Wired for Connection,
with Sandra Carson
Techniques to cultivate true intimacy
€40.00
2-hour online course
Unlimited access for flexible study
Explore your neural wiring
Understand how the nervous system developed, its different states and its main function. Explore the link between the nervous system and human relationships.
Learn techniques and exercises
Learn techniques to establish physiological safety – the foundation of (and a condition for) true intimacy. Practise various guided exercises to establish a greater connection.
Understand your patterns
Gain insight into your relationship patterns. Learn how to clear your communication channels to enable intimate connection from a neutral and loving place.
“From being a mirror in which we can see ourselves, to strengthening our physical and mental health, to feeling worthy, empowered, creative and whole, deep connections with others bring us so much.
My hope is that you experience that intimacy in relationships doesn't just ‘happen’ but can be cultivated in conscious ways, and that you learn to love and accept yourself more as you rewrite relationship patterns and deepen your connections."
What is intimacy?
Intimacy is a state of deep connection with someone we feel safe enough with to show our innermost selves. Though most commonly associated with romantic partnerships, intimacy can, in fact, be created in all of our relationships – be it with our children, friends, family, colleagues or (if you are a teacher) students.
Why is intimacy so important?
When we have true intimacy in our relationships, we are better able to regulate our nervous system and emotional states. True intimacy deepens our connection to others and to ourselves; it strengthens our immune system and increases our resiliency. Intimacy makes our relationships stronger and grows our feelings of compassion and self-worth. There are no downsides to creating healthy intimacy in all of our relationships; it is necessary for us to thrive.
Why is it difficult to establish?
The act of being intimate is somewhat of a paradox; we crave and need it, yet it frightens us. We are so used to keeping our defences up as a means of self-protection, that allowing them to come down can leave us feeling weak and vulnerable. But crucially, we can only establish true intimacy by allowing ourselves to be vulnerable - and this takes strength.
You may not realise it, but most of your feelings, actions, reactions and behaviours are determined by your physiological state. This course will help you to understand that physiological safety is the foundation of – and a condition for – intimacy and offers you tools and techniques in order to establish this sense of safety. Using this as a framework, you’ll begin to see how and why you may be ‘sabotaging’ your own efforts to create deeper relationships and learn to take loving responsibility for everything that arises in you while relating to your significant others.
During this course you will:
- Explore your neural wiring and understand how vital the role of the nervous system is in human relationships
- Learn exercises to establish physiological safety (the foundation for intimacy)
and cultivate a greater sense of connection - Experience the importance of truthful sharing and the power of vulnerability
This course is for anyone who wants to establish stronger relationships - be it with a partner, friend, child, colleague - and to understand, befriend and rewire their own neural programming to enable more intimate connections with others.
Course outline
Welcome to this course! Sandra explains why cultivating strong relationships with others enables us to thrive on an emotional, physical and spiritual level. She gives us an overview of the framework she’ll be using to help us explore and befriend the program embedded into our system that directs many of our thoughts, feelings and behaviours in our relationships.
Sandra offers a few practical tips on how to make the most of this course.
In this session we look at how the nervous system developed, its different states and its main function. We’ll also explore the link between human relationships and our nervous system, and why good relationships are vital to us on every level of our being.
This exercise helps you to detangle conflicts with others and avoid reactive exchanges where both partners continue to get more ‘triggered’ - thereby heightening states of defence. It invites you to separate your own feelings so you can take responsibility for them. This is the first step in creating a deep connection with others.
In this session we’ll consider how our Vagus nerve and social engagement systems function determine the quality of our connection and intimacy. We’ll also explore common types of relationship behaviours and how we might ‘rewire’ ourselves to enable deeper intimacy.
This exercise teaches you to become comfortable with truly allowing someone into the vulnerable space within you in a safe setting. It helps to rewire old defence mechanisms in your nervous system so you can create healthy connections.
This class explores the concept of ‘presence’ and we look at why it’s so challenging for us to simply ‘be there’ for our others. We also learn about the importance of clearing our own communication channels so that we can connect more intimately from a neutral and loving place.
This exercise teaches you how to create a safe space so a deeper and more meaningful connection can develop. It also gives permission to truly be yourself in a safe space where you can drop your defences.
In this session we examine the effect that ‘truthful’ sharing has on our nervous system. We look at how inviting and holding space creates safety and invites authenticity, and how understanding one another can cultivate deeper love and compassion.
This exercise invites you deeper into the inner world of your partner. You will become more intimate and connected by knowing what truly matters for them. You will also become more aware of your own inner world.
In this final class, we learn how non-verbal communication can deepen our state of intimacy. We explore the health benefits and effects of safe and respectful touch. And we learn how conscious touch can help to rewire our nervous system, and stimulate a deeper sense of safety and grounding in the body.
This exercise helps you to use a neutral, loving touch to foster deeper connection in a non-verbal way. Conscious touch stimulates the creation of a space of safety in which the body and nervous system can relax and feel-good hormones are released. Conscious touch is a natural way to deepen an intimate connection with your partner. In addition, it nourishes you, raises your energy levels and creates balance in your system.
Well done for completing the course! Sandra signs off with a few words on how you might take what you’ve learnt off the mat and into your life.
Meet your teacher:
Sandra Carson
Sandra is a Certified Anusara® teacher, an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher, YACEP (Yoga Alliance), a TRE® provider and Keto coach. She teaches workshops, trainings and retreats in The Netherlands and internationally.
