Using Play to Ease the Way
A discovery workshop to explore how your unique Play Personality can ease the weight of the burdens you carry
Feeling the weight of stress and responsibility? Whether you're navigating mission-driven work, personal challenges, or simply carrying more than feels sustainable, this workshop offers a different approach:
Tamara, one with unicorn, after Portland to Coast
Play as a practical tool for resilience.
Through Nia-inspired movement, hands-on exploration with LEGO, and connection with others, you'll discover your unique Play Personality…and learn how to integrate more lightness into the heavy spaces of your life.
What we'll explore together
The neuroscience of play and why it matters for resilience and vitality
Stuart Brown's eight Play Personalities and which ones resonate with us
Embodied movement sequences that help us experience different ways of playing
How our Play Personality shows up in our work and life
Practical ways to access our lighter side when the weight feels heaviest
Connection with others navigating similar challenges
What makes this workshop different
This isn't about forcing positivity or pretending your responsibilities aren't real. It's about discovering that we can hold both—the gravity of what you carry AND the lightness that sustains us. Through movement, creative exploration, music and community, you'll tap into aspects of yourself that help you navigate stress with more ease, creativity, and gusto.
You'll leave with:
Connection with a community of people doing meaningful work
A clear understanding of your Play Personality
Movement practices you can use to shift your state
A tangible integration plan (your LEGO build!) for bringing more play into your life
A music playlist to support your playful resilience practice
This workshop is for you if:
You're a purpose-driven professional, solopreneur, or someone feeling the weight of stress and responsibility
You’d like to find more sustainable ways to navigate stress
You're curious about how play and movement can support your wellbeing and effectiveness
You're ready to access your whole self – not just the part that pushes through
Join us for an easeful morning of movement, discovery, and community — because you can't sustain meaningful work if you can't sustain yourself (and sometimes, the way through is lighter than we think).
Workshop Facilitators
Tamara Staton
Tamara is an Integral Master Coach®, educator, and facilitator with over 20 years of experience in human development and community building. She spent 13 years with Citizens' Climate Lobby developing expertise in navigating emotional terrain while maintaining effectiveness, and now helps individuals and organizations build sustainable engagement strategies through her company, Lighter Side of Climate. She blends positive psychology, mindfulness, wilderness leadership, and somatic practices to help people access joy and resilience as the foundation for sustained impact.
Tudie Stropparo
Tudie is a Nia Somatic Movement Instructor, singer, certified life coach, and community connector who discovered Nia in 2010 and has been sharing this transformative practice with the Portland community for years. Through her Schwee-Schwab coaching practice, she helps individuals clear and reclaim their spaces to reflect where they are now. Guided by a mission to live in her gifts and foster interconnected community, Tudie teaches Nia at local community centers, leads hike.Nia.hike experiences throughout the Portland area, and brings her love of music, movement, and meaningful connection to everything she does. Learn more at TudiePoppins.com.
Workshop Logistics
Location: Millhouse Community Room & Terrace. 1988 NW Savier St., Portland, OR 97209
When: Saturday, March 7, 2025 | 9am - 12pm (doors open at 830am for mingling)
What to Bring:
Water bottle
Cash for the treat donation jar (optional but appreciated!)
Comfortable clothes you can move in
Yourself, ready to move, play, and connect
Getting There: Street parking is limited and tight on weekends — carpooling, biking, or public transit strongly encouraged.
Food & Refreshments: Light snacks, coffee, and tea will be provided. Since we'll be moving quite a bit, we recommend eating something with protein beforehand to fuel your body.
Space is limited to 12 participants—register early to secure your spot!
Pricing & Registration
A note about this workshop: This is a pilot offering, an idea I've been developing after multiple workshop participants expressed curiosity about discovering their own play personalities, and a deep passion for Nia as a movement practice. Your participation and honest feedback helps shape and refine this work, which is why I'm offering exchange pricing in addition to standard tickets at a reduced rate. Thank you!
This workshop is offered at two price points:
Exchange Pricing: $0
Support this work by:
Sharing your honest feedback via a brief survey after the workshop
Writing a testimonial or Google review if the experience resonates with you
Considering reach — I am expanding my market to purpose-driven organizations, B-Corps, sustainability teams, or mission-driven leaders who might benefit from this work. Would love any ideas, connections or introductions you might be able to make.
Spreading the word (bonus!): Bring a friend or colleague to a future workshop & you'll both get 50% off!
Standard Pricing: $39
Simply register and show up — no strings attached.
Both options give you the full workshop experience. Choose what feels right for you and add to cart to register below: