Breathwork

Active Listening

“I wonder how many people I have heard in all my life and not listened to them”   John Steinbeck

Introduction

There is an irony in even talking about listening, after all, it is something we all do, right?  Most people would react to this by saying that there is nothing more they need to know. Yet, they would probably struggle to think of someone who listens to them very well.  Whilst it is recognised that being an active listener is crucial for building relationships and communicating effectively, research shows that 94% of us simply hear what others are saying and only 6% actively listen. We spend years learning to read, write and speak, yet little, if any, time is given to listening – our most used communication medium.  In a recent study by Korn Ferry, (a Global coaching company), developing ‘listening and empathy skills’ was either the first or second most sought after skill for coaching with CEOs, Senior Managers and Junior Managers.

Workshops

During any of these interactive workshops you will be invited to experience, maybe for your first time, active listening, being heard and thinking more clearly. These workshops will give you the awareness, understanding and tools you need to be able to be an active listener.

Benefits of participating fully in these workshops

In today’s fast paced world, active listening is vital and life changing.  Active listening and being heard is a starting point for:

• More meaningful relationships, as the first step towards developing trust.
• Building deeper connections with your clients and work colleagues.
• Better, more creative and original thinking, by having more time and space to do so.
• Increasing time, energy and money by incurring fewer mistakes and by getting it right first time.
• Improving your emotional wellbeing and feeling good about yourself.
• Feeling less stressed and pressured through being able to express yourself more easily and freely.
• Greater self-awareness, self esteem, confidence and presence.

One hour workshop – Introduction to Active Listening
Topics covered

• Are you an 18-second Manager?
• Listening or just hearing?
• Why is active listening so vital?
• How can you get better at active listening?
• Listening exercises are used throughout the workshop, based on audience requirements and context.
• Summary and questions.

Half day workshop – Going deeper with Active Listening
Topics covered

• What is listening?
• Are you listening or just hearing?
• Benefits of active listening
• Why is active listening so vital?
• When is listening most important?
• Dying to be heard
• What is the price of not listening?
• Every conversation matters, otherwise, why have them?
• Barriers to listening
• Why don’t we listen?
• What are we thinking when we are not listening?
• Listening hints and tips
• Why and how we hold space for another.
• Key skills of active listening
• Listening exercises are used throughout the workshop, based on audience requirements and context
• Summary and questions

Full day workshop – Thriving through Active Listening
Topics covered

• Introduction to Listening
• We all listen don’t we?
• Are you listening or just hearing?
• Types of listening
• Background to listening
• Benefits of listening
• The wider implications of listening.
• Where is listening most effective?
• Barriers to listening
• Disconnecting and not listening.
• Perils of multitasking
• How to listen badly?
• The ‘science’ and research
• The Drama Triangle versus the Empowered Triangle.
• Holding space
• The ideal conditions
• Being present
• Giving your full attention
• Tips for listening more actively
• Key skills of active listening
• Listening to your employees
• Appreciation, why it is so valuable
• Listening in the round
• Listening, thinking and creativity
• Do we have too much ‘group think’?
• Why we don’t think very well?
• Thinking more clearly for ourselves
• Benefits of original thinking
• Listening exercises and videos are used throughout the workshop, based on audience requirements and context
• Summary and questions

To book any of the above workshops, please get in touch with us to request available dates and chat to us about your individual requirements.

To read more on Why Listening Matters, just click here.

Breath Retreat In Lanzarote (3-7 nights)

What’s it all about and why go on this life-changing retreat?

Have you ever watched a small child at play? Completely absorbed in the moment and totally unselfconscious. Perfect authenticity. No facades. Simply being. It’s a great reminder of our inherent ability to live this way. So when did we lose that ability and how do we get back there?

From a very early age we are taught how NOT to be authentic. Parents give children signals as to what is ‘ok’ and ‘not-ok’, and children adopt strategies in order to regain approval. For children, non-authentic behaviour has a short term gain. Over time however it becomes the norm, leading us further and further away from who we really are.

Our relationships with others are a direct reflection of the one we have with ourselves. You can’t hope for intimacy with another person if you aren’t intimate with yourself. If you’re looking for authenticity you need to be authentic with yourself. If you want respect from others you need to be respectful with yourself. If you’d like to see through the facades of others you must get behind your own facade first.

Breathwork is your ticket back to the remembrance of your authentic self, a journey which can open you further than you ever imagined possible. It’s the best adventure you will ever have, and unlike even the most fabulous holiday it doesn’t stop when you get back home. It’s literally the ultimate trip.

