Circle Holding Fundamentals
“It was really great to attend your workshop. It encouraged me a lot, giving insights with lots of practical issues at the same time. I felt absolutely welcomed and held securely” Csilla Dulacska
Cost includes live 3-hour training, replays & support material.
Monday 3 February 2025
1200-1500 GMT (Zoom)
EARLY BIRD ENDS 15 DECEMBER 2024
Morven Hamilton, Senior Yoga Teacher & Trainer
“I highly recommend this training for anyone who holds space for others. Julia and Tessa are highly experienced, knowledgable and articulate on the subject of circle holding and they co-facilitate with ease and grace. There was so much value packed into just three hours, it was worth every penny of the investment..”
Claire Mackinnon, Transformational Coach and Facilitator, Writer, Speaker & Educator
“Your training really helped me lean into and trust that if I hold a structure, and the space, then magic will happen. I weaved this into the invitation too, making it clear what people could expect, and who it is for. To me, circle holding feels like such a natural, needed way of gathering together, and my dream is to offer more and more of these spaces as the months and years roll on.
Thanks you for being part of this unfolding!”
CIRCLE FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOP
3-Hour Introduction to Circle Facilitation - Live Training with Replays
Course Outline:
Facilitating a circle of people in a non-judgmental, brave space is a deeply enriching and transformative experience. While a well-facilitated circle might seem easy to conduct, there are many layers of intention, skill, and preparation that go into creating a space where people feel safe and supported to share openly.
This 3-hour live training is designed for anyone interested in learning how to facilitate circles. Whether you're a charity worker, yoga teacher, coach, sound therapist, environmental activist, LGBTQIA+ advocate, carer, or postgraduate student, this course will equip you with the essential tools and knowledge to guide meaningful and impactful circles.
Training Details:
Date: Monday, 3 February 2025
Time: 09:30 - 12:30 GMT / 20:30 - 23:30 ACT
Format: Live training with recording and support materials provided
Certification: Certification will be awarded upon completion of the training.
What You'll Learn:
Understanding Circle Facilitation:
The power and purpose of circles in fostering connection and community.
Key principles of circle facilitation: inclusion, active listening, and holding space.
How to create a non-judgmental and brave space where participants feel safe to share.
Practical Skills for Facilitating Circles:
How to guide a group through the circle process.
Tools for managing group dynamics and encouraging participation.
Techniques for managing difficult conversations or conflicts that may arise.
Building Trust and Safety:
Methods for establishing trust within the circle, ensuring that participants feel heard and respected.
Approaches to creating an environment where participants feel safe to open up, even on sensitive topics.
Ethical Considerations and Boundaries:
How to maintain ethical boundaries while facilitating.
Understanding the facilitator’s role in maintaining neutrality and avoiding bias.
Practical Application and Case Studies:
Real-world examples of circles in different settings (e.g., therapy, community building, conflict resolution, LGBTQIA+ support).
Strategies for adapting circle facilitation to suit different contexts and needs.
Additional Information:
Replay Access: If you are unable to attend the live session, you will receive a recording of the training along with all supporting materials.
Support: After the session, you will have access to further resources to deepen your understanding and practice.
This training is ideal for anyone who wishes to use circles as a tool for building connection, trust, and community. Whether you're new to facilitation or looking to deepen your skills, this session will give you the foundation to create meaningful, impactful circles.
Full terms and conditions & privacy information can be found HERE
Your Training Leaders
Tessa Venuti Sanderson
Co-Founder, Circle Holding
Julia Davis
Co-Founder, Circle Holding
Julia and Tessa were running circles separately for years in London and Reading respectively. During the pandemic they joined forces and started running online circles, keeping people connected.
About Julia:
Transformative Group Conversations: Training in Circle Holding and Communication
Working with groups has been a transformative experience for me, and I believe it can be just as impactful for you. Whether you are a coach transitioning from one-on-one work to facilitating group settings, looking to improve communication within your workplace, or seeking to host a talking circle in your community, sometimes the right conversation is all it takes to clarify your vision.
I’ve been hosting and participating in circles since my teenage years, and these skills have only deepened as I’ve integrated them into my work as a yoga teacher, trainer, and community builder. I’ve facilitated hundreds of circles within the yoga community and now train yoga teachers, coaches, and community leaders in circle-holding techniques.
In addition to my circle work, I oversee all training for the Yoga Teachers Forum, a community of 1,000+ individuals. I’ve co-created and facilitated many of these training programs, collaborating closely with instructors and contributing to course design, delivery, and marketing.
I also co-founded The State of Birth Symposium, where I continue to explore and promote transformative conversations around birth and parenting.
About Tessa:
My special interests are rites of passage (menarche, pregnancy/ birth and perimenopause circles and ceremonies) and taking a trauma-informed approach to teaching and facilitation.
It’s through circle that I saw a demand for more knowledge about the body and have written a number of books for women and children, including Pearls of Birth Wisdom: An Inner Journey with Stories, Insights and Practices; Colour Your Cycle - Inner Season Mandalas; and the Ruby Luna series. I’m passionate about supporting anyone who can see an unmet need in the community and wants to fill that gap.
I enjoying mentoring those who are self-employed and want to create a heartfelt, sustainable business, but need some help with logistics, getting comfortable with marketing and boosting numbers. Whether you want to run standalone talking circles or want to incorporate them into workshops / retreats / talks, I can hold your hand through the process.
They are co-authors of “Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles”
and co-hosts of the Circle Holding Podcast