Is it possible to repeat the Hoffman Process? The answer is yes, providing it’s been at leat seven years since your original course. We’ll ask you to have a call with the enrolment team beforehand and not to give spoilers to others in your group – but re-attending is something that can and does happen. We spoke to life coach Cristina, who came to the Vedanta earlier this year, to hear her experience.
What prompted you to do the Hoffman Process first time around?
One of my closest friends and an aunt of mine had done the Process and I saw first-hand the changes in them. I did my own research and put my name down for five months hence. At the time I was living in England, had three kids under four and was living with my (now) ex-husband. I had no idea of how co-dependent we were or how exposed I’d been to toxic relationships all my life.
Without realising it, I had been pouring my energy into reacting to others and not acknowledging myself or my own needs. Somewhere deep inside, my spiritual self was calling me to do the Process.
What do you recall about your time at Florence House?
I vividly remember the train journey to the venue. I was basically scared to death; scared to face myself; scared of what those years of toxicity had done to me. It felt like I was going into a black hole, not knowing what was on the other side.
The excitement kicked in on day one, when I handed in my phone and I realised that for the first time ever I was taking time for myself. I was one of the youngest on the course, but this didn’t matter as we soon became one big supportive group.
I cried very early on in the Process when it dawned on me just how broken I was and I kept thinking to myself ‘Why didn’t I do this before?’ I can still recall lots of the elements of the course. However, my main memory is being encased in what I can only describe as a ‘big ball of love’. It was as if I was in a bubble of kindness, love and protection. For the first time ever, I started to accept myself – warts and all. And, importantly, that self was accepted and loved by everyone in the group.
Basically, I found ‘me’ and I was prepared to fight for her. I came out armed and prepared to protect me in a way I’d never been able to in the past. I experienced the most tremendous high on the day we left, and I still recall that high to this day.
How did the first Process impact you and your life?
Initially, after coming home, the fear came back and, If I’m honest, I found it really hard to maintain the feeling of love and security I’d had on the course. I dug deep and used the resources I’d learnt from Hoffman.
My Hoffman group, who I’d got to know so well over the week, became my lifeline in those early days. We supported each other through the good and the bad. I was living in London at the time and Hyde Park became my place of refuge. It really helped to escape into nature, helped me ground myself and made me appreciate the simple things in life. I did everything that Hoffman offered me post-Process. The Quad Checks became a central part of my life and I attended Hoffman reconnection days in London. The light that I’d found inside me burned brightly and gave me courage.
Four years later, I was true to myself and my feelings and split from my husband. We had a very messy divorce, but I had found my inner strength and I survived it.
Soon after this I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and I had to leave my kids for three months to get essential treatment. Hoffman helped me understand that I needed to put my needs first in the short term so that I could recover properly and be there for my kids in the long term. My Quad Checks were even more important after my cancer diagnosis, when it became critical to check in with my body. I still do that to this day. Being in touch with my spiritual self has been a revelation and it is something that guides me through all that I do in my life. I often check in with in to see if I’m on the right road and, if not, steer it in a different direction.
What prompted you to do the Process for a second time?
For two years, I’d had a little voice at the back of my head suggesting that I re-do the Process. I’d had a lot happen over the years – various family stresses, selling a restaurant and setting up my own coaching business. I realised that my intellect was dictating too much of my life and I was weighed down by responsibility. I couldn’t rely on my parents for support. I’d been thrown a lot of punches and weathered a lot of storms and was aware that I needed to move some of the stuck energy in my body. I was once again drawn to the Hoffman light. We all need a light to guide us and I really craved the one that Hoffman had given me so many years ago. In 2007, I’d made a promise that I’d keep true to myself going forward and I really felt like I’d let my spiritual self down. Sadly, my decision to sign up again came with a lot of shame attached to it.
My dark side emerged with a vengeance. Had I failed the first time around? Why did I need to do it again? In the end it was a combination of courage, desire and a supportive call with one of the Hoffman team that enabled me to sign up and I’m so glad I did.
How was it the second time around?
At a spiritual level, it felt like I’d had a calling to come back and do the Process again. I knew that Hoffman was omnipresent in my soul and yet I’d lost sight of it.
Doing the Process for a second time felt like coming home; like I’d been given a gift to be able to properly access my spiritual self again and to experience the Hoffman tools in a safe space.
I decided to tell everyone on day one that this wasn’t my first Process, which inevitably piqued everyone’s interest in me. For a while I was asked what was coming next! Actually, that was the interesting part. Because I was in a different venue, with different facilitators and a different group, it really didn’t feel like a repeat of the first course. I genuinely couldn’t recall what was coming next. You really do forget some of the stuff you did on the course, especially with 17 years in between.
First time around there was more fear and anxiety around what I’d be doing and how I’d cope. Second time, none of that existed as, having done the course once, I knew I was in safe hands. I believe this gave me greater clarity of thought and I was back on the right road in no time at all. I would describe it as being ‘all in’ second time around. I managed to clear out all of the stuff that was still stuck and I really got into the depths of all my patterns. It’s a bit like having a final clear out before you move house.
For me, the effects of Hoffman felt stronger second time around and I felt that things really landed. Not that they didn’t the first time – it was more a strengthening of what I’d learnt about myself and a ‘polishing’ of the tools. I had a feeling of finally growing up; of putting my adult pants on.
One of the other great things about doing the Process again was meeting a whole new group of people. That alone can make it feel like a new course! My group remains very close and we encourage each other in our daily life struggles and to do the work.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about repeating the Process?
I would say, think carefully about your reasons for repeating the Process and talk them through with someone from Hoffman. That was an important part of my journey. Think about what you’ve lost/lost touch with since your last Process; have you got a calling to reckon with yourself? I felt called for two years before I signed up again. Be honest with yourself – have you been using the tools since you did your first Process? Maybe re-visit those before you decide.
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