“..as we tap into the deep sources of body wisdom through creative art expression, we dance the renewal, recreation and healing of ourselves and our world”
– Anna Halprin, leading 20th century avant-garde dancer and co-founder of Tamalpa Institute.
Dance and movement as art and physical activity are well recognized for their ability to support better physical wellbeing, and arts such as drawing and poetry are known for their ability to foster creativity. The Tamalpa Life Art Process® was created through the collaboration of Anna Halprin with her daughter Daria Halprin. Tamalpa Life Art Process® uses the full range of expression including movement/dance, drawing, writing, and voice to help us connect more fully with who we are, and to create the life that we desire to live. People from over 50 countries ranging from students to therapists to artists and healthcare provider have been drawn to work with this process.
Tamalpa Life Art Process training has professional recognition through the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (https://ismeta.org/). Professional registration with ISMETA requires 500 hours in an approved training program and adherence to clearly defined professional standards.
After 2 years of training in Tamalpa Life Art Process, I am now a practitioner working under supervision.
A typical workshop lasts for about 3 hours, and starts with an exercise to center ourselves in our body through awareness of sensation, and free and easy movements. This allows participants to feel anchored in their bodies, which then opens up the way to other activites – which can include going out into nature, or other activities with the group, which sets the scene for further personal exploration through drawing, or creative writing, or the use of voice. A key element of Tamalpa Life Art Process is the way in which different forms of expression can be mixed, or mirrored, which enables participants to find and explore their own authentic way of expression.
Individual sessions are also possible, generally lasting for 1 hour, and they use the tools of Tamalpa Life Art Process. Working with movement can be therapeutic and allow the release of feeling, and a deeper connection with the client’s body.
