Over the course of 2 weekends in person:
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Learn how to create empowering women’s circles that nourish your community and your own sense of purpose.
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Deepen confidence in your space holding and facilitation, with a range of best practice skills.
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Develop a toolkit of rituals, techniques and practices to enhance your circles for the women who attend.
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Reconnect with this ancient tradition in modern times, to live your part in a global movement for change.
(with a process that guides you to lead your first circle within 3 months)
Calling the . . .
Circle Lovers
Yoga Teachers
Space Holders
Therapists
Visionaries
Circle holders looking for inspiration…
Welcome…
You have a passion for women’s circles and are drawn to holding your own sacred spaces for others.
You have some space holding skills and would like to develop your own best practice to enhance your facilitation and hold deeper transformation for your community.
You know you have the potential to hold powerful experiences through your circles, if you just had a wider toolkit of practices, techniques or rituals to weave in.
You are drawn to community and sisterhood and would like to go on a journey with women with a similar vision to you.
You’ve landed in the right place…
The Women's Circle Training is here for you
Welcome, it’s so good to have you here.
Circles are at the heart of Shala, and as the founder here, I’ve poured my 2 decades of experience as a facilitator into this unique training.
Whether you found this training because you are ready to hold your first circle, or enhance the space you are already holding, I want you to know that in this training you will uncover your own unique way, alongside learning a toolkit that enables you to hold the potent space of transformation for those you desire to hold it for.
I dedicate to you the experience I have gained during 12 years holding groups within the holistic world/retreats and 10 years prior to that as a drama facilitator…
Because when I ran my first circle, I wasn’t sure how to facilitate group conversation…
I was unsure how many practices to bring in, or whether to leave more time for sharing…
I worried whether people would get along…
But as I held more and more circles, I found a consistent way to develop inclusive group dynamics that created more empowering transformation for the people in the room.
This experience has supported me to become confident in my capacity to hold circles.
And now, it’s my mission to support you to do the same.
Because creating and holding circle is a craft..
And you can (re)learn it..
I trust that you are ready to craft your own unique way of space holding so you can facilitate inspiring and sacred circles that offer deep connection and healing to your communities.
So, where do we start?
We get really clear on why you’re doing it and what your intention/vision is…
We learn and practice advanced facilitation skills
We create an extensive toolkit of practices, rituals and themes
And build the confidence within to allow the magic to happen…
Your Journey
Set over two weekends we move through 8 elements:
1/Circle Foundations
Learn the history of circle and why women circles are reemerging.
Create and clarify your circle agreements, intentions and vision.
Learn how to hold different types of circles, structure them and the practicalities of setting up your own.
2/Facilitation & Space Holding Skills
Discover your purpose as a facilitator and the role your body language and nervous system regulation play in holding space.
Learn to enhance levels of listening and the subtlety of advanced space holding skills.
3/Female Archetypal Activation
Activate, heal and embody the feminine by connecting with the different energies of the divine feminine archetypes. Discover how to channel these into your circles.
4/Creating Sacred Space, Incorporating Ritual & Considering Themes
Experience a variety of ways to transition to sacred space. Consider themes for your circles and create, receive and practice a toolkit of potent rituals to draw on.
5/Grounding & Yogic Techniques
Experience a range of grounding and breathwork techniques and learn how to create your own guided relaxation (yoga nidra). Alongside incorporating women’s yoga into your circles - connecting with shifts in energy of the seasons/elements (5 element theory) and Partner Yoga techniques for bonding.
6/Moon Phases & Natural Cycles
Understand how to work with the Moon phases and what themes to draw in, as well as learning to connect with astrological phases and how to weave them into your circle.
7/The Inner Work & Resolving Conflict in Circle
Explore deep shadow work – Including the Sister Wound and Witch Wound and create your toolkit to avoid & resolve conflict. Learn behaviour archetypes and how to navigate them.
8/Developing your unique Circle offering
Discover your unique circle style and manifest women to attend your circles, considering online and in person circles.
This is for you if:
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You have space holding skills, yet structuring a circle feels mystifying or challenging.
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You’ve gained so much from attending circles, yet are unsure where to start in holding your own.
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You have a desire to support women in your community who feel isolated.
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You’re looking for a deep dive experience of sisterhood and community.
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You want to feel confident in your facilitation and space holding skills.
Your circle running in a positive way comes down to the clear intentions, vision and setting out of consistent guidelines that we develop BEFORE the circle gathers…
Blended with the confidence and trust that all will be well on the day…
This training equips you to be an intentional, sacred and powerful circle holder.
What’s included in the Women’s Circle Training?
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4 days of in person training – experience of being in and holding circle.
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Detailed Course Manual - includes a large toolkit of rituals and themes.
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Scripts for yoga nidras & meditations.
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Certification with Shala Women Training which is accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals.
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Community of Facilitators.
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Potential for Mentorship after the training.
BONUS
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How to create your own guided relaxations (Yoga Nidra) workshop.
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How to incorporate Cacao into your circles.
You’ll walk away with…
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A clear sense of your vision and what you offer – deeply believing in its value.
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Able to go into your circles feeling confident with a brilliant structure – and a toolkit to change direction in the moment - because of the depth of the training you’ve experienced.
