“Coming together is the beginning, staying together is the process, working together is the way”
Bowspring teacher, Jennifer Metzger, organized a harmonious and celebratory gathering in Munich, Germany, with 25 students and teachers from across Europe.
Each student and teacher participated in a synergistic sharing of the Bowspring method and added trust, energy, and knowledge to the collective. The combination of diverse opinions, amazing teachings, and professional assists made for an interesting experience. Dynamic partnership helped them to grow individually and collectively as each one shared their talents with openness and received feedback from the community.
The overarching theme from the weekend was “working together”, and led to the the exploration of how collaboration benefits the community. After all, if the community doesn’t “work together” then growth becomes stagnated. Therefore, by connecting, sharing, and offering feedback to each other, we are “working together”. To continue fostering community following the event, each participant was encouraged to find a friend from within the community to regularly meet with online. The intention behind regularly meeting with a friend is to practice teaching one another, to perform the Seed Kata, and to receive feedback on how to improve both teaching skills and alignment when practicing the Seed Kata.
The following Bowspring teachers presented:
Petra and Laura grounded the group with their gentle Seed Kata offering. The goodness in their voices calmed and helped the group find balance in their bodies, minds, and practice after traveling to the event.
Joan Ramon’s meditation guided all participants through the Algorithm of the Body. Consequently, his meditation helped everyone to soften and open their subtle energy channels. As a result, everyone felt peaceful and centered. He also offered a fantastic handstand class that was rich in details and included helpful tips on how to safely perform inversion poses. He integrated a visualization meditation that helped each student to “see” and believe they could successfully do a handstand.
Saskia’s Deep House Bow session was like a celebration as students practiced in a big circle. She weaved in the theme “working together” in her teaching and the group concluded the practice with dancing and the experiential exercise of gazing into a partner’s eyes for several moments. Through the eye-gazing experience, each student was able to see their own reflection in the other, which created a webbing of soul connectivity. Additionally, the class was taught with laser lights, creating a unique atmosphere for practice exploration, feelings of high energy and community joy.
Liz’s class was exciting and fun. She led the group through a “Techno Bow” class. She blended the functional and dynamic practice of Bowspring with techno music and high intensity training. Students all agreed the cardio training was powerful and that any gym goer would greatly benefit from her class. Liz incorporated the theme of how challenges can arise when collaborating with others. She shared that with the right “antidote”, partners can remain in the “flow” together. Participants were really impressed by her offering and contribution to the group.Jennifer led students in power breathing techniques to help everyone “power up” and energize after a full day of classes. This helped to prepare everyone for the Advanced Roots Kata being taught on the following day. Students used power breathing to fully expand their lower back ribs, release built up tension, and to pump oxygen into their cells. Power breaths were combined with breath holds and turtle breathing to help with mind-body integration.
Dinah and Christian’s “hands-on” segment was a big highlight from the weekend. They led a full sequence with hands-on adjustments for every pose and the fascia molding adjustments therapeutically benefitted each student. As recent newlyweds, they demonstrated how to stay together through a complicated sequence. The effectiveness of their presentation on adjustments, combined with each student’s experience of providing and receiving the adjustments, helped everyone to learn and integrate the details. It was evident to the group they diligently prepared for their therapeutic presentation.
Gaby taught a “Roots” workshop and deeply led participants in their Bowspring practice. This Level 2 and Level 3 Roots practice was the “cherry on top” for the teacher gathering. The group loved her depth of details and explanations, which led everyone to a deeper understanding of the Roots. Students enjoyed the new “Kali Roots Kata” she presented on. Gaby skillfully guided the class, safely taught challenging poses, and encouraged everyone to try poses they had never been able to do before. To the participants’ surprise, their bodies were more open, activated, and balanced as a result of all previous classes. Gratefully, Liz helped to translate Gaby’s class and it was reported she did an amazing job.
Participants were delighted when Bowspring founders, Desi Springer and John Friend, surprised them with a video call. John and Desi emphasized the importance of community and collective efforts to successfully complete projects and to all “shine” together.
Participants were delighted when Bowspring founders, Desi Springer and John Friend, surprised them with a video call. John and Desi emphasized the importance of community and collective efforts to successfully complete projects and to all “shine” together.
All participants noted it was a powerful weekend in which everyone worked together. The gathering provided strong encouragement to continue to increase collaboration within the community to help the method and each individual to grow and to become most successful. Students and teachers agreed, it’s a truly powerful experience when individuals come together and focus on the success of the community.