Breathwork allows you to lighten up, and realise that you are already ok as you are. The facade you’ve spent years constructing will simply fall away, allowing you to spend time with your true self, learning your needs and wants. You can disengage from the drama, find your centre, find joy inside yourself – and consciously create a life you are happy to be a part of.

The Healing Power of Breath

Humans have been aware of the healing power of their breath for millennia. Through the centuries we’ve developed a vast array of breathing practices, all designed to bring about physical and emotional wellbeing and connect with our deeper selves.

But in today’s society, we often neglect our bodies’ built-in capabilities. Imagine owning the highest specification TV in existence, keeping it plugged in on standby and then living with it for years and years without ever actually turning it on. The fact is, most of us live in ‘standby mode’ most of the time. The most powerful mechanism is literally right beneath our noses waiting to be explored, yet we rarely give it more than a passing thought.

Conscious breathing is a powerful and safe way to infuse the body with oxygen and energy, recharging our own (often depleted) systems to work to their healing capacity. And it facilitates openings to higher levels of consciousness, allowing us to tap into our deeper resources and live better, easy, more joyful lives.

With breathwork we can enjoy optimum health, mental and emotional clarity, and experience an ever-deepening relationship with ourselves. It’s the means by which we can embark upon the ultimate journey: the one where we discover who we really are. And it can facilitate the growth needed in order for us to transform into who we’re capable of becoming.

What you’ll gain (and we’ve experienced it ourselves, so know all of these to be true)

• Be the healthiest you’ve ever been
• Feel completely energised
• Experience deeply nourishing peace and relaxation
• Move beyond whatever is standing between you and your happiness
• Become aware of emotions halting your personal growth
• Let go of emotional baggage permanently and easily
• Release anxiety and alleviate depression
• Develop a new dimension to your yoga and/or spiritual practice
• Understand the nature of spirit
• Open your breath and expand your life

The Technique

All of Alan Dolan’s work is based around one simple breathing technique, which you can vary depending on how you want to feel or what you’d like to achieve. You’ll be taught how to use conscious breathing effectively and be guided and supervised as you go along – paving the way for really transformative experiences.

Lanzarote and the villa where you’ll be staying

Situated just 79 miles off the coast of Africa, Lanzarote is the most easterly of the Canary Islands and has been Alan’s home for the past 11 years. In 2011, after more than a year of searching, Alan found the ‘Dream Place’ for these retreats – a sanctuary of peace and seclusion in a rural location with sea and volcano views, ten minutes from the beautiful beach at Famara.

The villa is in an elevated position, with terraced patio areas and private, shady spots to lounge. The 5-star accommodation is mostly arranged around the sheltered private pool, with two of the rooms opening directly out to it. Nearby, you can soak in the hot tub after your twice-daily breath sessions and drink in the awe-inspiring vistas as the sunsets.

Your 1-1 breath sessions with Alan always take place in the complete privacy of the therapy room. And as there are only ever a maximum of four guests staying at any one time, you can be as private or as involved as you wish to be – most people choosing to do both at different times during their stay. Those attending often say the other people present during their stay really add to their experience.

The Rooms

THE LOFT

A light and airy double room with floor to ceiling windows, sea/volcano views and direct access to the pool terrace. The space has been furnished using a mixture of Indonesian, Spanish and Turkish pieces, resulting in a relaxed, stylish environment. The teak four-poster bed and ensuite bathroom/dressing area complements the living space beautifully.

THE SUITE

The spacious Suite is made up of a double bedroom, bathroom and lounge. Both the bedroom and the lounge have patio doors opening directly onto the pool area. The lounge can also be used as a second bedroom, making The Suite ideal for friends or family who wish to visit the retreat together.

SKYVIEW

A double bedroom with ensuite bathroom, with an atrium skylight perfect for watching the stars. The high-spec bathroom also features a shower/steam room.

The Food

Delicious and healthy, Alan’s vegetarian cuisine is prepared by his resident chef from local, seasonal produce.

Other information

Hiring a car is recommended as the villa is in a rural location, and if you really want to explore the island it’s a must. Car hire is very reasonably priced and can be arranged on your behalf, but you will still be met at the airport irrespective of whether or not you hire a car. It’s remarkably easy to drive around the island; there is very little traffic and it’s a great way to experience the incredible landscapes.

If you don’t want to drive, don’t worry – Alan is happy to drop you at the beach, and half or full island day tours are also available. You can walk on pristine sandy beaches, surf at Famara or swim in the crystal clear ocean, go on nature walks or volcano climbs, or soak up the local culture at fiestas; Lanzarote really is the most magical of islands. It enjoys a mild dry climate with average daytime temperatures ranging from about 21°C in January to 29°C in August. With total annual rainfall at just 140mm, so your time on this retreat is likely to be bathed in warm, dry weather whatever time of year you visit.

