this 10-week series offers a community centered on liberating embodied play, creativity and collaboration.
we expand and explore our capacity to be in our bodies' innate and abundant creativity, and to move through personal and collective colonial blocks with trust, dynamic support and enchantment.
Our sessions will be held in the beautiful space at:
Soma Yoga
9951 San Pablo Ave,
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Entrance: There are about 15 stairs from the ground floor to the 2nd floor where the studio is
Parking: There is a small parking lot in the back of the building, free street parking available after 6pm
Provided: water and tea are provided, as well as blankets, bolsters, blocks, backjacks, and chairs. Bring your own yoga mat
Covid Policy: Masking is not currently required, although we require folks to take precaution if there’s been exposure to Covid or any other seasonal cold. We have masks if needed. We require folks to stay home and rest if there are early signs of a cold/Covid
what is
creative somatic alchemy?
(if we had to describe the indescribable mystery)
the practice of (re)discovering our bodies
as our creative muses;
muses with inherited abilities to transform
energy within and around us
into healing and liberating art
Want to know more about Chetna’s approach with creativity?
Check out the Creation for Liberation Podcast
THIS COURSE is made FOR YOU IF
If you’re here and you feel like this is something you need, want, long for, desire, even are scared of!
You’re longing to transcend society’s oppressive definitions of “creative” or “artistic”
You’re desiring to feel more embodied and in touch with the creative magic in your heart and gut wisdom
You feel creatively “blocked”, uninspired or uncertain
You’re yearning to deepen into spontaneity, trust and embodied expression
You’re seeking confidence in your ability to vision, create and share with community
You identify as a changemaker of any gender, committed to being nourished and inspired as you evolve your world personally, interpersonally and systemically
SOME OF WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE
An inviting space to play, learn, reflect and express yourself
Graceful accountability with an intentional creative community
Insightful learnings in decolonizing and inclusive approaches to creative practice
Abundant recognition of inspiration within you and around you
Clearer purpose and values to be an empowered changemaker in the world
Self-compassion with your inner critic and inner nurturer
Greater confidence to pursue creative projects and goals
Activities to add to your facilitation and/or education toy-boxes
NZILANI
“this program was expanding and enriching.
One of the best things was the sharing and connecting with others, realising we are together in so many of our fears and hopes. And it was beautiful to do this in a space that encouraged courageous movement towards more non-capitalist, decolonised thought. it was really lovely to stretch together towards more creative freedom.”
THROUGH THE 7-CHAKRA SYSTEM OF THE BODY,
WE EXPLORE THE FOLLOWING TOPICS AS IT RELATES TO
OUR CREATIVE PRACTICE AND EXPRESSION
ROOT
ANCESTRAL & ECOLOGICAL CREATIVITY
HOME IN THE BODY
SACRAL
EROTIC AS POWER
COLONIAL BARRIERS
TO FLOW
SOLAR PLEXUS
CREATIVE DISCIPLINE
BOUNDARIES WITH THE INNER CRITIC
HEART
WIT(H)NESSING
COMPASSION
COLLABORATION
THROAT
VOCALIZING WITH INTENTION
LISTENING TO THE CREATIVE MUSES
ALL AROUND
THIRD EYE + CROWN
PURPOSEFUL CREATION
SOURCE BEYOND EGO
INTEGRATION
LILY
“The series was such a vital anchor in the midst of the omni-crises we are facing and I will continue to return again and again to the learnings and practices that Chetna shared.
I am deeply grateful for the space to explore, grow, and learn from the incredible group of womxn in the cohort.”
SOME OF our tools of Alchemy
Expressive arts (expressive drawing, writing and embodiment)
Somatics
Trauma-sensitive mindfulness
Yoga philosophy
Inspirational literature study
Ceremony and ritual
Decolonization & resurgence wisdom
Meditation & visualization
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Parts work and Internal Family Systems
Improvisational technique
Games & play
SCHEDULE
Thursday, may 15th to thursday july 17th
from 7pm - 8:30pm
Presence at group meetings are beneficial and preferred;
If you have to miss a session, we can provide a video recording of the gathering that will be available to stream for 7 days
If you have questions about the schedule, reach out
the facilitator
Hello fellow changemaker!
