Workshop 7
Body as a Site of Liberation: Integrative Somatic and Narrative Practices for Social Justice
In this immersive workshop, we will explore the body as a powerful site of liberation and social justice. Drawing from the principles of embodied social justice and narrative practices informed by anti-oppressive mindfulness, this session aims to provide participants with the tools and understanding to use the body as a resource in overcoming systemic oppression and fostering individual and collective well-being. Narrative practices emphasize the importance of stories in shaping our identities and experiences. By integrating these practices with somatic approaches, we can help individuals re-author their bodily narratives, transforming stories of oppression into narratives of liberation , protest and resistance. Through experiential activities, reflective practices, and group discussions, participants will gain insights into integrating these approaches into their therapeutic work.
Objectives:
Explore Embodied Social Justice: Understand the concept of the body as a site of liberation within the framework of embodied social justice and narrative practices.
Somatic Practices for Social Justice: Learn somatic techniques to enhance bodily awareness and promote well-being, informed by anti-oppressive mindfulness practices.
Narrative Influences: Discover how narrative practices can help re-author bodily experiences and transform oppressive narratives.
Experiential Activities: Engage in practices that connect the body to experiences of liberation and social justice.
Reflective Practices: Reflect on personal and professional experiences of using the body in therapeutic settings.
Practical Integration: Develop practical strategies for incorporating body-based somatic and narrative practices into clinical and community work.
Community Connection: connect with a supportive community of practitioners dedicated to embodied social justice.
Facilitated by Aarathi Selvan
Aarathi Selvan (They/them) is the founder and a clinical psychologist at Pause for Perspective, Hyderabad. They have nearly two decades of experience in the field of Mental health. They are a supervisor, teacher, and a psychotherapist working with individuals, couples, families and communities. In the last 13 years of practicing mindfulness and 6 years of practicing through the narrative lens, they have brought together mindfulness and narrative practices in ways that affirm how the body can be experienced through the stance of social justice and liberation. Aarathi has submitted their doctoral thesis at the University of Madras in understanding one's relationship with their bodies as a way of responding to systemic oppression and privilege. This is a qualitative study of participants in their Mindfulness programs that have a strong narrative stance. Aarathi enjoys learning and living through ideas of liberatory psychology, mad studies, embodied social justice and liberation, narrative practices, anti-caste practices, disability justice and more. In the aftermath of what was their doctoral studies, Aarathi has gone back to raking up old and new interests in picture books, crocheting, reading chapter books together with their favorite reading partner, messing around with their kids and calling it conversations and worrying about their health and doing something about it once in a while. Aarathi hopes to learn to chill as they grow older and form communities of support in the form of people, books, outdoors and the arts.
