Love, Play and Empowered Parenting Workshops
In these in-person workshops, discover new loving, playful and intuitive tools to solve your biggest parenting problems.
You’ll experience art, dance, and meditation, as well as time to chat and discuss your challenges and breakthroughs. We’ll find new solutions that combine the latest science with your inner wisdom and guidance.
From getting out the door in the morning, to working with partners (or exes and in-laws!) who aren’t quite on the same page, you’ll find a new way forward in every area of your life.
Love, Play and Empowered Parenting 6-week course
These courses will be running in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk and Cambridge, UK.
Please get in touch to register your interest, but first feel free to browse and discover if this course is for you…
- Be part of a warm, welcoming and supportive group where you are held in sharing and exploring your parenting challenges, stresses and breakthroughs in a safe space.
All feelings welcome! - Weekly theme and talk on a topic with practical tips tailored to your situation, from self-love and relationships, to play and managing negative emotions such as anger and anxiety (in our children and in ourselves), and exploring your calling and purpose
- Space for discussion and exploration with a small and intimate group of conscious parents
- Includes dance and movement meditations, creative visualisations and HeartMath*
- Facilitated by conscious parenting specialists: you’ll be supported by play specialist, dance meditation leader and conscious parenting coach, Emma Pollard, and Dr Jo Drury PhD (Doctorate in Counselling Psychology) – both Emma and Jo have a great deal of experience facilitating groups, as well as working with children of all ages and abilities (see below for their qualifications).
* HeartMath is a breathing technique which has been scientifically shown to reduce stress, dramatically lower depression, improve sleep and boost performance. It’s used by NASA and the Mayo Clinic. Emma is trained in facilitating HeartMath breathing, and this technique will be combined with other forms of meditation.
[From a recent retreat, facilitated by Emma]
I’ve been around many, many different events, but I’ve never experienced your ease, trust and humility and sheer magic. 🥰😘🎊🌈
Working with Emma has changed my life!
I’ve never done coaching or mentoring before, but I’m so glad I did!
I’ve come home to the more loving and playful me. Now I’m spending so much less time yelling at my kids and more time actually playing with them and enjoying them.
She helped me stop and take care of myself – it was truly amazing to see how much happier and more patient I was in every aspect of my life. I always wanted that, but could never find the time before to do it.
It’s been such a great journey working with Emma. She’s truly helped me to figure out what I needed to be happy.
Course Outline
Each week you’ll experience:
– a short talk on a theme, with new conscious and intuitive tools
– tailored meditations, including space to move and dance, art to music, and stillness meditations, including HeartMath
– group discussion time each week to help you find new, loving, playful and empowering solutions to your biggest challenges
“The body is the gateway to the soul.” Gabrielle Roth
The 2 hour session includes dance and movement meditation – you’ll have time in the session to move your body and experience meditation, so you can have both parenting support and a health booster at the same time! A win-win for body, mind and soul 😊🙏✨
Weekly Themes
Week 1: Finding Ourselves
Deepening acceptance, forgiveness and love for ourselves and overcoming blocks to self-love (like when we have that to-do list that’s as length of a Game of Thrones novel!).
Week 2: Light in the Dark
Loving and playful techniques to help manage big emotions in ourselves and our children, including anger, anxiety and rivalry.
Week 3: The Power of Play
Practical play strategies to connect with yourself and your child, overcome parenting play boredom (so common!). Heal and remove the biggest stressors in your day, including potential conflict situations such as chores and getting dressed and out the door in the morning.
Week 4: Body Talk
How to support our needs as well as our children’s needs, and how supporting the body to transform behaviour in both children and adults (including sensory integration, health and unrealised physical needs).
Week 5: Finding Unity
Building beautiful relationships and a sense of oneness with your child, your partner (or ex) and others in your life, using techniques such as The Work by Byron Katie.
Week 6: Passion, Play and Purpose
Exploring your wider calling, creativity and service and how to move forwards in a way that is achievable and inspires you and your children.
Dr. Jo Drury
“I completed my Counselling Psychology training in 2007 and received my Counselling Psychology Doctorate from City University in London in 2010. I have worked both privately and within the NHS in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
I’ve worked extensively with children, adolescents and parents, individually and in groups. I’ve facilitated parenting courses and provided training to other healthcare professionals. I have worked with clients presenting with a wide range of psychological and behavioural issues.
I am passionate about empowering parents to love and trust themselves to be the best that they can be. I am particularly interested in natural parenting (also known as attachment parenting, conscious parenting, intuitive parenting and gentle parenting).
