Somatic Stress Release Workshop
Somatic Stress Release Workshop
Up to 30 in group
September 12 - 14, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- Learn to access and release deeply stored stress using somatic awareness
- Identify personal somatic resources to safely reconnect with the body
- Understand and complete the body’s natural stress response cycle
- Use movement and mobilization techniques to release built-up arousal energy
- Restore resilience and optimize well-being through a body-centered approach
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Oyámie Kali Ma’at is a trauma-informed Somatic Movement Facilitator, Sensual Embodiment Coach, Spiritual Yoga Teacher and a Performer. She believes the wisdom of the body can lead to profound discoveries.
Born and raised in West Africa, Oyámie Kali Ma’at spent most of her childhood in community gatherings of musicians, drummers, dancers, and storytellers. Listening and dancing to music became a foundation for her life. She remembers always feeling happy when she danced and moved, which became central to her personal growth and healing.
A childhood trauma survivor. In her search for healing, she was called towards mindfulness practices. Since 2015, she has dedicated herself to practicing yoga, meditation, breath-work, attuning, and looking to nature for guidance. Through her own exploration she began incorporating Dance and Movement for emotional alchemy. What she cannot express in words, she finds expression through dance and movement, revealing and healing anything. Her teachings are a direct result of her own journey and lived experience. Through developing mind-body awareness, studying somatic psychotherapy and embodied healing, Oyámie offers coaching and psycho-spiritual guidance to individuals dealing with shame, anxiety, low self- esteem, guilt, anger, addiction, and in life transition. Her primary areas of focus are adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, abandonment, and victims of gender violence.
Oyámie helps you to drop into your body to release, express, connect, and to ease your mind. Her process enables you to feel the change from the very beginning. She is committed to a lifelong path of learning and understanding the divine nature of healing, creativity, and the human spirit.
Details of this retreat
Somatic Stress Release is a holistic approach that recognizes the complex layering of each individual's relationship to stress. Stress manifests itself in each person’s body differently, and each unique response allows each person to process and navigate the intricate layers of stress. One of the most effective pathways towards that awareness and negotiation is through feeling a deeper sense of —and connection with— the body-mind, an approach called somatics.
In this somatic approach there is a recognition that we engage with others and the world through sensations and movement. As stress is something experienced and expressed through the body, a somatic or body-focused approach can more quickly address habitual responses to internal and external stressors.
Its intention is to restore and optimize your ability to adapt and navigate life with ease and agency. To empower you to holistically discharge stress, blocked emotions, and body tension, as well as relieve stagnated energy while restoring resilience.
What you will learn in this workshop:
How to access and process deeply stored stress to help restore optimal functioning and well-being.
Identifying somatic resources to learn how to safely come into the body
Understanding how to move through the completion of a stress response
Using mobilization techniques to release trapped or built up arousal energy.
Who is this workshop for:
Anyone struggling with acute or chronic stress.
Continuing Education Opportunities:
Yoga Alliance (YA): Approximately 7 contact hours.
You can input your contact hours using your YA login information.
Tentative Schedule
FRIDAY
3–5 pm
Registration
5–6:30
Mixed Level Hatha
5–5:45
Yoga Nidra
6–6:30
Meditation
6:30–7:15
Dinner
7:30–9
Session #1 with Amie
SATURDAY
6–7 am
Integral Yoga Meditation
7:10–8:40
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 1
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 2
Joint Freeing Series
8–9:30
Breakfast
10–11:30
Session #2 with Amie
11:45
Van to LOTUS
12–12:30 pm
Meditation at LOTUS
12:45–1:30
Lunch
3–5
Session #3 with Amie
5:30–6:15
Dinner
7:30–9
Satsang (gathering of the seekers of Truth)
Kirtan (Music & Chanting)
Video of Swami Satchidananda
SUNDAY
6–7 am
Integral Yoga Meditation
7:10–8:40
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 1
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 2
8–9:30
Breakfast
10–11:30
Session #4 with Amie
12–12:30 pm
Meditation
12:45–1:30
Lunch
In this somatic approach there is a recognition that we engage with others and the world through sensations and movement. As stress is something experienced and expressed through the body, a somatic or body-focused approach can more quickly address habitual responses to internal and external stressors.
Its intention is to restore and optimize your ability to adapt and navigate life with ease and agency. To empower you to holistically discharge stress, blocked emotions, and body tension, as well as relieve stagnated energy while restoring resilience.
