Abundant Body
Stella
Topaz
Year of training:
2017
Related qualification:
CSB
How many and what type of workshops/classes have you previously facilitated?
Early career in nursing: groups and workshops for women (in feminist women's health centres) developing personal skills; working in youth health and queer health - running consultations and peer work for young people; Speaking at conferences and on panels from work and from lived exp; Union offcial runnign campaigns and assiting members to lobby and advocate. In later career: assiting on Urban Tantra twice, have assisted / taught on 12 Wheel of Consent professional tranings , online and in person, and am on the Faculty. Run my own 2-day Wheel workshops: 10 in the last 16 mths, half of these queer-only, total of 180 people attended.
What qualities do you bring to your facilitation?
Thoughtful, I come prepared, and then to adapt to what shows up in the group (I have an outline with detailed activities, and then choose whioch are in or out according to the group). I take time with establishing the group, hearing from everyone, sharing a bit of myself, creating agreements and describing / committing to my role, I am serious but funny too... weirdly. I reagard my queerness and neurodivergence and older age as qualities, while also knowing these can also be barriers (or challenges) at times. I work hard on naming power dynamics in a group, to name where I hold role power, name social locations, and work to minimise power imbalances. I bring in learned skills and material, plus personal qualities - and flaws - into my facilitation.
What relevant skills and experience/qualifications do you have in addition to Sexological Bodywork?
Past work roles in nursing - direct care, management, policy, community development. In NGOs, youth housing, HIV residential care, nursing union - many settings. Active in queer community, taking leadership roles at different times eg community groups, conferences, rallies, event organising. I have been an advocate in many situations including in work based complaints processes, medical advocacy for fam and friends, testifying in court, speaking up in community.
Facilitator Bio
ABUNDANT BODY - Stella Topaz
I am a certified sexological bodyworker, a Wheel of Consent® facilitator, and sex and body educator. I became a registered nurse in the 80’s, and worked for 40 years across healthcare, mostly in community-based sexual health, HIV, and LGBTIQA+ health. I now work for myself, offering online and in-person sessions, workshops, group work, consultation, mentoring, and speaking requests.
Combining Wheel of Consent practices and sexological bodywork I aim to foster relationships to one’s self, with others and within communities that celebrate and strengthen who we uniquely are; where touch, pleasure, sex, play and embodied consent are valued and bodies are cherished.
Much of my work connects to wellbeing for queer hearted and queer bodied people, and for people exploring beyond restrictive roles, binaries and social structures.
I love my work.
I live in an older queer body, I'm a mother and a grandmother, and an active learner in anti-oppressive practices, anti-racism, and socially-just communication. My queerness and feminism are trans-inclusive.
Living on Dharawal Country in Wollongong NSW; Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
Workshop 1 Name:
Generous Body
# of participants:
8-18
Workshop 1 duration:
2 Hour Workshop
Equipment needed:
Cushions, Whiteboard
Workshop 1's Intention:
offer a range of activities to...
-notice wants and desires and bring voice to these
-witness the wants and desires of others
-learn about domain and limits
-pracfice making agreements
-have fun and
-explore how strong agreements can offer expansiveness
Workshop 1 rough format:
This is useful for entry level though anyone welocome! Experiencial - drawing on the practices of the Wheel: and I can consult with you, Susan and Jordan to build on, not duplicate.
Intros, create some group agreements, frame as non-sexual focus within the workshop, but exploring skills that can be useful in sex, play, erotica.
Short activities, some with option for touch but not required, options for playfulness, role play. Lots of room for reflection, talking.
Workshop 1 program description:
Generous Body
+ ease & integrity with giving & receiving +
When you bring your desires forward, and respect the limits of your giver, you can be more fully in the deliciousness of receiving.
When you set aside what you want so you can give to someone else, and you keep within your own limits, you can give with more ease and generosity.
Beautiful!
This workshop introduces some Wheel of Consent® practices to experiment with how it feels in your body to:
• ask for what you want, and truly feel when it’s for you
• give with willingness and generosity, and know when it’s for them
• set a limit for yourself, and respect another person’s limit
• say or hear a no, say or hear a yes; and
• make clear and fabulous agreements.
No Wheel experience is needed! Some practices have the option of touch; but touch is not required - you choose at every step.
"To experience the full spectrum of our sexuality, we have to be able to take action for our own pleasure" Dr Betty Martin
Does W1 actively invite nudity?
No
Workshop 2 Name:
Body as Book
# of participants:
10-25
Workshop 2 duration:
2 Hour Workshop
Equipment needed:
Speaker, Mic, Cushions
Workshop 2's Intention:
Story telling for adults: people gather around to be read to, to strike curiosity and imagination, and then turn their focus to their own body as a book and develop a very short story from their body, with the option to then read it to the group! Intention is playfulness in an adult story time setting.
(Is what I put in for the last FEAST that I had to pull out of. It builds on an evening session I ran at FEAST 2024.)
Workshop 2 rough format:
Rough format:
Invites participation in many ways - create, perform, support, be audience... all are welcome
Some solo and interactive activities - guided, lots of options and choice points
I will read a story to the group - planning to write one specifically
Reflect on own body & lived experiences (guided)
Develop a focus from own body to create an idea for a short story
Help each other to prepare a story (groups of 2-4)
Option to present a story to the whole group (1-2mins max)
Be in audience to other people's stories
Celebrate ourselves and each other
Workshop 2 program description:
I can't find the description from last time - do you have it in your files? Otherwise I will write anew.
I'm thinking about nudity option - have ticked optional .. in a 'show n tell' context rather than throughout the workshop.
Have also ticked mic & speaker but depends on room, and number of people in the room.
Does W2 actively invite nudity?
It's optional but not a central part
Workshop 3 Name:
# of participants:
Workshop 3 duration:
Equipment needed:
Workshop 3's Intention:
Workshop 3 rough format:
Workshop 3 program description:
Does W3 actively invite nudity?
Are you happy to facilitate support pods?
Fuck yes!
Are you interested in contributing to/facilitating at pre-retreat events
cautiously interested.. I might be overseas in the weeks before. its a timing thing
Is there anything else that you would like us to know as organisers?
I am so sorry I could not come last time and that it was last minute too - I'd really love to be at this one and if my workshops need adjustment to serve the greater good please say so!