Taylor
Neal
Year of training:
Institute of Somatic Sexology (graduating January 2026)
Related qualification:
Certificate in Embodied Counselling (2025) + Sexological Bodywork (graduating Jan 2026)
How many and what type of workshops/classes have you previously facilitated?
I'm a yoga and dance instructor, so I have lots of experience facilitating from that perspective. I am the co-founder of Love Club, a queer events organisation based in Sydney where we run speed dating, queer erotic dance classes, and other sex ed-focused events.
In terms of workshops in the realm of somatics and sexology, I have facilitated several online + IRL workshops including:
- Pleasure-Ability: 9-week disability sex education course for connecting to pleasure, intentional dating, body image + embodiment for folks with physical and cognitive disabilities for Project Home Unity
- Beginner Burlesque at PACE: a 6-week dance course for street-based sex workers who use substances at PACE Society Vancouver
- Sensual Selfie Workshop for Good Vibes Clinic (online)
- The Slut Drop: a somatic movement workshop inspired by erotic dance for unleashing your inner slut
- Art Modelling Workshop for folks curious about how to become an art model
- Somatic Erotic Dance (many spaces over the years)
- Heart Space: Embodied Chest Massage with Stella Artuso (online)
- Conduction: Somatic Partner Engagement workshop following 2 month artists residency at SaikoNeon in Yaminashi Japan 2023
What qualities do you bring to your facilitation?
My background in dance and theatre influences everything I do, from the way I hold a space and understand how to teach/facilitate movement spaces, to the references I make, ability to project voice, and ability to encourage participant engagement with one another and their own bodies. Since studying Embodied Counselling with ISS, all of my workshops now hold both this dance/movement background as well as a deeply somatic approach to how I'm facilitating movement less from a place of "instructing" and more from a place of "inquiring" and encouraging folks to tune into what feels useful/not useful for them. I have also worked extensively with folks that use substances (have worked in harm reduction) and people with disabilities (as a disability support worker) and have facilitated movement and sex educational spaces for all of these different folks. I am very comfortable adapting spaces to different needs, offering lots of choice and space to adapt the content to suit one's needs, and taking accessibility into deep consideration when planning workshops.
What relevant skills and experience/qualifications do you have in addition to Sexological Bodywork?
Certified Embodied Counsellor (ISS)
Certified Yoga Instructor (Vibrations Om)
Professional dancer (company dancer, burlesque artist, teacher, artist-in-residence)
Background in frontline work: harm reduction, supervisor at Wish Drop-in Centre + shelter for sex workers in Vancouver's DTES, sexual assault response worker, disability support worker, lots of training in these different jobs to work with sexuality and trauma and disability
Facilitator Bio
Taylor Neal (They/She) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, somatic sexologist, dancer and yoga instructor, who uses creation, movement, and multimedia to gain deeper understandings of authentic human experience. Practically, Taylor’s work draws from her experience in harm reduction and social support, her education in somatic sexology, and her background in dance and performance to offer somatic education rooted in creativity, movement and embodiment. Her cumulative artistic, somatic, and literary practice comes together as a holistic exploration of identity, movement, sexuality, and how the embodied subject navigates space and the natural world.
Workshop 1 Name:
Conduction: Alchemizing Play for Deeper Intimacy (with Colin Bond)
# of participants:
40
Workshop 1 duration:
90 Minute Workshop, 2 Hour Workshop
Equipment needed:
Speaker, Mic, Cushions
Workshop 1's Intention:
'- To use somatic movement practices, playfulness, and contact-improv inspired partner work for the purpose of co-regulation and emotional regulation in relationships
- To deepen partner engagement and intimacy through co-creation, exploration, and curiosity in a movement and body-based inquiry as a tool for building trust, safety, and connection
- To get curious about how emotional states between partners can change the space, and to use co-regulation and nervous system support to bring about a sense of social engagement in shared space
Workshop 1 rough format:
Workshop 2 will follow the following structure, as detailed in the draft Workshop Plan below:
Engage - Self: enter the space and move around slowly, feeling for what’s present in one’s own body, noticing emotional state and quality of movement, and how emotional state might be expressed through movement
Engage - Others: continuing to move around the space, gently connecting with other humans through eye contact
forming 2 concentric circles rotating one to the left after each prompt, facilitators will offer prompts for engagement with the person in front of each participant that invite playfulness and movement, and gentle contact (if you like) through mirroring practices, lead/follow, etc
Engage - Topic: feeling for one’s own nervous system, feeling for the other person’s nervous system, playing with “right distance” by moving away and coming toward in pairs until each pair works out comfortable distance where they can feel one another and also feel themselves and stay grounded
Study:
Discuss concept of Conduction (the transfer of heat energy from one body to another) in a group circle
Discuss the social engagement system and brief discussion of co-regulation and interpersonal neurobiology
Discuss: why might partner engagement practices be useful in sexual relationships? Why is co-regulation useful?
Practice 4 different tools: lead/follow/follow/lead/lead-lead/follow-follow, mirroring, tiny dance, move from contact (one part of body)
Discuss how to give/receive consent in the space
Activate: Give participants 10-15 mins to have a go at engaging in the space using the tools they’ve learned with one or multiple people, exploring multi-body contact and connection/engagement, explore moving around space, coming into contact, initiating connection, etc
Reflection: circle reflection/discussion: How might this be useful? What was that like? Take-aways?