I’m really thrilled to be offering this series locally and in-person for the first time!
Since launching Creative Somatic Alchemy 3 years ago (and 4 cohorts of over 50 amazing creatives), I’ve had the dream of doing this work and play with us physically in the same circle and space.
Spaces like this give me hope, awe and inspiration in these times of so much uncertainty, suffering and absurdity. The study, praxis, connections and collective spirit in Creative Somatic Alchemy have been gifts that keep giving to me and those who have gone through the series.
I cannot wait to see what alchemy unfolds when we are localized and in the flesh!
In mischievous wonder,
Chetna
INVESTMENT
sliding scale tuition:
$560 - $960
This fee structure is set up to create a sustainable work model based in principles of resource redistribution and financial accessibility. The rate covers space rental, curriculum development and class preparation, art supplies and printed materials, curation of learning resources, communication/administration, and expert facilitation of sessions.
If you have access to wealth, please consider paying at the top of the scale, knowing that your funds will help cover partial sponsorships for others. If you have access to organizational or professional development funds, we accept it and receipts can be provided.
A non-refundable deposit is $210 and due to confirm your place upon admission.
Thereafter, you can pay in installments or in full (see more in the application)
If the sliding scale is not accessible to you and you are eager to be apart of this, who have a number of partially sponsored/energy exchange spots available. please indicate your request for partial sponsorship in your application and we’ll follow up
Applications are open until 5/1
OTHER ALUMNI PERSPECTIVES
LOREN
“Creative Somatic Alchemy is a deeply transformative program. The program leads showed dynamic facilitation skills, humility through moving through their own creative processes, and embodied self-reflection that is so deeply palpable. The intention is abundant with every purposeful choice they collectively made. Any and all feedback is received and processed with the utmost care.
I am leaving the program more courageously walking my path as a scholar creative and more attuned to hear the wisdom of my body, ancestors, and future ancestors. I give the Creative Somatic Alchemy program my highest recommendation, especially for folks who identify as highly sensitive beings and reluctantly name themselves as artists. Your community awaits here.”
“I can not recommend this program highly enough. I had important revelations that strengthened both my art practice and my journey of personal growth. honestly, I am not sure that I could have reached these revelations on my own or even with a therapist. there is something unique about this program that requires you to reach deep down and reflect on yourself, your needs, and your wants through a creative lens.
So whether you are on a journey of self-evolution, want to get reconnected to your inner creative goddess, or desire to use the program for professional development (like I did), you will benefit from this experience. you will grow through accountability and strategic support. And you will flourish creatively and existentially because of the resources, wisdom, and safe space provided.”
RÉ
ASIA
“This program was so impactful in my life. I felt very drawn to taking this class and I wasn’t quite sure why. I followed my intuition and applied as soon as i saw it. I went in thinking i wanted to get some tips about how to incorporate creativity more into my daily life. I thought i’d learn how to make more time to paint and write.
With the support of the course, Chetna and my fellow cohort members I was moved to launch a whole business. This had been an idea of mine for a while but the tools the course provided really allowed me to see myself as capable and worthy of doing it.
If you’re even the slightest bit curious i highly recommend.”
“Through the program, I have come to engage with every day processes like dreaming, offering, playing, in a more meaningful way. as a fourth-gen South African, the decolonial lens has brought comfort and empowerment when self defining these processes.
I am grateful for learning to take time to slow down and spend time imagining my dreams. and if this dream was to only exist in the creative juices of my being, the tools of this program supported me to be ok with this and trust in what is.
I love how Chetna draws from varied resources to inspire a fruitful relationship with abundance; how she “holds” the innate evolution of participants towards more aligned relationship with our creative flow.
Because of the offerings shared in community; I am filled with curiosity about humanity and where our worlds can meet to make common meaning for compassionate moments.”
MANISHA
CLARISSA
“This experience has been life changing.
It’s given me permission to express myself authentically, free from judgement and/or expectation. the other day a friend told me she really loved how creative one of my platforms was and I smiled. This investment is already paying off!
I feel in tune with my creative self and it’s starting to show. I am so grateful for this program and recommend it to any womxn looking to invest in herself. chetna has a gift for cultivating spaces for creative healing and i am honored to have been part of this experience.”