1 life, 2 paths, 3 essential connections.

What We Do

3 Essential Connections or 3EC is a comprehensive stress mitigation training appropriate for anyone who is looking to improve their quality of life while maintaining personal agency. 3EC is a program of Toivo.

This educational and experiential program was designed to support you in creating a stress-resilient life by reconnecting with yourself, others and nature. Participants will take a deep dive into each connection to better understand why disconnection occurs in the first place and to learn a variety of techniques that can be used to relieve stress and resolve separation.

3EC is more than just a training, it’s a declaration and a commitment to a new way of being. By embarking on this journey you are renouncing the message woven into our societal fabric that tell us that stress, burnout and endless doing are not only a natural part of everyday life, but also badges of honor we must don in the pursuit of success. In choosing this training, you are challenging the belief that self-care is selfish and acknowledging that a solid and healthy connection with yourself is the foundation for everything else that you do.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Our Trainings

3EC: A Comprehensive Stress Mitigation Training

In this week-long educational and interactive training, you will learn about the physiological effects of stress and the benefits of connecting to yourself, others and nature. You will experience the impact of stress mitigation techniques first-hand and explore ways to integrate such techniques into your life to reduce stress and improve overall health and well-being.

3-Day Introductory Workshop

This abbreviated 3EC experience provides an overview of our approach to stress mitigation and an introduction to each connection. If you are interested in taking the training but would like to learn more or you are simply looking for new ways to mitigate stress, the introductory workshop is a great place to begin.

The First Connection: Self

Taking time to go within, learning to be comfortable with yourself and witnessing the fluctuations of your internal experience without judging or reacting can drastically improve the quality of your life, yet so many people spend their days avoiding these acts. Unfortunately, the more disconnected you are from yourself, the more disconnected you become from everything else. Without the foundation of self-awareness, it’s hard to maintain healthy relationships with others and it’s hard to feel connected to nature or something greater than yourself. In this three-day training, you will learn about some of the most common reasons that people become disconnected from themselves. You will also be introduced to a variety of techniques that can be used to re-establish your internal connection and you will be encouraged to identify the tools that resonate most with you and the ways that these tools can be integrated into your life. The First Connection Training is equal parts education and relaxation.

The Second Connection: Others

Human beings yearn to feel connected to one another. Although many people would prefer to believe that they can go it alone, isolation and separation can be detrimental to our health and well-being. Sometimes, even when we do our best to connect, we still fall short. Interpersonal relationships aren’t always easy and factors like stress and trauma only serve to widen the gap between us. In this three-day training you will learn skills that can help you navigate relationship dynamics, improve communication, resolve conflict and hold space for someone in need. There will be many opportunities to practice what you learn and to form connections with the other participants. Please note that you must complete The First Connection before you can register for this course.

The Third Connection: Nature

Over the course of the last decade society has shifted away from their innate interconnectedness with the natural world. Although our ancestors were accustomed to living in rhythm with nature for their survival, many people today can spend long stretches of time without interacting with the natural environment. As a result of this shift, respect for the Earth has dwindled, leaving the environment in a precarious position, and people’s health, happiness and creativity have suffered. In this three-day training you will learn about the benefits of spending time in nature, how to bring presence and intention into your relationship with the environment, ways to integrate nature into your daily life and how connecting to the natural world can mean connecting to something greater than yourself. Participants should come prepared to spend time outdoors. Please note that you must complete The First Connection before you can register for this course.