JASPER DZUKI JELEN
PRIVATE PRACTICE
When thinking and speaking
do not bring you forward
then the answer is
really close
(spoiler: your body)
Development
My professional life began as a dancer, choreographer and teacher (Codarts graduate), while theatre and various martial arts had a profound impact on me as well. I am fascinated by movement and movement patterns, both of individuals and of people relating to each other and their environment. Over the years I developed a way of working with movement, that allowed the mind to become a learning observer, without interfering with what the body intuively offers and performs.
Over time, I began to notice people's preferences for certain ways of moving and their avoidance of others. Together with others I developed all sorts of exercises using physical interaction and touch to challenge these patterns in a playful, consensual and constructive way. I noticed the joy and expansion of possibilities when we worked on the edges of the familiar, but also the energy and emotions that were sometimes abruptly released in these "shadow areas". In order to better interpret and guide these processes, I studied Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, namely Choice Theory/Reality Therapy (CTRT) and applied it to my choreographic and teaching practices.
This brought more clarity to how we as humans exchange information sensorially, relate and arrive at our choices. On the other hand, the impulses that arise intuitively, as if from the body itself, became more apparent, as well as the paradox of choosing behaviors and patterns that are unhelathy or harmful, despite 'mentally' knowing they are. As if part of our behavior is bypassing the head all together. I explored further how these patterns could be understood and deployed, recognising that they also produced a ‘knowing’ that went beyond cognition. For example, I developed with others a safe environment to explore fighting and the energy and defence patterns the body provides in the process of increasing activation.
During the same period, I was hit by a car while cycling and all sorts of vague symptoms arose that could not be explained by doctors, a physiotherapist and osteopath. It was as if I was ‘on’ all the time, but for no reason. This is how I came into contact with Somatic Experiencing (SE) - which approaches trauma as deregulation of the nervous system and all kinds of related functions, thus bypassing our cognitive organising capacities. The treatment hit home, but also dovetailed seamlessly with everything I had developed experimentally up to that point. It felt like coming home. I followed the 3 year training and went on to study SOMA embodiment which is specialising in movement and touch play an even more prominent role in trauma processing.
My life is increasingly focused on personal and professional development work, with a strong emphasis on recovery from overwhelming experiences and trauma. I do this one-to-one in my private practice and in the trainings, workshops and interventions I develop for specific groups, companies and organisations. As well as working with SE, SOMA and CTRT, I am currently training as a personal facilitator at Bambu Centre for Consciousness.
I find strenght and hope in these work with body and mind that can transform disruptive patterns and responses, whether they are 'fresh' or old: so life can be more then surviving or getting by. Within working with our greatest experiences of helplessness or overwhelm lies the seed to understand soo much about our own life journey, which leads us ultimately to our inner strength, insight, stability, joy for life and a sense of 'completeness'.
Personal
I am a father of two, partner and entrepreneur. I enjoy being in motion outside in nature or interacting with others. Because of my Dutch-Slovenian roots, my life moves between these two countries and cultures. My surname ‘Jelen’ is the Slovenian word for deer, which largely explains my symbolic connection to this animal.
I still express my love for movement and interaction as a trainer and choreographer with The100Hands Foundation and other organisations in the field of culture and I am a dedicated practitioner of Shadow Yoga.
Resources
Want to orient yourself a little further or delve deeper into topics around trauma, personal facilitation or my vision on personal and professional development?
This collection of articles, podcasts and lectures offer you a source of inspiration!
