“I worked with Bidisha as a coach during a period of challenging personal and professional transition. Bidisha exorcised my demons! She asked questions and framed explorations that got to the root of the matter, and then provided tools and practices to address what we found which were highly effective. Bidisha helped me tremendously to maintain my grounding amidst stress, and access joy and relaxation even when faced with challenging situations. Working with Bidisha was one of the most impactful experiences I have had with a coach.” -Mira Manickam-Shirley, former E.D. Brown Girl Surf, creative organizer and twin mom of six year olds.
A 6 week program using the Heart, Head and Hands Curriculum I developed for the Dalai Lama Fellows as a jumping off point for examining what we are manifesting in our current reality, clarifying what we want, and using customized practices to move towards the world we wish to create. A welcoming place for all. I met His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama several times over five years through my work as Founding Program and Curriculum Developer at the Dalai Lama Fellows. The moment when he held my hand for five minutes, I felt an unspoken transmission of joy, wisdom, and possibility that helped me reconcile with my estranged dad, improve my ability to navigate change and conflict, and move from the center-line of my power and wisdom despite the challenges I’ve faced as a BIPOC ADHD’r. I went on to receive my certification as a somatic coach from an aikido and social justice inspired lineage, which helped me thrive during a high-risk pregnancy, and to become a highly connected gentle parent of an 8 year old. You can read a bit more in my book Superhuman River: Stories of the Ganga, about my source to sea journey from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal to explore the roots of India’s multi-faith spiritual traditions in search of how they may support us in these unprecedented times. Scholarships available—let’s have a conversation.
Expected Outcomes for Individuals:
Enhanced Feeling of Safety, Belonging, and Connection. When you take time to take in the good, you decrease anxiety and increase self-leadership.
Recovery from Burnout. Often, not having a vision means that you feel frozen and unable to clarify what you want. When you take time to bathe in all the good you’ve already brought about, and all the good that surrounds you, you are more able to move towards creating the reality that will be most fulfilling for you.
Confident Decision-Making. Too often, imposter syndrome holds us back. Repeatedly visualizing what we want and connecting to our intuition (which can be hard as a neurodivergent and/or CPTSD BIPOC person) helps us move confidently in the direction of our dreams while ensuring we notice synchronicities (the coincidence of inner and outer reality).
Network-weaving. Often, talking to someone who has taken the courageous step you’re considering taking, or supporting someone by connecting them to a “weak tie” in your network leads to newfound confidence in your own ability to engage with systems change.
Affirmation of and alignment around social justice goals and spiritual values. During this time of collapse, clarifying our social justice goals and vision is critical for hospicing modernity and birthing the new world that is possible.
Expected Outcomes for Groups:
Increased sense of safety, belonging, connection, and ability to feel seen, heard, and witnessed while navigating difficult emotions related to our unprecedented times.
Increased ability to anchor in spiritual values and engage in deep listening with people from other perspectives.
Increased Wellness and Mental Health for Employees. For four years, I have been working as a mental health coach for Modern Health, a platform that serves corporations worldwide. I’ve received a Five Star rating throughout.
Conflict Management. For four years, I’ve supported the Richmond Community Foundation and its clients (ranging from senior executives to untapped folks) with conflict management and have received extremely positive feedback for this.
Greater confidence in becoming a coach or facilitator themselves. I’ve served as a mentor coach for groups learning about how to become a coach for the Richmond Commuinty Foundation for two years.
Increased sense of hope and agency for people engaged in anti-authoritarian social change. I’ve served as a mentor for the Dalai Lama Fellows since 2011. Some of these have turned into lifelong relationships.
Before
Lack of clarity around balancing personal and professional life
Struggling with organization
Feeling burned out about social justice vision
Imposter syndrome
Challenges with conflict
Struggling to innovate
Anxiety is holding you back
Unsure about partner/sexual identity/parenting
Lack of hope
Struggling to meditate
Challenges with money
After
Clear boundaries around personal and professional life
Clear priorities and systems for what to do when routines break down
Feeling resourced about social justice vision
Confident
Facing conflict with discernment, and making powerful offers, requests, declines, insists, quits, and commitments where appropriate
Tapping into the wisdom of the body to innovate
Replacing anxiety with humor, creativity and pleasure
Clear about partner/sexual identity/parenting challenge
Enjoying customized meditation practices
Leaning into active hope
Feeling financially empowered about right livelihood