Let's gather for a drink and a nibble after the working day is over! Share your experiences around facilitation, bring a success to celebrate, or a challenge to chew over... while enjoying a well deserved post work refreshment of your choice. Free for all to attend, and open to members of IAF World and non members alike. No need to book (but if do you'll get handy reminders via email!), it's ok to turn up on the day. Find us in Bonnie & Wild in Edinburgh's St James Centre - we’ll have an IAF sign at our table. Bonnie & Wild has many restaurants and bars around a central seating area, so you can have a bite to eat, or join us for a beverage of your choice! For more information email chair@iaf-scotland.org.
A three-hour workshop designed to inspire and guide you in writing your personal stories led by local bestselling author and certified book coach Emma Dhesi. This beginner-friendly workshop is designed as a no-pressure, exploratory space where you can connect with your creativity and reflect on your personal experiences. It's ideal for anyone who wants to explore memoir writing and storytelling techniques, whether you’re reflecting on your own life, telling a loved one’s story, or capturing memories tied to a craft or creative activity. You will: Learn practical techniques for uncovering and organising your ideas through memory mapping. Practice sensory writing to make your memories vivid and immersive. Write a heartfelt first scene of your memoir or personal essay, using a simple three-part structure: Hook, Scene, and Reflection. Share your work (optional) and receive encouraging feedback in a supportive group setting. Emma will provide guidance and step-by-step activities to help you structure and enhance your writing, and you will leave with the start of a memoir chapter, or personal essay, and practical tools to continue writing at home. All materials are included, plus a handout with writing prompts, tips, and recommended memoirs for further inspiration. Just bring your ideas and enthusiasm! If you have specific memories or objects you’d like to write about, feel free to bring those for inspiration. More information The Arienas Collective workshops, courses and events are run from a welcoming and supportive environment within a Georgian mews home in Edinburgh’s City Centre New Town. We invite you to join us, leave any day-to-day worries behind and immerse yourself in being creative. Spaces on our workshops and courses are limited so that our creative team of artists and makers can offer you the hands-on help and support you need to make the most of your time with us. Our taster and introductory workshops focus on teaching creative skills and methods you can continue practising at home, using affordable materials and equipment. Where more expensive equipment is required we will mention this in the workshop description. All the equipment and materials you need are included in the price, unless stated otherwise. Light refreshments from local suppliers are provided. On full day workshops you are welcome to bring your own lunch to eat inside or out. There is also a wide range of independent sit-in or takeaway delis, cafés, and restaurants, plus a range of supermarkets all within a 5-10 minute walk. Accessibility The workshop space is on the first-floor of our Georgian mews home and unfortunately we do not have lift access. Blue badge holders can park outside our front door on the single yellow line by arrangement. Allergies The workshop space is in our open plan living space and is not nut free. Please let us know about any skin or food allergies before booking. We offer a dairy-free milk and gluten free snack alternative. Minimum number no refund policy To ensure we can always pay our creatives a fair fee, we require a minimum number of bookings for each workshop and for this reason bookings are non-refundable. Should we have to cancel due to low numbers, we will offer you the option to swap to an alternative date or workshop, or to request a refund. We do our very best to avoid cancellations. Since we often get late bookings, we keep our workshops on sale for as long as possible. We realise that some of you travel from afar, so if you book a space and have not yet received an email confirming your workshop is going ahead and need to make plans for your trip, please get in touch before booking any travel or accommodation so we can update you on booking numbers. Or check in before booking. Private workshop bookings Most of our workshops are also available to book for: private get-togethers with family and friends; themed wedding and birthday celebrations; corporate team building and well-being purposes; and in-store retail events for your customers. If you’d like to know more please Email Lynn. Age restrictions Our workshops are planned with adults in mind. Many are suitable for teenagers, but some may require under 16s to be accompanied for insurance purposes. Please check with us before booking.
