Community Cuddles - Portland/Vancouver

Community Cuddles An embodied consent and relational skills workshop culminating in optional, consensual community cuddling Sunday, September 27, 2026 3:00–6:00 p.m. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Soul Ascension Studio • Vancouver, Washington After a warmly received first gathering in August, Community Cuddles returns to Vancouver for another afternoon of connection, choice, and consent-centered community. Community Cuddles is a three-hour experiential workshop where you can practice consent, boundaries, authentic communication, and relational presence while experiencing what can become possible through safe, respectful human connection. Through carefully guided activities, you will be invited to notice and communicate your authentic “yes” and “no,” make clear requests, receive another person’s response without pressure, and discover that changing your mind is always welcome. Although the workshop culminates in an opportunity for community cuddling, cuddling is never required. The heart of Community Cuddles is learning to listen to your body, honor your own boundaries, and relate to others with clarity, care, and enthusiastic consent. What to expect We begin without touch, allowing each person to arrive in their own physical space and notice what they are experiencing in their body. From that grounded place, we establish our shared agreements and move into facilitated exercises designed to help participants practice asking, receiving, declining, negotiating, and changing their minds. The workshop gradually unfolds through: • Grounding and embodied awareness • Shared consent and community agreements • Guided communication and boundary exercises • Practice giving and receiving authentic “yes” and “no” • Opportunities to make clear, specific requests • Optional one-on-one and small-group connection • Optional, consensual community cuddling • Closing reflection and integration Every activity is an invitation rather than an obligation. You are always encouraged to participate at the level that feels right for you. Touch is always optional You never have to touch or be touched. There is no single “right” way to participate. Meaningful participation may include practicing verbal communication, observing an exercise, resting in your own space, connecting without physical contact, staying close to someone you came with, or spending time in the Solitude Zone. Saying no, changing your mind, pausing, and choosing not to participate in an activity are all respected and welcomed forms of participation. Our core agreements To help create a clear and caring container, participants agree that: • Everything is optional. • You never owe anyone a “yes.” • We honor the Solitude Zone. • Clothes remain on throughout the event. • We ask for and receive a clear verbal “yes” before touching anyone. • A “maybe” is treated as a “no.” • Everyone may change their mind at any time. • Requests are made clearly and specifically. • Each person’s boundaries, privacy, and relationship agreements are respected. • Facilitator support is available throughout the workshop. These agreements will be reviewed together before any partnered activities begin. Who is Community Cuddles for? Community Cuddles welcomes people of all genders, orientations, relationship statuses, body types, and levels of experience who would like to practice embodied consent and boundaries, build confidence communicating their desires and needs, explore safe, nonsexual platonic touch, and experience greater connection, choice, and belonging in a carefully facilitated environment. You are welcome to attend alone, with a friend, or with a partner. No previous experience with consent workshops, somatic practices, or community cuddling is needed. You do not need to be naturally outgoing, comfortable with strangers, or certain that you want to cuddle. This is a platonic, nonsexual environment centered on consent, communication, and respectful human connection. It is not a dating, hookup, massage, or therapeutic touch event. Arrival Doors open at 2:30 p.m., giving you time to check in, settle into the space, and become comfortable before we begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. Because the opening agreements and consent instruction establish the foundation for the entire workshop, please plan to arrive during the check-in period and be ready to begin together at 3:00. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move and relax. Additional preparation details will be provided after registration. Feel free to brink a snack to share. About your facilitator Rob Patton, MDiv, is the founder of Heart Man Healing Arts and a spiritual-care practitioner, ritualist, Reiki practitioner, trained mediator, and consent-centered facilitator. He completed professional Cuddlist training and an internship and mentorship with Community Cuddles facilitator Kassandra Brown. Rob brings a grounded, compassionate presence to his work and creates spaces where participants are encouraged to listen to their bodies, communicate authentically, and honor their own desires, needs, edges, and boundaries. Community Cuddles Testimonial “Rob’s calm, grounded presence and genuine care create an environment where people feel safe, welcomed, and accepted exactly as they are. I can’t imagine anyone better to create a safe, supportive, and welcoming space for authentic human connection.” — Debbie D., Community Cuddles participant, Boulder, Colorado Learn more For expanded information about the workshop, the Solitude Zone, community agreements, frequently asked questions, and Rob’s facilitation approach, visit: heartmanhealingarts.com/community-cuddles