As a culture of women, we have too often forgotten our own divinely beautiful nature.
I know you may not fully see or feel it yourself yet, but I believe down to my bones that there is a deeply radiant, BEAUTIFUL, uniquely you essence that is in YOU and waiting to be awakened, embodied and expressed!
I know in every cell of my body that this essence is your birthright as a woman to fully live out in this lifetime, and that when you are in tune with it your whole life expands, feels juicy and flourishes.
Your beauty is NOT in a prescription, a formula, a box you buy at the store, the number on the scale, in what you eat, in how your physical body looks, in how successful you are or in the opinion of others.
It’s time to completely shake up the context of what beauty has been in our society. This is not just about changing what you see in magazines, in the media, or working on the surface – it’s about creating a whole new paradigm that starts with reawakening the magic that is in you right now.
You will have a space to shift from the busy, the doing, the scattered INTO a rhythm of slowing down, softening, and reconnecting to your being. No more fried circuits or feeling burnt to a crisp spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Imagine tingling in every cell of your body, living from your heart and connecting to your passion, experiencing your body as your ally (instead of you worst enemy) and experiencing an ecstatic joy that comes from your own inner resources and NOT something outside yourself.
In the space of Occupy Beauty, you will come together with other women to share, to connect, to create a global sisterhood and to be supported as you emerge into a new paradigm of beauty with your whole being.
As you connect in with other sisters in your tribe, it creates a space for you to shift from feeling separate or lonely or like no one understands into an experience where you feel seen, heard and welcomed just as you are.
This is a space designed to awaken you to your essential beauty, to the part of you that was there when you were born, that will be there when you die, that is embedded in your SOUL. It’s the part of you that has always known you are loveable, beautiful and a divine being.
It’s a knowing that you can’t possibly forget when you leave. Why? Because it’s already in you.
Get ready for a day of embodied learning and exploring, as well as restoration and relaxation!
I’m Melanie Elkin, creator of Occupy Beauty, founder of Yoga’licious and through workshops, group programs, private programs and retreats my mission is to support women just like you in reawakening to their essential beauty. I am not interested in the quick fixes or cookie cutter yoga asana or practices, but instead guide women to cultivate an experience that reconnects them back to their heart, body, soul and pure joy! When I discovered yoga and body intelligence work in my own healing journey, I knew I had found a practice that really brought me back home to myself. I felt a deep remembering and I want that for you, too!
I know that very often, personal growth can feel like heavy lifting and really hard work.
This event is NOT about trying hard or doing it right. This is about bringing play, curiosity and wonder in while you are exploring self-love, self-care, sisterhood and this new conversation of beauty with yourself.
Break for lunch, to nourish your belly. Food will not be provided for this event, but there are many local restaurants right in walking distance of the event space.
“The room of uniquely beautiful women gathered in a circle to introduce themselves and share what they were bringing with them and what they wanted to leave with. Some brought love and wished to leave with laughter, while others brought friendship and hoped to leave with acceptance. Each woman in the circle came from a place of vulnerability and open mindedness as they let themselves see and be seen by the other warm faces in the room”.
Lisa Beck is dedicated to bringing forth more joy and radiance through the power of music, dance, and radical self-love. She is a speaker, writer, performer and teacher who offers ongoing dance and drum programs for women in Southern & Central CA and beyond. Lisa is passionate about traveling the world to connect with like-minded souls who believe that LOVE and heart-centered beingness is the way forward.
LisaBeckLiving.com
After working as a Physical Therapist for over 10 years, Danielle knew she wanted to do more than just treat injuries. She wanted to help people live their best lives possible through health, wellness, fitness, and physical therapy. Danielle is not only a licensed physical therapist, she is also a certified personal training, health coach, and life coach. Danielle recently moved to Carpinteria, CA where she opened SPARK45 Fitness and Physical Therapy, where she combines her passions. She looks forward to working with each client to allow them to achieve their personal goals. Danielle is passionate about inspiring others to create their best lives possible.
www.spark45.com
Collin Christine McShirley, MA has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and is Certified from the Centre for Dieting and Eating Disorders. She grew up in Santa Barbara and struggled with poor body image and emotional eating. This struggle and her passion for helping other women inspired to get in the field of psychology with a focus on helping people repair their relationships with food and body. She is an Author, Speaker, Coach, and Body Image Activist. She has been featured in Oxygen Magazine, FoodMattersTV, Tiny Buddha, Yogi Time, Raw Foods Magazine, Livestrong.com, Livehack.org, Yourtango.com, and is a weekly columnist at our local Noozhawk. She works with clients all over the world helping them learn to shine from the inside out.
