The Adults of Our Profession

There is a secret to BodyChance's Golden Week residential, and I am going to reveal it.

Anyone who follows my feed on Facebook knows there is a frenzy of activity every May.

During the Japanese holidays of Golden Week (what a great name!) BodyChance holds its annual residential. We started it in 1999, and still going strong.

Come visit us one year. Let me know if you're interested.

This year, 117 teachers, trainees - and 3 brave public members - gathered together to celebrate Mr Alexander's discovery. It's a beautiful setting, every morning checking to see if Mt Fuji can be seen today…

My secret is highlight of the week: this is our most moving session without fail and it is never what new participants expect.

It isn't attending the wonderful sessions of visiting teachers: this year Tommy Thompson, Nancy Forst Williamson, Bill Walsh and a surprise last minute visitor Edivia Navarro. No, something tops even that.

It is also not any of the vast array of workshops offered by a team of 20 teachers:

- on Gestalt
- on attracting students
- on FM's breathing regime
- Compassionate Communication (NVC)
- Awareness Through Movement
- putting on a Kimono
- how to Rhumba
- tea ceremony
- and so on.

Very rich.

BUT…

The highlight is none of those things.

The highlight of the week is the Graduation* Ceremony.

Kazumi, the first to graduate, read a letter she discovered from her father, two days after he died. She touched so many people in the room - many tears, as others recalled their own family. Others spoke about what moved them to commit to the work - it was experiencing a previous graduation ceremony.

Because the effect is powerful - Graduates speaking from the heart about their long journey - often 6 or 7 years long - to get to this point, becoming the adults of our profession. As each of the 8 Graduates spoke, the love, joy and depth of the work-on-self being revealed.

This is the secret of the Golden Week residential - being motivated by the journey of others. Be reminded of why we do this work: something sacred appeared in the room that night.

I asked Nancy Forst Williamson - who was witnessing this for the first time - what is this quality that shines through? She told me…

"BodyChance is special because it attracts people who are open to growth and feel there is more; they come to a place where it is safe to have an open heart and they join a learning community where they can not only be themselves, but become themselves."

As I finish today's Daily, I am in my room with Tommy who is working with my eldest daughter. I love this community, and I know you would too.

It is easy to be influenced by such generosity, kindness and tolerance on display. A strange fusion of Alexander's discovery, Marj's joyful legacy and the deep, respectful culture of the Japanese.

 If you are have an interest in joining us next year:

Register here to let me know

(Only 3 spots available now) It will lead you to a video about a previous residential week.

*This year the graduates are Kazumi Miyamae, Naoko Ariyoshi, Miyuki Ochiai, Michiko Hatakenaka, Yoshihide Ishikawa, Akikazu Aoyagi, Shigeyuki Metoki and 友田登基 all qualified as teachers.