Self-Care Serenade | April

What is a self-care serenade?

Imagine a cozy, intimate, artsy space filled with live, improvised, meditative music. Your favorite books and self-care supplies are spread around you. You've brought a fluffy pillow and blanket and are finally taking the time to prioritize yourself how we so often are pressured away from doing.

There's a cozy group spread around the room also quietly napping, doing yoga, reading, making art, meditating, and journaling. You've started the evening with a moment to share with each other as much and as little as you each wanted to mention about life, and you're feeling seen. You're not alone in the pressures and injustices of the world, and this room is full of people committed to protecting your right to rest. And you're so grateful they've made this time for themselves too.

Now soft, live music is playing and this time is yours. The whole priority of this event is to have a supported chance to custom-craft a self-care practice that's exactly what your body needs, and exactly what your heart needs too. An hour is set aside ahead of you for being serenaded by improvised harp music without commitments or distractions, with full permission to make this time whatever you need. The music and community and soft lighting all saying "We celebrate you choosing to care for yourself!"

Ideas of what to bring: (Please take these as inspiration and bring your own favorite supplies for self-care!)

• Coziness & Nesting Supplies - ideas include yoga mats, blankets, pillows, & scrumptious clothing (the space has wooden floors so cozy up accordingly)

• Sensory & Wellness Supplies - ideas include water or tea, low-noise snacks, gentle essential oils, eye covers, soothing facemasks, & sensory fidgets

• Creativity & Self-Expression Supplies - ideas include journals, canvas & paints, origami paper, & fiber-art supplies

• Exploration & Curiosity Supplies - ideas include cozy books, oracle card decks, grounding poetry, & inspiring photographs

• Abundance & Gifts to Share - there is always a community gifting space present for anyone who feels like offering and receiving free clothing, items, art, food, and other forms of abundance in a spirit of sharing & collective care

The Self-Care Serenade story

Hi! I'm Alex Bernat (my pronouns are they & she), and I'm a local, trans, white, creative activist, healer, writer, educator, and harpist. 16 years ago, I faced an intense health journey that meant I spent over 6 months in Children's Hospital in Aurora. I had recently started playing harp, and my teacher Margot Krimmel happened to have a small extra instrument she lent to me while I healed.

That little harp was one of the most profound tools I had for caring for myself during that time in the hospital. It was a soothing link back to my body, my joy, my choice to keep healing. And it didn't just help me: soon some of the doctors and nurses began to stop by to sit and listen for a minute when they were having a hard day. What was initially a self-care tool also started to help a number of other patients as well, some in very transformative ways.

Soon after getting home from the hospital, I started searching for ways to continue using my music to be of service. I was incredibly privileged as a teen to receive some transformative training and mentorship through the International Harp Therapy Program before entering the field of youth mental health, bringing my harp into residential treatment settings. Eventually I also started playing harp for health clinics, nursing facilities, hospice, hospitals, yoga classes, and all sorts of healing spaces.

This whole time, my joy has been to improvise music that's custom-made for the needs of a particular moment. And as I've learned, I've found that my favorite experiences are when community members get to come together with well-being as the highest priority while I play this music.

Self-Care Serenades bring together everything I've learned across my journey of my own healing and as a healing practitioner and activist. It's a joy to share my own journey of healing as a way of supporting a healing experience for others, and I can't express how thankful I am to be able to hold this space. Thank you for being part of this story and supporting me being of service!

Learn more about my work, art, and events at https://linktr.ee/alexbernat

About the host: The New Local in Boulder, CO

I am beyond grateful for the support and collaboration of The New Local in making these events possible by sharing their amazing space!

The New Local Nonprofit (TNL) champions local artists while fostering inclusive, innovative arts programming for the broader community. Artist Founded, Women Led, Community Driven.

Accessibility and contact info:

Accessibility and equity are central priorities of this event. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions and requests.

In a commitment to financial accessibility, tickets are available with a "pay what feels joyful" model. Paid tickets and generous community support make this accessibility possible. For those of us who can easily access and afford this event, selecting a meaningful amount that feels both satisfying and safe to pay supports the whole community in being able to come together for restoration. If you are experiencing economic hardship, coming for free or for a smaller amount may be the most joyful option. Please trust and prioritize yourself and I can't wait to have you join us!

If you or your organization are interested in hiring me to facilitate serenades for your staff & volunteers, hosting as an additional venue, or if you have the capacity to formally partner to sponsor the continued accessibility of these and other events, please be in touch as well!

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Host or Publisher Alex Bernat