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Feeling part of a global movement that positively affects the planet.
And not just that…
What you learn in this experience will positively ripple out to other areas of your life and relationships, because of the skills you learn around listening, co-regulating and holding.
The Solstice Ceremony was just perfect. Anna is such a kind, caring teacher who holds space for women beautifully. The whole evening was perfectly designed- a cacao ceremony, journaling, a sharing circle, yoga and a gong bath in the garden to finish. Just divine. Anna has a lovely energy and that is reflected in the beautiful space she has built at Shala. I can't wait to return.
Elise Carter
I have attended multiple, seasonal sharing circles with Anna at Shala over the past year. I am grateful to have been able to share such beautiful, gentle and respectful spaces that have been led with intentional care. There is something incredibly powerful and moving about being in a sacred space of vulnerability and truth. I have received essential insight and strength from the opportunity these circles have given me to take time and space for my past, present and future self.
Alex Sainsbury
Hi, I’m Anna Brook,
Your Circle Facilitator
A warm welcome.
This training is a culmination of the 20+ years that I have been facilitating circle spaces.
My passion for Women’s Circles comes from my 12 years as a circle facilitator and Women’s Wellness Yoga Therapist. I have over 800 hrs + of training with world class teachers such as Uma Dinsmore Tuli, Anoushka Florence & Swami Saradananda.
I’m an experienced retreat teacher and the founder of Shala Women – women’s wellness space in Margate where we hold a variety of regular circles/retreats.
Previous to this, I spent 10 years honing facilitation and space holding skills as a drama facilitator with a myriad of groups, and I hold circle space within professional wellness companies.
A life long fascination with practices, ceremony and ritual means I am drawn to create multidimensional spaces that weave together a rich tapestry of influences. I’m a trained Breathwork coach (specialist in trauma release), Cacaoista, Rite of Passage Ceremonialist (feminine ceremonies like closing the bones) and menstrual cycle/birthworker specialist.
I’ve had my work featured in Om Yoga Magazine, Tatler, Gather magazine, Margate Mercury and ‘Cene.
In the Shala Women’s Circle Training, I’ll share my extensive toolkit with you, so that you can discern the elements which align most with your experience and intentions for your circles.
Because the world needs circle more than ever…
I’m fully here to support you in developing your vision…
GUEST FACILITATORS
I’ll be joined by highly experienced facilitators in their specalist areas…
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Jo Miller
Somatics
Jo will guide you in exploring how trauma may be present in your circles...and how to incorporate some somatic tools.
Jo is a trainee elder and somatic witch. She teaches and mentors other healing professionals internationally. She is widely sought after for the bridging of the soul and body in somatic work as well as her de-shaming approach to healing. Her work is informed by her advanced-level studies in things like neuroscience as well as her time with elders of old ways of knowing.
Astro Dejavu (Ruth)
Moon Phases & Astrology
Ruth is a trained Traditional Western Astrologer who studied for 3 years at London School of Astrology, receiving mentorship from some of the world’s leading astrologers.
She will guide you to learn the foundations of astrology, how to recognise pivotal timings, hold a moon circle and offer an introduction to your own birth chart. You'll also receive a ritual kit.
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HOW MUCH TIME WILL I NEED FOR THE TRAINING?This is a 50 hour training course. The course is held over 2 x full day weekends (4 days). There is also a reading list, lessons plans to create & an essay to complete.
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DATES FOR 2025 ARE:Margate 12/13 APRIL 2025 17/18 MAY 2025
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I’M ALREADY LEADING CIRCLES – IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR ME?Yes absolutely..this is a chance to expand your skills with inspiring access to new rituals, themes, ceremony and a way to boost confidence and deepen space holding skills. This course will also support deepening retreat holding skills.
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WILL I BE READY TO HOLD MY OWN CIRCLE?After moving through this programme, you’ll have a wealth of knowledge and a toolkit ready to run your own circles. There is also the option of continued mentorship with Anna after the course.
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WHAT ARE ANNA’S CREDENTIALS?This training brings you 20+ years of my facilitation experience. Specifically 12 years as a circle facilitator and Women’s Wellness Yoga Therapist. I have over 800 hrs + of training with world class teachers. I’m the founder of Shala Women – Women’s Wellness Space in Margate where we hold a variety of regular circles. You’ll also receive the finest array of practices, ceremony and ritual I have drawn from my dedicated exploration…I’m a trained Breathwork coach (specialist in trauma release), Cacaoista, Rite of Passage Ceremonialist (feminine ceremonies like closing the bones) and menstrual cycle/birthworker specialist. In the Shala Women’s Circle Training, I’ll share my extensive toolkit with you, so that you can discern the elements which align most with your experience and intentions for your circles.
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CAN I GET TIME WITH ANNA?Anna will run the majority of the training. You’ll also have the option of discounted one to one mentorship sessions after the course.
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WHAT ARE YOUR TERMS & CONDITIONS?You can find everything you need to know on this page here: https://www.shalawomen.co.uk/retreats-workshops-courses/womens-circle-training-terms-and-conditions
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I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTIONIf you’d like to talk things through…feel free to book a clarity call with Anna here