Reclaiming Regulation is a series of individual, in-= person workshops for women who are seeking to explore nervous system regulation, somatic awareness, and embodied wellbeing. These 90 minute workshops offer accessible, practical tools to support emotional balance, reduce overwhelm, manage nervous system regulation and develop a deeper connection with the body. Each session is a stand alone experience that blends nervous system theory with somatic practices, breathwork, and grounding practices. The workshops are inclusive, trauma informed, and accessible to all levels, including complete beginners. Who These Workshops Are For WOMEN ONLY These sessions are ideal for women: seeking body based tools for managing stress and supporting calm feeling disconnected, tense, or emotionally fatigued curious about nervous system regulation and somatic practices wanting to reconnect with the body in a safe, supportive space No previous experience is required Somatics & Nervous System Regulation: Benefits for Stress, Trauma, and Emotional Regulation: Reduces chronic stress → Helps shift the body from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest (parasympathetic state) Supports trauma recovery → Allows stored tension, stress and trauma symptoms to be released safely through the body Improves emotional regulation → Builds capacity to experience emotions without overwhelm or emotional shutdown Enhances self-awareness → Encourages a deeper connection to bodily sensations and internal states Increases resilience → Strengthens the nervous system's ability to recover from stress more quickly Promotes grounding and presence → Helps you feel more centred, calm, and connected to the present moment Reduces anxiety symptoms → Calms overactive stress responses through breath, movement, and awareness Improves sleep and rest quality → Calming the nervous system supports better rest and recovery Empowers self-regulation skills → Teaches tools to manage emotional ups and downs independently Strengthens mind-body connection → Enhances the ability to listen to and trust bodily signals Workshop Format Schedule: One in person workshop each month (October–July) Duration: 90 minutes per workshop Structure: Each workshop is a stand alone experience, attend one or as many as you choose Location: Art & Spirituality Facilitator: Led by a trauma informed integrative somatic therapist Provided: Comfort props, optional reflection prompts, and follow-up resources Each session includes: Accessible nervous system education Guided breathwork and somatic practices Restorative and grounding practices Optional moments for reflection or group connection Take home practices for integration Monthly Workshop Themes November: Befriending the Body Reconnect with body awareness through gentle movement and body scanning Learn to interpret internal signals and physical cues Cultivate presence using breath and orienting practices Workshop Outcomes By attending one or more of these workshops, participants will: Understand key nervous system principles that support emotional balance Build body awareness and confidence in reading internal cues and sensations Gain practical breath and movement tools for everyday regulation Reconnect with the body as a resource for rest, presence, and wellbeing Cultivate more compassion and awareness of widening their your window of tolerance Why This Work Matters In a fast paced and often dysregulated world, many women are seeking grounded, body based tools to support their wellbeing. These workshops offer a gentle, empowering, and science informed space to reconnect with the body’s organic intelligence. Through movement, breath, and embodied awareness, participants can cultivate more resilience, rest, and a renewed sense of aliveness, one moment, one step at a time. This FREE workshop is for Adults women only and is sponsored by CORRA and HENRY DUNCAN GRANTS By attending this class you release Cori from Koa, Giada Gaslini and Art and Spirituality Cic, from any liability arising out of any personal injuries, emotional or physical release, death, physical reaction, expectations of results, theft in the venue or damages that may happen to people and objects while attending. Pictures will be taken during the workshop, if you prefer not to be in them, please inform the teacher.
Edinburgh Night Photography Lesson. Join this One-to-One, two hour, night photography lesson in Edinburgh's historic old town!
Reclaiming Regulation is a series of individual, in-= person workshops for women who are seeking to explore nervous system regulation, somatic awareness, and embodied wellbeing. These 90 minute workshops offer accessible, practical tools to support emotional balance, reduce overwhelm, manage nervous system regulation and develop a deeper connection with the body. Each session is a stand alone experience that blends nervous system theory with somatic practices, breathwork, and grounding practices. The workshops are inclusive, trauma informed, and accessible to all levels, including complete beginners. Who These Workshops Are For WOMEN ONLY These sessions are ideal for women: seeking body based tools for managing stress and supporting calm feeling disconnected, tense, or emotionally fatigued curious about nervous system regulation and somatic practices wanting to reconnect with the body in a safe, supportive space No previous experience is required Somatics & Nervous System Regulation: Benefits for Stress, Trauma, and Emotional Regulation: Reduces chronic stress → Helps shift the body from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest (parasympathetic state) Supports trauma recovery → Allows stored tension, stress and trauma symptoms to be released safely through the body Improves emotional regulation → Builds capacity to experience emotions without overwhelm or emotional shutdown Enhances self-awareness → Encourages a deeper connection to bodily sensations and internal states Increases resilience → Strengthens the nervous system's ability to recover from stress more quickly Promotes grounding and presence → Helps you feel more centred, calm, and connected to the present moment Reduces anxiety symptoms → Calms overactive stress responses through breath, movement, and awareness Improves sleep and rest quality → Calming the nervous system supports better rest and recovery Empowers self-regulation skills → Teaches tools to manage emotional ups and downs independently Strengthens mind-body connection → Enhances the ability to listen to and trust bodily signals Workshop Format Schedule: One in person workshop each month (October–July) Duration: 90 minutes per workshop Structure: Each workshop is a stand alone experience, attend one or as many as you choose Location: Art & Spirituality Facilitator: Led by a trauma informed integrative somatic therapist Provided: Comfort props, optional reflection prompts, and follow-up resources Each session includes: Accessible nervous system education Guided breathwork and somatic practices Restorative and grounding practices Optional moments for reflection or group connection Take home practices for integration Monthly Workshop Themes December: Breath as Medicine Discover the link between breath, energy, and emotional states Learn techniques to calm or energise the nervous system Explore breath and movement together to support coherence and focus Workshop Outcomes By attending one or more of these workshops, participants will: Understand key nervous system principles that support emotional balance Build body awareness and confidence in reading internal cues and sensations Gain practical breath and movement tools for everyday regulation Reconnect with the body as a resource for rest, presence, and wellbeing Cultivate more compassion and awareness of widening their your window of tolerance Why This Work Matters In a fast paced and often dysregulated world, many women are seeking grounded, body based tools to support their wellbeing. These workshops offer a gentle, empowering, and science informed space to reconnect with the body’s organic intelligence. Through movement, breath, and embodied awareness, participants can cultivate more resilience, rest, and a renewed sense of aliveness, one moment, one step at a time. This FREE workshop is for Adults women only and is sponsored by CORRA and HENRY DUNCAN GRANTS By attending this class you release Cori from Koa, Giada Gaslini and Art and Spirituality Cic, from any liability arising out of any personal injuries, emotional or physical release, death, physical reaction, expectations of results, theft in the venue or damages that may happen to people and objects while attending. Pictures will be taken during the workshop, if you prefer not to be in them, please inform the teacher.
Exclusive evening of creativity in Edinburgh to support the future of Scotland’s craft industry