I look forward to meeting you on this course! Love Jo.”
Emma Pollard, Play Specialist and Conscious Parenting Coach
“I’ve worked in play for more than eight years, with children and adults of all ages and abilities, including young adults and children with ADHD and autism. I also have personal experience of raising a child on the spectrum, so I understand the extra challenges of parenting and advocating for children who are sensitive, prone to anxiety or sensory overload, or gifted in some areas, and challenged in others.
I’m a qualified Forest Schools leader, using play to help build self-esteem, emotional and behavioural change, team-building and social skills and enjoyment of the outdoors. I’ve worked in education and community events for more than eight years, and I’m a life, business and conscious parenting coach.
I’m a dance and meditation leader, HeartMath facilitator and have a degree in Psychology BSc, with further studies Child Development, Child Psychology, habit change and play.
I hope to meet you, co-create new strategies and hear your wisdom – because we totally know you’re an expert too! Love Emma 💖 x“
How much does the course cost?
The cost for the full course is £95 per person for the full 6 weeks of sessions and online resources, including meditations (and chocolate – it’ll be dark and vegan for those who are dairy free)
Concessions: £85 concessions, including those on Universal Credits or low income.
Where and when will the sessions be?
We’re in the process of setting locations and times for two courses in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and Cambridge, beginning April 2020 after the Easter Holidays.
The sessions are likely to be on Wednesday and Thursday mornings (one in Bury St Edmunds and one in Cambridge).
When you get in touch to register your interest, please do let us know if you have a preference for location and a day, and whether you would need creche facilities (we may or may not be able to provide this, but we are looking into it based on demand).
There are limited spaces so that these groups can be kept small and intimate, so if you feel called to this course, please get in touch to register your interest and then book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you cater for people with disabilities and/or special requirements?
Yes.
We are happy to accommodate any special requirements or needs (including access needs and dietary) – please just let us know as much in advance as possible so we can help.
Can I bring my child?
We want you to have a chance to drop into your spirit and into meditation and it can be trickier for the group to meditate and connect when there are children around (because they naturally want attention, bless them!).
So, for this course if you don’t have childcare, we ask that you find a trusted friend or adult to take care of your little one while you’re with us.
Do let us know if you are interested but would like a creche or childcare, as this may be something we could provide for future courses.
Is this course for parents of children of any age or disability?
Yes, this course is suitable for all parents, including expecting parents (or even people who are simply wanting to be parents), as well as toddlers to teenagers and beyond.
The course helps you to access your own inner wisdom, working with yourself and others to find and adapt techniques to meet your life situation.
Both Emma and Joanne have experience working with children of all ages, from babies to young adults, and they also have experience of working with children and adults with disabilities, including learning difficulties such as ADHD and autism.
What if I can’t make all six sessions?
It would be wonderful if you can make all of the 6 weeks for your own experience and because this helps the group to get to know each other and bond.
We will be recording Emma and Joanne’s talks and the stillness meditations each week so that the group can download and keep these – so this will help anyone who has to miss a week or two.
Please note: We won’t be recording any group discussions (for confidentiality reasons).
We understand that life crops up, so make as many sessions as you can.
Making 4 or 5 sessions is most likely far better than not being able to attend any at all!
Please note the price is fixed, whether you attend 4 sessions or 6 sessions, as we still have costs such as room hire, transport, creating online resources etc.
Will there be refreshments?
We will provide water, some fruit and chocolate! Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements (the choccy will be dark and dairy free).
There is a café at the Self Centre where you can also buy Smoothies, hot drinks and other yummy, healthy treats.
How do I pay?
When you get in touch and decide that you’d like to book, we’ll reserve your place for 48 hours and send you a link to pay securely online via PayPal (if you don’t have a PayPal account, you can use your card online via the PayPal link).
Your place is secured when we have received your payment.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
You are entitled to a full refund within 14 days of your purchase, unless the course has started and you have already accessed the materials (in which case, see below).
After 14 days of your purchase:
Cancelling more than 21 days before the course begins…
If you cancel your place and it’s been more than 14 days since your purchase, but three weeks or more before the course begins, you can receive your money back, minus an admin charge of £10 (we are charged by PayPal for transactions even if you cancel, and it takes time to make a refund and find someone to take the extra place).
Cancelling 0-20 days before the course begins…
If you cancel within 20 days of the course beginning, if we can find someone to fill your place, you will still receive your money back, minus an admin charge of £10.
