Relating in the Dark ~ SF

After a wonderful series of events in Portland, Amsterdam, Berlin & Edinburgh, Relating in the Dark is coming to San Francisco for a special one-off evening this December! Grab a blindfold and dive deep into the enriching practices of Authentic Relating, Conscious Touch and Movement Meditation. ❤

By exploring intimacy without sight, we will delve into our intuitive nature, sharpening our capacity for deeper connection. We will use blindfolds to invite you into profound contact with your physical sensations and internal reality, unblocking your inhibition so as to reveal your truest essence. 😎

WHO is this event for?

This event is for anyone who is seeking deeper connection, stronger community, consensual loving touch, or simply a safe space to just be yourself.

If you’re a curious, open, emotional human being and want to enhance your interpersonal relationships and enrich your self love within, this event is for you.

This event is also for you if you’ve been recently feeling blocked, anxious, lacking purpose or direction, and need to reground and remind yourself what's truly important and who you truly are.

My experience includes working with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs); neurodiverse people; people suffering from anxiety and depression; people going through major life shifts; and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

If you have any questions about whether the event would suit you, pop me a message and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

WHAT will we explore?

Activities will explore movement, contact and relating, with and without vision and words, by exploring the practices of Authentic Relating, Conscious Touch and Movement Meditation. After the opening circle, we will practice Kapal Bhati breathwork to help your body arrive more fully into the space.

Kapal Bhati, or “skull-shining breath,” is a traditional yogic pranayama (breathwork) that complements such a practice by cleansing and energizing the body. Through rapid, forceful exhalations and passive inhalations, Kapalabhati awakens inner fire, clears mental fog, and prepares practitioners for heightened awareness, making it a potent breathwork technique to lay the groundwork for the blindfolded connection experiences.

Authentic Relating is is a ground breaking social tool that enables you to heartfully, playfully and courageously connect, using the tools of radical honesty and active listening. The practice invites you to drop deeper into presence, embodied awareness and permission to express whatever is alive within you and the ‘we-space’ between you and other(s).

Movement Meditation is free-form journey of authentic bodily flow. It invites you to surrender to what is arising in your body when deeply in connection with music, inducing a natural state of ecstasy.

Conscious Touch is the practice of bringing full attention and presence into relating physically to another person. In deeper awareness of our desires and boundaries, we will explore the many layers and dimensions of non-sexual touch.

Together, we will create a rich container to explore the many layers of our human experience, to invite loving, consensual touch, and arrive more deeply into present moment awareness. Through these nourishing practices, we can understand and celebrate the treasures of interpersonal relating, as well as connection to self.

WHERE will it be?

The event will take place in the beautiful urban sanctuary of HeartLab, 3095 21st St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States.

The facilitator 🗣️

Laurie (he/him), is a queer British-Kiwi who’s current home-base is Berlin. His passion is creating spaces that cultivate healthy, thriving human-to-human relationships, helping people take off their masks, feel their sensations and celebrate their aliveness on Earth. Since 2019, he has organised and facilitated hundreds of Authentic Relating, Dating and Embodiment workshops in Oceania and Europe.

His training includes The Embody Lab, Authentic Revolution, Body Electric, World Peace Yoga School and Connection Institute.

He has facilitated at internationally acclaimed festivals such as Stretch and Ignite, and organisations such as ART International and Authentic Bay Area.

His workshops have sparked thousands of nourishing connections, turning many strangers into life-long friends. He looks forward to holding space for you!

For more information, check out itoiauthenticrelating.com.

For his insta, check out: @itoiauthentic.

Here's what others have said about Laurie's workshops (blindfolded & more) :

This is absolutely my favorite authentic relating event ever. I can't wait for the next one. Removing the clutter and distraction and judgment from my eyes supported me to drop in immediately to my own other senses and hearing and connection with the other. It was incredible.

~ Daniel

What a wonderful event. The blindfolds encouraged me to stay present and in your body. It was a very sweet and safe space to learn and explore. The connections were very fulfilling. A rejuvenating and enjoyable evening indeed!

~ Carrie

“It seems funny to say it but I felt so ‘seen’ without being seen”

~ Esther

“I noticed that I was so much more present with myself, and was able to share parts that I would normally find it really hard to share”

~ Elliot

"I love Laurie’s energy, wisdom, execution and light touch. I felt super safe to open up and connect while he was holding the space"

~ Tess

"I live with complex PTSD and anxiety so in the past I have really struggled to open up to people and build meaningful connections. Discovering these workshops has been a life changer and both my therapist and I are thrilled with how my confidence has blossomed in recent months. Laurie's time and generosity really means the world to me"

~ Sarah

HOW MUCH will I invest?

$45 - low income

$55 - medium income

$65 - high income

Why are tickets sold by income?

In order to make the event as accessible as possible, there are three ticket types available. It is up to you to decide which ticket you purchase, depending on your own feelings about your level of disposable income and how much you would like to contribute for the event.

If you would really like to attend but do not have the funds for the lowest ticket option, please get in touch and we can figure something out!

Practicalities:

Location: HeartLab, 3095 21st St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States.

When: Tuesday 16th December, 7.30 to 10pm. No latecomers!

Dresscode: Comfortable clothing that's easy to move in. Please bring your own blindfold.

Intoxicants: This is a strictly sober space. There will be plenty of tea flowing!

Refund policy: No refunds available, however if you are unable to make it, you may transfer your ticket to someone else.