Nonviolence Seminars & Workshops

Nonviolence is a personal practice, a proven strategy for social change and a foundation for a culture of peace.
As a personal practice, nonviolence help us develop & cultivate inner peace, stability and resilience during times of crises and challenging circumstances; to release fears, anger and old resentment and to live from the impulse of our vision with courage and the freedom to chose our response.
In the Inter-personal space, practicing nonviolence allows us to create authentic, effective and transcendent communication during conflicts and beyond, to turn an adversary into a friend, strengthen the family and build community.  
In society, nonviolence has a track record as an effective strategy for social change; a set of principles, tools and skills which allow ordinary people to challenge well-oiled oppressive systems and to achieve worthy goals without the use of any kind of violence.
UPAYA offers several courses of various levels which are mainly based on the nonviolence principles. 

Cultivate resilience and inner strength when dealing with violence. Learn how to better take care of yourself so that you can stay present and effective in challenging times. If we wish to cultivate social climate which fosters dialogue and mutual respect we need to heal our personal dynamics with violence whether we are perpetrators, victims and/or avoiders. 
Workshop Format: Minimum 7 hrs, Optimal 14 hrs (2 days)
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Win-Win in 8 Simple Keys
Do you often wish you could have remained centered, calm & clear- headed when your buttons were pushed? Have you ever felt powerless in certain situations, obsessing later about what you could have/should have said or not say? No longer do you have to give up, cave in, raise your voice or lose your temper. Learn how to navigate a difficult conversation in a way that establishes trust and opens possibilities for mutual understanding and respect. Use these 8 keys so that everybody can win!
Workshop Format: 10 hrs (an evening + a day)

Do you despair about what's happening in the world? Doubt that you can ever make a difference? Or maybe you are one of those who fight an uphill battle trying to facilitate change yet feeling how demanding and draining it can be...
The truth is that ordinary people just like you from India to the U.S., from South America to Europe, Asia and Africa won civil and labor rights, undermined well-oiled systems of oppression, saved lives & trees and transformed entire societies without the use of force. These people were not extraordinary, special or different from you.  They have just discovered the power of SoulForce and allowing themselves to be used by it, they acted with courage, patience and determination to bring about social & environmental justice.  The course equips its participants with the necessary knowledge, practice & self discipline of nonviolence as a tool for social transformation.  Each week in the course, we learn and practice the principles of leading nonviolent social change, how to create and maintain a living vision, what sustains commitment over time, how to cultivate courage and compassion, what is real motivation and to find it, which tools achieve the best results and what is the difference between nonviolent strategy and nonviolent way of life. We also examine the relationship between spirituality, leadership and social activism and how to apply spiritual principles toward personal & social transformations.  
Course Format: Weekly classes  3hrs each for 10 weeks

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When our community is in crisis, we pray together, organize to assist those who suffer, support the sick and sit with the mourners.  We also celebrate the joy of neighbors but rarely do we gather to truly listen to each other, to take care of our charged emotions and to create a healing environment that can facilitate dialogue, collective healing and the achievement of common goals.  Community Healing Circles is a forum which allows deep listening and sharing in a safe environment, free of judgement and prejudice.   The Concept for the CHF was first initiated on September 11th, 2001, just a few hours after the collapse of the twin towers in NY, by members of the Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence in Los Angeles.  It was offered to the public just 3 days later.  More than 300 men & women who searched for emotional clarity, healing and spiritual support, showed up. This format was offered many times since then, during times of crisis with both big and small groups. it is a Trade Mark (TM) of the Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence-La.
Format : minimum 3 hrs