To Feel Again
"We cannot heal what we cannot feel" -John Bradshaw
“Numb the dark and you numb the light.” - Brené Brown
From seamless food delivery and unlimited entertainment at our fingertips, to captivating social media apps, to endless shopping and gambling opportunities- we all have access to countless ways in which to numb and distract ourselves from our inner feelings and emotions. Our modern life leaves us over stimulated and less aware of the more subtle aspects of our inner world.
'To Feel Again' is a brand-new onsite programme created by programmes manager James O' Connell (in collaboration with other facilitators) with the intention of initiating a journey within each participant towards feeling a wider range of emotions, feelings and sensations in their daily lives.
Incorporating neuroscience, meditation, mindful movement, Qigong, Art Therapy, and Dance; this unique programme aims to explore mental, emotional and physical practices in which we can connect with ourselves more deeply while also exploring what might be getting in the way of our innate sensitivity.
This programme is for people who are aware of the impact modern life is having on their access to their inner landscape and wish to begin or assist their brave journey towards feeling in a world coloured by numbness. This is also a wonderful opportunity for participants to dip their toes into various practices that they may have never tried before.
Dates:
Tuesday June 9th 7-9pm (Joan Flannelly- Mindfulness and Emotions)
Tuesday June 16th 7-9pm (Joan Flannelly- Mindfulness and Emotions)
Joan Flannelly is the founding teacher of Heart Space, a meditation centre based in the west of Ireland. She is a tutor on the Sanctuary’s Teacher Training Programme and teaches on the Level 2 – Responding with Compassion course, as well as the Art of Compassion and Caring for the Caregivers programmes. Joan began teaching after experiencing profound changes in her own life through the practice of mindfulness.
Tuesday June 23rd 7-9pm (Mark Kinghan - Qigong)
Mark Kinghan has over 40 years’ experience in Eastern contemplative and healing arts. A practitioner of Chinese Medicine and Qigong, he has studied Nejang with Dr. Nida Chenagtsang in the Yuthok Nyingthik tradition. Mark teaches with warmth, precision, and insight into how movement, breath, and awareness interweave to support meditation practice.
Tuesday June 30th 7-9pm (Andrea Boudin - Mindful Movement)
Andrea has been self-employed as a yoga and meditation teacher, drawing on a variety of yogic and meditative traditions. She regularly leads group classes and workshops for 10 to 20 participants, working with a diverse range of clients. Andrea has organised and led yoga sessions in schools, companies, and private groups, and has taught at the Sanctuary since 2010. Alongside her training in different yogic lineages, she holds a doctoral degree in Western Philosophy.
Tuesday July 6th 7-9pm (Ciara Holland - Mindful Dance)
With a degree in Humanities, a Diploma in Life Coaching, and training in both Chakra Dancing and MBLC Mindfulness Teaching, she weaves together mind, body, and heart-based practices. Her own journey taught her the power of resilience, self-care, and conscious living. Today, she facilitates mindfulness and movement, inviting others to connect with balance, wellbeing, and joy—believing that when we nourish ourselves, the ripple of wellbeing naturally touches and benefits those around us.
Ciara has been part of the Sanctuary community for over eight years, where she completed her MBLC training. For the past four years she has been facilitating mindfulness and movement groups here, as well as in community, organisation and school settings.
Tuesday July 13th 7-9pm (Gerri Geoghan - Art Expression)
Gerri Geoghegan qualified as an Art Therapist at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, in 1996. Since then, she has worked in Ireland within acute adult mental health, child and adolescent mental health services, and family-focused care, while also teaching art therapy and personal development at third level. Since 2008, Gerri has offered supervision and consultation to both junior and senior creative arts psychotherapists and counselling psychologists. In 2022, she established her private art therapy practice at the Sanctuary.
James O' Connell will be present for all sessions, ensuring that the thread throughout the programme remains steady and coherent.
