Verve XO offers workshops, retreats, classes, phone and video conferences, and personal sessions. We stage them in beautiful Southern California locations and travel destinations throughout the world. Verve XO is a point of view that says, “I want to be in the parade of life, not just watch it go by.”
It’s a way to get energized and have fun learning about yourself. Verve XO is a vote to boost y
our vitality, connection to others, and overallwell-being. This is how you can begin to:
Move through life feeling better both physically and emotionally. Find new love for yourself, your life, and those who are in it. Verve XO is about starting now and getting immediate results. Join the parade. Karen O’Connell, M.S. Verve XO Founder
Karen O’Connell is an explorer by nature. She enjoys guiding others in Non-Violent Communication (NVC), mindfulness and qigong through experiential groups, workshops, and retreats. Karen uses humor and gentleness to convey practical ways of incorporating meaningful change into everyday living. Inspired by her own personal growth via NVC, mindfulness training, and Zhineng Qigong, Karen enthusiastically shares what has brought peace, meaning and joy into her life. Karen O'Connell holds a master’s degree in counseling from the California State University, Fullerton. She has a depth approach to her work that was inspired by her DreamTending program and completed course work in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Since 2002, Karen has trained internationally with The Center For Nonviolent Communication and learned from leaders in the field including Marshall Rosenberg, Robert Gonzales, and Mary Mackenzie. She has facilitated hundreds of NVC classes and sessions for women, men, couples, parents, families, teachers, students, business leaders, employees, and those living with HIV/AIDS. Karen learned the subtleties of Zhineng Qigong practices from teacher Martha Blane who received her training from qigong masters in China and North America. Much of Karen’s knowlege of mindfulness is based on the intensive Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program she completed through UC Irvine Medical School’s Center for Integrative Medicine. Karen O’Connell on Verve XO
Q. What is the concept of Verve XO? Verve XO is about being in the parade of life and supporting others to be in it, too. I help people feel better about moving through life— both physically and emotionally, to play full out, enjoy life and experience what happens when they’re fully present. What do you mean by “the parade of life?”
A. I am a curious people watcher. I’ve noticed how some people radiate with passion and enthusiasm, and others have their sail at half mast. It’s what I call the parade of life— where some people are participating whole-heartedly in the parade, while others are on the curb watching life go by. I know both of these positions, I’ve been there. I believe feeling alive, being in the parade, is where we prefer to live. Yet at times we end up as spectators—feeling flat, disconnected, or at a plateau in life. What do your students learn and how? We all have areas in our life that flow easier than others. So I teach my students how to overcome blockages and bring energy into challenging places and relationships. That could include relationships with food, yourself, or other people. I use a combination of approaches including Non-Violent Communication (NVC), Qigong, and Mindfulness Training. As a friend described it recently, “It’s like upgrading your operating system.”
Q. How does that work? I show you how to incorporate new skills into your everyday life. From there, you can practice them on your own. I offer practical, doable, and effective tools so you can take yourself to the next level. But it’s more than just skill-building. It’s about building your confidence to manage daily situations as they arise in real time. What’s different about Verve XO? Unlike many personal growth approaches, Verve XO is not about, “we’re going to fix you.” I believe transformation is about getting in touch with yourself. Our focus is on the present and the future, not what you were in the past. Everybody starts in the same place. Who can benefit from Verve XO workshops, classes and retreats? Just about anyone. Take Qigong, for example. It’s user-friendly, doesn’t take a lot of time, and you can do this no matter where you are in your level of awareness. If you want to be in charge of your evolution, your health, and your well-being, check out “Verve XO Experiences” on this site. What kind of support is available during this personal journey? I provide a sense of community with others who are on this journey, too. You can come together as a group, practice on your own, and stay online in community if you choose. You have the flexibility to do it on your own, but you have the support of the group. It’s a powerful combination. Companies and organizations that have benefited from Karen O’Connell’s work include:
A.C.T.I.O.N. AIDS CareTeams In Our Neighborhoods
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Capistrano Valley Church Of Religious Science
Chapman University Graduate School of Business
Montage Resort Spa
Sun Salute Yoga Teacher Training
Waldorf School Of Costa Mesa
