What is at the heart of the assisting role?

Assistants are an important part of the field as they help to cultivate the ISTA culture through
their presence, energy and ways of being. They are familiar with the tools and use them when
appropriate. Assistants participate fully when they are in the exercises and are able to switch
roles as needed to support the field. (i.e. they can be fully in an exercises, or can be taken out at
any moment.) They help set the tone for the training. They are in touch with the group’s pulse
and keep the facilitators informed about what is happening outside the group room.

BEFORE THE TRAINING

Promotion
As an assistant, we ask that you be involved in promoting the training. This differs for each
person depending on their particular skills and talents.

Examples:

• Post the event on your Face Book profile and any pages you manage.
• Invite anyone on databases you have who you think would be interested in the training.
• Attend (if possible) promotional events that may be held locally before the training.
• Generally talk about and promote the event with people you know and meet.

You may also be asked to join faculty for a pre-event Skype team meeting where we will set the
field and where you will receive further information about your role. We will send more
information about this at a later date.

DURING THE TRAINING

Pods
We may request that you lead a daily small pod of participants, holding space at this meeting for
all, including yourself, to share. The pod meeting will probably be scheduled in the morning
prior to breakfast.

Facilitator Meetings
You may be asked to attend all or part of facilitator meetings, where you may report on your
pods and receive instructions for the day.

Temple Keeper
The “Temple” is our daily meeting space. Temple Keeping will rotate amongst the pods. On the
days that your pod is assigned Temple Keeping, please supervise your pod. Make sure the space
is clean, vacuumed and the pillows, back jacks and other items are neatly stacked. Make sure
you know where to get tissues and supplies for the rituals when needed. Delegate and check that
daily temple duties have been completed. Assistants should meet and discuss who will be
responsible for setting up supplies for rituals of the day. Check with facilitators about how they
want the room and supplies organized.

Morning Practice
Assistants are often invited to offer meditation, movement, yoga or breath work in the morning
before Pods and breakfast.

Set Up and Take Down
We request that you support the facilitators and organizer with venue set up and take down. This
may require that you arrive an hour or two early to the training and stay an hour or two after the
participants leave to go home. Please bear this in mind when arranging your travel.

Feedback
Along with the take down and clean up process, the facilitators generally take some time after
the event to give feedback to assistants. Please allow time for this when arranging your travel.

Emotional Support
It is important that you alert the facilitators if a participant is struggling emotionally and needs
extra support. You are encouraged to offer emotion support/active listening to participants who
may need to talk things through with someone. Please encourage them to use the tools being
taught. If you feel you are out of your depth please come and find a facilitator who can help you.

Time Keeping
Each day one assistant will be responsible for ringing a bell 10 minutes before sessions begin.
Arrive on time. Foster a good time keeping attitude amongst the other participants.

If you have questions or concerns about these responsibilities please contact the Lead Facilitator
ASAP.