{"id":174726,"date":"2025-11-26T04:00:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T17:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=174726"},"modified":"2025-11-19T22:55:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T11:55:49","slug":"movement-to-tackle-loneliness-arrives-in-torquay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/movement-to-tackle-loneliness-arrives-in-torquay\/","title":{"rendered":"Movement to tackle loneliness arrives in Torquay"},"content":{"rendered":"

A GRASSROOTS movement tackling loneliness through sunrise mindfulness and community connection will begin weekly gatherings at Torquay’s Cosy Corner.<\/p>\n

The CONNECT Initiative \u2013 which launched its first beach sessions in Ocean Grove three years ago and expanded into Geelong last month \u2013 will make its Surf Coast debut on Sunday, November 30 between 8am and 9am.<\/p>\n

Founded by Point Lonsdale’s Natalie Woodfull, CONNECT offers a welcoming space where people can come together, enjoy some gentle movement and form new friendships.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The first 15 minutes of each session is focused on “curated connection and conversation”, with participants invited to share a story with someone they don’t know. Photo: SPLASH OF LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Each session begins with a guided activity designed to spark conversation between people who may not know each other and is followed by a movement activity such as yoga or Pilates.<\/p>\n

Participants are invited to continue the experience afterwards with a coffee at the Salty Dog Cafe.<\/p>\n

Woodfull said participants don’t need fitness experience, fancy activewear or to come with a friend to show up.<\/p>\n

“Everyone’s welcome \u2013 every version of them is welcome to show up.<\/p>\n

“You don’t need your Lululemon active wear. Turn up in whatever you’re comfortable in. Bring a yoga mat, bring a blanket, an open heart; we’ve got you.”<\/p>\n

The sessions at Cosy Corner will be supported by local facilitators and practitioners, which Woodfull believes is central to the integrity of the program.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Participants are invited to write a \u201cconnection card\u201d \u2013 a message of motivation to someone they don’t know \u2013 at each event. Photo: SPLASH OF LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I didn’t want to just rinse and repeat what we offer here. I wanted to bring local facilitators and the interest has been just overwhelming,” she said.<\/p>\n

“All our facilitators and hosts know that they show up just as themselves. And by being authentically them, it gives our beautiful attendees permission to just show up \u2013 whatever version they show up as \u2013 that morning.”<\/p>\n

Proud of the initiative’s rapid growth, she is committed to expanding its reach and impact.<\/p>\n

“We’ve got a lot of work to do and I’m up for the challenge,” she said. “This is just the beginning.”<\/p>\n

Sessions will run in Torquay every Sunday through to the end of March.<\/p>\n

CONNECT also hosts one-off “Iconic” events at venues across the region, with 2026 events scheduled at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, Mt Duneed Estate and the Lon Retreat in Point Lonsdale.<\/p>\n

To register or find out more, head to theconnectinitiative.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A GRASSROOTS movement tackling loneliness through sunrise mindfulness and community connection will begin weekly gatherings at Torquay’s Cosy Corner. The CONNECT Initiative \u2013 which launched its first beach sessions in Ocean Grove three years ago and expanded into Geelong last month \u2013 will make its Surf Coast debut on Sunday, November 30 between 8am and […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":175019,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-174726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMovement to tackle loneliness arrives in Torquay - Surf Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Torquay CONNECT Initiative launches weekly sunrise mindfulness sessions at Cosy Corner, fostering movement, connection, and reducing loneliness.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/movement-to-tackle-loneliness-arrives-in-torquay\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Movement to tackle loneliness arrives in Torquay - 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