Creating a supportive environment

Creating a Supportive Environment for Your Virtual Experience

Graduate Virtual IntensiveHere you will find a list of suggestions to best support your virtual experience from home. There are five sections to refer back to:

  1. Creating sacred space
  2. Nourishment and food
  3. Technical tips
  4. Staying focused
  5. What you’ll need.

Please note that you may need to make some preparations and order some small items in advance, so please give these sections your attention in plenty of time before your start date.

number oneCreating sacred space

Even though we are not together physically, we want to make sure you have a safe and intimate space for you to do your work. Please let those you share a house with know that you require space for this virtual retreat and give them time to make arrangements if necessary too.

For your upcoming virtual course, please find a private, quiet place at home or at work where you will be uninterrupted, and where you can sit comfortably in front of your screen. Trust your own inner guidance – your Spiritual Self or Spirit Guide – to know what you need and want for your space so that you feel supported throughout this course.

Take some time to set up your space to have the atmosphere of a retreat for yourself. Your location should be well lit, as we want to be able to see you and connect with you!

Some suggestions are:

  • Declutter, clean and tidy the room you will be in for the duration of the workshop.
  • Clear laundry and debris, and any distracting background as much as possible.
  • Have a surface upon which you can set a candle and a meaningful object that you will use during the first day in a welcome ritual.
  • Look around your space for what may be in the room that will distract you or others and put away in another room or cupboard.
  • If you like you can ‘sage’ your room. If you don’t use sage, consider simply setting the intention that, for this course, your space is reserved for your transformative work.
  • Have some flowers or a potted plant set somewhere in your room, perhaps with the candle and your meaningful object.
  • You might even consider keeping this sacred space available to yourself following the workshop.

number twoNourishment and Rest

Healthy, delicious food and good rest are important. They are an integral part of boosting your immune system as well as keeping you present and grounded.

  • Just as at an in-person Hoffman course, your need for rest and nourishing food is important.
  • Shop ahead and make some meals you can easily reheat during your break times.
  • If you have access to food delivery, you may want to order meals for yourself.
  • If someone you live with can cook for you, let them know your meal-times and allow them to support you in that way.
  • Stay away from alcoholic drinks, even in the evenings. Instead, have good herbal teas or other healthy beverages.
  • Get a good amount of sleep during the weekend, if possible. Treat the evenings and nights as extensions of your virtual course days and allow for good, restful sleep.
  • Consider having art supplies on hand, so you can do some creative drawing or expression or create a mandala during your downtime over the weekend.
  • Listen to guided meditations from our website, or other ones you may have, or soothing music to help you sleep.

number threeTechnical Tips

  • Use a computer or laptop for this course if at all possible; a tablet device is the next best thing.
  • Make sure the device you are using has a camera.
  • Please be sure to install the latest version of Zoom on your device.
  • It’s best to be hard-wired with your internet connection. If that’s not possible, be sure you have a strong wi-fi connection.
  • Close down all other applications on your computer, so you are not distracted, and (ideally) clear or sort your desktop.
  • If you can, use a headset or ear buds with microphone capabilities (similar to those you might use with a mobile phone or gaming device). If you live with other people, using headphones can ensure that other people’s voices are not picked up by your computer’s microphone.
  • Having a comfortable place to sit is important. Use a sturdy, comfortable chair or sofa within reach of the computer.
  • We will provide a student workbook, but you may want to have a journal or extra paper/note pad to hand. Be sure to have a couple of pens available, too.
  • Please ensure your non-essential devices are turned off or muted. We want your attention to be on you, not email or social media.

number fourStaying focused

We recognise it can be challenging to stay focused when working in a virtual environment. To support you, we ask you to:

  • Turn off notifications and alerts on the device you are using for the course.
  • Keep your focus on the workshop as if you were on site, and don’t attend to other things during the day, even while on breaks – much as you did at the Process. Put aside your responsibilities and dive into yourself. This is your time!
  • Use screen etiquette, i.e. no multi-tasking – don’t try to catch up on emails or other work. Don’t eat meals on screen (snacks are welcome), and refrain from outside conversations, etc.
  • Moving between sitting and standing can really help. If you want to stand, please make sure you have a place to put your computer so you can still be seen. You are welcome to stretch or move around as needed while still paying attention to the session.
  • Use the break times to take care of your needs, and get beverages and snacks so you can be fully present to the teaching and experiences.
  • You can have the workshop on gallery view so you can scan through the other faces regularly. This serves to remind you that although we are doing this work virtually, there is a community of living, breathing humans participating in the workshop with you!

number fiveItems you’ll need

  • Choose a sacred object from your home, or nature that represents some qualities that you want to step into or has meaning for you. You will be sharing this with the group so make sure it can be visible to all.
  • Have a votive candle or other candle (not highly scented) that you can light and that will be safe on your desk or nearby. Have some matches or lighter handy
  • Order in advance or find some 3”x5” index cards. These are the sort of thing – you’ll need about 20.
  • Order in advance or find some A3 paper. You’ll need 3 sheets. These are the sort of thing. Or something 300gsm. 
  • Order in advance or find 3 marker pens – black, red and green/blue – one of each colour. Whiteboard markers/felt pens might be better than permanent markers, which can have a strong smell. These are the sort of thing.
  • Print out your course workbook if you can (see Quicklinks in sidebar) or have each day downloaded as a PDF available on your computer desktop. The workbook has been designed in colour but if you want to save ink do print in greyscale and print double-sided.
  • Have a copy of your pre-course work available to refer to – you will have been emailed this when you submitted it, but contact us if you can’t find the email.
  • A shoe with a hard heel (not a slipper)
  • A largish bowl or small bin to contain paper scraps
  • A water bottle
  • Tissues
  • Pens and a journal or pad of paper

Cancelling

Please review the specific workshop main page for our cancellation policies. The £100 deposit is non-refundable/non-transferable. The balance may be transferred to another GVI but only if cancelled within the dates given. If cancelled after the dates given your balance will also be lost unless we can fill your place. Click here to find dates.

If you have any questions about any of the above, please email graduates@hoffmaninstitute.co.uk