What is Integration Training?

At Integration Training we build effectiveness and well-being through stress management, teambuilding and embodied leadership training. Our passion is helping organisations become better at what they do. We improve results, productivity and performance through our unique bodymind training.

What benefits will Integration Training bring my organisation?

Our promise is less stressed, healthier, happier employees who communicate better, are more productive, make more money or meet more targets. Integration Training focuses on the areas that require attention, tailoring our approach to your needs. Skills will be learnt which will benefit your business from the training day until long after.

What do training sessions consist of?

A workshop may involve simple stretches, awareness, relaxation, balance, breathing and movement exercises. In addition to individual exercises, paired practice and group activities are involved which are excellent for teambuilding. Emotional intelligence can be a part of the training with participants learning ways to express themselves and to listen. This builds understanding, co-operation and therefore productivity. Principles will be applied to specific areas of interest - e.g. customer service, change management or a conflict. As well as one-off workshops regular sessions are offered.

How is it different from other training courses?

Integration Training is unique in a number of ways. Firstly it deals with the whole person, especially how we embody who we are wand what we stand for. Cognitive knowledge alone is not sufficient to bring change - we've all read the books but can we embody it? Secondly, it's experiential, with practice and real-world application at its heart. Thirdly, Integration Training is social - it's about how people get on which each other - and is therefore particularly beneficial to teams. The emphasis on interaction makes it different and interesting each time. Integration Training is taught in a lively manner, where you can celebrate your distinct approach to business and the diversity of your group.

Where does it come from?

We combines practices from various disciplines, especially psychology and elements of the martial art of aikido. Aspects are also drawn from sports science, co-operative games, Somatics (the study of the conscious body), linguistics and meditation. These elements mean that all Integration Training learning is experiential. Participants learn through doing using a body, mind and emotion approach and the work becomes embodied, making the Integration Training fundamentally more effective and interesting than mainstream training.

Who can participate?

Anyone, from any part of your organisation can participate in Integration Training courses. They are suitable for people of all ages and body types. If employees have a physical injury or disability, exercises can easily be adapted to meet specific needs. Group size is typically between ten and thirty though it can vary depending on the number of employees you have, the space available and the overall objectives of your organisation.

How often will we need to do it?

Groups will benefit from a single training. Regular sessions will lead to greater gains such as increased physical and mental health and therefore greater productivity, fewer sick days and a more enjoyable work environment. Practice and real-world application are crucial to Integration Training.

Who do you work with?

Organisations of all kinds, in the UK and beyond. We have been employed by businesses, large and small, government organisations and non profit groups. The latter may be particularly interested in our Embodied Peacebuilding workshop. See the Testimonials and Photos page for more from our clients such as the NHS, SOS Children and Connexions.

It sounds unusual

Integration Training will be different from any programme you've experienced before. It's grounded in scientific study; being drawn from a body of research that has been used widely with large corporate and military clients around the world*. We invite anyone with doubts to try it, as we're confident they'll enjoy it and see the benefits of our approach.

Where can we do it?

Training occurs on your business premises so it's convenient and time-effective. An office cleared of desks and chairs is ideal. People standing by or sitting at their desks can do a lot of the exercises if no open space is available. Loose comfortable clothes are advised. Office clothes minus shoes, watches and jewellery are perfectly suitable but short skirts or ties are not recommended.

Is individual coaching and executive leadership training also available?

Yes, organisations will benefit from providing their leaders with one-to-one coaching, which will tailored to the requirements of the individuals involved. Some leaders enjoy a one-on-one coaching session before they participate in a team training, or after to work with specific challenges that arose.

Trainer Experience and Qualifications

Mark Walsh - Lead Trainer

Mark Walsh has dedicated his life to studying bodymind training. His experience and qualifications includes:

Bsc (Hons) Psychology (Leeds University).
Extensive training experience with large and small organisations in the UK and abroad, e.g. The Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust (NHS), SOS Children (a Cambridge based charity) and Brazil's national oil company - Petrobas.
10 years of aikido training and teaching on five continents.
Periods of intense residential training with respected bodymind teachers.
Internationally recognised black belt.
Three years organising projects and conferences for the international organisation Aiki Extensions Inc. This included conflict resolution work in the Middle East alongside the UN, in the slums of Brazil and with an HIV awareness circus in East Africa.
Experience of other martial arts including judo, jujitsu, karate, tae kwon do, kung fu and Systema.
Four years in the outdoor education industry, teaching climbing, abseiling, team-building, orienteering, fencing, archery, snowboarding and trampolining.
Residential training in Somatics (the study of the conscious body) at the Strozzi Institute, California and with Being In Movement founder Paul Linden in Ohio, USA.
Three years Non-Violent Communication training, including residential retreats and study with NVC founder Marshall Rosenberg.
Training in the linguistic coaching system of Fernando Flores.
Numerous courses on meditation
First aid courses, most recently with the British Red Cross.

Dawn Bentley - Consultant

Founder - Aurora Consulting (recent clients include Eurostar, Argos, Metropolitan Police, DTZ, Zurich Insurance, Carbon Trust, GB Airways
A breadth of management and commercial experience spanning public and private sectors, including extensive work managing change and in leadership coaching
Over 10 years experience of facilitating a Leadership in Management programme
Accredited coach with Strathclyde University
MBA from Sussex University
Qualified to use a variety of psychometric tools
Master NLP practitioner and Somatic Coach (Strozzi Institute)
Member and accredited coach with the International Coaching Federation

Clare Bowen-Davies - Consultant

Founder and principal of Coaching International
Degree in law
Extensive experience in Human Resources with a number of nationally and internationally known corporations.
Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and licensure in the state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Certified Master Somatic Coach and Associate - Strozzi Institute
Richard Strozzi-Heckler, Ph.D.'s 2003 book "Being Human at Work" includes her chapter "The Power of Somatics in Sobriety." Her own book "Unwinding the Trauma / Addiction Bind: Engaging the body, mind and spirit in healing trauma and addiction" will be published in 2008.

Andy Mason - Consultant

Masters Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies (University of Sydney)
Internationally Accredited Mediator (Regents College School of Psychotherapy and Counselling - London)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Co-founder of Mason-LaPorte Conflict Transformation
Intensive training in Nonviolent Communication in the USA with NVC Founder Marshall Rosenberg.
Ten years in community, mental health and acute parts of the UK National Health Service as a trainer, coach and consultant
Three years with The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) as an organisational development specialist
More than three years as an independent consultant, clients included Lambeth Mencap, &Equant, Infocorp Ltd, R Griggs Group Ltd, Computer 2000, Kingsway College
Extensive experience of relationship and peacebuilding outside the UK particularly in Sri Lanka among tsunami-affected communities and non-profit organizations.

*E.g. The Trojan Warrior research project conducted by the US Army and Marine Corps. Statistics and anecdotes from this work can be found in the book, In Search of The Warrior Spirit by Richard Strozzi Heckler, a mentor of Mark Walsh.