INTROSPECTIVE WORK

The first essential stage at the start of the workshop is based on analytical and introspective work on two aspects described below:

1. “Identify the iconic figures or feminine ideals of your adolescence. This permits an awareness of the influences that contributed to your vision of femininity. Analyzing why you perceive these particular figures as idylls also helps you to understand the values and expectations that are projected onto the concept of femininity.”

2. “Rediscovering the blocking or restricting messages of youth. Understanding the psychological and social blocks associated with femininity is fundamental. By revisiting the messages imposed by the environment and cultural context when you were a child, you can dissociate yourself from them and begin to free yourself from limiting beliefs. This establishes a solid base upon which you can construct a new vision of your own femininity.”

These first two phases are un individual and confidential work through a written questionnaire, to be shared only if desired with the group or coach Nathalie Peigney.

PHYSICAL AUDIT

3. “Analyze your points of strength and weakness or body complexes. This phase is crucial to reinforcing self-esteem and your relationship with your body. By identifying what you love and what you don’t love about your body and analyzing the motives behind these perceptions, you can begin a process of acceptance or adaptation to your new images of femininity. This helps you understand that the body is not an obstacle to femininity but rather a resource to rediscover and value. A sports trainer or a professional masseur may be present for the Body Audit.

A workshop conducted in a respectful and nonjudgmental manner, with the help of a body specialist, sports coach and massage therapist.”

Illustration by Alessandra Ceriani

SETTING UP FEMININITY IDENTITY

At this point, the program focuses on defining and learning how to express femininity with 2 fundamental phases:

4. “The idea of creating a feminine identity based on the preceding phases is very powerful. It permits you to define your own vision of femininity, free from external aspects. This process is both introspective and creative, giving you a sense of autonomy and control over your own identity.”

5. “This step is essential to moving from the theoretical to the practical. This focuses on gait and stride, on posture, on gestures and on expression. To this end, a variety of fun activities are planned, each with a different focus. During this phase, several experts may participate, each workshop being different: a theatrical recitation teacher, a gait and gesture coach, a dancer teacher. etc. Here's what coach Stefano Fiorentino (actor and recitation teacher) proposed at one of our workshops in Milan in 2024: “Express ourselves intensely, but silently, as in a silent film. Becoming a verb: our gaze should not identify us in an adjective (cliché), but create a world where Life happens. Movement as Listening, the outcome of something that was already there.”

ESTABLISH YOUR NEW IMAGE

6. “Expressing your new image with naturalness, during a photo session with Nathalie Peigney as photographer. Having a new feminine identity is one thing, but knowing how to present it to the world without feeling inadequate or falling victim to imposter syndrome is also important. The final objective is to accept the results of your work and to make them your own. This last phase is to help women to bring their new image of femininity to life and to overcome the discomfort of imposter syndrome.”

At the end of the workshop, a symbolic “Conscious Femininity” diploma is awarded to each participant as a reminder of her willingness to work on her personal development and self-esteem as a woman.