I have just gone through the first two courses of the Connection Practice in Costa Rica, and I am very surprised of how deep this practice took me on an emotional and profound level- and in a very simple and practical way, wow!
The course was thought by Rita Marie herself, a highly knowledgeable, warmhearted woman that really inspired me with her stories and knowledge. We were also very much supported by her loving husband Ricardo who assisted us with all our unmet needs.
I am so inspired by this practice that I have decided to continue this journey and now plan to attend the upcoming training programs!
I have been involved with the Connection Practice for several years, and I have consistently found the organization to be both trustworthy and reliable. Personally, the Connection Practice has significantly improved my relationships with myself and others. It has provided me with a valuable lifelong tool to help maintain my well-being. I highly recommend learning this impactful framework.
I had the privilege of attending the Emotionally Safe Relationships class in person in San Jose, Costa Rica, and it was an incredibly transformative experience. The Connection Practice, which focuses on emotional intelligence, non-violent communication, and conflict resolution, provided me with powerful tools for personal and relational growth. One of the most profound takeaways for me was learning to identify and articulate my feelings and needs—something I’ve struggled with for a long time. The course taught me the importance of pausing, reflecting, and exploring my emotions and needs before responding to conflict, which has brought me greater clarity and self-awareness. Rita Marie Johnson, the founder and facilitator, is a remarkable teacher whose compassion and wisdom deeply enrich the learning experience. Her guidance made the practice feel accessible and impactful. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone seeking to strengthen their relationships, improve self-connection, and create more harmony in life’s challenges. It’s an invaluable investment in personal growth and building meaningful connections.
I recently attended the Emotionally Safe Relationships class where I learned about the Connection Practice, and it was a truly eye-opening experience. This Connection Practice focuses on teaching emotional intelligence, non-violent communication, and conflict resolution, and the insights I gained have been life-changing. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was how to identify my feelings and needs, something I’ve always found challenging to articulate. The course taught me to pause, reflect, and dig into my emotions and needs before reacting to conflict, fostering a sense of clarity and self-awareness. Rita Maria Johnson, the founder and facilitator, is an incredible teacher who wholeheartedly embodies the principles of the Connection Practice. Her compassionate and insightful approach made the learning process deeply impactful. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to deepen their relationships, enhance self-connection, and create harmony in challenging situations. This is an investment in personal growth and meaningful connections that I believe everyone can benefit from.
The Connection Practice has been incredibly valuable in my life. It has significantly helped me grow as a person, improve my interpersonal relationships, and become a better professional. The insights and skills I have gained through this practice have equipped me with tools to make better decisions and respond thoughtfully, rather than reacting negatively to the challenges of the world.
Moreover, it has given me the ability to support others by becoming a better listener and using words to offer empathy more effectively. I am deeply grateful for the transformation this practice has brought to my life and the lives of those around me.
Amazing nonprofit doing transformative work to help build meaningful connections within and between ourselves. Have loved of this organization’s work.
As a professional certified coach, The Connection Practice has further deepened my relationship to self and others, thereby expanding may own potential in influencing positive change. I've been able to transform relationships at work and home by becoming more comfortable and familiar with the array of my own feelings and needs. The combination of empathy and insight to achieve connection, as taught by The Connection Practice, has brought me peace and a change in perspective for several highly challenging situations and relationships. Ultimatley I'm growing my own self trust, which I find to be one life's best navigation tools.
When I found the Connection Practice through my partner in 2023, I did not expect to be blessed with a life-long tool I could use with all my relationships, including my family. I have used the Connection Practice to navigate conflicts of all kinds in my life. As a teacher, I plan to spread the power of empathy and insight to help children and adults look at their conflicts in new ways. With intentional practice, it has the power to clarify confusion and inspire real connection. The connection practice groups are a sure-fire catalyzer to get unstuck and summon change that is grounded in the heart. I leave groups and finish sessions feeling incredibly motivated to connect to my true feelings/needs and respectfully guess the feelings/needs of others in order to bring about healthy connections. I recommend the Connection Practice to everyone who seeks compassionate connection with themselves and others.
