True Body Cohort Feature: Lorena Santos

Each month we feature an individual from our True Body 2020 Leadership Training Virtual Cohort.

Lorena Santos joins the True Body Cohort from Brasília. Lorena is a writer and facilitator of creative writing through her business VERBAL. She shares her journey to embodiement has shown up in her writing and what she brings to her students.

I believe that in the same way the world is facing an invisble current of hatred and intolerance, it is possible to create another invisible current, one of love, respect and trust, one that creates channels of expression for every voice to be heard in spaces where we truly listen to each other.

After a PhD in Literature and A Fullbright Fellowship which took me to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, I realized that my true calling was to teach Creative Writing in my home country, Brazil. When I opened my business, VERBAL, my intention was to help those who saw themselves as ordinary people to find their own writer within. I have always believed writing as art and expression should belong to all, regardless of age, gender, education or social class. I find resonance in the teaching of Mary PIerce Brosmer and Pat Schneider and decided to pursue Certification in both of their teaching methods from Women Writing for (a) Change (WWF(a)C) and Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA), respectively. Now, I am the only WWf(a)C certified facilitator out of the USA and the only AWA certified facilitaor in Latin America.

Since opening VERBAL I have reached over 200 people through writing groups and workshops. Through this work we have been able to create a space for writers that instead of working in isolation, are connected in a community that is loving, respectful and supportive. In this difficult year, we were able to have online groups which connected people writing in Portugese in several points of Brazil, as well as Paris, Mexico City, Stockholm, Los Angeles and more. We even published our first book of short stories O ano em que fizemos contato (The Year We Made Contact).

I believe that in the same way the world is facing an invisble current of hatred and intolerance, it is possible to create another invisible current, one of love, respect and trust, one that creates channels of expression for every voice to be heard in spaces where we truly listen to each other. This type of space holding is something that the True Body experience has helped me understand and add into my work with VERBAL.

I first heard of The Well and True Body Project Leadership Training through Elaine Olund, a wonderful writer and Yoga teacher friend. Elaine had previously participated in True Body Leadership Training and shared how the experience influenced her writing and teaching processes. My interest was piqued and I jumped at the opportunity to join the virtual cohort.

The True Body experience has been an opportunity to dive deeper into self-knowledge that has aided me in not only my own life, but also the writing processes I bring to VERBAL students. Throughout my life, I had nourished mind and soul but forgot an important dimension, the body. By integrating all three, it is now possible to expand the possibilities of creativity, empathy and communication with others and myself in a profound way. This added layer also fuels that change towards a better world I hope to see.

Connect with Lorena and check our her work with VERBAL on Instagram @verbalassessorialinguistica or through WhatsApp 5561981437321.