What you will learn in this workshop:
How to access and process deeply stored stress to help restore optimal functioning and well-being.
Identifying somatic resources to learn how to safely come into the body
Understanding how to move through the completion of a stress response
Using mobilization techniques to release trapped or built up arousal energy.
Who is this workshop for:
Anyone struggling with acute or chronic stress.
Continuing Education Opportunities:
Yoga Alliance (YA): Approximately 7 contact hours.
You can input your contact hours using your YA login information.
Tentative Schedule
FRIDAY
3–5 pm
Registration
5–6:30
Mixed Level Hatha
5–5:45
Yoga Nidra
6–6:30
Meditation
6:30–7:15
Dinner
7:30–9
Session #1 with Amie
SATURDAY
6–7 am
Integral Yoga Meditation
7:10–8:40
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 1
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 2
Joint Freeing Series
8–9:30
Breakfast
10–11:30
Session #2 with Amie
11:45
Van to LOTUS
12–12:30 pm
Meditation at LOTUS
12:45–1:30
Lunch
3–5
Session #3 with Amie
5:30–6:15
Dinner
7:30–9
Satsang (gathering of the seekers of Truth)
Kirtan (Music & Chanting)
Video of Swami Satchidananda
SUNDAY
6–7 am
Integral Yoga Meditation
7:10–8:40
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 1
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 2
8–9:30
Breakfast
10–11:30
Session #4 with Amie
12–12:30 pm
Meditation
12:45–1:30
Lunch
Getting Here
Directions
Yogaville offers transportation from the airport, train and bus stations in Charlottesville, VA. If you are driving Google Maps has reliable turn-by-turn directions.
Accommodation
Availability of complimentary accommodations is determined by the order of booking.
Dormitory
The most popular accommodations we have are Dormitory Accommodations – shared room and shared bath. We have two dormitories, Vivekananda Vihar and Ramalinga Nilayam, which are centrally heated and air-conditioned and convenient to meals and programs.
Lotus Guest House (Private Room)
Each room in our six unit guest house is equipped with a small refrigerator, queen size bed and full bath. Each room in our nine unit guest house is equipped with a queen sized bed and full bath, and no refrigerator.
Tenting
Set off in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the Lotus Guest Houses are twelve campsites. Campers have use of the bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities nearby Vivekananda Vihar dormitory. Camping is available from March 15th to December 1st.
Shared Dormitory: Bottom Bunk
Bottom bunk in a shared dorm room.
Dorm rooms contain 4-8 beds.
Shared bathroom
Dorm rooms are not coed
Availability is Gender Specific
Private Dormitory
This is a private room with a shared bathroom in our Ramalinga Nilayam Dorm - Females Only
LGH: Full Bed
Private room and Private Bath. A single Full bed and a private bath designed for those seeking peace in solitude.
LGH: 2 Twin beds
Private Room and Private Bath. Two twin Beds and a private bath that is ideal for friends looking to experience the bliss of Yogaville.
LGH: Queen Bed
Private Room and Private Bath. A queen bed or a queen with two day beds and a private bath that is perfect for couples and families searching for a peaceful time together. Please put in the personal comments if you need a room that includes trundles.
Tent-Site
Open from Mar. 16–Nov. 30. Closed from Dec. 1–Mar. 15
Set off in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the Lotus Guest Houses are Eighteen campsites. Campers have use of the nearby bathhouse as well as laundry facilities at the LGH Building 3. Also, all tent sites have tent platforms for a more comfortable and dry tenting experience. Fires and Stoves are not Permitted. Price is per person per night.
Please bring your own tent, tie downs, tarp (weather protection). bedding and towels.
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Yogaville is home to the Light of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). The LOTUS is a unique temple dedicated to interfaith understanding and the Light within all faiths. Individual altars represent and honor the different world faiths and spiritual paths. The vision, design and inspiration of Sri Swami Satchidananda, LOTUS was dedicated in 1986. It demonstrates, “Truth is One, Paths are Many.” In the peaceful countryside of Virginia, the doors of LOTUS are open to welcome people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Organic, vegetarian/vegan food
Labeled ingredients
Lacto-vegetarian
Gluten-free and vegan options
Salad bar
Large herbal tea selection
Coffee is available for purchase at Mandala Cafe
What's Included
- Accomodations
- Meals
- Meditation Sessions
- Yoga Classes
What's Not Included
- Transportation
- Airfare
Last Chance
