TIAMAT: no-nonsense framework for meaningful life changes

Das sagt der/die Veranstalter:in:

Join us for a transformative weekend experience with the active self-transformation method TIAMAT in a 3-day workshop led by its founder, Ethan Hsieh from Singapore. This intensive workshop will take place in the dance studio (Atelier 0.11) of Quartier am Hafen in Cologne. Join us to explore, deepen, and finesse your relationship with mind, body, self, and the other. Spaces are limited!

(*) If you are a student, recent graduate, or artist you can use the discount code CultivateMeaning. Send us an email or a message on Telegram if you prefer to pay in cash.

Why attend?

Have you heard about the benefits of meditation or yoga but struggle to develop the habit? Perhaps you're curious about terms like "shadow work" or "inner child" commonly used in therapy.

It all sounds appealing, but you might be wondering if these terms are actually useful or if it's all just nonsense... Maybe you know a colleague who practices meditation and appears calm and peaceful but can't handle real-life problems when they arise. Or perhaps you have a yogi friend who talks endlessly about chakra alignment, completely oblivious to the vibe of the room. Or maybe you have a relative who always claims to be "speaking their truth" but uses it as an excuse for saying things that lead to awkward silences.

So, is there any value to these practices after all?

No, meditation will bring you enlightenment overnight, just as no yoga pose will instantly transform you into a spiritual guru. Practices like these help refine specific aspects of our lives by nurturing different faculties of our body and mind. However, relying too heavily on one practice can create an imbalance. These practices work best when used together, addressing their potential limitations and harmonizing our overall being like a well-tuned musical instrument.

What is TIAMAT?

The Integrative Approach and Methodology of Active Transformation (TIAMAT) is a no-nonsense framework for cultivating meaningful and impactful changes across different aspects of your life that integrates dance theater, Eastern traditions, modern psychological techniques, and applied philosophy. It is a synergistic set of practices aimed at developing a skillful connection between mind and body and self and group.

What will we do?

In this TIAMAT Tier 1 workshop, you will learn technical skills supported by rigorous academic study to balance personal experience with rational self-reflection.

We will explore consciousness through a series of exercises involving movement, somatic awareness, improvisation, dialogue, and frame games. These exercises help you build the foundational skills to perform TIAMAT's Nexus practices, which can be applied in daily life.

As a participant, you will train in:

1. Meditation and contemplation exercises that draw from Buddhist and Yoga traditions, without the religious connotations, metaphysical layers, and mythology, to develop awareness of our experiences and cognitive processes.
2. Dialogical exercises that draw from Authentic Relating and Circling practices to share our experiences more skillfully with others.
3. Embodiment exercises that draw from Tai Chi, Yoga, Animal Flow, and dance improvisation to increase strength, flexibility, and fluency in expressing thoughts and feelings through movement.
4. Voice and breath exercises that draw from the Linklater Voice actor training method and Western and Eastern wisdom traditions to embody perspective shifts.

Throughout the workshop, we will cover topics including:

• Movement and Improvisation
• Collective Intelligence
• Metacognition
• Somatic Awareness
• Transjective Rationality
• Enactive Imaginality
• Perspective Shifts
• Meaning in Life

At the end of the workshop, you will be offered a workbook with resources and guidance to continue your independent practice. An integration call will be scheduled after the workshop for follow-up and aftercare, and a certificate of completion will be provided.

What makes TIAMAT different?

TIAMAT is a set of self-development practices that aims to overcome the common pitfalls that give self-development its bad name. You will be given tools to live skillfully and poetically without falling into self-obsession, self-tyranny, or guru-worship. It's a no-nonsense framework that integrates theater, Eastern traditions, and modern cognitive science.

Who is this event for?

This event is open and accessible to performers and non-performers alike. It's for anyone curious about their relationship to their mind, body, and other people. You will train "muscles for graceful living" that help you take other perspectives, know what you're feeling, communicate effectively, listen deeply, and generate insight into knotty problems.

TIAMAT testimonials

"During those two days, Ethan presented us with the tools to better integrate body, mind, and soul. It was a huge dose of useful information and practices that I intended to incorporate into my life when I returned from camp. However, I had no idea that the change would start happening so quickly. All of these exercises we did together opened something in me, something I had not been able to notice before."
– Monika, participant in a TIAMAT Tier 1 camp.

"In speaking about my subjective experiences from an objective point of view, a safe distance is created for me to heal, rest, plan, and execute life. […] By listening to these objectified thoughts and feelings we are able to latch on to them subjectively and are once again freed to emote, react, and respond to the individuals on a subjective level, creating a space for empathy and authentic connection in a group."
– Jireh, arts educator, participant in a TIAMAT Tier 1 camp

When?

• Friday, May 3, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Saturday, May 4, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Sunday, May 5. 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Where?

Atelier 0.11 @ Quartier am Hafen

Additional information

• The workshop is held in English.
• Dancefloor with 100 sqmt  wood sprung floor.
• Food and accommodation are not included.

Learn more about TIAMAT

• Interview: Theatre-ritual-movement ecology of practices with John Vervaeke
• Podcast: Practicing TIAMAT and Meaning with Brain We Are

Other upcoming TIAMAT workshops

• Chalupa Podhora, Czech Republic:19th-26th of April (Tier 1 + 2)
• London, UK: 8th-10th of May (Tier 1)

About the trainer

Ethan Hsieh is the Artistic Director of 5ToMidnight International and a practice researcher working at the intersection of actor training and 4E cognitive science. He holds a Master of Arts in Professional Practice: Theatre and Drama Facilitation from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Ethan offers an interdisciplinary ecology of practices known as TIAMAT and has conducted workshops across Asia, Europe, and North America. He frequently appears as a guest on podcasts, where he discusses the importance of ritual, performance, and theatre techniques in enhancing well-being, psychological development, and finding meaning in life. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Community Development and Partnerships at The Vervaeke Foundation.