However, if we are unable to fill your place, you may need to pay the full cost of the course, so please make sure you really want this and commit before booking 😊.
Will the group be able to stay in touch with each other when the course ends?
You are welcome to keep in touch with each other (in fact we encourage it!) and we are happy to support you in creating a WhatsApp group or other method for supporting each other both during and after the course.
Sharing your contact details with others will be entirely optional though (we will not share contact details of anyone without clear and express permission). Your contact information is kept in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act 2018.
What is dance and movement meditation? (And can I get it wrong?)
In each session, you’ll have a chance to experience conscious movement.
As 5Rhythms dancer, Gabrielle Roth, says, “The body is the gateway to the soul”. Conscious dance can be a completely life-changing form of meditation.
The great thing about dance and movement meditation is that there really is no right or wrong! (Other than keeping our bodies safe, which we’ll do through joyful warming up to music and our consciousness).
With the support of inspiring music, we often find it much easier to drop into being present than other forms of meditation. It’s a beautiful and enjoyable way to tune into our bodies, moving freely or being still, whatever your body wants or delights in.
It’s completely different to a dance or exercise class where you’re told how to move. We might have invitations of where to bring our consciousness, or how we might like to play, but most of all, we’re dropping into what our body wants (which can be quite life-changing!).
We use exercises to bypass the mind, exploring different parts of us and accessing our inner guidance through our body.
If you’ve never experienced dance and movement meditation, it can be a truly beautiful way to connect with yourself and others.
Can I bring my partner, a grandparent or anyone else who shares childcare with me?
Yes, but there is still a per person charge. If you book with a partner or fellow carer we can offer you the concessionary rate of £85 per person each.
Your partner or a fellow carer is welcome to share the recorded course materials for free (the recorded talk and recorded meditation). We just ask that this system is respected – the course materials are copyrighted and we ask that you don’t share them more widely that your partner or a fellow carer. Thank you!
I can’t make those dates/ times. Will you run the course again?
At this stage we don’t know for certain if we will run aany other courses this year (other than those beginning April 2020) due to Emma and Joanne’s diary commitments, or if we run another one, it will most likely contain different content (so that this group can continue if they wish after this course ends).
If there is a lot of interest and we have a number of people on the waiting list for this 6-week course, we will look into making space to run another course, possibly in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge or another location, based on the times that interested people are available.
There is no guarantee and the cost of the course may be higher depending on venue hire and other costs.
If you are pulled by this course and can make the dates, please book soon as it may not be available again for quite a while.
Please get in touch to let us know if you’d like to be on one of these courses, and let us know your preferences for location, creche facilities and any disability or access needs.
Thank you so much and we hope to meet you soon! x
I had some hesitation about seeking coaching last year in a tough phase, even though I had done gentle parenting courses, but when I discovered Emma’s work and felt her presence, I knew I could dare to try it out.
I was very emotional and nervous to ask for guidance, but I felt supported and safe enough to open up. Emma’s way of holding space for me was graceful and focused, and yet playful. This put me at ease.
Emma showed me fresh perspective and facilitated healing. I love how practical it was.
I’m so grateful to Emma for holding space for me at this difficult turning point.
Such a lovely benefit of working with Emma was that it opened up for me a pathway to finding my confidence, to leave a situation that wasn’t supporting my son enough and taking too much of my energy. I am so happy now and love seeing my son blossom.
We came up with some things I could do to create connections with other mums… Emma was beautifully creative about this, where I couldn’t think straight and felt quite isolated. I am now so much more connected with other mums, dads and feel embedded more comfortably in the community.
I have also had the opportunity to be part of a peaceful parenting workshop that Emma has facilitated, as well as coaching, and I was amazed by her ability to work both one on one and in a group. She lit up many mums lives and continues to do so from what I have witnessed and heard about from others.
I would recommend her to anyone who wishes to create positive change in their lives when they feel stuck and can’t quite see what’s happening with their own habits and lifestyle, and how that might be affecting their emotional realm and their families.
I believe Emma to be a true advocate who works with such passion and joy and I find her methodical, focused and able to plan and guide even when someone is in a state of overwhelm and feels erratic. She has humour and the capacity to hold non-judgemental space.
I recommend her to anyone that needs a breath of fresh air in their lives. She soars into your life gently and then step by step walks with you through the scary stuff and empowers you to find your confidence and magic again, and surround your family with it.