Offered every October in celebration of Filipinx American History Month (FAHM)

Are you a Filipina/o/x identified wellness practitioner interested in collaborating with the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Francisco? Connect with us!

Overview

FMHI-SF's Filipinx Healer Workshop Series (FHWS) is an annual event held every October in celebration of Filipinx American History Month (FAHM). Since 2018, we have hosted a diverse range of community centered wellness gatherings led by Filipinx-identified healers and practitioners from across the diaspora.  FHWS aims to explore and redefine wellness within the context of the Filipina/o/x and Filipina/o/x American experience, creating spaces for community members to engage with Philippine folk medicine, traditional medicine, and contemporary healing modalities. 
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The series features both virtual workshops via Zoom and in-person sessions, depending on the specific event. This hybrid format ensures accessibility for a broader audience.  While there is a suggested sliding scale donation for workshops, events hosted by the Filipino Mental Health Initiative-San Francisco are offered at no cost, making the healing experiences accessible to all community members. The FHWS welcomes attendees from all communities, fostering an inclusive environment for learning, healing, and cultural exchange. By participating in this series, individuals have the opportunity to explore new ways of understanding and promoting wellbeing that are rooted in Filipinx cultural traditions and contemporary practices.

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Community Protocols and Invitations

• For workshops taking place over Zoom, the event link will be emailed the week of workshop.
• We invite you to block out time to be present for your registered workshop in the hopes of limiting disruptions for yourself and other participants in attendance.
• Workshops are interactive learning spaces. Over Zoom, we encourage participants to have cameras and microphones "On" to engage with others. 
• Please do not take photos or videos of participants attending this event or post on your social media platforms to respect others' privacy.

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Filipinx Healer Workshop Series 2024 Practitioners

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La'arni Ayuma

La'arni Ayuma descends from a lineage of traditional Filipina/o healers, carrying forward the wisdom of her ancestors. As a Queer Holistic Practitione, she facilitates spaces for transformational shifts rooted in spiritual integrity, ancestral medicine and cultural reclamation. Their work focuses on compassionate and radical healing, nurturing reconnection with inner:ancestral wisdom through community:self-sustaining practices. La'arni is supported and held by her guides, teachers, communities, family, partner and her three children

Jyn Rose M. Aguas
​& Martin Romualdez

Jyn and Martin have a 30+ yrs combined experience in the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Jyn began her journey in 2008 and Martin in 2004. Students of the sport first and foremost (and always) turned athletes and through time learned to teach, passing down knowledge to their own community. Together, they co-instruct both kids and adult classes in the evenings regularly across the week, M-F. and have recently started to offer seminars/workshops outside their gym promoting the importance of self defense and overall health and wellness. Jyn and Martin are in collaboration with other martial artists/movement practitioners to host their offerings as well such as Filipino Ancestral Arts (FMA/Kali), yoga, wrestling, and soon to be boxing in mid Fall of 2024.

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Filipinx Healer Workshop Series 2024 Offerings

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Self Preservation and Community Connection
with Jyn Rose M. Aguas & Martin Romualdez of Excelsior Martial Arts Academy

Register Here for the Event:
bit.ly/fhws24-emaa

DATE/TIME
Thursday, October 10, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PST
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PST
*Attendance at both sessions is encouraged as they build off of each other, but not required

​[Newest Addition]
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PST 
*In collaboration with Bayanihan Boxing*

LOCATION
​Excelsior Martial Arts Academy
​1178 Geneva Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112
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​WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
We hope to provide a shared space to offer learnings in self defense, self and community preservation through our platform/medium of martial arts/movement practices, with the intention to decolonize, dismantle toxic systems and destigmatize mental health within the art/sport, i.e. engaging in reflection, tapping into somatics, discussion and overall connection to ourselves and each other. The energy to fill the room is always co-conspired, therefore whoever engages with us in this way also contributes to the larger whole and our greater purpose to serve.

Light food and refreshments will be provided.

NOTES FROM THE PRACTITIONERS
How to Prepare

• Wear comfy clothes to move around in
• Please clip nails to avoid potential scratching
• Reflect on intentions
• Workshops are child friendly

Materials to Bring

• Whole Self
• Water
• Comfortable athletic clothes
• Journal and Writing Tool (Optional)
• All are welcome to bring an offering to place on altar space to be returned back​

Pwera Usog: Protection through Magic and Medicine
​with La'arni Ayuma of Ayuma Healing Arts

Register Here for the Event: 
​bit.ly/fhws24-ayuma

DATE/TIME
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PST

LOCATION
​Zoom (Link will be sent week of event)
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​WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
"Pwera Usog" is a blessing and saying in the Philippines to protect babies from unintended "bati" - an energetic transfer that can show up as a disturbance in their bodies This can be intentional or intentional. Through generations, the power of ritual, prayer, and sacred objects has served as a shield against unseen forces. For our session, we will walk together through some cultural practices, such as pausok, anting-anting, pagtatawas, sumbalik, Hilot and more. This is a space to remember, to honor, and to bring these protective traditions into our modern lives. We will do this respectfully and with protection. We will also refrain from doing any particular rituals while in session together.

Light food and refreshments will be provided.
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NOTES FROM THE PRACTITIONERS
How to Prepare

• Come as you are. Only share what you have capacity to within and beyond our time together.
• Workshops are child friendly - up to parent/guardian discretion

Materials to Bring

• Writing/sketching materials, if you wish to.

PAMANA: Inherited Wisdom for Future Ancestors
​with La'arni Ayuma of Ayuma Healing Arts

Register Here for the Event:
​bit.ly/fhws24-ayuma

DATE/TIME
Sunday, October 27, 2024, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST

LOCATION
​In-Person in San Francisco - Specific Location TBD
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​WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
This session is for parents, guardians and folx who envision a future raising children. We will explore the ways we reclaim our cultural practices and honor our inner wisdom as we envision our youth as future ancestors. Inherited wisdom can look like preparing atang when having family celebrations or laying of hands on a loved one to relieve them of pain. In this communal space, storytelling and compassionate dialogue will guide us as we strengthen our connection with those who came before, and the generations forward.

Light food and refreshments will be provided.
​
NOTES FROM THE PRACTITIONERS
How to Prepare

• Come as you are. Only share what you have capacity to within and beyond our time together.
• Workshops are child friendly - up to parent/guardian discretion

Materials to Bring

• Writing/sketching materials, if you wish to.