Whatever you’ve lost, it deeply matters.
And your well-being deeply matters, too.
If there was a way to find true peace and healing after loss,
would you finally commit to stepping in to process and transform your grief?
With Open Hands
is a Course, a community, and a catalyst for finding grace and grounding through the losses we experience in life.
We don’t ever “get over” our losses. But we can change our relationship to them.
What if the things that shake the ground beneath you can become the very catalyst for a new, more grounded, and authentic version of you to emerge.
What if this experience could be a catalyst for deeper freedom?
What if you could learn to navigate your losses with more presence and peace, and embrace your life with grounding and grace?
Grief “Scatters and shatters”. And it can feel so difficult to confront our grief and loss head-on. Sometimes it just feels easier to bury these painful experiences and “move on” with life (because the rest of the world keeps going) and because we worry that if we open up the floodgates, we may never be able to close them again.
But the reality is, the more we numb/shut down/ ignore/suppress, the more disconnected we become. This disconnection can show up personally with your own body/heart/mind or even with important relationships in your life.
So many of my students and friends have shared with me that they’re hesitant to do this work because they’re afraid if they open it up, they won’t ever be ok again. Navigating this can feel overwhelming and exhausting.
I get it. I’ve been there too.
There was a time I never thought I would feel joy again. There was a time I felt so much sadness, I carried it around with me like a storm that clouded everything. I eventually decided to “just keep going”, pushing through the pain and pretending I was okay. Until my body finally told me I wasn’t. I began to experience physical symptoms like fatigue, very low energy, insomnia, depression and poor concentration. I buried my grief by staying overly busy and constantly taking care of others. My heart and body knew I couldn’t keep this up. By the grace of God, I finally got the memo and took a chance to slow down, to re-connect to the deep parts of me that needed tender care, and to start to feel and heal.
It may feel impossible, but there is a way to learn how to hold both great grief and HOPE.
Both sadness and JOY.
Both life and death and RE-EMERGING.
Maybe you’ve lost a loved one, a marriage, or a dream you had for a long time that no longer feels possible. Maybe you lost your normalcy and safety while a global pandemic changed everything you knew in the last year and a half. Whatever you’ve lost, it deeply matters. And your wellbeing deeply matters, too.
With Open Hands
is a safe and sacred container in which you will cultivate more understanding and learn simple and deeply nourishing practices to bring more grounding and peace to your body, mind, and soul.
WOH weaves together teachings on grief and loss, physiology, and psychology, along with readings from the Christian tradition. I (Abby) will bring in my background and training in social work, trauma-informed healing, yoga therapy, and The Feminine Wholeness Method™.
You’ll experience trauma-informed embodied practices, breathwork, guided meditations, and other practices to honor your story and invite beauty from ashes.
You’ll find solace in a community of kindreds who will witness your heart, honor your journey, and reflect back to you the beauty of healing that will happen during this 5-week journey.
You’ll be supported with compassionate guided support throughout the program
“ONE OF THE THINGS SOCIETY IS MOST DEFICIENT IN IS SAFE SPACES FOR THE TRUTH TELLING ABOUT THE CONDITION OF OUR SOULS.”
– Parker Palmer
WITH OPEN HANDS
(Spring 2022 Beta Course)
What You’ll get:
Embodiment Sessions: Weekly live embodiement practices to honor your story and invite beauty from ashes through physical integration. All practices are trauma-informed and can be modified for specific needs. Each weekly session will be themed in correlation with the teachings for that week (see below).
Teaching and Coaching Calls: Weekly live calls via zoom that will reflect a grief-and-healing journey. Topics include Embodied Safety and Original Belonging / Alchemize, Release, and Restore / The Heart: Honoring, Connection, Belonging / Inviting new Rhythms of Grace and Grounding / Integration and Celebration.
Soulbook: Your guidebook with everything you need for deeper integration with practices, journal prompts, teachings, and extras.
Community: A group of soulful women who will hold, witness, and honor one another in this beautiful process of letting go and becoming. The safe and sacred container for restoration and belonging.
Access: to the WOH portal of all videos and recordings so you can come back to them at your convenience. You’ll have access to this for the five weeks during the course and five weeks following.
And the best part? Because you’re a part of the Beta Program, you’ll get this all for half the price of the full offering. You’ll be able to help shape this course with your honest feedback and be a part of your own (and other women’s!) healing for the betterment of the world!
The investment to join With Open Hands:
Next Enrollment and Information TBA
Are you ready to find more freedom and lightness?
Hi! I’m Abby Mortenson
I’m here to be your compassionate guide as we navigate the waters of loss and hope together. My story has unfolded in unexpected ways - more grief than I’d hoped, yet more depth and joy and presence than I expected. I’d love to share what I’ve learned and help you find more Peace, Presence, and Joy even in the midst of the hard.
I’m looking for 8 brave women to join me in this beautifully vulnerable and life-changing journey. Check out the FAQ’s below and feel free to contact me with any questions at all! If you need some help deciding if this program is right for you, we can schedule a discovery call and we’ll talk through it together!
FAQ’s
What is a beta program?
Beta means that this is the first time I’ve offered this publicly. For you, it’s a great chance to access a brand new, meaningful program at a special rate and receive some special beta bonuses. For me, it’s where I get to teach my new program, observe and learn from you, and continue updating it until it’s perfect! You will get access to the next round for free in gratitude for trusting me with this process and giving me honest and authentic feedback.
How much time do I need to commit?
You’ll need to commit to about 3 hours a week to attend the live sessions when possible The minimum: 30 minutes for live embodiment sessions, 90 minutes for live teaching/coaching calls. These happen on two different days each week for five weeks. The rest of your time will be on your own throughout the week, and I highly recommend dedicating a little time every day for your practices.
Where do I access the courses and live-streams?
I have an online studio that once you enroll, you will gain unlimited access to the course. You can bookmark that page in your browser and return to it when you need. All video lessons and live-streams will happen within my online studio.
I’m nervous about the group setting. Do I have to join that part?
Yes, as much as is possible for you. I believe (and know from experience) that the group aspect is actually one of the most healing aspects of a program like this. Although it can feel very vulnerable, I promise, it is where much of the magic happens. We are made for relationship and community. When we can be together in an intentional space for healing, amazing things can happen for ourselves and each other.
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”- Brené Brown
I’ve never done yoga before. Is that a problem?
Not at all! The practices we will be doing will be accessible for any and all levels of experience. If you have any special needs; whether physical or otherwise, I am happy to help you learn how to modify anything to work better for you.
Do you have any other payment plan options or scholarships for your offerings?
Yes! I have three payment plan options. When you click on the buy button, you can choose which option you’d like. If you have a need regarding funding, please get in touch.