The connection practice has been one of the best blessings in my life. It made the difficult simple and what emotionally seemed impossible possible. The connection practice team is one of the most emotionally aware people I've met. They have a wisdom about them that is full of genuine respect, curiosity, and openness to connect with any one they assist. I pray that the connection practice touches more hearts and minds in this world as it has surely touched mine. Thank you for everything you have done for me and my family.
With much love,
Vicente Salas
The Rasur Foundation has a great gift to share and that is the Connection Practice. In these troubling times, it's more important than ever to see our neighbors as human beings with their own unique feelings and needs. The Connection Practice helps users identify feeling and needs and gives them an avenue for understanding what the unmet needs of others may be. The discourse is never going to improve without people being proactive about practicing empathic communication. The Connection Practice shows people how.
Rasur and the Connection Practice organization is led by and filled with people of high integrity and care for the work they do in the world. I was struggling in a certification course and withdrew from it. Instead of dismissing my concerns, the coaches took time and effort to reach out to me and allowed me to complete another course at no charge because they were set on making sure I had the opportunity to learn the practice. Their act of care and concern is consistent with what they teach, and that level of integrity and authenticity is something I deeply appreciated.
For the past 15 years I have followed and been inspired by Rita Marie Johnson and her "empathy + insight" Connection Practice. I have been volunteering and teaching this method to individuals and in groups with resounding success in regards to their interpersonal understanding and relationships.
The Connection Practice came to me through a friend and after one session I took the Inner Wellness course and needless to say I became a huge advocate. I believe if the Connection Practice could be in everyone's emotional tool kit the impact to individual and collective well-being would be truly transformative.
As a holistic educator and consultant/coach, I have worked with thousands of educators, parents and students world-wide.
What the Rasur Foundation International has offered to the world has been life changing for many, including me and participants in the courses world-wide.
In the world of chaos, the Connection Practice saved many from going frantic so that they can keep going with their lives with integrity and authenticity.
One Ukrainian teacher stated that she wants to share this skill with people in Ukraine as it helped her so much in getting out of her trauma. The South African community leader said that it had impacted children’s well-being during the pandemic by creating a deep connection among them using the Connection Practice at one of children’s events. A South Korean coach looked radiant after solving a life long struggle with her family member that had bogged her down. In Japan, many family camps were organized using the newly developed children’s magnetic boards and children are solving issues on their own. Stories go on. I resort to the Connection Practice for my hardest situations and also my celebration. I don’t know how I could be where I am without knowing this life saving skill.
This skill needs to be shared in schools, colleges, communities, organizations for business, health care and beyond.
What the Rasur Foundation is aiming at and achieving ever year is expanding. I’m grateful for the non profit organization such as this to continue impacting the world.
I had the opportunity to take the Connection Practice and since the beginning I felt immediately connected with the way it is designed and the logic that has beneath it. It helps me to go through different paths of the understanding of myself and the understanding of the others, and especially it make me feel a more concious person about the emotions and feelings that are around us and the way to deal with them.
The way to connect those feelings with the needs of me and the other person and then leading to creating a bond between us that will help to take better decisions in the way we are interacting.
For me, it became a very powerful and a very useful tool to go deep in the emotional thinking. I consider that through my experience, I am more aware of the importance of taking decisions with the heart, in a safe space, that will help me to become a more peaceful and empathic person. Also, I am very aware of how this practice can guide me to help others as well.
One day before I learned about Connection Practice, my child, then in elementary school, suddenly could not stand up. We did Diagnostic tests, but could not find the cause, and time passed. When I had the opportunity to learn Connection Practice, I tried to guess again at my child's emotions. Then I realized that maybe he was very lonely? I realized that he was very lonely. I returned home and immediately tried the "empathy" skill, and that evening my child was able to stand. In hindsight, I was only conscious of actions and results and I failed to take my child's feelings into consideration. Now, I feel so much richer connected with my family, and the smiles on their faces, their growth, and our accomplishments together are so much more enjoyable and enriching. The skills of empathy and insight that I have learned at Connection Practice have allowed me to continue to respond to the question, "What is a meaningful life for us? I believe this is a result of the skills of empathy and insight that I have learned at the Connection Practice.
