The voice within workshops for women: somatic expression
About this Event
The voice within: somatic workshops
!!! Book individual sessions or several. Each workshop is a standalone session. You canjoin at any time. Discounts if you book more than 2. You can contact me and book direct to avoid booking fees.
Part of The Surrender Series
About the Series
The Surrender Series is a series of somatic workshops, webinars, events and more designed to support nervous system regulation, embodied self-awareness, and authentic connection. These sessions create a safe and respectful space for women to gently explore the body as a source of presence, balance, and inner safety.
This is a space to reconnect with yourself, release what no longer serves you, and remember your body as a place of wisdom and belonging.
Important information
All the surrender offerings can be booked for teams, companies, organisations and small groups. Please contact me for an informal connection call to discuss costs and details.
Monthly Voice and Somatic Practice Workshops for Women (current community offering)
Trauma Informed | Body Led | Voice Centred
Location: The Salisbury Centre, Edinburgh
• Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm
• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: Discounts available when booking for 2 people or multiple workshops. 1 community space per workshop.
• Community: Supportive community space held in every workshop
• Group size: Maximum of 12 participants
A Space to Reclaim, Reconnect and Remember
In a world that often tells us to quiet ourselves or fit into certain expectations, there is a powerful invitation to come back to our own inner voice and embrace who we are in all our uniqueness
Finding your voice is not about performing or being louder. It is about returning to your body, your breath and your lived experience, expressing yourself from a place of presence, awareness, and embodied balance
Through gentle body led somatic practices, we explore voice and self expression as pathways to
- Setting and holding healthy boundaries
- Reconnecting with inner wisdom
- Cultivating self compassion
- Supporting nervous system regulation and resilience
- Being grounded and present in the body and mind
- Embracing our diversity, individuality and uniqueness
This is a space to feel, soften, move, and be heard, at your own pace and in your own time
Workshop Overview – The Voice Within
The voice within is a trauma informed monthly workshop open to anyone seeking deeper self awareness, embodied presence, authentic self expression and a stronger connection with who they are
This is not a singing class. Sound may be used occasionally but the focus is on somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, and embodiment. When we are more regulated, feel more in balance somatically, we are less reactive, more able to express our needs, more able to to connect with our inner voice and be heard.
Each session combines
- Somatic movement and gentle stretching to release tension and restore balance
- Gentle choice led breath practices to regulate the nervous system and support vagal tone
- Body based exercises for presence, grounding and self compassion
- Practices to celebrate individuality and embrace uniqueness
- Optional vocal or tonal exploration as a tool for nervous system integration
Benefits may include
- Greater body awareness and balance
- Increased capacity to self regulate stress and emotional overwhelm
- More ease and confidence in setting and holding boundaries
- Stronger connection between inner sensations, emotions and expression
- Compassion and presence in daily life
- Embracing and honouring diversity, individuality, and uniqueness
- A connection with our authentic voice
The space is consent based, inclusive and accessible. No previous experience is required
Why Work with the Nervous System
The nervous system is the foundation for how we feel safe, present and connected in the world. It regulates energy, emotional responses and our ability to engage fully with ourselves and others. When stress, trauma or prolonged overwhelm accumulate, the body may respond with tension, shutdown, dissociation or disconnection from our inner voice.
Working with the nervous system supports a return to balance, helping us respond with clarity rather than react out of fear, exhaustion or overwhelm. It allows us to listen to our bodies, express needs authentically and set boundaries from a grounded, empowered place.
The Vagus Nerve: A Key Connector
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, running from the brainstem through the face, throat, heart, lungs and digestive organs. It acts as a communication highway between the brain and body, influencing:
- Heart rate and breath helping regulate calmness and energy
- Digestion and immune function supporting physical well-being
- Emotional tone, social engagement and voice guiding our capacity to connect with ourselves and others
A healthy, well-functioning vagus nerve enables us to feel calm, grounded and present. When its function is disrupted, we may experience:
- Emotional reactivity or numbness
- Chronic tension or fatigue
- Difficulty expressing needs or setting boundaries
Benefits of Nervous System Practices
Working with the nervous system through somatic, mindful and compassionate practices can help participants:
- Reduce anxiety and overwhelm
- Release freeze, collapse or shutdown responses
- Build resilience under stress
- Express needs clearly, assertively and without reactivity
- Strengthen healthy boundaries
- Cultivate connection with the inner voice and compassion for self and others
What to expect:
These workshops integrate multiple trauma-sensitive and somatic frameworks:
- Somatic practices (Arielle Schwartz) pendulation, titration and gentle movement to safely process sensations and emotions
- Compassion-focused practices (Paul Gilbert) self-kindness, soothing exercises and heart-centred awareness to regulate the nervous system and support emotional balance
- Mindfulness and boundary work (Tara Brach) awareness of habitual reactivity, fostering presence and the courage to set fierce, healthy boundaries
- Interoception and body awareness (David Treleaven) noticing subtle bodily sensations to increase regulation, clarity and grounded expression
- Vagus nerve activation breathwork, gentle humming, sighing and guided movements to support parasympathetic activation
These practices allow the inner voice to emerge as a guide for presence, self-regulation, empowerment and compassionate self-expression.
