to resume full time dedication to my mission so that I can scale our community and its offerings. Your support is what makes that possible.