Science - Politic - Culture- Creativity - Animism : A provocative and non-Eurocentric somatic approach to trauma, grief and nervous system restoration
A soft space for exploration, embracing the uncertainty of where grief and trauma may lead us.
“The Eurocentric paradigm often centers on 'healing' trauma by fixing individuals, pathologizing, and suppressing grief. In contrast, the approach I live by invites us to lean into grief—to feel it fully, own it, and become curious about our fragmented parts. I can’t promise “healing”, but I invite you to explore what “healing” truly means for you, in your own body.” Tobi Ayé
TRAUMA is often stigmatized as something bad or dysfunctional; something that we shouldn’t have. But in fact, we are already born into a traumatized and fragmented world and the air we are breathing is full of grief. Trauma in our nervous system could be understand as a result of an intelligent and necessary response that saved us. It helped us survive and cope through the situation in that moment.
We don’t let GRIEF rise in us not alone allow ourselves to feel it. Western paradigm has even pathologized grief. Although GRIEF holds answers and solutions to many of the world’s issues we are facing - whether on a collective or individual level.
We need to change the way we understand grief.
We need to grief differently.
Trauma & grief work helps us get in touch with the wisdom of our body. By integrating non Eurocentric practices and understanding of trauma and grief to somatic work, we invoke and build your nervous system’s capacity to respond to situations instead of reacting to them.
Practitioner Alignment
I work with individuals across a range of genders, races, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds, with a particular focus on supporting bodies from the Global South, as well as systemically marginalized communities. However, I do not work with everyone who approaches me. I hold the Indigenous belief that each person has a practitioner meant for them, and that what we often call 'healing' is, in part, the process of finding and connecting with that practitioner.
Up Coming Educational & Workshops Offerings
COLLECTIVE RESONANCE: THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF GRIEVING TOGETHER
GRIEF CIRCLE FACILITATOR TRAINING - FUNDAMENTALS
Course day & hours: Every 2 weeks , Saturdays & Sundays from 10:00 am to 16 pm, Berlin time
Course Length: 13 modules spread over 3 months, with a one-month break from December to January
Number of participants: This training is designed for a small cohort, max 8 people
Course language: English
WHY THIS TRAINING
In today's complex and fast-paced society, the need for understanding and honoring grief has never been more critical. Grief, in its various forms, permeates every aspect of our lives, from personal losses to global crises. Without proper support and understanding, unresolved grief can manifest as emotional distress, physical ailments, and societal unrest.
"Collective Resonance: The Neurobiology of Grieving Together," is an immersive training program that explores the intricate interplay of neuroscience, cultural sensitivity, and practical skills in grief facilitation. In this transformative journey, participants will delve into the essential principles of navigating grief across diverse contexts, including personal loss, ecological challenges, and societal injustices.
Drawing upon the latest insights from neuroscience, participants will gain a deep understanding of the neurobiological processes underlying grief, enabling them to support individuals and communities with empathy, compassion, and scientific rigor. Through experiential exercises, group discussions, participants will learn practical techniques for creating safe and supportive spaces for groups and communities.
But "Collective Resonance" goes beyond theoretical knowledge – it embodies a commitment to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. Participants will explore diverse perspectives on grief, learn about the transformative power of rituals in the grieving process, and engage with the rich tapestry of human experience.
This training is not just about understanding grief – it's about harnessing the collective wisdom and resilience of communities to navigate life's most profound challenges. By fostering connection, empathy, and understanding, "Collective Resonance" empowers participants to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those they serve, creating a ripple effect of expansion and compassion in our world.
Join us in redefining the landscape of grief facilitation and fostering a culture of collective resilience and support. Together, let us amplify the voices of those who grieve and create spaces where we expand and flourish.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE…. PART 2 - ADVANCED EXPERIENCE
Course day & hours: Every Friday Starting on October 11th, 8 pm to 10:30 pm, Berlin time
Course language: English
Course Length: 3 modules spread over 4 months, with 15 days break between each module
Number of participants: This workshop is designed for a small cohort, max 8 people
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
This workshop is a follow-up exclusively for those who have completed the first "It Takes a Village" training. In this advanced experiential workshop, we move beyond the familiar terrain of the brain and nervous system to delve into the deeper layers of the soul, exploring the unseen forces that shape our lives and the lives of our children.
Guided by the wisdom of indigenous perspectives, we will explore the family soul, understanding the dynamics that repeat across generations through a lens that honors ancestral knowledge and ways of life. This exploration will be conducted entirely through oral transmission, staying true to traditional methods of sharing knowledge, which emphasize deep listening and connection.
As we journey through the complex dynamics of family life, we often find ourselves confronting patterns that seem to echo the experiences of our ancestors. These patterns are not just the result of trauma but also the imprints of our parents’ and ancestors’ souls. By looking beyond the surface, and through the wisdom of indigenous practices, we can begin to understand the underlying energies and unspoken truths that drive these dynamics.
In this workshop, we will:
My Offerings
My Approach
1-1 Sessions
In Person / Virtual
Facilitation & Training
In Person / Virtual
Free Monthly Grief Space
About Tobi
Tobi is a dyer, mender, and weaver of stories, born and raised in Benin. Movement and displacement have been integral to her life, shaping her identity. Growing up across the West African sub-region and living in North Africa, notably Tunisia, she has personally experienced the ethnic, inter-religious, and social divisions rooted in the continent's colonial trauma.
Now based in Portugal after years in Germany, she is a cultural somatic practitioner, grief worker, and educator. Her work focuses on helping individuals and communities repair fractured connections and integrate collective, intergenerational, individual, and systemic trauma and grief.
With a commitment to bridging Indigenous perspectives and modern neurobiology, Tobi created Collective Resonance™, a grief program that trains facilitators to hold space for collective grief processes and acknowledge systemic grief. This program fosters deeper community connections by addressing grief somatically, helping people integrate their losses while nurturing resilience and collective transformation.
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Grief is part of life, part of our growth process, part of us.
What if we make more space to honore it? What if grief more often together?
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