Second Block: September to December: The Power Of Compassionate Boundaries
17 September – The Power of Healthy Boundaries
Somatic awareness, compassionate communication, embodied boundary setting, and nervous system regulation
Underpinned by the work of Tara Brach, Paul Gilbert, Dan Siegel, and Bessel van der Kolk
This workshop gently explores the power of healthy boundaries and how our nervous system shapes the way we express needs, emotions, and limits. Participants are introduced to compassionate mind work and how it links with Compassion Focused Therapy, supporting understanding of self compassion, emotional regulation, and the capacity to respond rather than react.
Through somatic awareness, mindful reflection, and gentle movement, participants are supported in noticing recurring patterns that can make boundary setting feel difficult or reactive. Attention is given to body based signals such as tension, posture, and breath, helping to build a more grounded and embodied sense of self.
The session offers a warm and supportive space to explore healthier ways of expressing needs, communicating clearly, and setting empowered boundaries with compassion and confidence. A gentle integration practice is included to support reflection and everyday application.
15 October – The Compassionate Voice and Radical Acceptance
Compassion focused mind work, emotional regulation, somatic breathwork, and embodied radical acceptance
Underpinned by the work of Paul Gilbert, Tara Brach, Dan Siegel, and Arielle Schwartz
This workshop explores the compassionate voice and how we can relate to ourselves with more understanding, warmth, and steadiness. Participants are introduced to compassionate mind work and how it connects with Compassion Focused Therapy, supporting emotional regulation, self support, and embodied awareness.
Through somatic breathwork, movement, and body based awareness practices, participants are invited to explore self kindness, grounding, and the ability to express emotions from a more regulated place. The session also gently introduces radical acceptance, inspired by the work of Tara Brach, supporting participants in meeting experience as it is with openness and care.
The focus is on developing the capacity to express needs and emotions clearly and authentically, while remaining connected to the body and nervous system. A gentle integration practice is included to support reflection and continued embodiment beyond the session.
19 November – The Voice Within
Mindfulness, interoception, somatic awareness, and compassionate self connection
Underpinned by the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, David Treleaven, Paul Gilbert, and Dan Siegel
This workshop offers a gentle slowing down into presence, awareness, and compassionate attention. Participants are introduced to compassionate mind work and how it links with Compassion Focused Therapy, supporting greater understanding of emotional experience, nervous system states, and inner safety.
Inspired by mindfulness and trauma sensitive approaches, the session includes somatic awareness and interoceptive practices to help participants notice sensations, emotions, and internal signals with curiosity and care.
Through somatic breathwork and reflective practice, participants are supported in listening more closely to the body as a guide for expression, communication, and boundary setting. The session encourages steadiness, emotional balance, and a more compassionate relationship with the inner voice. A gentle integration practice is included to support ongoing reflection.
17 December – Reflect, Restore, Renew
Somatic meditation, nervous system regulation, restoration, and embodied expression
Underpinned by the work of Arielle Schwartz, Peter Levine, Paul Gilbert, Dan Siegel, and Tara Brach
This workshop offers a gentle space for reflection, restoration, and nervous system regulation through movement, somatic breathwork, and guided somatic meditation. Participants are introduced to compassionate mind work and how it links with Compassion Focused Therapy, supporting emotional balance, resilience, and embodied awareness.
Inspired by the work of Arielle Schwartz and Peter Levine, the session includes gentle pendulation and titration practices, offering a paced and supportive way of working with nervous system activation and settling. This helps participants notice small shifts between activation and safety, building capacity for regulation without overwhelm.
The focus is on rest, restoration, and reconnecting with embodied expression, alongside exploring healthier ways of communicating needs and setting boundaries with clarity and compassion. A gentle integration practice supports participants in bringing the experience into daily life.
The session closes with a restorative sound journey for self expression featuring Tibetan bowls, chimes, shruti box, and other immersive instruments.
What to expect:
- Two-hour sessions combining somatic movement, breathwork, grounding and mindful awareness
- Exploration of the inner voice as a guide for balance, self-expression and compassionate living
- Trauma-sensitive, body-led practices inspired by Arielle Schwartz, Paul Gilbert, David Treleaven and Tara Brach
- Journaling, reflection and guided meditation for integration
- A consent-based, choice-led space where participants move at their own pace, honour boundaries and celebrate individuality
- Follow up resources
- Optional whats app group
!!! book direct with Cori from KOA to avoid booking fees
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00 to GBP 109.05
