Telluride Christ Presbyterian Church hosts workshop 2/20

13 Feb Telluride Christ Presbyterian Church hosts workshop 2/20

[click “Play” to hear Jeff Tretsven speak about Nonviolent Communication]

One of the best gifts one partner can give another on Valentine’s Day is not roses or chocolate. It is listening so the other feels heard. The Telluride’s Christ Presbyterian Church, 434 West Columbia, hosts a workshop on Saturday, February 20, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. that aims to teach that skill. The theme:  “Compassionate Communication.” The facilitator: Jeff Tretsven, who has been coaching in the discipline for more than two years.

Compassionate Communication is based on  the work of Marshall Rosenberg, author of “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of LIfe.” Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is itself based on the first of the five restraints or vows (yamas) in the ancient text “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,” thought-threads dating back at least 4,000 years. The grounding yama is ahimsa.

The Sanskrit word “ahimsa” translates as “harmlessness,” “non-violence,” or “non-injury,” which means peace in words, thoughts and deeds, whether awake or dreaming. Practicing ahimsa is a sign of love and goodwill towards all.

Compassionate Communication asks two main questions:

1.  What is alive in me/you? (feelings and needs)
2.  What would make life more wonderful?

Topics to be covered over the course of the day:

1. Background of NVC (Nonviolent Communication, aka Compassionate Communication)
2. The process of NVC
3. Empathy
4. Neutral observations
5. Identifying and expressing feelings
6. Needs vocabulary
7. Requests
8. Four ways to receive a message

Class size is limited to 20. The cost: $40/person.

To sign up contact Tretsven at 970-901-6905 or jefftret@yahoo.com.

To learn more, click the “play” button and listen to Tretsven’s podcast.