When I am in pain, when I am struggling, when I feel helpless and hopeless, Connection Practice brings clarity to my confusion. I ask myself, "What do I need to learn from this situation right now? What am I being asked by life?" and gives me the insight to take responsibility for my life proactively, without blaming anyone else, to better me and my loved ones. It brings me insights from within to help me live better. It motivates me to believe that I can achieve what I thought I could never do.
When we try to live better, of course we will fail. Connection Practice teaches us to be restorative rather than perfect. It teaches us to learn from our mistakes and apply them to the next. Therefore, it gives us the courage and power to keep moving forward.
The Connection Practice didn't just provide us with skills. The people I learned with are with me. And most importantly, Rita Marie, the founder, is looking forward to the day when I can work with her. Can you imagine how much it helps me to have someone who believes in me and is waiting for me to live a better life? Rita Marie is a great leader who inspires people to live better. The skills, the community, and the connections with the members are a treasure in my life that I wouldn't trade for anything.
The Connection Practice has become an invaluable tool for positively managing student behavior in my classroom, it has made a real difference in my personal and professional relationships and it has become my daily practice to contact my best intelligence for making decisions in life.
This program greatly helped me to learn how to identify what is going on with me when I'm having a conflict or struggle with someone--be it my wife or my coworker--and to find ways to support myself emotionally, even when I can't change the situation.
In the Connection Practice I experience that any and all of my feelings are acceptable and heard, and that I can access insights within me that are surprising wise. What a relief to have a process for my stresses that's so effective so quickly. It's also a process to enrich my joys as well.
I am a Japanese Traditional Medicine Practitioner knowing all the diseases are caused by the stress we can not release or reduce. We have so much stress in every day life, such as human relationship, economic hardship, natural disaster, political or religious division, violence, wars and list goes on.
Stress can take someone's life. It is my mission to help people live a healthy life.
Connection Practice reduces stress quickly and effectively in every challenge you face in daily life. The synergy of empathy and insight through coherence works each time I face small or big challenges. I am so fortunate I met Rita Marie in 2006, learned the Connection Practice in 2007, and finally have became a trainer in 2014. Since then, I learned to manage stress efficiently and help others to do the same including my medical clients.
On Aug 8, 2023, Maui Wildfire took hundreds of lives with so many people still missing today including many children in Lahaina. I felt shocked, sad, helpless, powerless and got depressed. I became sick from helplessness for a week (spleen inflammation).
With daily practice of Coherence, which is one of Connection Practice's key components, I was able to recover from it and finally started doing what I could. First, I bought a ribbon broach that is supporting a Japanese family who lost home in Lahaina. This small action led me to organize fundraising events. So far, I organized an online event and ZUMBA lesson to help a family in Lahaina, and able to raise $1700 so far.
If I did not know Connection Practice, I would have been down for a longer time. I still feel sad each time I know the loss of lives from disasters and wars, but I am connecting to the energy of compassion and love, and I know there is something I can do.
I am so grateful I know the practice and share it with others who want to learn. I am willing to pass this gift to all who come across my life.
www.Pause2Connect.info
I have been an educator for over two decades in Europe and in the US. As a certified life coach, I find enormous value in guiding people to getting in touch with their feelings and needs, understanding them without judgment instead of suppressing them. We do not learn this important life skill at school so the Connection Practice can make a huge difference in our quality of our lives due to increased social-emotional intelligence. The ability to give and receive empathy truly enhances our well-being. I am very grateful I found the Connection Practice and I wish to continue my work as a change agent for a more peaceful and connected world through coaching and training the Connection Practice.
I have used the Connection Practice app daily to organize my thoughts and feelings. I am a business owner. Everyday decisions on business and personal could be challenging. I feel calm after using the connection practice technique and feel energized to take the following action. I highly recommend learning about the technique and method.
I began using the connection practice informally when I first started dating my wife.
Conflicts that were potentially large were resolved quickly and smoothly.
She persuaded me to take a level one course and I could see more clearly the transformational potential present in this practice.
I took a level two course with several seasoned practitioners. I was able to quickly resolve a long-standing workplace conflict.
