Taste for Life

Taste for Life is an 8-day training program hosted by Teatro Invisibile, designed to make a meaningful impact on the mental health, body image, and self- esteem of young people by empowering youth workers with enhanced knowledge, tools, and methodologies to effectively recognize and address youth challenges.

The project enhances mental health, positive body-mind and emotional balance through holistic approaches by equipping youth workers with tools to help young people develop healthy coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety, considering the impacts of adolescence, societal ideals, and recent social crises. 

During the program, participants will dive into a combination of mindfulness, embodiment and nature-based practices to encourage acceptance, compassion, and critical thinking. Participants will develop skills to prevent and counteract the development of distress, anxiety, perfectionism, loss of control, depression and self-unworthiness that leads to the fade away of distancing oneself, which often leads to eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

The training highlights the importance of enabling sincere self-expression and individual advancement. Participants are invited to tune with nature and delve into introspective exploration, fostering a deeper bond with themselves and the natural world through embodiment, mindfulness and reconnection as a way to lead to self-regulation.

Who is this training for?

The participants involved in this project must be dedicated youth workers with a keen interest in integrating mindfulness and embodiment methods into their professional practices.
Moreover participants must be prepared to: - engage fully in the program, including follow-up and dissemination - be and learn in Nature, spending time outdoors, no matter the weather! - spend one week within a tiny community of participants who take care of their common space and time - explore and experiment with body based methods: movement, contact improvisation, playfight, creative expression, breathwork - experience meditation and breathing techniques with curiosity and open mindedness - gather new tools and inspirations for their work and activities with youngsters

Who can apply?

The training is designed for social workers, volunteers, leaders, teachers, and coaches. It aims to transmit skills for a strong connection between individuals, their bodies, and their environment to implement into our daily work as well as our personal lives and to the greater world.

We aim to have 29 participants from Italy, France, Slovenia, Germany, Romania, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain. Applicants must have a communicative level in English so that they can participate fully in the program.

We expect you to participate in the whole program. It means coming later or leaving earlier is not allowed. Also, prepare for an intensive experience with at least 6 hours of activities every day!

IMPORTANT NOTE

A training course is not a vacation or a nearly cost-free spiritual retreat, nor is it a place for personal therapy sessions.  Wild Dreamers is meant to be dynamic learning adventure where you’ll immerse yourself in intensive growth, both personally and professionally. It’s about seizing the opportunity to absorb new skills and insights, ready to give back to the world with fresh perspectives and expertise.

Main topics

• Embracing the wisdom of the natural world, learning from its resilience, adaptability and interconnectedness and allowing ourselves to be inspired by its beauty and complexity.
• Welcoming introspection, being willing to confront our fears, insecurities, and uncertainties, and allowing ourselves to be authentic and open-hearted in our interactions with others.
• Cultivating recognition of the profound connection between our physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Follow our bodies as a gateway to deeper insight and understanding.
• Embracing experimentation, curiosity, and playfulness, and allowing ourselves to tap into the endless reservoir of inspiration that surrounds us.
• Cultivating empathy, compassion, and respect towards others and the environment, striving to be agents of positive change and healing within our communities.

Methodologies

• Wildness exploration, nature-based activities that encourage participants to connect with and learn from their surroundings.
• Somatic, kinesthetic and holistic learning approaches, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, and emphasizing experiential learning through movement, touch, and bodily expression. 
• Exploring creative expression for self-discovery and personal growth, tapping into imagination, emotions, and innermost thoughts.
• Embodiment activities such as authentic movement, physical interaction, and improvisation, allowing participants to explore the link between movement, trust, and communication in a playful and supportive environment.
• Facets of yoga and the practice of stillness in action encompasses a wide range of yogic practices including pranayama, asanas, meditation, mindfulness and philosophical inquiry. These practices offer tools for self-awareness, stress reduction, and inner peace, fostering a sense of balance and harmony in body, mind, and spirit.

CHECK THE FULL INFOPAGE HERE: https://www.teatroinvisibile.it/erasmusprojects/taste-for-life/