www.collinmcshirley.com
Kris Oster, Ph.D was a rock star marketing director and lead website developer for some pretty big names, including Citrix Online, E! Entertainment Television, Disney, ABC, Paramount Pictures. But, like you, she heard the siren’s call and decided to pursue a life of satisfaction, outside of the corporate structure. Kris inspires entrepreneurs who are determined to find more meaning in their business and helps them to uncover their own unique marketing voice.
www.mythicrhythm.com
Anne Rodriguez has been a Consultant and Life Coach for over 20 years, assisting clients be their best selves by exploring emotional blocks and obstacles that prevents them from living the life of their dreams. She has been a keynote speaker, a lecturer at major universities, a corporate trainer and also does individual coaching, group coaching, workshops and seminars. You can also catch some of her articles on websites, such as choosehappythoughts.com. Anne is best known for her open, honest approach and her enthusiasm and passion for helping others. Her work has been hailed as life changing, transformative and enlightening.
www.consciousconsults.com
Ashleigh Taylor is a Santa Barbara based portrait photographer specializing in making women feel and look glamorous, sexy and CONFIDENT in front of the camera. Boudoir and Glamour portraiture often get a bad rap as cheesy, tasteless, and/or tacky, which quite frankly makes Ashleigh mad! Because the truth is– she believes that for a woman to experience herself owning her body and beauty, rocking it for the camera, and seeing herself look GORGEOUS (like she should be on the cover of vogue) is not only empowering, it’s life changing. Ashleigh’s photo shoots are pampering (inclusive of pro-hair & makeup, wardrobe styling assistance, and posing direction) and a day to truly celebrate yourself. Ashleigh’s work has been published in top publications such as Cosmopolitan.com, Junebug Weddings, Style Me Pretty and The Knot magazine, to name just a few, and though the praise is nice, she is in love with her work because she has seen the transformational power that her photography has had in the lives of her clients. The fact that she can help women feel confidence, pride in their bodies and beauty, and self-love through my images is her raison d’etre.
ashleightaylorphotography.com
“Melanie’s approach is nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Shes a mystical blend of coach, sage, Goddess, and your best girlfriend. She sees you, and I mean really sees you, AND THEN she gets you. That’s a powerful combo for feeling seen, got, heard, and validated. She’s incredibly loving, nurturing and makes you feel safe no matter what you’re exploring.”
Location: The Goodland, a fun and hip Santa Barbara boutique hotel
As my commitment to bringing this powerful message to as many women as possible, I am keeping this event completely FREE of charge, and Advance reservations ARE REQUIRED to reserve your spot as space is limited! We would hate to turn you away if you show up without an RSVP, AND we must prioritize those who have preregistered.
“When I first met Melanie at Occupy Beauty, it was at an almost-too-good-to-be-true day of yoga and sharing that she was offering for free to women who wanted to explore beauty and all that the words EXPLORE BEAUTY might mean. I instantly connected with her warmth and sincerity and felt somehow changed for the better by those shared hours.”
This event is for you if:
This is not for you if:
“You have profoundly changed my thinking around my body and self-love/self appreciation. You have given me the tools I need to be successful as I move away to college and begin the next chapter of my life. I will spread this message. Thank you!”
When opportunities like this show up, I know how easy it can be to back away.
You might be reading this and feeling “YES! YES! YES!” inside, but then thoughts creep in –
“I won’t know anyone.”
“I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do there and I’m scared it might feel uncomfortable.”
“What if I discover something new about myself and realize I want to make a big change in my life? Can I handle that?”
“Six hours? Can I really take that much time away from all the things I have to get done?”
Sister, I’ve had all those thoughts every time I was about to step into an experience that I sensed would be life-changing.
If you’re feeling a “YES!” I encourage you to follow it – trusting that you don’t need to know the why or the how.
Every time I’ve moved forward it has always guided me exactly where I was meant to be. It’s brought me to the woman I am today and everything I want to share with you at this event.
Let’s be honest – if you don’t join us at Occupy Beauty, when will you create another time for yourself for this kind of depth and community?
It’s time to respond to the calling.
Imagine having a facilitator and an expert team of women who can hold that space for you.
Imagine making new connections, being with women who really see you and get you.
Imagine what could be possible in your world from the moment you leave.
I look forward to seeing you there!
“Today gave me hope and taught me numerous lessons about my value as a woman.”