Workshop 1 program description:
Conduction is a somatic movement workshop inspired by contact improvisation and sexological bodywork, aimed at fostering a sense of playfulness and curiosity between partners to support co-regulation and deeper intimacy in relationships. Conduction refers to the transfer of heat energy from one body to another, and was originally explored as the premise of a 2-month movement research project by Taylor Neal and Robert Gusdal where the artists used somatics and contact improvisation to study how Conduction could be adopted for the purpose of co-regulation between partners in shared space. Out of this research, Conduction has merged with somatic sexology to provide participants with practical tools for partner engagement they can apply to their relational space. Taylor and Colin will guide participants through the concept of Conduction in the context of the social engagement system, teach tools for co-regulation, and intend to build playfulness, curiosity and connection between bodies.
Does W1 actively invite nudity?
No
Workshop 2 Name:
The Art of Strip-Tease (with Christine Flannery)
# of participants:
60
Workshop 2 duration:
2 Hour Workshop
Equipment needed:
Speaker, Mic, Cushions
Workshop 2's Intention:
This practice is for self and the other: you are stepping into a role with agency and choice to be witnessed in self expression that is congruent with your erotic current in each moment
Participants will learn embodied presence through erotic dance-inspired strip-tease
Experience self expression, permission, playfulness
To feel what it’s like to take up space and be on display
To feel the power of undressing with agency
To explore intentionally stepping into role
To witness and be witnessed
Workshop 2 rough format:
Inquiry: Where does eroticism live in your body? Can we move from this place?
Exploring different archetypes (muse, performer, sensualist, slut) which you might connect to, or you might not and you might have your own
Learning some moves (tools and tips derived from stripping/burlesque/showgirls) and trying them out as a group
Practice moves to music, getting into flow, getting curious
Get in pairs where 1 person is the performer and 1 the witness, have an entire song (aprox 5mins) to strip as much/as little as the performer would like while being witnessed, and play with the different tools we learned to make it feel as authentic/interesting as possible - can be as dramatic or as subtle as feels interesting for you - consent-based practices to be taught: discuss where you’d like partner to look/not look, how this can be more comfortable for you as performer
If we have time, we will invite the group if anyone wants to perform in front of the group that there will be opportunity to strip/dance in front of the group at the end
Workshop 2 program description:
An embodied exploration into the depths of your own erotic expression. Inspired by early showgirls, burlesque performers and the modern day stripper, join us for an intentional journey of desire, creativity and playfulness. With each layer of clothing we can peel away societal construct, shame and whatever else may not be serving our erotic current. Be prepared to slow down, and feel for your own unique erotic pulse. What does your sexual self expression look like when the power is purely in your hands? Whether you've done this before or it's your first time, we will have a bit of yumminess for everyone. All levels and genders are welcome.
Does W2 actively invite nudity?
It's optional but not a central part
Workshop 3 Name:
Eros in Motion (with Ty Caling)
# of participants:
60
Workshop 3 duration:
90 Minute Workshop, 2 Hour Workshop
Equipment needed:
Speaker, Mic, Cushions
Workshop 3's Intention:
To awaken the erotic body through movement (dance), drawing inspiration from erotic embodiment practices and the other embodiment tools
To offer a practice that brings people deeply into their bodies and supports a sense of aliveness in one’s own skin
To explore how we can learn to move erotic energy through the body using the 5 tools of embodiment (breath/sound/touch/movement/placement of awareness) with emphasis on movement, to remind participants of their agency and erotic potential.
To bring a sense of creativity and playfulness into erotic life
To connect back to organic movement and self expression through broader concepts (the 5 elements) that we all have a sense of connection to.
Workshop 3 rough format:
Workshop 1 will adopt the following structure, and will be detailed in a Workshop Plan:
Engage – Self: Ground into the space, attune to inner sensations in stillness and movement.
Engage – Others: Connect through eye contact and synchronized motion.
Engage – Topic: Get curious about your erotic experience—what would deepen your connection right now? Which element (earth, air, fire, water, ether) embodies you today?
Study: Learn five embodiment tools and how each aligns with the elements (e.g., fiery breath, watery touch). Explore blending tools for a full-spectrum erotic range.
Activate: Guided dance journey—building, peaking, and softening energy through music, elements, and movement.
Reflection: Group sharing on applying movement and elemental awareness to erotic and sexual expression, affirming agency, range, and the power of embodied movement.
Workshop 3 program description:
Eros in Motion is an erotic embodiment dance journey intending to awaken orgasmicity through the five embodiment tools (breath, sound, touch, movement, placement of awareness) in conjunction with the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether). Participants will be offered creative ways to cultivate orgasmicity by exploring each of the five elements within each of the embodiment tools, as a way of broadening understanding of how each of the tools can be used in different ways for different purposes, intentions, and experiences. After exploring and learning together, participants will flow into a guided dance meditation where Eros becomes motion, emotion, and creativity. A trauma-informed, consent-based space for all bodies to be curious about how movement and embodiment tools can evoke orgasmicity, presence, and self expression.
Does W3 actively invite nudity?
It's optional but not a central part
Are you happy to facilitate support pods?
Fuck yes!
Are you interested in contributing to/facilitating at pre-retreat events
Sure, sounds lovely! Count me in!
Is there anything else that you would like us to know as organisers?
I emailed Jordan about my not having graduated CSB at the time of application and he said it was okay to apply pending my certification so I just wanted to address that! I loved volunteering at FEAST last year and I'm so excited to return (hopefully) in this new capacity.