Taste for Life
Erasmus+ Training course
3 - 10 September 2024
Centro Didattico Valpore - Italy
Taste for Life
Taste for Life is an 8-day training program hosted by Teatro Invisibile, designed to make a meaningful impact on the mental health, body image, and self- esteem of young people by empowering youth workers with enhanced knowledge, tools, and methodologies to effectively recognize and address youth challenges.
The project enhances mental health, positive body-mind and emotional balance through holistic approaches by equipping youth workers with tools to help young people develop healthy coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety, considering the impacts of adolescence, societal ideals, and recent social crises.
During the program, participants will dive into a combination of mindfulness, embodiment and nature-based practices to encourage acceptance, compassion, and critical thinking. Participants will develop skills to prevent and counteract the development of distress, anxiety, perfectionism, loss of control, depression and self-unworthiness that leads to the fade away of distancing oneself, which often leads to eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
The training highlights the importance of enabling sincere self-expression and individual advancement. Participants are invited to tune with nature and delve into introspective exploration, fostering a deeper bond with themselves and the natural world through embodiment, mindfulness and reconnection as a way to lead to self-regulation.
Who is this training for?
The participants involved in this project must be dedicated youth workers with a keen interest in integrating mindfulness and embodiment methods into their professional practices.
Moreover participants must be prepared to:
- engage fully in the program, including follow-up and dissemination
- be and learn in Nature, spending time outdoors, no matter the weather!
- spend one week within a tiny community of participants who take care of their common space and time
- explore and experiment with body based methods: movement, contact improvisation, playfight, creative expression, breathwork
- experience meditation and breathing techniques with curiosity and open mindedness
- gather new tools and inspirations for their work and activities with youngsters
Who can apply?
We expect you to participate in the whole program. It means coming later or leaving earlier is not allowed. Also, prepare for an intensive experience with at least 6 hours of activities every day!
IMPORTANT NOTE
A training course is not a vacation or a nearly cost-free spiritual retreat, nor is it a place for personal therapy sessions. Taste for Life is meant to be dynamic learning adventure where you’ll immerse yourself in intensive growth, both personally and professionally. It’s about seizing the opportunity to absorb new skills and insights, ready to give back to the world with fresh perspectives and expertise.
Main topics
– Embracing the wisdom of the natural world, learning from its resilience, adaptability and interconnectedness and allowing ourselves to be inspired by its beauty and complexity.
– Welcoming introspection, being willing to confront our fears, insecurities, and uncertainties, and allowing ourselves to be authentic and open-hearted in our interactions with others.
– Cultivating recognition of the profound connection between our physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Follow our bodies as a gateway to deeper insight and understanding.
– Embracing experimentation, curiosity, and playfulness, and allowing ourselves to tap into the endless reservoir of inspiration that surrounds us.
– Cultivating empathy, compassion, and respect towards others and the environment, striving to be agents of positive change and healing within our communities.
Methodologies
– Wildness exploration, nature-based activities that encourage participants to connect with and learn from their surroundings.
– Somatic, kinesthetic and holistic learning approaches, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, and emphasizing experiential learning through movement, touch, and bodily expression.
– Exploring creative expression for self-discovery and personal growth, tapping into imagination, emotions, and innermost thoughts.
– Embodiment activities such as authentic movement, physical interaction, and improvisation, allowing participants to explore the link between movement, trust, and communication in a playful and supportive environment.
– Facets of yoga and the practice of stillness in action encompasses a wide range of yogic practices including pranayama, asanas, meditation, mindfulness and philosophical inquiry. These practices offer tools for self-awareness, stress reduction, and inner peace, fostering a sense of balance and harmony in body, mind, and spirit.
What will happen during the course?
We will:
– Connect with the forest through movement and dance, spending time alone, exploring, and reflecting.
– Explore emotions, behavioral patterns, and reactions.
– Examine psychological aspects through the perspectives of the body, movement, and proprioception.
– Hike, occasionally at night or in the early morning darkness.
– Draw inspiration from nature, its cycles, patterns, and energies.
– Meditate, integrate experiences, embrace silence, and simply be.
PRACTICALITIES
Before applying please read all this information
WHEN
Arrival day is 2nd of September, departure will be the 11th.
VENUE
The training will be hosted at “Centro didattico ambientale Valpore”. Valpore is a self-catering holiday home located in a stunning location: a promontory at an altitude of 1276 meters on the northern slope of Monte Grappa, in the municipality of Seren del Grappa (Belluno).
Valpore website: https://valpore.org/
ACCOMMODATION
Valpore is a place of great beauty, nature and simplicity. The rooms are essential, warm and clean, with bunk beds and not much space for else. There is the option to sleep in tents (some will be provided by us, but you can bring your own).
Participants must bring their sleeping bags (or sheets) and a pillow case. Phone connection around the house is limited if not absent. You can get it by hiking 15 minutes uphill.
Wi-Fi: we might get hotspot few hours per day kindly granted by the keepers, but let’s not take it for granted.
If these little discomforts don’t scare you, you will be able to fully enjoy the reward this place, the program and the chef will offer.
TRAVEL AND REIMBURSEMENT
The travel costs of the participants will be refunded after the training course usually within 6 – 8 weeks (after participants send all their travel documents and fulfill closing tasks for the project including dissemination).
We highly encourage and support participants in planning Green travel (train, carpooling, bus).
Maximum amounts:
Italy: 28€
Slovenia, Czechia: 211€
Poland, Latvia: 309€
Germany, France, Romania: 309€ (417€ if Green travel)
Spain: 309€ (mainland) / 395€ (Canary islands)
FOOD
The delicious food will be vegan/vegetarian, prepared with love and care by our cooks.
In order to provide and keep a safe and focused atmosphere for everybody we invite you to agree with an alcohol/drugs-free policy during the whole training course.
COSTS
Participation contribution: we offer the opportunity to self-assess your contribution on a sliding scale between 100 – 200 euro (to be paid in cash upon arrival). Considering the participation in 8 full days of activities, please choose an amount that responds to your personal possibilities and matches the values of balance and reciprocity
TEAM OF TRAINERS AND TEACHERS
Antonio Cargnello
Antonio is a passionate trainer who loves to craft experiences for self development, group awareness, creative expression and pursuit of a wise and joyful freedom. He facilitates workshops for teenagers, students, youth workers and adults, using and mixing his expertise and experiences from theatrical improvisation, contemporary dance, martial arts and contact improvisation.
Gemma Paganelli
Gemma's guide leads into a combination of layers through dance, meditation, introspection, and pedagogy, combining physical and mental disciplines. With a background in contemporary dance and a passion for personal growth, Gemma interprets embodiment as a creative ongoing process that inspires positive change, self-discovery, contact, and transformation.
Kristaps Ditke
Kristaps specializes in guiding individuals to recharge their internal batteries and discover healthy outlets for releasing energy, all while channeling that energy into meaningful pursuits that foster personal growth and a zest for life. As a Sudarshan Kriya instructor, he also imparts techniques for inner harmony and vitality.
THE CHEF & THE FOOD
Elizabete Sitnikova
Elizabete SitnikovaElizabete cooks meals that tell a story and remind of her home and great adventures. She integrates nutrition and flavour preparing delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes.