by
Susan Cranston
held at
Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work Wilfrid Laurier University 120 Duke Street West Kitchener, Ontario N2H 3W8

Session Description:

In this hour Susan Cranston presents an interactive workshop on Conscious Communications to Live Our Lives in Harmony.

Do you ever feel that you waste time and energy by not communicating well or by being distracted by mental chatter? This session will provide practical tips and resources to support your ability to communicate effectively, navigate change, stay present, and find more joy and success in each day. You'll learn conscious communication tools, breathing techniques, and participate in a visualization exercise to enhance your ability manage stress and release negative thoughts.

Learning outcomes:

  1. manage stress more effectively through mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises (diaphragmatic breathing vs shallow breathing, alternate nostril breathing)
  2. explore communication blockers (example: mental chatter - video clip, reactive response, ambiguity, inconsistency, need to be liked rather than respected) and how various blockers negatively impact effective communication.
  3. learn the four key steps to conscious communication as well as words to avoid and words to use.

This interactive session is experiential and supports the needs of kinesthetic, auditory and visual learners. The 1 hour presentation includes —

  1. breathing exercises - learning about the importance of diagrammatic breathing and a relaxation technique using alternate nostril breathing
  2. a visualization exercise of releasing what no longer serves you and creating space for what you want to do, experience and how you ‘show up’.

Susan will then discuss some of the key communication blockers and ask participants to share examples they’ve experienced.

Next Susan will address congruent communication and how 93 percent of communication is non-verbal and the need to consciously communicate verbally with the remaining 7 percent.

Susan will provide handouts of words that are communication blockers and words that are communication builders. I will also walk the group through the four key steps to conscious communication and with each step, I will ask the group to provide input, share examples, and do a bit of role playing as they pair up and immediately apply what they’ve just learned.

The session will end with the following TEDTalk video starting at 4:32min to provide a perspective that no matter how busy or stressful a day may seem, it helps to stay mindful and grateful for the important things in life that might seem easy to forget.

Q&A if time permits.

Susan Cranston, master life coach, uses her knowledge as an Ayurvedic lifestyle practitioner and a meditation and Yoga teacher to enhance the services offered in her Waterloo-based centre for well-being, Authentika Studios (wellness, Yoga, coaching and communications). Her mission is to help people ignite the greatness within and Susan amplifies this goal through her work as a TV and radio talk show host, writer, and motivational speaker. She also uses her 24 years experience working in corporate financial services to help people develop and foster a positive personal brand. 

As a motivational speaker, Susan addresses various audiences throughout North America on a range of topics. Living by example, Susan knows the sense empowerment that comes from bringing dreams to life and that it is never too late to start. In her 40s, she ran the Boston Marathon 3 times, tried surfing, and self published 2 novels. 

Susan is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in English Language and Literature and a diploma in Business Administration. She holds the designation of Certified Employee Benefits Specialist from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP). She received her teacher training in Ayurveda and meditation from the Chopra Center University in California and from Aura Wellness Center in Massachusetts for Yoga. In 2010, she was elected the first Canadian President of the ISCEBS Governing Council. 

Susan was named the 2014 Inspiring Women at the annual Inspiring Woman's Event and was nominated in the same year for Woman of the Year. Active in her community, Susan is the Vice-Chair of the Women's Leadership Committee for the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce and a member of the media and marketing committee for WowtheWorld™ Waterloo Region.  Susan is a board member for the SWONT Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists and a member of the IFEBP's Professionals Committee.

Susan Cranston, CEO & Founder, Authentika Consulting Inc.
Authentika Studios: Wellness, Yoga, Coaching & Communications
298-B Marsland Drive, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z1 
www.authentikastudios.com
Telephone: 226.647.7533
Cell: 226.989.7533
Web: authentikastudios.com
Email: authentikaconsulting@gmail.com
Twitter: @cransights
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