What’s included

• One 60-minute 1-1 breath session each day (ex. arrival + departure days)
• One 60-minute group breath session each day (ex. arrival + departure days)
• Full board vegetarian meals and drinks prepared by our chef
• Airport transfers

Due to the bespoke nature of this retreat it’s essential to get in touch with us directly to make a booking. Please contact us here.

Prices

Having experienced this retreat personally, we can affirm that the longer your stay, the greater your experience. While 4 nights is enough for a taste of breathwork, 6 nights is the average length of stay – and it allows you the time and space to tap in to your deeper resources.

Availability for this retreat changes daily – plus Alan likes to establish personal contact with his clients, so should you wish to check availability please tell us the dates you are interested in and we will let you know your options and arrange for you to have a personal call with Alan to run through everything.

All prices are in GB Pounds. You can plan in additional breath sessions at £100 each – let us know when booking. Also ask us about massages and volcano excursions.

If you’d like us to arrange flights for you, we can, otherwise you’re free to organise your own.

My Breathing Space retreat was just that… space for myself to focus on me, just me. Alan’s experience, natural compassion and intuition enabled me to learn about myself and to ‘clear’ emotionally and physically. At the end of the week I felt stronger, clearer, spiritually and literally ‘lighter’… a life changing week. I am resolved to make it an annual retreat. Worth every penny and more.”

Emma, Cambridge

Alan Dolan is one of the best alternative practitioners/ breathworkers I’ve had the privilege to work with. His level of care for and intuitive understanding about the needs of his clients is second to none and I highly recommend him to any and everyone embarking on a journey of self discovery and/or looking for a way to live a happier, healthier and more peaceful life”

 Naomie Harris, Oscar, Bafta & Golden Globe nominee

I have practiced yoga for 8 years and meditation for 5 years and have always struggled with breathing and connecting the breath. I felt constricted across the chest and stuck. I knew I wasn’t breathing to my full capacity and that was the motivating factor for my initial interest in transformational breath. My actual experience extended way beyond any expectations I ever believed for what could be achieved through breathing! The breath work took me on a huge healing journey in 5 days and for the first time in my life I could feel my heart softening and opening. The work Alan does is incredible, truly life changing and transformative – Thank you for an amazing experience, Alan.”

Naomi Buff – Monaco

Due to the bespoke nature of this retreat it’s essential to get in touch with us directly to make a booking. Please call Justine on 0044 7714 333418 or email justinec@thelifeadventure.co

Learn To Breathe Workshops

Why do you need to learn to breathe properly?

Have you ever watched a small child at play? Completely absorbed in the moment and totally unselfconscious. Perfect authenticity. No facades. Simply being. It’s a great reminder of our inherent ability to live this way. So when did we lose that ability and how do we get back there?

From a very early age we are taught how NOT to be authentic. Parents give children signals as to what is ‘ok’ and ‘not-ok’, and children adopt strategies in order to regain approval. For children, non-authentic behaviour has a short term gain. Over time however it becomes the norm, leading us further and further away from who we really are.

Our relationships with others, both inside and outside the workplace, are a direct reflection of the one we have with ourselves. You can’t hope to connect with others if we can’t connect to ourselves. If you’re looking for authenticity you need to be authentic with yourself. If you want respect from others at work, you need to be respectful with yourself. If you’d like to see through the facades of others you must get behind your own facade first.

Breathwork is your ticket back to the remembrance of your authentic self, a journey which can open you further than you ever imagined possible. It’s the best 2hrs you will ever spend.  Learning to breathe properly allows you to lighten up, and realise that you are already ok as you are. The facade you’ve spent years constructing will simply fall away as you begin to practice what you have learned in this session. You can disengage from the drama, find your centre, find joy – and consciously create a life you are happy to be a part of.

The Power of Breath

Humans have been aware of the healing power of their breath for millennia. Through the centuries we’ve developed a vast array of breathing practices, all designed to bring about physical and emotional wellbeing and connect with ourselves.

But in today’s society, we often neglect our bodies’ built-in capabilities. Imagine owning the highest specification TV in existence, keeping it plugged in on standby and then living with it for years and years without ever actually turning it on. The fact is, most of us live in ‘standby mode’ most of the time. The most powerful mechanism is literally right beneath our noses waiting to be explored, yet we rarely give it more than a passing thought.

