Embodied Listening

An Online Course with Susannah Darling Khan

Embodied Listening whole heartedly  improves all of our relationships including the one we have with ourselves.

"Deep listening is the new hug" - SDK

Listening is a powerful skill that can help keep us all stay sane in these challenging times. It means actually showing up with and for each other and can be done in person, on the phone or on zoom. It is deep medicine for the body, heart and soul of our common humanity.

The Modules

Embodied listening enhances the quality of your self-awareness and your relationships with others. The course is designed for those wanting to practice solo or/and with a practice buddy. The results of this can benefit all areas of our lives, fostering co-creativity, deeper intimacy and stronger personal and professional relationships. This course provides a powerful toolkit for improving communication with others.
*This course works either as a solo journey or with a practice buddy. If you choose to work with a buddy, this is a private arrangement between you and is not arranged by 21G.

Embodied Listening

Introduction

An introduction to what Embodied Listening is, and, what it isn’t. You will gain an understanding of why it matters so much and what it can bring to you in your life.

Presence

Centre of the Wheel

To really hear or receive someone else, you need to become present first. In this module, you will learn how to practice arriving, receiving and being present with yourself. This includes how to bring body, heart and mind together so that can stand at the centre of your own circle.

Warmth & Acknowledgement

East - Fire

Acknowledgement has many applications, not least on online platforms such as zoom calls. It is so easy in large group zoom calls or meetings to accidently edit out the important warmth of the fire and this natural aspect of communication. A little acknowledgement can take our communication into a whole new level and gives you a chance to exercise the super-power of your attention.

Reflection

West - Water

This module is about the classic technique of active listening and how to reflect back what you have understood. This is a powerful yet under-used skill which has positive effects that are practical, emotional, and relational. In its deepest form, reflective listening allows us to put ourselves “in the other persons shoes” and see things from where they stand.

Resonance

South - Earth

Go deeper into the mysteries of embodied resonance. Listening with awareness of the speaker and how their communication is resonating in your own body often brings new information and empathy into the conversation. In this module we learn to use this capacity appropriately.

Overview

North - Air

We review these skills and look at how to apply them as an ongoing tool kit for life. Learn about 5 extra listening “spices” to add more verve to your listening; the incredibly helpful tools of: summing up, distillation, the power of image, some key opening questions and the power of silence.

embodied experience

Here's what people have to say about how studying Embodied Listening with Susannah Darling Khan has changed their lives.

Course Overview

Whatever your level of experience, this course will teach you:

  • A toolkit of specific listening skills to support your personal & professional communication
  • To become more present through reclaiming the territory of your body
  • How to cultivate your compassionate inner witness through the Wise Elder
  • How to deepen your own presence through bringing your body, heart and mind together
  • That your attention is a super-power

The course is carefully and expertly designed as a step-by-step journey. Each module includes:

  • Several short teaching videos
  • Demonstrations of the practices with Susannah & Ya’Acov
  • Guided practices for you in video and downloadable audio format.
  • Worksheets which include: transcriptions of the lessons, enquiries, further notes & resources
  • Multiple-choice questions to check and consolidate your understanding

Susannah Darling Khan

Susannah Darling Khan conceived, developed, directed and teaches this course.

Susannah is one of the most experienced and dedicated of embodied awareness teachers. She has dedicated her professional life to playing her role in the evolution of our human presence on this planet into a humane human presence. Her work enables people to deepen their compassion towards themselves, each other and the biosphere.

For the last 3 decades she has been teaching life-skills through intentional movement practice with her husband, Ya’Acov Darling Khan. Teaching a wide variety of events in diverse situations, she has developed a sophisticated knowledge of the transformational power of embodied practice in supporting self-awareness and empathy for others. Throughout this time, she has developed and taught embodied listening skills to thousands of people around the world. Through this, they have become much better able to accompany others with warmth, honesty and respect. Now, more than ever, as a human community, we need these skills. Susannah’s intention is to bring this work to many more people worldwide through this online course.

Her background is in Gestalt Psychotherapy, Family Constellations and Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Rhythms, all of which have profoundly influenced the development of Susannah and Ya’Acov’s co-creation, Movement Medicine. She is currently deepening her knowledge of how our nervous systems work, both through study and through her relationship with the wild-born Exmoor ponies she works with. Her teaching marries ancient wisdom with neuro-science and intellect to profound effect. Susannah is the co-director of the School of Movement Medicine, works for the prestigious Kingsfund and is the co-author of Movement Medicine: How To Awaken, Dance and Live Your Dreams (Hay House 2007).

Emilio Mula

FILMAKER & ANIMATOR
nu-frame.co.uk

Emilio edited this course, bringing his high wattage creativity and care to the task of lockdown "at a distance" film making.

Emilio is a multidisciplinary artist, working mostly in documenting and creating animations, to support the shifting of this paradigm. 10 years ago he created a small video production company, called NU frame, in Totnes, Devon UK, with the aim of giving a voice to alternative projects, focusing on creating a more caring, conscious and regenerative way of life. He is a perma-culturalist and has been practising Movement Medicine for the last 7 years.

Kata Máthé

GRAPHIC ARTIST
remarker.eu

Kata created the graphics for this course, translating the concepts into gently humorous and precisely communicative visual imagery.

Kata Máthé has been drawing all her life. With a background in traditional Graphic Arts, she started drawing live at events in 2013 to support learning and understanding with powerful images. Her passion is to build bridges through visuals: to create well-structured and aesthetic illustrations, infographics and animations that help people understand each other better and navigate the complexity of our world in a joyful way. She is dedicated to support communities and causes with her work that bring healing and compassion onto Earth. She has been dancing since 2005 and now she is a Movement Medicine Apprentice.

