Holiday Healing: A Dreamcatcher Workshop Connecting Mindfulness & Body Image

Join Pink Moon Yoga & Wellness and Wholehearted Healing Collective for a crafting and body positive workshop!

One of the most common ways of coping with negative body image is avoidance... staying in cognition, analysis, and numbing with distractions or substances. This style of coping can make it more challenging to engage in physical activities, yoga, or embodiment practices like a body scan, massage, or sexual intimacy. In a season where we're challenged to face our relationship with body and food more than usual, it's even more important than ever to invest time and energy into mindfulness, grounding, and embodiment.

We invite you to join us in a workshop experience where participants will learn how to hand-craft their very own dreamcatcher, while engaging in a meaningful discussion around the significance of tending to both our body & mind - especially during times where our own beliefs around food & body image may be tested, along with our social battery.

Fiber arts are amongst the most healing of all crafts, as there is a poetic essence to the repetitive motions used in the fiber arts, such as knitting, crochet, weaving, quilting, and sewing. Through the repetitive movement of weaving, we are able to reach a state of “flow,” likened to that of mindfulness meditation. In addition, we will talk about the history of the dreamcatcher, and provide additional resources for participants to learn more about Native American history & culture.

Wholehearted Healing Collective Workshop Leaders

About Kristy Mathews, MS, LPC, ACS

We must first accept where, what, and who we are in the present moment before seeking to change ourselves or our situation. It is my belief that we are all born with the intuition and awareness that is needed to cope with life’s most difficult moments, but we forget how to connect with our most inner selves as time passes and culture, environment, and life experiences impact the mind, body, and soul. In therapy, you’ll learn how to access your inner wisdom and regain a sense of control over your thoughts and emotions.

Perhaps you have the awareness and insight to understand where unhelpful thoughts and behaviors originate, as well as the knowledge about healthy coping and self-care, yet feel paralyzed when faced with a situation requiring you to implement this awareness and knowledge.   Even the most intelligent and successful people need others in their lives to support their continued growth and fulfillment. As your therapist, I will support you in solidifying the foundation on which your personal growth, goals, and healthy lifestyle will build upon.

I am passionate about partnering with individuals that are deeply committed to a practice of:

• embodying authenticity,
• compassionate self-awareness,
• radical acceptance,
• and living each day wholeheartedly.

Our society is filled with contradicting messages that infiltrate our thoughts and alter our beliefs, goals, and behaviors. On a daily basis, we’re expected to stay connected, but limit screen time; be conscious of what you put in your body, but don’t restrict; be a leader, but don’t be bossy; do your best, but don’t be a perfectionist; be expressive, but not dramatic. While the concept of achieving a perfect balance in each area of our lives is a lovely idea, it’s not a sustainable model for a healthy lifestyle. Life- with or without the perfect body, career, friends, or family- will always be served with a side of bullshit. When you shift your focus from coping with, to transforming through the bullshit, this functional life becomes a fulfilling journey.

About Victoria A. Porter, MS, LAC, NCC

Victoria values the beauty of growing towards living as our authentic, true selves. She believes the therapist acts as a front passenger on one's healing journey, where autonomy is important and the relationship during the ride is key. Victoria's style encourages the notion of meeting heaviness with curiosity and self-compassion, while embracing our goodness in life the same. Victoria invites you to experience the opportunity to explore yourself wholeheartedly. She believes that magic happens when we first accept ourselves as simply being human, and that we all are capable of creating our own inner peace.

In additional to clinical work, Victoria assists with clinical outreach, curriculum development, and Wholehearted marketing.