I learned The Connection Practice in 2012 and immediately began to experience enormous success with it in my college counseling office. When I retired from the college position, I became a minister and used it in pastoral counseling to help board members and congregants mediate and resolve conflict. Ours became a spiritual community filled with trust and emotional safety. It worked amazingly well with my college students and with my teen grandson, especially once I became seasoned and could put it into "street" language that teens could relate to. What stood out most was the inadvertent healing of deep childhood traumas that take place in so many people. I observe "aha" moments of sudden insight about childhood events. I have seen transformations that are unexpected, miraculous, healing that is instantaneous and profound. It is enriching as a coach to see the realization in the subjects' eyes, as the unexpected moment of understanding breaks through their blockages. I especially like that this Practice is seeking to support anyone who advocates for youth. When youth can learn how to communicate peacefully and resolve their conflicts with words, they will not need to grow up using guns and fists and violence to get their basic needs met.
The Connection Practice works for all ages, children, teens and adults. As a former educator, I believe if our schools used this as part of every day curriculum violence would decrease considerably.
I have been actively involved in the connection practice for over four years now. I truly believe that this non profit organization is making a significant difference in the world in empowering young and old to increase the peace in the world and make the best decisions when they are coherent I have personally found this to be true for myself when I utilized this wellness habit when I was confronting difficult circumstances in my life, I will continue to participate in the daily and weekly coherence zooms. I particularly enjoy sharing my challenges and celebrations and participating in listening and giving empathy to the challenges of others.
I was introduced to the Connection Practice in 2016. The Practice was used in conjunction with an equine coaching session offered by an instructor associated with the UT Dallas Executive Coaching graduate certification program. My personal experience with CP was nothing short of astounding. I showed up that morning knowing nothing about CP and I was honestly, a little put off that our group's much anticipated equine coaching session was going to be superseded by this unexpected, unplanned experience. To briefly summarize, after a short introduction to CP, we were asked to consider some situation or person in our life that might be causing a disturbance or upset. Our group was gently and respectfully guided through the CP process. After decades of malevolent feelings toward a particular individual, embarrassingly, i found myself slowly coming to hidden tears, that turned into unrestrained sobs as i considered what this person in my life might be feeling and needing. Prior to this, I had read extensively about and been exposed to many different types of emotional intelligence tools. Had i just been told about, or just 'read the CP book' I feel certain that i would not have actually experienced the profound new awareness that changed me and my attitude toward not only the individual of my attention for this situation, but everyone I 'had a problem with'. One cannot fully absorb the potential transformation available by simply hearing or reading about CP. Further, it is my belief that, for this practice, individuals who try to do this practice on their own for the very first time, may not achieve the results that i achieved for two reasons. #1 The instructions and guidance provided by a certified CP practitioner paved the way for the allowing of an opening, a softening in me. #2 I had no idea that i was as closed off to my emotions as was revealed that day....as i now believe many humans are. I was ignorant to the fact that I had accused others in my life of lacking empathy yet, i could not see that lack of empathy in myself particularly for this individual. The Connection Practice works. It works most effectively, through being guided toward our own self-compassion and surrender. I believe there is a missing element in the parenting and education of our youth that results in bullying, violence, suicide and numerous other grievous outcomes. It is the lack of understanding about emotions and the vital role that emotions play in our lives -- to reveal feelings and needs -- and how with this understanding we can reap massive leaps forward in our maturity by understanding, connecting to and working with all our fabulous emotions by mindfully practicing a program like the Connection Practice. I am integrating the Connection Practice into my home and my daily life and i hope to become a part of CP in schools and homes across this nation. Results: less human suffering, healthy, happy, mutually equal relationships, more joy, more life satisfaction, more empathy, more Peace.
Elegant in its simplicity, but life-changing in its impact -- that's the Connection Practice. I started thinking about Rasur Foundation's goals, and I am inspired by the honest-to-goodness rationale behind it. If we teach our kids to recognize and understand feelings, we teach them a valuable life skill that will see them through life's many challenges. If our kids learn to truly connect with their peers, with their loved ones, even with strangers, we teach them the power of empathy and how accessing the gift of insight can improve their decision-making skills in all aspects of living. Thank you, Rasur Foundation, for this wonderful gift of empowerment through the Connection Practice!
