Communication Dojo

Our bodies “speak” to us through emotions, sensations and movements. 

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It’s as if your body is attempting to draw your attention to what is most important to you, to what matters, to what you are missing or longing for. We’d like to help you to hear what your body is saying and to let its messages guide you to understand and resolve conflicts and live more connected, joyful lives.

 

Your body is trying to communicate with you during moments of tension and conflict with others, when you might resort to the familiar habits of raised voices, accelerated speech, repetitiveness and finger-pointing.

 

Your body is murmuring away if you’re in relationships that are simply “flat,” relationships that may not be full of angry outbursts, but are also not full of aliveness, fun or connection. In this quieter kind of the relationship your body’s communication might be more subtle, but it’s still quietly trying to get your attention.

If you don’t get the message, the signal often gets turned up. Perhaps momentary irritation ramps up quickly through annoyance and frustration to anger, for example. Or a period of disappointment or disconnection builds slowly over months into distance, resentment and loneliness - feeling lonely even when you’re around the other person.

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At Communication Dojo we provide communication and conflict resolution skills training based on Connected Communication aka Nonviolent Communication (NVC). The skills, awareness and principles of Connected Communication can make a huge difference, but making use of this approach is much easier if you get into the habit of listening and responding to what your body is telling you. 

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On September 16th, 2023 we are very excited to be offering our IN-PERSON “COMMUNICATION RESET” daylong playshop, where we'll be inviting you up out of your seat to make use of movement, play and spontaneous interaction in your learning and practice. 

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Involving your body in this way accelerates the sense of getting Connected Communication “in your bones.” Our aim is that you’ll develop greater awareness of what happens inside you when you communicate, and how that affects what you say and how you listen. With that awareness comes the ability to steer yourself in the direction of Connected Communication any time you start to move, quickly or slowly, in the direction of disconnection or conflict. 

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We invite you to come join us and are excited to spend the day with you! 

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Newt, Leeza & Taj

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As soon as you concern yourself with the 'good' and 'bad' of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you.--- Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

Some features of the Communication Dojo practice environment:

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• Chances to use your real-life situations to guide experiential learning

• Efficient use of group time to maximize learning

• High proportion of time used for small group discussion and practice - learning communication by communicating.

• Minimal "jargon" i.e. language that might be confusing or alienating for those not familiar with NVC.

• Little likelihood of people developing any sense of "doing it wrong" or "trying to do it right."

• Mixture of experience levels deepens practice and learning