Learning to breathe is a powerful and safe way to infuse the body with oxygen and energy, recharging our own (often depleted) systems to work to their healing capacity. And it facilitates openings in us which allow us to tap into our deeper resources and live better, easier, more joyful lives.

This breathwork session can help you back to optimum health, mental and emotional clarity and experience a better relationship with ourselves and the people we work alongside. It can facilitate the growth we need in order for us to transform into who we’re capable of becoming.

What you’ll gain from this session and further self-practice

• Learn a technique which, if practised, will help you become the healthiest you’ve ever been
• Feel completely energised
• Experience deeply nourishing peace and relaxation
• Move beyond whatever is standing between you and happiness
• Become aware of emotions halting your personal growth
• Let go of emotional baggage permanently and easily
• Release anxiety and alleviate depression

The Technique

Alan Dolan’s work is based around years of exploring the most beneficial breathing techniques available to us. You’ll be taught how to use breathing effectively and be guided and supervised as you go along – paving the way for really transformative experiences.

What’s included

A 2-hr group breathwork session with an appropriate number of facilitators who will work alongside Alan to assist you.

Please get in touch with us directly to make a booking. We can accommodate up to 60 people in one session. Please contact us here.

Alan Dolan is one of the best breathworkers I’ve had the privilege to work with. His level of care for and intuitive understanding about the needs of his clients is second to none and I highly recommend him to any and everyone looking for a way to live a happier, healthier and more peaceful life”

 Naomie Harris, Oscar, Bafta & Golden Globe nominee

Presenter Colin D Smith

Colin D Smith is known as ‘The Listener'. He is one of the UK’s foremost listening skills specialists, working both with individuals, as well as for teams within organisations who want to be heard, think smarter, and transform their business and personal relationships through active listening. He has an innate ability to actively listen to people, enabling them to articulate their creative ideas, address their personal concerns, express their feelings more easily, and to achieve their personal, professional and life goals. Having had a varied and successful career in consultancy, business development, IT and customer support across many sectors, including finance, motor, retail and the NHS, in looking back he realised that much of his success was due to his listening and connecting abilities. This led him to develop a series of programmes to develop these skills in others, the importance of which organisations are now waking up to. His inquisitive and curious mind leads him to explore unusual, thought provoking, yet grounded observations and alternative approaches to business, people, systems, change and innovation.

MORE »

What’s included

Active Listening is available as a bespoke group event for a team as part of our revolutionary business programmes, or also available for individuals looking for a 1-1 session. Please contact us for more details.

Price

Add to Cart

Add to Wishlist

Presenter Alan Dolan

Alan Dolan, a world-renowned breath coach, has spent over a decade changing people’s lives (not least his own) with the simple power of breathing. After graduating from Aston University he worked overseas in Africa, Asia and for 10 years the Middle East, forging a career in the high-pressure world of communications. His last position in his “previous incarnation” was as a PR manager in the Aerospace industry. After taking a sabbatical in order to pursue his interest in things metaphysical Alan was introduced to the wonders of breathwork, and immediately knew that this would form the foundation of the next stage of his journey. Alan’s key message is that YOU are the guru, and your breath is the key. Eleven years on Alan has gained a wealth of experience in working with the breath both for individuals and businesses and lives on the magic isle of Lanzarote.

MORE »

What’s included

4-7 night retreat includes:
One 60-minute 1-1 breath session each day (ex. arrival + departure days)
One 60-minute group breath session each day (ex. arrival + departure days)
One massage with bodywork specialist Martin Cairoli
Full board vegetarian meals and drinks prepared by the chef
Airport transfers

Due to the bespoke nature of this retreat it’s essential to get in touch with us directly to make a booking. Please call Justine on 0044 7714 333418 or email justinec@thelifeadventure.co

Price From £1140 for 4 nights for 1 person (flights excluded)

Add to Cart

Add to Wishlist

Presenter Alan Dolan

Alan Dolan, a world-renowned breath coach, has spent over a decade changing people’s lives (not least his own) with the simple power of breathing. After graduating from Aston University he worked overseas in Africa, Asia and for 10 years the Middle East, forging a career in the high-pressure world of communications. His last position in his “previous incarnation” was as a PR manager in the Aerospace industry. After taking a sabbatical in order to pursue his interest in things metaphysical Alan was introduced to the wonders of breathwork, and immediately knew that this would form the foundation of the next stage of his journey. Alan’s key message is that YOU are the guru, and your breath is the key. Eleven years on Alan has gained a wealth of experience in working with the breath both for individuals and businesses and lives on the magic isle of Lanzarote.

MORE »

What’s included

2 hr breathwork session for up to 60 people

Price

Add to Cart

Add to Wishlist