The Science of Love: Nervous System Regulation for Intimate Relationships

Ever find yourself saying things you don’t mean, shutting down, or feeling overwhelmed in dating and relationships? That’s your nervous system talking.

In this experiential 2-hour workshop, Marie and Pauline will guide you through the practice and science of Polyvagal Theory and nervous system regulation, helping you understand how stress responses shape your love life.

When we’re dysregulated, we make choices that don’t align with our values or long-term well-being—seeking to control others, pushing intimacy away, misreading threats, or avoiding connection altogether. Through experiential practices, you’ll learn to recognize these patterns and shift toward greater safety, presence, and authentic connection with those we love, date, and care about.

Who is this for?

Whether you are single, dating, or in committed partnership(s), these life skills will apply to you! We warmly welcome folks of all genders, sexual orientations, ages, relationship statuses, identities, and backgrounds. As humans, we are all relaters and all have a stake in creating better relationships!

What to expect:

This interactive workshop blends informational talk, somatic exercises, group discussion, and guided practices to help you track your nervous system in real time. You’ll explore the roles of fight-or-flight, freeze, and fawning responses in relationships and learn self-regulation (which you can do alone) and co-regulation (with a friend or partner) techniques to foster deeper intimacy.

• Through movement, visualization, and small group exercises, you'll gain practical tools to shift from stress and distress to an embodied sense of inner safety.
• Marie will share insights from her coaching practice on how dysregulation shows up in love—like anxious and avoidant behaviors, intense jealousy, and misperceived threats.
• Pauline will help you befriend your nervous system and share the techniques she has practiced and taught for many years to awaken the calming power of your vagus nerve.

Whether you're dating, in a partnership, or deepening self-awareness, this workshop will help you build resilience, communicate with clarity, and cultivate more secure and fulfilling relationships.

Schedule & Late Policy: *Doors close at 7:15pm. Please arrive on time as we will not be able to let people in late once we begin*

About your hosts:

Dr. Marie Thouin is a Mindful Dating & Relationship Coach who supports people of all backgrounds in creating intentional and vibrant love lives. She is a leading expert on the topic of compersion (positive empathy) and the author of the groundbreaking book, “What is Compersion? Understanding Positive Empathy in Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships.” Dr. Marie has published seminal research studies, the first-ever encyclopedia entry on compersion, and she has been featured in several publications and podcasts, including ELLE, the Savage Lovecast, Huffpost, The Times of London, and The New York Times. @drmariethouin, mariethouin.com

Pauline Romas is the creator of Slow Dating and an Embodiment Coach who specializes in nervous system training to help people uncover the wisdom of their bodies, align with their heart’s deepest knowing, and translate spiritual realizations into their relationships and communities. She offers coaching and workshops for individuals, groups, and organizations. You can learn more about her work at PaulineRomas.love

If you are interested in volunteering for a future event in exchange for a ticket, please fill out this form.

**no refunds or exchanges are available for this event - you can sell or gift your ticket to a friend**

#dating #relationships #vagusnerve #authenticrelating #consciousrelationships

Host or Publisher The Center SF