Summer Connection: Queer Partner Yoga & Ecstatic Dance

Join us for a nourishing morning of queer community, movement and play. After an introduction and chat around consent, we will go into pairs to explore partner breathwork and yoga practices. You'll have the space to move at your pace and although we will be offering the choice of touch, we really encourage you to communicate with your partner to find the best options for you both. After a short tea break, we'll open the space for free movement and ecstatic dance. This will be a real invitation to let your body guide you, to move freely and express however you need to be in that moment. That could be in stillness or expansive movement. We will guide you with music through a rise and fall of rhythm, energy and exploration. You can take breaks, or step out at any point you need throughout the morning. We will close the workshop with some time to come together and share if folks wish to.

This workshop is run through Queer Yoga Edinburgh and is open to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. There will be up to 14 people taking part in the workshop and it will be guided by Jordan (they/he) and Megan (she/they). You can come on your own or with a partner / friend. We prioritise safety, respect and care in this environment. This is a zero-tolerance space for transphobia, homophobia, racism, ableism, body shaming, or any other discriminatory or harmful behaviour.

9:50 - 10:05 Arrival and Landing in the Space

10:05 - 10:15 Welcome and Consent Conversation

10:15 - 11:30 Partner Breathwork & Yoga

11:30 - 11:45 Break

11:45 - 12:45 Ecstatic Dance

12:45 - 13:00 Closing Circle

We offer tiered ticket options to help make our classes and workshops as financially accessible as possible. Please pay what you are able - something that isn’t an overstretch for you, but that helps keep our sliding scale sustainable so we can continue offering these type of events.

Here’s a guide to help you choose:

• Low income ticket: Please choose this if you are on a low income or receiving financial support (e.g. universal credit, disability benefits or similar)
• General admission ticket: Please choose this if you can comfortably meet your basic needs (e.g. rent, bills, food) and have some expendable income.
• Pay it forward ticket: Please choose this if you can comfortably meet your needs and would like to help cover the cost for someone who otherwise couldn’t attend.

Your donation supports our community facilitators and helps cover venue hire so we can continue offering these inclusive spaces.

Refunds are eligible up to 24 hours before the event start time - we will struggle to fill your space with short notice. If you are unable to make it within this time, and are willing to offer your ticket to someone else please feel free to email us or share on our Whatsapp Community.

Blocks, mats, blankets, bolsters and chairs will be provided. We suggest you wear comfy clothes you can freely move in (joggers, shorts, T-shirts etc). The studio will likely warm up as we are dancing so layers are a good idea. You are welcome to bring a water bottle and journal if you'd like, plus anything else to make you more comfortable (snacks, extra cushion, fidget toys etc). There is a kitchen if you want tea or water refills.

The workshop will be held in the upstairs studio of the Salisbury Centre at 2 Salisbury Road. There are bus links 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 14, 29, 30, 31, 33, 37, 47, 49, 51 close to the building (5 mins walk). There is some paid on street parking around the studio on Blacket Avenue. Please aim to arrive 5-10 minutes before the workshop starts.

The studio is situated on the first floor up stairs with a handrail on the right side, going up. There is a chair lift on the other side, please do let us know in advance if you will need to use the lift as we need to inform the centre and complete a PEEP form. If you have difficulty getting up and down from the floor unaided please just let us know and we can provide a chair for you and your partner.

There are all gender toilets available throughout the building on the ground floor and one wheelchair accessible toilet.

When arriving at the building, we will aim to be at the door to welcome you in, but if not, the front door will be locked so please press the doorbell for the studio and someone will welcome you in and direct you to the space.

There is a large window at the front of the studio looking into the garden. The studio will be naturally lit. There is a road at the back of the studio so there could be some traffic noise and there are other people that use the building so you may hear doors closing etc. We will play some softer music during the partner yoga and during the dancing the music might get quite loud at times. This workshop will include the option to explore physical touch, but absolutely nothing is expected of you and there will be options for partner yoga without touch. During dancing you may chose to dance alone or with others - we stress the importance of consent and respecting your own and each others boundaries. There will be a quiet space for folks to sit out and the option to leave the room for breaks at any time.

If you have any questions at all, please get in touch. Hope to see you there!

www.queeryogaedinburgh.co.uk

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