Conscious Aging Workshop Facilitator
Will I become isolated as my circle of friends shrinks?
Will I lose my independence due to some physical disability?
Will my mental acuity and memory deteriorate?
Will I end up as a caregiver for a partner or other family member?
Will I lose my physical attractiveness ?
Will I become irrelevant and even invisible?
Perhaps you are looking for some guidance, meaning making, and a community in which you can share some of these issues.
I facilitate a Conscious Aging Program workshop series that addresses many of these concerns. The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) developed this program specifically for elders to help shift their consciousness around aging from self-limitation, lack, and isolation toward expansiveness, compassion, and connection. The topics covered include conducting a life review, building forgiveness and self-compassion, and creating a new vision of aging. Through a variety of activities - reflection, presentation of new ideas, and small and large group discussions - participants develop a positive and open mindset toward the changes this time of life brings. The included workbook is filled with rich resources and spaces for reflection.
I typically offer the workshop series in 6 two-hour sessions over a period of six weeks, but the material can be tailored to meet the needs of the groups as to number and length of sessions and intervals of time between the sessions. The course can be offered in-person or virtually through Zoom or a similar platform.
If you are interested in exploring this further with your organization or group, I’d be happy to do a complimentary one-hour orientation to this workshop series.
OTHER WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO CONSCIOUS AGING
If you're interested in delving deeper into the topic of aging or elderhood through my other workshops or presentations, please check out the annotated list of these by clicking here.
Conscious Aging Workshop Experiences
Testimonial - Summer 2020
“I especially liked Virginia’s leadership style, which is gentle, kind and encouraging, and based on an impressive foundations of knowledge and experience.”
When I signed up for the Conscious Aging Workshop with Virginia, I was newly retired and unsure how I was going to fill the large gap where my career had once been. I wanted some direction on how to create a satisfying retirement and to cope with aging. I also wanted to learn how to interact with strangers and make new friends.
Each class addressed a significant and sensitive issue, such as self-compassion, life review, letting go, and death. Through the small group discussions, I learned that others also found these topics difficult, and we supported each other. I especially liked Virginia’s leadership style, which is gentle, kind, and encouraging, and based on an impressive foundation of knowledge and experience.
After taking this workshop I felt greater forgiveness of myself and others and more self-compassion. I was able to reframe memories to make them easier to face. Two years later, I repeated the Conscious Aging Workshop, this time with an invited friend, who experienced many of the same benefits."
Katinea Todd,
San Diego
"On my first day in Virginia’s Conscious Aging class, I knew I was in the right place. The group of older adults were working through the same issues I was — how to have a creative, fun, meaningful, purposeful life while missing the structure and camaraderie of the paid work environment. I loved the class-the content, Virginia’s teaching style, the small group discussions.
"1-Though I liked everything about Virginia’s classes, the highlights for me were the curriculum, her teaching style, and the small group discussions. The topics were what I needed to focus on-issues of self-worth, self-compassion, and creating a new vision for my life. Virginia’s warm, non-judgmental, and encouraging teaching style reflected her passion for helping others live these years to the fullest. And the small group discussions allowed for openness and vulnerability in a supportive environment.
"Taking Virginia’s workshops provided me with relief from feeling alone in my discomfort as a new retiree, structure and focus for each week, a strategy for how to determine my next steps, connection with others, and an opportunity to give back as I shared my own strengths as a facilitator. I highly recommend enrolling in one of her workshops or classes today!"
Linda Weber
San Diego