It was happenstance that my Mom and I found InTouch + Motion. A friend of a friend… and Mom’s excellent sleuthing skills :)
InTouch & Motion is a creative arts therapy and wellness practice in Chicago dedicated to helping people connect with themselves and others through movement, creativity, and mindful expression.
The sessions can range from traditional psychotherapy, expressive arts therapy, drama therapy, and art therapy to dance movement therapy, somatic EMDR and yoga therapy.
We were surprised and delighted that their mission is similar to our Ahimsa Warrior workshops, where were use art to process trauma and emotions.
I recently attended one of their Wellness Days - A Day to Breathe, Restore, and Reconnect.
This was a free community day of wellness, creativity, and connection at InTouch & Motion. Throughout the day, we had a chance to explore mini sessions and group experiences led by trusted wellness professionals - each designed to help us recharge, reflect, and reconnect with our minds, bodies, and spirits.
The first class I took was with Heather Fraelick – The Healing Eclectic / Myofascial Release & Holistic Therapies. This was guided breathwork and somatic practices to regulate your nervous system and reconnect with your body.
We did movements to help release our fascia (the network of tissue that connects our whole body), and breathing exercises you can use to bring calm to stressful situations. We tuned into our bodies to see where we were still holding tension, emotions or physical blockages.
During lunch we spoke with Erica Reid Gerdes - Waxwing Journeys, and Amanda Mitchell - InTouch & Motion at Bereavement & Burritos: a gentle lunchtime conversation exploring loss, connection, and nourishment. We talked about ways that we grieve, how to support others going through loss, and why we need to discuss things like death, a topic that’s a little taboo, but that affects all of us throughout life.
The next class was with Kelin Hall, LCSW (Kelin Hall, LCSW, PLLC) where we could experience Internal Family Systems-inspired movement to explore self-awareness and embodied healing.
I learned a little bit about Family Systems with the ming + ming Reparenting Workshop - how we all have an inner child, an inner critic and other members of our inner family that we can connect with.
The exercise was movement to words with different meanings, and it was interesting how our bodies interpret these topics and then how we outwardly express them.
I couldn’t stay for the whole class, because I had scheduled a 20-minute Thai bodywork mini session for deep restoration and balance with Amber Gillogly – Y Healing Arts.
Thai massage is different from what you would think of as a typical massage. Amber describes it as a healing modality with its roots in Yoga, dating back over 2500 years ago to India.
The blending of yoga principles makes this bodywork unique to all others. Naturally, during a session, focus switches away from mental stress and anxiety. When this occurs, simple body awareness is allowed to transpire.
It Improves physical and mental well-being, reduces stress, improves blood flow, increases resistance to illness and many other health benefits.
After a wonderful massage, it was time for an immersive closing session combining creativity, yoga, Reiki healing, and sound for integration and calm with Ciera Shimkus - InTouch & Motion, and Amber Gillogly -Y Healing Arts.
We did a little mandala artwork to set our intention and then some yoga movement.
I had to step out for a moment for a fantastic Tarot reading with Callista Lay - Revive Chiropractic Healing Center who offered Tarot readings and short energy-based services for clarity and reflection. I got so much information and insight from this mini Tarot session. Beautiful Tarot cards and wisdom to help me carve my path.
When I returned to my mat, Ciera Shimkus from InTouch & Motion was starting the Sound Bath. She works with interactive art and instruments for creative play and mindful expression.
Amber Gillogly from Y Healing Arts did Reiki (energy work) for us individually as we lay in savasana, enjoying the sounds of drumming and instruments washing over us, encouraging us to let go and be in the moment.
What a beautiful day to bring us back to ourselves and into a community of healers, students and those on a healing path. Ciera also offers a monthly yoga class with a sound bath, to keep you grounded and in alignment.
This is such a Holistic approach to therapy and wellness, and we can benefit tremendously from integrating movement, sound and art into our healing. See you at the next Wellness Day!
~ Laurie
