Finding Safety In Yourself & Others

Safety comes from inside of our bodies.

Think of all the times your environment was peaceful or you were around loving people, yet your body was still bracing or experiencing anxiety.

There’s a good reason for this.

When we have trauma and chronic stress, our bodies live in a state of bracing from remembered and expected threat. Our nervous systems focus on what could go wrong instead of what is going right -- not because we’re negative or broken, but because the body is so focused on surviving that it doesn’t feel the reality of its survival.

A body that constricts is one that is trying to protect itself. Safety and joy soften that protective constriction, which can initially feel scary and even threatening to such a body. This is why we must build our capacity for safety and joy.

Join us for a somatic exploration of sound, movement, and connection.

This 6-day retreat will teach you the philosophy of somatics for healing stress and trauma through a holistic lens. You will explore sound healing, nature, co-regulation, guided somatic group practices, being seen, and relating to your body as a friend.

You will learn how to feel safety in your body, nurture that state to grow and expand, and connect with other human beings, nature beings, and sound in a way that can deepen the experience of felt safety and joy.

All the meals are organic, vegan/vegetarian, bean-based, and beautifully prepared right at Menla. If you have any food allergies or needs, please contact them to make sure you can be accommodated.

This year we have added one extra day of integration, rest, and relaxation. Take the day to connect with the land, hang with new and old friends, get a spa treatment, or nap on the lawn – there is no wrong way to rest!

The entire HLN team will be available again, offering on-demand support. What does on-demand support mean? There will be a space just for 1:1 care from assistants/facilitators where you can tend to your capacity, connect, practice, and meet any overwhelm that may arise. This can look like a quick SE session, sound healing, hug, walk, or someone just to talk to.

Our retreat is limited to 40 people.



Full Schedule Coming Soon!

Please note: Every offering on the schedule is optional. Allow your own capacity and comfort to guide you.

We will be offering optional breakout groups each day to support you being seen, heard, and connected in an intimate setting. Each group will have 8-10 people in them.

We will also have free time scheduled into each full day. Free time is your time. Do whatever your body needs to integrate the morning material before we begin the evening work.

DAILY THEMES:

Tuesday June 10

Orienting, Grounding & Introductions
3:00pm - 4:30pm: Check-In

Wednesday June 11

Relating to Stress & Activation

Thursday June 12

Boundaries, Fawning & Co-Regulating Through Touch

Friday June 13

Rest & Relaxation Integration Day

Saturday June 14

Tending to Capacity & Co-Regulating With Nature

Saturday June 15

Integration & Closing Our Space
7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
12:30 - 2 pm Lunch/Free Time/Departure