As a global association of Instructors, Practitioners and Students, we are united in the name of education in the healing arts. The IBA website is an educational hub, presenting our classes, sharing resources, and creating specific learning and communication opportunities for our four modalities: BodyTalk, MindScape, BreakThrough and FreeFall. 

The small team that runs the IBA office has its focus on the maintenance of our hub, which includes our website, instructor and member support, and sustaining or creating new learning opportunities. Our office staff is the first to admit that there is only so much we can do with the time we have. Fortunately, the IBA is not an office staff of five, it is a global association in the thousands. 

This is where you come in. 

Whether you are an individual, a group of students or friends, a group of Practitioners, a group of people in the same area, or a group of Instructors, you are invited to fill in the gaps in our global community. Many of you do this already by hosting study groups, holding in-person get-togethers, sharing group clinics, collaborating with peers, or doing your best as a one-person show. We wholeheartedly support that, and yet we also invite and open to the opportunity of even more. 

Around the globe, we currently have a few active local BodyTalk associations that have either been thriving for quite some time or are just kicking off. (Note that all local associations or collectives first make sure that anyone joining is a current IBA Member as per IBA policy.) One longtime successful and highly organized association is the South African BodyTalk Association (https://bodytalksystem.co.za/). In large part because of their association, they have been able to maintain a vibrant and active group of BodyTalkers in South Africa. A new association that has hit the ground running is the Pacific Norwest BodyTalk Association (https://www.pnwbodytalk.com/)mentioned in our last newsletter located in the northwest region of the United States. Also, just in the early planning and organizing phase, we have a global collective of Instructors coming together to specifically support and further those who are teaching BodyTalk. Interested BodyTalk Instructors can start by signing up to their email list here, https://bodytalkglobal.co/. 

Several of the hallmarks of local associations (or what we may also perhaps call "focused" associations) tend to be a centralized website dedicated to the people who make up that association, a focus on bringing courses to their area and promoting said courses, marketing geared towards serving the people who make up their collective, offering opportunities for connection between members, and organizing projects or events that further the success of its members and instructors. While these, of course, are also goals of our central IBA association, such efforts naturally become more diluted when spread out globally in an effort to serve so many. Larger global associations with tens of thousands of members and more resources at their disposal can also struggle in this area. 

In most cases, local or focused BodyTalk or LifeScience-related associations have their own fees outside of IBA to support their external websites and specific outreach or marketing efforts. Such associations or collectives need to adhere to IBA Policy and Procedure, including specific policy around local associations, which requires that people joining are active (un-expired) Members of the IBA before participating. Other IBA policy around these associations and collectives relates to IBA's support of them, in terms of allowing the use of logos and IBA promotional material, allowing them the ability to coordinate seminars, and promoting these seminars and association events when possible.

To be clear on all the guidelines for local associations or focused collectives, refer to IBA Policy and Procedure 6.0.

Additionally, collectives and local associations, like individual practitioners, are encouraged to utilize the BodyTalk or Life Science logos that pertain to them on websites and in marketing. They will also want to ensure they are adhering to the IBA Brand Standards around logo use. This helps spread and strengthen the BodyTalk and LifeScience image and brand recognition rather than detracting from them. For example, changing the color of our logos in whole or in part (some examples are shown above) is detrimental to all of us. Imagine the Starbucks logo or Amazon logo in a different color or configuration; they would no longer be instantly recognizable at first glance. 

Local associations and collectives, while smaller groups within the larger collective (think fractals), have immense power to strengthen our IBA matrix as a whole. To this end, we hope that you will be open to or perhaps encouraged to get the ball rolling with your own local association, or to rekindle an association that once was. If you already have an active local association, please tell us about it. We want to know so we can spread the word!

Just a final point for anyone joining a local association to consider: Local or focused associations and their websites are often overseen by only one or two primary administrators. When this admin has unexpected life challenges or a change in career, the website and regular marketing may no longer be maintained. Additionally, the admins may not be vigilant in regularly checking that all listed Practitioners are still current active IBA members maintaining their training compared to those who are not. Make sure that you are aware of the risks or any contingency plans, know that these associations are not managed by IBA, and that if you pay a fee, you feel good about what you are investing in.

We wish our entire association--and all the associations and collectives extending to, from, and within it--stability, success, and growth. 

All the best!
Miranda and the IBA Team


"We're all just walking each other home."– Ram Dass