Violet van Hees ...... violet@violetvanhees.com ...... 250-327-4751 (Canada)
Discover how to CREATE GOODNESS!
Welcome
Life is an amazing journey. A journey to be embraced. Savoured. Lived with gusto and wonder and love. A journey that calls on body, heart, mind and spirit.
You have things to do that are calling your name! Let's explore how your smart body - and whole self - can do what you love, with more freedom and ease. And FUN!
About Violet van Hees
All my life, I have loved exploring, learning, and adventures.
I work with heart, interest in you, clean boundaries, and curiosity.
I love to work with people who are curious about their own journey, and who are ready to create goodness, freedom and ease.
The Formal Stuff
I am a movement expert with more than 30 years experience.
- Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner® since 2007
- Tellington TTouch® Equine Practitioner since 2006
- BCRPA Registered Fitness Leader from 1982 to 2016 (Group Fitness 1982-2016; Weight Training 1995 to 2016; Supervisor of Fitness Leaders 1988 to 1998; Trainer of Fitness Leaders from 1998 to 2016).
As well, in 2016 I completed Kathy Kain’s “Touching Trauma: Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapists” program which is grounded in the Somatic Experiencing work and builds on that further to work with trauma that is stuck in the body.
I have a B.A. in Geography and a Professional Teaching Certificate from Simon Fraser University.
I am currently the Chair of the North American Training Accreditation Board of the Feldenkrais Guild of North America®.
The Fun Stuff
I love hanging out with horses, stand-up paddle boarding (including surfing!) on the ocean and lakes and rivers, being out in the forest, and learning about new stuff that intrigues me.
I live in Deep Bay on Vancouver Island in British Columbia (Canada). My spirited big black Canadian horse, Shiraz, says she wants to be mentioned - as does my handsome cat Max.
My approach to working with trauma that is stuck in the body
Our bodies are smart. The top biological priority for your body is survival ...in essence: stay safe, and keep going. And, you need to FEEL SAFE, before any other learning can happen.
Your patterns and ways of holding yourself are there for a reason. A reason that made sense and was important - and was the best strategy your body could figure out to do, to keep you safe and keep you going - at the time the pattern first started.
Working with me, we will explore how to befriend your body. How to recognize how this pattern or posture somehow helped to take care of you, and find out what you could do instead now that works even better for you.
Your body believes what you experience, not what you think. So, we will explore new ways of moving, and regularly check with your body: "does this feel safe - and work - for ME?"
Once something feels SAFE, and like A GOOD FIT, and USEFUL - to all of YOU - your whole self can embrace it.
That's when deep learning, and lasting change, can happen.
Some things i love...
Keep on exploring
I aim to learn something new, often. This keeps life interesting, and full of adventure! :-)
These days, I'm learning to ocean surf and ride rivers on my stand-up paddle board. This started after I gibbled my knee (long story) and could no longer whitewater kayak and canoe. But I could stand! And so, this new field of paddling adventure emerged for me.
As Mary Oliver's poem asks:
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
The power of fun
Learning stuff works a WHOLE lot better if it feels intriguing, safe, and at least wee bit fun.
This "being human" business is not always easy. If we can laugh a bit, there is room for breath, and for flow, and for something new to emerge.
And THAT has power.
Create Goodness
Create Goodness
My focus is on creating goodness, (not dwelling on what we don't want).
The creative process has such power and beauty. It draws out our vitality, our fierce clarity. It has what I call "pull", which is distinct from things we need to "push" ourselves to do.
Let's go open the doors, and walk into that field.