Ya'Acov Darling Khan

Susannah's Practice Partner for the Embodied Listening Course

Susannah and Ya'Acov demonstrate the paired practices together in this course in honest, open, spontaneous and self-revealing dialogue.

Ya’Acov Darling Khan has been recognised as a practicing shaman by Elder Shamans from the Sami (European tradition) and Achuar and Sápara peoples of the Amazon. Together with Susannah, he is the co-creator of Movement Medicine. Ya’Acov’s work come straight from the heart. He inspires people, often with great humour, to remember who they are.

Ya'Acov is the best-selling author of Jaguar in the Body, Butterfly in the Heart. His new book, Shaman, was published by Hay House earlier this year. Susannah and he are the co-authors of the book; Movement Medicine.

“The potency of these practices has been massively important in our day-to-day lives. They have helped us both to listen and to experience what it feels like to be actually listened to. We have been together for 34 years and are experiencing the harvest of all the work we have put in to ourselves and the space between us. At the core of it all? Embodied Listening. Learn these practices and apply them and your experience of being human will change. You deserve it and so do the people you love. And for that matter, so do the people you don’t.” -YDK

"Susannah is one of the most clear and embodied teachers I have had the pleasure to work with. I experience her to be able to listen deeply way beyond words, from heart, mind and body, and in her listening to bring forth new possibilities. I have experienced the transformative, affirmative and supportive power of her listening. To have her distil the essence of her practice into a course for others to learn from is a true gift."

Maaianne Knuth, Founder, Kufunda Learning Village, Zimbabwe

"I can feel that the intention of this course is to pass on this wisdom of Embodied Listening so that people can really use it in day to day life, to live in alignment with who they are. It’s simple and comprehensive. I hear you so clearly and I enjoy that each section is short, with illustrations like wonderful, clear cartoons."

Megumi Miyata, Dance teacher & course participant

"I have personally learned so much, directly from Susannah over the years, that has shaped my own capacity for really listening to another in ways that have profoundly changed my personal relationships and how I am as a teacher.

In this course she distills decades of teaching to make these practical pearls of wisdom available and more accessible to you. I highly recommend this course which is tailored for these very specific times we are living in."

David Mooney, Movement Medicine teacher

"I am deeply enjoying this calm, clear, step by step course. I feel so much need for this real, honest, peaceful sharing. The love filled presentation is helping my whole being and the way you are at home in your own body invites me to rest back into mine."

 

Kristin Glenewinkel, Movement teacher and course participant

"I am so glad that you're making this course. During our private sessions I was blown away with how amazing you were in that therapeutic role.

I have rarely seen a level of emotional intelligence quite like it. Your insights and reflections really stuck with me as I'm sure they will with the course participants too."

 

Charlie Morley, Lucid Dreaming teacher

"With precision and gentleness, Susannah gives us a map for this alchemical art of true listening. She is a master teacher, and this course is a beautiful distillation of decades of deep work.

In it, you will find wise teachings and practices that are both effective and inspiring, delivered with kindness, clarity, and humour. Susannah really is an ally to cherish in this journey towards being an awakened human; drink deep from her medicine."

Eliza Kenyon , Medicine Singer and Voice worker

"It is well known that much of what we ‘send’ and ‘receive’ is non-verbal. Susannah has mapped ways this non-verbal communication happens unconsciously through resonance and the power of interoception – our body knowing. She shows with delight and humour how we all can tune into and improve this body knowing.

Whether you are someone taking your first steps in consciously improving your listening and communication skills for personal or professional benefit or an experienced coach, mentor, counsellor, therapist, teacher, educator or health care professional, I recommend this course to you."

Mark Boylan, Professor of Education, Sheffield Hallam University

"Susannah's long life commitment to high quality offerings, sharp enquiry and loving dedication to her students are palpable in the online course Embodied Listening. She has created a simple, clear and easy to digest format so that people can integrate these indispensable tools into their lives.

This course is an opportunity to develop greater communication and listening skills, deeper empathy with self and others, all rooted in the intelligence of the heart and the body. All of us, no matter how versatile we are with this material, can benefit from this warm, thoughtful and soulful offering and find some pure gold in it.

Laura Valenti, Movement Medicine teacher, somatic and trauma aware coach, voice therapist

Through its clear structure "Embodied Listening" enables you to learn how to co-create a space of magical opening and healing balsam, to relax into being together and to meet another in your vulnerable and unique humanity. "Embodied Listening" enables you to hear and give space to the spoken and the unspoken and hold and be held in tenderness.”

Karuna Linda Marx, Nutritionist and Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapist

Is this course suitable for me?

This course is for you if:

  • You want to bring Embodied Listening into your life and your relationships and you are able to take responsibility for yourself and get help and support as and when it is needed.
  • You want to take this journey solo
  • You want to take this journey with a practice buddy who wants to learn too
  • You have the mental and emotional stability and resources to engage in potentially challenging unsupervised personal work and stay safe. If you have any doubt about this, please check with your doctor or health care professional.
  • If you choose to do this with an intimate partner, this journey is appropriate if your relationship is in a ‘good enough’ state of trust and mutual respect and both of you choose to do this work, step by step, together.
  • You want to use these listening practices to help cultivate healthy relationships and communities.

This course is NOT for you if:

  • You are not able to take responsibility for your own emotional and mental stability while engaging in unsupervised and at times challenging personal work.
  • You have any history with mental health issues or have been or are on any form of medication for mental health issues, unless you have the full support of your professional healthcare teams (doctor, psychiatrist, therapist).
  • You want to bring in Practice Buddies to practice with you who have not taken the whole step by step skill building journey themselves.
  • You want to learn listening skills to solve a relationship crisis. For relationships in deep pain, please get external, skilled, professional support.
  • You want to use this as a counselling training. It is not!