PROMPT: What are you (still) holding, that you are (finally) ready to release?
About the course
In this workshop a blend of meditations, somatic exercises, breathwork, sound and insights of humanistic psychology and Inquiry - the method of deep inner exploration - gently and precisely lead through the holding patterns of our "body armor" to our true nature, our essence.
The sessions are centered around different developmental themes and corresponding holding patterns in the body. In each session, we will discuss and explore one of the five developmental life themes and associated core resources that are essential to our capacity for self-regulation and affect our ability to be present to self and others in the here-and-now as presented in NARM® (NeuroAffective Relational Model) and one of the „belts of tension" or holding patterns in the body, based on the body and character typology according to Wilhelm Reich and
We will work with a fusion of different somatic practices - breathwork, movement, meditation, compassionate inquiry and sound - to activate the vagus nerve, deepen embodiment, and reduce the stress response held in the nervous system. Each session will start with a short teaching, an embodiment journey to explore the psycho-somatic pattern, then inquiry, breathwork and integration.
In this experiential group we will re-connect with our bodies, exploring each developmental theme as a pathway for embodiment and personal growth. We will take a compassionate look into our own childhood experiences to witness how our needs were met or not met, what we learned about boundaries, individuality, safety, trust, connection, shame and self-worth and how that is held in oour bodies. We will also explore different methods to safely support our nervous system to release layers of "Fight/Flight/Freeze" response impulses so we can live in our bodies with a greater sense of ease and presence.
With bestselling books like "The Body Keeps The Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, the success of work like Peter Levines' Somatic Experiencing or Lawrence Heller's NARM, there is a fast-growing understanding of the importance of embodiment practices in health and transformation.
The workshop takes its name from OMPHALOS - the 'navel' or center of the ancient world - the most secretive, intimate room, the theatre where our emotions and rituals unfold.
No previous experience is required. This group is uniquely designed for anyone who is wanting to heal from their own early life experiences and release the moste unconscious layers of their personality.
Image: Handful, David Thorp, 1981
"In the end, just three things matter: How well we have lived.
How well we have loved. How well we have learned to let go."
Jack Kornfield
Led by Ada Friedrich
Ada Friedrich launched THE ESSENCE OF in 2017 with the belief that navigating our modern (business) world and creating an integrated life filled with purpose and meaning could be made more seamless by making diverse spiritual practices and integrative psychology and coaching inviting, accessible and practical.
Since launching, Ada has transformed THE ESSENCE OF into a successful business, teaching others how to do exactly the same while also bringing together a powerful community of people uplifting and supporting one another around the world.
Ada is a somatic therapist, integral leadership coach, transformative workshop facilitator and educator who combines more than 15 years of experience in the corporate business world and as an entrepreneur with almost 10 years experience in body-mind therapies, emotional release and breathwork.
Her aim is to guide peopel compassionately to meet the unknown parts of themselves and heal the disconnect with their bodies in order to stepping towards wholenss.
Seh sees her work as the facilitation of an opening toward self-compassion, presence, and conscious action in the world.
The course is an embodied, transformational process designed to help you uncover new insights, understandings and release emotions. Each session will start with an embodiment journey to explore the psycho-somatic pattern, then an inquiry and breathwork. We might additionally deepen the process through meditations and or journaling prompts. The sessions are centered on different developmental themes and a corresponding band of tension in the body.
COURSE DATES
There are three different options for this course in order to give those in different time zones + with different schedules an opportunity to join in live:
- One is timed for UK/Europe evening/US afternoon, and runs on Wednesdays in english language.
- The second runs UK/Europe morning in german language. and morning and will run on Fridays
- And for people living in or nearby Hamburg, Germany our in person course meets Sundays evenings (seats limited to 15).
All online sessions will be posted with 24hrs to catch the replay so you can access the content and watch at your own pace also accessible for people taking the in person cohort.
+++ DATES FOR 2025 cohort will be announced soon! +++
Please check the dates, mark your calendars, and we’ll see you soon! When signing up, you can choose between two different online streams (please also watch the language de/en) or - you can also decide for the in-person classes in Hamburg of course.
Drop in for single classes is possible - subject to availability.
Live orientation and (belated) Spring Equinox opening ceremony will kick off the course live online via Zoom on DATES FOR 2025 cohort will be announced soon!
Ways to work with me
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Essential Musings
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© Andrea Friedrich 2025
Facilitation. Developmental Coaching. Somatic Therapy.
I send you, as always, my love
xAda