emBODY-INg CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION

Pre-Conference Workshop for 2001 IAF Conference

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Presented By Beata C. Lewis and Ulla Glaesser

click here for conference proceedings article

While we regularly encounter metaphors such as the "negotiation tango" and "dance of change," we rarely, if ever, explore their actual physical truths and implications. This is a highly interactive workshop where you will experience a deeper and more differentiated awareness of conflict dynamics in yourself and in interaction with others. By integrating exercises in body awareness and improvisational movement with practical examples of conflict situations, you will gain greater capacity to understand and transform conflict and to regenerate collaboration.

This workshop is open to any conference participant seeking a more integrated and grounded presence and learning tools for conflict resolution and collaboration. It is especially relevant for professionals leading change processes or wishing to add dimension and depth to conflict resolution skills. Absolutely no dance, martial arts or athletic experience or ability necessary.

Through experiential exploration and subsequent discussion of movement exercises on both a literal and metaphorical level, discover

Beata Lewis and Ulla Glaesser presented a 180-minute conference session entitled emBODY-INg CONFLICT RESOLUTION at the IAF Conference in Toronto in April 2000. This workshop was received by participants as highly original and particularly welcome because of the emphasis on a somatic learning approach that integrates mind, body, heart and spirit. Past participants at the IAF Conference and in California and Germany have stated that this approach opened an entirely new realm of insight about how to work to conflict and collaboration dynamics. They also had a substantially changed understanding of the role of their own presence - a fundamental quality of mind, body, heart and spirit - to achieving desired outcomes with clients in difficult situations. Participants may learn new tools and techniques, but the most important learning is through the integration and illumination of what may already dwell within.

We invite participants to explore the applicability of improvisational movement and body awareness practices for resolving conflict and generating collaboration. Given the necessity of working effectively with people of differing cultures, learning modes, languages and perspectives, this workshop is an opportunity to appreciate and develop non-verbal dimensions of communication and body wisdom for being more effective and creative in challenging professional situations. Throughout the session participants will experiment with improvisation skills in dyads and exchange insights within the dyads and in the larger group. We will primarily address the dimensions of presence and interaction. Interaction will be divided into two sections: conflict response (options in dealing with opposing impulses) and collaboration (options for attuning impulses).

Our intention is to accommodate and foster different types of integrated learning and to evoke and facilitate awareness of the wisdom present in those who participate. We will apply a unique blend of a variety of movement approaches - primarily derived from martial arts and contact improvisation. Dyad and group conversation following physical exercises to share insights as well as translate and integrate physical experience for applicability to more familiar verbal and professional situations.