I have seen a number of people, parents, teachers and children go from conflict and frustration to being connected and excited in solving their problems with this amazing process. I am so grateful that this dedicated organization brings this amazing process to the leaders whose passion is to bring care and empowerment to our children.
I learned this skill when the Connection Practice began in 2009. It has impacted my life in many ways, as I approach problem solving in my own life differently. It has changed how I deal with conflict and disagreement in my family and with my friends. Most important of all, it has helped me recognize the power of connecting my heart and brain to reach the deepest regions of my being. I am able to access answers and ideas that I was unaware I knew. It is SO practical and useful!
This organization provides a product that changed my life. It is a simple product to use to help people grow their ability to manage difficult emotions and challenging situations with others. The Connection Practice helped me gain skill and confidence in identifying what my feelings and needs were in conflict situations with my siblings, kids, and even with colleagues at work. Currently, the organization is primarily focused on offering the product to children using images to depict feelings and needs. This is such an incredibly helpful tool to help children and adults navigate difficult conflict situations and emerge with a greater sense of personal strength and resilience.
I have been active with the Rasur Foundation since 2009. It’s founder, Rita Marie Johnson, lives in integrity and models what is possible for each of us as we strive to have fuller, meaningful, and more connected lives. The work itself is easy to learn yet takes a lifetime to practice, which is what I intend to do. As an advanced trained for the Connection Practice, I work mostly with adults and find that in that population it works best for those who are ready to shed limiting beliefs about themselves, take responsibility for their emotions, and use empathy as a means of connecting. The effects of the practice impact every corner of living from intimate relationships to how we talk to ourselves. I have seen it soften military professionals and strengthen grandmothers. It is versatile and life changing. The financial investment is extraordinarily low because Rita Marie lives her practice and wants the world to benefit from all she and Rasur offer.
I have been honored and proud to serve on the Board of Directors for The Connection Practice for over 7 years. I joined the board because I wanted to be an integral part of ensuring the Connection Practice reaches as many people as possible. The Connection Practice combines empathy and insight to help us connect with ourselves as well as others. I believe this wellness habit should be in everyone's emotional toolkit ready to be used to help deal with stressful situations and events as well as to provide a path toward developing deeper and stronger connections with others as well as personal resilience. The focus of our non-profit is to teach The Connection Practice to champions of youth who will then pass on this 'practice' to the youth they serve therby helping them ease their distress, confidently meet challenges and resolve conflicts peacefully.
I have been fortunate to videotape and photograph Rita Marie Johnson (the founder) teaching BePeace in Costa Rica and California. I have also videotaped the result of using BePeace in Oakley Elementary School in New Caney Texas. The results of the program there were everything you could ask for - success and enthusiasm with the children, the counselor, the teachers and the principal. BePeace can go a long, long way to stopping bullying in schools. It is so effective. I highly recommend Rasur Foundation and their program BePeace to everyone. I will help Rasur Foundation in any way I can.
The Rasur Foundation teaches the PePeace process -- a scientifically tested way to Feel Peace with a clear path to Speak Peace that creates an authentic, compassionate connection, empowering us to pass it along and Teach Peace. In my experience, BePeace is what it claims to be: the easiest, simplest How-To you will find for embodying peace. It is easy and simple enough for young children to learn and use and powerful enough to CEOs and Heads of State to benefit from.
The work being done by Rasur and their BePeace program is nothing short of vitally important. I attended a training session with them recently and found it to be life changing. Not only is their program helping me in my daily life, it is helping me help my consulting and coaching clients, while helping the world to have more peace.
I attended BePeace training in Arlington, TX. The experience was exceedingly up-lifting. From the first day of training my life changed and the practice has become a part of my day and I use it in how I handle conflict (internal and external) everyday. It is hugely positive. I've used this practice in major matters and small - it always works. This speaks loudly to the kind of organization it is, it's mission and it's outstanding leadership. I believe this practice is changing the world. It is meaningful to the very young, to the elderly, and everyone in-between. I find that when I am at peace within my self, I am at peace with everyone around me. I find that, even in stressful situations, I can communicate clearly and effectively and can listen fully. It is - simply - fabulous!
