TESTIMONIALS

Testimonial 1: Workshop: 'Somatic Boundaries For Improving Women's Mental Health' 

From: Simryn Parmar, Program Support Coordinator, Times Change Womens Employment Service,

Toronto, ON, Canada

 

In the summer of 2021, Shalyn facilitated a workshop for Times Change Women's Employment Service, called "Strategies for Improving Women's Mental Health". Many of the women who use our services are from racialized backgrounds with histories of trauma; it was refreshing to have a workshop that honoured these experiences rather than simply presenting some mindfulness techniques and speaking generally about mental health challenges. In a very short amount of time (one hour), Shalyn managed to provide a holistic and interactive mental health workshop that incorporated boundary-setting, somatic mindfulness, and breathing techniques. Most importantly, she empowered these women! It was really beautiful and powerful to see how she interacted with the content and with our clients.

 

The feedback we received from our clients speaks for itself: "The speaker was fantastic and gave us very good info and strategies to listen to our bodies"; "Enjoyed the interactions between presenter and attendees. Learned how our brain only controls so much of our body. Learning different techniques to help us with boundary issues and grounding. The workshop was empowering"; "Everything. From moment of start to the end. This is exactly what I needed to learn."

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Testimonial 2: Workshop: Trauma-Informed Leadership

From: Juanita Velez, Program Participant & Music Instructor - Women's Embodied Liberation Program,

Toronto, ON, Canada

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This workshop was the perfect balance between theory and practice. The practical writing exercises are a great mirror of our conditioning and subconscious programming. Shalyn leads through her heart and it resonates in all of her work. She is insightful, accepting of everyone, respectful, kind, compassionate, knowledgeable and encourages community discussion.

 

This is the first time I have attended a trauma-informed leadership workshop and am so glad I did. I have to say I left with a better understanding of who I am and a greater awareness of my own limiting beliefs around leadership and healing. 

 

I really appreciate how Shalyn incorporates somatic exercises, such as mindfulness and breathing exercises throughout the workshop. Thank you for your courageous heart and your passion for the liberation and empowerment of women and our communities. 

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Testimonial 3: Workshop: Healing Money Trauma: How Trauma Impacts Our
Relationship with Money and Ways to Experience Greater Financial Empowerment

From: Darlene Cyrus, Registered Psychotherapist, Fruits from the Roots Psychotherapy, Toronto, ON, Canada

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The impact of our emotional and mental well being is often missed in the financial literacy discussion. However, with ease, relatability, and informed-knowledge, Shaylyn presented a mindful and insightful workshop exploring this dynamic. She encouraged a healthy lens to which we can all hold a compassionate understanding for our financial traumas while identifying practical ways in which we can transform and shift our relationship with money! I look forward to her additional trainings!

 

Additionally, please note that our clients have accessed the webinar through the free resources link on our IG: https://www.instagram.com/healthyandstrongmind/?igsh=MXBhejc1OWZ4dTA1Nw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

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Testimonial 4: 6-week Workshop Series: Liberation & Embodiment Program 

From: Navita Christina Singh, Program Participant, Toronto, ON, Canada

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It has been an honour to be part of the first cohort of the Liberation and Embodiment program. It is not an exaggeration to say that with Shalyn Isaacs as a facilitator of such a safe space, this program is life transformational and spiritually affirming. This program and the supportive environment, which it crafts, have allowed me to feel more confident about claiming and owning my space in the world. This program has bolstered my capacity and will to unapologetically practice loving self-compassion and liberate my mind, body, and soul from the restraints of racial capitalism. I have learnt as much from Shalyn as I have from the other racialized women I have conversed with during the program. This program has been a seedbed for insight, inspiration, growth, and enlightenment. In a society that still demands so much of everything from racialized women, this program has been a source of empowerment to reject the harmful expectations that the existing systems of oppression impose upon our melanated bodies.

 

Even while I was in the program, I incorporated what I was learning into my life and conversations with loved ones. I deeply value the practical exercises taught by Shalyn, which I continue practicing. I use the knowledge and skills I have acquired in the program to inform my work personally and professionally. I will use the principles to guide how I engage with myself and the world and use what I have learned to spark deeper conversations with those around me.

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