About the Course
Accessible, welcoming, and flexible — this group offering is for anyone seeking grounded practices for personal and relational wellness in community.
🌱 Connected And Rooted Everywhere (CARE): Group Sessions are open, guided spaces where individuals, friends, or small groups can explore simple nervous system-based tools for regulation, connection, and resilience. Each 60-minute session is drawn from one of our four core themes: Felt Safety & Co-Regulation, Role Play for Real Life, Neuroplasticity Tools, and Polyvagal-Informed Practice.
These group sessions are a great way to:
Reconnect with your own body and nervous system
Practice mindful breathing and grounding in community
Learn new strategies for stress, communication, and relational health
Rewire stuck patterns using neuroplasticity-informed tools
Gain insight into daily emotional regulation — without the pressure of therapy
All ages 18+ are welcome. Whether you're coming with a friend, a partner, or just yourself, the space is created for comfort, curiosity, and connection.
Each session includes:
💨 10 min Guided breathing + meditation
🧠 15 min Education on the day’s theme (rotating weekly)
💬 20 min Group reflection, practice or role play
🛠️ 15 min Integration + tools to take home
This is a drop-in group experience using practical, science-based wellness strategies designed to support community connection and nervous system health.
🌀 Weekly topics rotate, so participants can join at any time.
📍 Offered virtually or in-person throughout the Maplewood/South Orange, NJ area.
Your Instructor
Ricky Cortez
Ricky Cortez is a meditation educator, breathwork guide, and founder of Connected And Rooted Everywhere (CARE)—a nervous system-based practice series for individuals, couples, families, and organizations. Drawing from his background in performance, tech, and human rights (including work with WITNESS), Ricky blends neuroplasticity, polyvagal theory, and Buddhist wisdom into practical, powerful tools for everyday regulation and relationship repair. A same-sex parent raising neurodiverse children, Ricky brings grounded lived experience into each offering, helping others build trust, emotional safety, and resilience. Whether in homes, schools, or boardrooms, his programs help people reconnect with themselves and each other through the simple power of the breath.