Workshops 

I’m pleased to offer presentations and workshops for groups looking to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Offerings can be tailored to meet the needs and interests of the group. Please contact me regarding your opportunity.
Check out upcoming workshops at https://www.ticketleap.events/events/greentara

Healing Burnout and Dismantling Oppression with Self-Care

If you are in a caring profession such as education, healthcare, social justice, or environmental advocacy, you probably deeply believe in your mission and work more than standard hours. However, the challenges of these professions and our individual commitment to them also produce high levels of burnout. In this workshop we will look at the research on burnout, its causes and impacts, and strategies for healing burnout and dismantling oppression with self care. We will discuss the difference between external and internal self-care, the impact of systemic oppression, and how self-care is a radical act of resistance. Focusing on three strategies—self compassion, authenticity, and asserting power—we will explore how individual self-care empowers us to become agents of healing in our own lives as well as in the workplace. We will engage in partnered conversations and individual reflection to deepen our learning and build community. When we collectively make self-care a priority, we start to dismantle the systems of oppression that keep us trapped in the cycle of burnout and instead move us towards collective healing and liberation. The workshop includes presentation, meditation, individual contemplation, and small group discussion. 

Authentic Relating for Team Building

Research shows that organizations where people feel a sense of belonging perform better and have employees who are far more likely to be engaged and promote their organization as a good place to work. How do we create a sense of belonging?

Authentic Relating is a philosophy and practice of social engagement that harnesses the principles of equity and inclusion to create deeper and more authentic connections between people. Normal unstructured social activities privilege those who are more outgoing, charismatic, White, and with other dominant identities. Authentic Relating intentionally disrupts traditional power dynamics so that everyone can participate comfortably as themselves. Authentic relating removes the anxiety of making decisions about who to talk to and what to talk about and the risk of being rejected. It creates an open, fair, and safe environment where everyone can feel seen and heard without having to fight for attention. In Authentic Relating, everyone is given an equal amount of time to talk and to listen. Structured activities allow for deeper self-awareness, attention to others, and more curiosity, empathy, and vulnerability. Groups that practice Authentic Relating together report having more comraderie, resolve conflicts better, and a greater sense of belonging.

This workshop is for teams that want to create a sense of belonging and more authentic connections. Facilitated conversations and structured activities are tailored to the size and needs of the group. Typically it is three hours.

Ecstatic Dance for Liberation

Liberation starts with the body. In ecstatic dance, we practice liberation through free expression of movement. You can move however you like, there is no right or wrong way. The goal is to get out of your head and get in touch with your body, surrender and let go of judgment. In ecstatic dance, we co-create a safe space to be our authentic selves. The result is often a trance-like and ecstatic experience.

The benefits of ecstatic dance include relieving stress and tension, mindfulness and relaxation, exercise and play, and community and connection. 

No experience necessary! We will provide instructions and ease you into the practice. The event begins with an opening circle where we get to know each other and share intentions, followed by an hour long playlist, and a closing circle to share reflections. During the dance, we connect with our bodies and each other nonverbally by not engaging in conversation. This workshop is intended for 2 hours. 

Articles

I had practically never danced in my entire life, avoiding it mostly out of embarrassment that I wasn't good enough and that others would judge me. However, after attending one ecstatic dance with Clara, I was hooked. Clara provides a welcoming safe space for everyone present to truly be themselves, to get lost in the rhythms and leave judgment behind. Its non-performative approach opens up the opportunity to explore and connect with myself in ways I hadn't before, and connect with others who share this sacred space with me. Clara is always finding ways for people to connect through shared vulnerability and intentional relating. She also spends a lot of effort coming up with a theme for the dance and appropriate music to match. Afterward, I always feel a sense of rejuvenation, renewal, freedom, and appreciation, then I try to take that perspective into the world with me. Whether you are a dancer or not, I highly encourage attending a dance hosted by Clara!

Matt Leese, Ecstatic Dance attendee

I attended the Ecstatic Dance hosted by Dr. Clara Fang at the 2023 AESS&ASLE conference in Portland, Oregon. It was an exhausting moment–toward the end of the conference, people were feeling tired and “consumed.” A four-day conference was no small thing–especially for international participants. Coming from outside of the US, we had to adjust to jet lag, time difference, new environment, etc. Sitting in the conference rooms and listening to panel presentations could be very tiring and monotonous–and this was my situation when I entered the room, waiting for the dance. To my delight, only about 10 people showed up. The small number of participants made it less stressful. Then, to my heartfelt appreciation, Clara was very personal and easy-going. She presented a low profile and relaxing manner, which immediately caught me off-guard. Then, I realized that the so-called “ecstatic dance” was to follow your heart and let your body go free. And the dance did just that. There were no “steps” to follow, nor rules, nor regulations. We were each “free” in the way that we felt comfortable. I felt very relaxed and easy–especially after many sessions of scholarly presentations. My brain loosened up, and so did my body. I was able to “let go” both my mind and body and immersed myself in the rhythm of the music. It was exactly what I needed toward the end of the conference–not the accumulation of knowledge or the widening of new horizons but the sheer relaxation of mind and body. I felt a “zen-like” state of comfort–a calmness that soothed me and calmed me down. I felt very good during the process. I felt refreshed. In the future, I’d highly recommend that we “dance” toward the end of the conference. I’d recommend it to all future AESS & ASLE conference attendants. Thank you, Clara. I look forward to joining you in Ecstatic Dance the next time.

Iping Liang, Professor of English, National Taiwan Normal University

Clara has a very warm and grounding presence. She has an intuitive ability to help folks uncover their core values and recognize the unique gifts they have to offer the world. Through this workshop, Clara provided a safe space for self-reflection and growth. In the face of devastating news and setbacks, she has reminded me why I began pursuing climate advocacy as a career in the first place and given me a more hopeful outlook. If you’re feeling burnt out or losing track of the value of your work, I recommend taking her self-care workshop! Clara will help you reconnect with your climate why.

Jess Wilber, Community Associate, Climate Reality Project