Boundaries & Nourishment Holiday Edition
Facilitator: Sarah Barker, PhD (Media Psychology) — body-based attention training, VR-supported regulation
Session Focus: A Practice for When There’s Too Much Input
The holidays are a time when everything ramps up: noise, schedules, social expectations, family dynamics, and the subtle pressure to hold yourself together through all of it. This month’s session is designed for exactly that. This is the second installation in the series. Each gathering focuses on a different way the body responds to food-related input—taste, smell, social tone, pacing—and how these signals affect our ability to stay grounded during eating.
The space is quiet and uncomplicated. We move slowly. We work with sensation rather than stories. Nothing here requires performance, emotional disclosure, or being “good” at meditation.
This month, we’ll explore what the body does at the first signs of overload — whether it’s from sound, social dynamics, emotional tone, or the energetic shifts that happen in group settings. The goal isn’t to brace or push through; it’s to notice, orient, and give the body something steady to land on.
What We’ll Practice
1. A short regulation sequence
A simple, repeatable process you can use when holiday intensity, family energy, or social environments start to feel like too much.
2. Optional sensory check-in
Bring something neutral:
a sip of tea, a mint, fruit, a warm mug, a stone, fabric, or nothing at all.
It’s a brief, grounded moment of noticing a single sensory input — no meaning attached.
3. Boundaries through sensation
We’ll explore the body’s early cues for “too much,” and how to respond without tightening, collapsing, or overriding yourself.
Here, boundaries aren’t rules. They’re signals you learn to recognize and trust — especially in seasons of excess.
Who This Is For
People who:
get overwhelmed by too much input
notice shifts in tone, energy, or group dynamics
want clearer internal cues and boundaries
want tools that actually work in daily life
feel the strain of holiday “togetherness” or social expectation
No previous experience required. If you have questions about the session or about using EngageXR, feel free to reach out. Please RSVP in EngageXR so you’re registered and able to enter the space.