Rasur Foundation's BePeace course is a life changing tool for living. The program is somewhat of a combination of Heartmath and Non Violent Communication and is ideal for children and adults.
The Rasur Foundation promotes BePeace, a profound yet practical method for achieving a state of peace within each individual and throughout the world. The BePeace method combines the essence of Heartmath (Coherence) with the essence of Non Violent Communication (Connection) to give people of all ages the tools and techniques to feel peace in their hearts and to speak peace in their interactions with others. I am a true believer in this method because it has helped me gain clarity and peace in many difficult situations in my life. I have also seen dramatic shifts in the quality of other's lives as they have learned these practices.
The mission of Rasur Foundation International is to "train educators to evoke the wisdom and compassion in children through the practice of BePeace. " Its vision is a world where "every person practices peace and passes this gift to the next generation." By training teachers who then teach their students how to identify and control their emotions (social and emotional intelligence) and to resolve conflicts with others peacefully , BePeace practitioners give the gift of peace to the next generation. I feel extremely fortunate to be working closely with the founder of RFI, Rita Marie Johnson, who brought BePeace to Texas after working almost two decades in Costa Rica. I'm currently serving as the liaison for a Catholic school in Ft. Worth that is using BePeace in all its classrooms with exciting results. With a minimum of funding and a growing body of trained "Rasurs" (certified BePeace teachers), the Rasur Foundation is making a significant contribution to bringing peace to the United States and to our world.
Rasur Foundation has a proven track record for making a difference. It was instrumental in institutionalizing a culture of peace in Costa Rica, which now has a ministry of justice and peace, and a mandate to teach all children peace. Now Rasur is focusing its efforts in the US to help us create a future of peace for all generations. The tools and programs they have evolved are elegant, powerful, transformational for all ages.
I love this organization! Knowing that the work this organization does to bring more peace to the world by reaching every child and adult to offer a great connection to self and others, well it just opens my heart and gives me great hope for a world of peace and one that works for everyone. Denese Schellink
Working with Rita Marie Johnson and the whole BePeace organization gives me hope that we will one day actually have PEACE ON EARTH! BePeace gives practical tools for how to do just that.
Love this group and their work. What could be better than helping everyone, especially kids learn how to interact in a kind way with others?! They blend new discoveries in physics with non-violent communication to change the dynamic between people.
Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to brag about Rasur Foundation International. I have been involved with them for many years, first as a volunteer, then as staff, and finally I served a one-year term as a board member through the end of 2011.
This non-profit offers practical, yet life changing skills through its BePeace Practice, which combines a scientifically tested method for "feeling peace", with a clear path for "speaking peace" that creates an authentic, compassionate connection. Schools in particular have been asking for a solution to the violence, bullying, and stress that inhibit their student’s ability to learn. By offering BePeace in the classroom, we have seen significant shifts and definitive evaluation results demonstrating the success of this practice to create safe and connected spaces for students to thrive and learn.
Despite the success of the BePeace Practice, the non-profit has been struggling in these tough economic times. This practice is needed now more than ever, and I believe with greater exposure and funding, this organization has what it takes to transform this nation’s school system.
Again, thank you for this opportunity to share about the Rasur Foundation and the inspiring work they continue to do to create a more peaceful world.
Sincerely,
Kelsey L. Visser
Former Board Member
Rasur International Foundation brings the practice of BePeace to school children, teachers, and many individuals and groups. The practice of being peace, teaching peace is a simple how to that has profound results in bringing peace to our world. Since learning the techniques my life has been enriched and certainly brought more peace into my life.
Rasur Foundation International teaches BePeace, a practice that has helped me become a more peaceful person internally and in my interactions with others. It is the most practical way I have ever found of helping the world become a more peaceful place, a skill we sorely need. I wish we were able to provide this training for every teacher in every school the world over, to every policeman, correctional officer, social worker, legislator, president and world leader in any capacity. It has that much potential for good.