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Chicago Therapy Collective’s Healing & Wellness Series is a weekly space for trans, non-binary and queer community members to tune inwards, explore a variety of healing modalities, and build community. Two classes will be held every Saturday at Cheetah Gym in Andersonville through the months of July and August. All classes will be facilitated by our team of talented trans, non-binary, and queer teachers.
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*Sign up for one or both classes. You must reserve your spot. Capacity is capped at 15 students for each class.
Program Vision:
Our intention for this Healing and Wellness Series is to offer our community curated healing and wellness practices across various modalities that collectively nurture us amid the tumultuous times we find ourselves in. Our goal is to disrupt the status quo of stress, isolation, and limited resources for accessible, inclusive health, wellness, and care by providing a wealth of sorely needed offerings. Through the series, we will strive to create an experience that rebuilds connections between mind, body, and soul.
2:00-3:15 PM
M Haines, aka Tila Von Twirl, has been a Chicago area dance and movement professional for 20 years. M received their BFA in dance making with honors from Columbia College Chicago in 2006. Haines has performed and instructed professionally for Hurley and Dancers, Dance CoMotion, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Old Town School of Folk Music, Swing for kids, IdeaBox, as well as presenting as a guest artist for Iowa State University and adjudicator for Iowa State Dance Theater. M Haines has also set and performed work independently in the more formal concert dance world.
M Haines performs in the entertainment world as Tila Von Twirl, which has afforded them international travel, teaching and performance opportunities such as “Tomorrow” featuring Fleetwood Mac, “Sing” featuring Elton John, “Metamorphus” featuring Billy Joel, as well as set choreography for Lando Blaze and Narcissa which coined the term “stupidlesque” from Johnny Porkpie at Burlesque Hall of Fame’s show in Vegas. Tila has also received several honors and accolades from BHOF for their work with the acrobatic group, The Dolls of Doom. Tila is currently on staff at Newport Theaters CAMP, ushering in a new generation of burlesque performers and those that want to connect to their bodies.
M Haines/Tila Von Twirl currently produces and MC’s the queer forward event Embodiment, rotating weekly spots at the Newport Theater for PeekEasy, as well as hosting at Unbridled at Untitled and various entertainment nights at Bordel.
M tempers all of this with a love for practicing and teaching yoga, being a student of Thai Buddhadhamma, and an unfortunately dormant Thai massage practice. Most recently this has all evolved to serve private clients in furthering a relationship to their body that specifically serves them. M firmly believes a body moving is a body politic, all bodies are dancing bodies, and you are probably stronger than you think you are.
3:30-4:45PM
Mz Mr (she/her/ella), Tewa and Mexica descendant, is a burlesque and flamenco movement artist who has trained numerous dancers in the art of striptease for over 10 years with elements of improvisation, juggling and rhythmic gymnastics combined to explore gender euphoria, sensual insight, and improve balance.
Class Description:
Somatic Guided Sound Meditation
Sounds of nature will provide a backing track for guided gentle movement flow with live wooden flute and singing bowl accompaniment to deepen relaxation and body awareness. Mz Mr will support the exploration of embodied stress and facilitate the release of tension within the mind and body through seated postures and various mudras to deepen awareness of personal energy flow. Participants will have the opportunity to practice their own sound-making with various natural instruments and ancestral rhythm making. Comfortable attire is recommended.