Bonobo Experience

Before our workshop.

After our workshop

THE TIMING WAS HELPFUL ON THE PROGRAM

WE COULD EXTEND THE ACTIVITIES OR CUT THINGS SHORTED , GOOD EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH MARY. LEARNING TO ALLOW MORE SPACE WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL. EXTENDED THE MASSAGE TIME AS THIS FELT RIGHT AS THEY ADJUSTED FROM BONOBO TO HUMAN. SHARING CIRCLE USE TALKING STICK NEXT TIME SO THERE IS NO CROSS TALK.

VERY HAPPY THIS WENT SO WELL.

This is a film to help people understand more about us. Please feel free to contact us with you questions.

We asked several participants from the retreat to share their experiences over the past few days. Here is what they said.

We asked several participants from the retreat to share their experiences over the past few days. Here is what they said.

We asked several participants from the retreat to share their experiences over the past few days. Here is what they said.

We asked several participants from the retreat to share their experiences over the past few days. Here is what they said.

We asked several participants from the retreat to share their experiences over the past few days. Here is what they said.

HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE

GAY IN A STRAIGHT WORLD STRAIGHT IN A GAY WORLD TENSION MADE US LOOK AT CHIMP CULTURE FOR A BONOBO AND VISA VERSA

ASKING FOR TRIGGERS WAS GREAT, USED HYERARCHY FOR CHIMPS

PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH THE AGGRESSION AND FELT A LITTLE TRIGGERED

2 ROOMS 1 BONOBO CHILLED MASSEAGE

1 ROOM CHIMP FIGHTING, ARGUING AND DOMINATION THOUGH BULLYING

PEOPLE MIGRATED FROM CHIMP TO BONOBO

REALLY SAW POTENTIAL

This workshop was part of the Suffolk retreat.

Workshop description:

 This workshop is designed to allow people to begin to engage differently with their feet.The initial part of the workshop is a warmup moving your fingers and toes at the same time begin to connect all four of your extremities. Connect your hands to your feet and build a relationship between them.

After this warmup you will be given a big sheet of paper and lots of coloured markers. Begin to draw, make suggestions to the group of what to draw.  Are you left or right footed is it easy or difficult to use your feet to draw. Or is it more freeing because you’re not under the pressure as you would using your hands.

Rationale:

Because bonobos have feet very similar to their hands they must perceive them very differently to how we see ours. The reason bonobos have four hands makes for great climbing. The purpose of this workshop is to ask participants to revisit their ideas, their prejudices and their thoughts of what their feet are? what they do? It is hoped that this workshop will helpparticipants get closer to the bonobo by embodying our own body the way that they do.

Intervention: Drawing with feet

People really engaged with this intervention. We could have done it for a lot longer. I really see the benefit in bringing creativity into these workshops as it gives confidence to the group.

ANALYSIS

NEW KNOWLEDGE

This workshops has fun and experimentation at it’s centre. It is more about process and doing the familiar in unconvetionals ways. The main theme of the bonobo experience is about unconvention; in the way we love, communicate and play.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN

People happily engaged in this process, it gets people practicing new ways of doing old things