Southwestern France
Somatic Stretch®
and Somatic Sound
June 5-12, 2024
Where Mary Magdalene has been revered and celebrated for centuries.
Where the Church is the land and your Body is the Temple.
Somatic Stretch® and Fractal Anatomy
In the warmth of this ancient land, we will learn about the Fractal nature of our anatomy and the healing power of sound. Unwind tensions, release pain syndromes and fill up the sacredness of your inner sanctuary as we journey through the Songlines of your Body, and the Magdalene mysteries.
Beautiful Food
Food is an integral part of retreat. The Eastern medicines have always known that how we digest thoughts is directly related to how we digest our food. Throughout the retreat, this awareness arises naturally as part of our exploration.
Our personal, French chef will be creating our meals from locally grown food. Full vegetarian, allergy aware fare to keep us nourished throughout our retreat.
Beautiful Expansion through Somatic Stretch®
A family lineage from Grandfather to Mother to Daughter, you will be guided by Meredith into the refined regions where easy movement meets its first edge, and carry your Body into the realms of open, easy engagement.
We will weave our way through an understanding of our own fractal anatomy and use this knowledge to help us get to the core of pain syndromes, releasing issues more easily, without strain.
Beautiful Health
We will be learning about the stretch reflex and how we can move so little, and yet gain so much in even the short span of a moment. Learning Somatic Stretch® gives us tools to bring home to help you transition through pain syndromes, to fluidity and ease.
Frozen shoulder? Low back pain? neck and shoulder tension? Digestive issues? Sciatica? We will be covering your specific challenges, change the way you feel and give you techniques to take home so you can keep yourself moving in a pain-free direction.
Magdalene Journeys with Ani Williams
Ani Williams is a world-renowned harpist and singer, and has recorded more than two-dozen albums of original sacred music based on ancient spiritual traditions. She has done seminal work in the study of sound healing and the relationship between musical tones, the human voice and healing.
Ani is also a pilgrimage guide who will be leading us in two afternoon journeys to ancient sites of Mary Magdalene and one afternoon workshop on sound and healing!
“Ani Williams is one of the most celebrated harpists and singers of her generation, with dozens of recording credits to her acclaim. A pioneer in the field of women’s sacred music, she delights in performing her original instrumentals and songs at sacred sites all over the world.”
— PJ Birosik, Musik International Corp
More Beautiful Music
An International Kirtan Wallah you will love, Adam Bauer's music brings with it a resonance of true Healing. We are lucky to have him at this retreat to bring us morning inspiration, evening peacetime, and some deepening melodies to the stretch.
Beautiful Earth
This is not a stock photo;). Our homestead of ancient stone sits amidst rolling hills and fragrant lavender, where we will be lounging poolside between classes and meals.
...with beautiful sleeping accommodations, and vistas overlooking the French countryside.
Frequently Asked Questions
This workshop is those who have had pain they have not been able to find solutions for, or for those who want to amplify their health through gentle stretch, learn how to ease their own aches and pains and bring this knowledge and inner awareness back home into their daily lives.
It is for those interested in the fractal nature of our anatomy who are curious about what this has to do with your nervous system, muscles, and health.
This retreat is also for trainees to hone their skills and gain greater confidence in their own personal practice or gain more training towards certification as a Somatic Stretch® instructor.
Finally, for those wanting to experience sound as a healing tool, and to journey to sacred sites as we embody our journey through voice and gentle exercise, this retreat will truly revive and transform your personal practice and daily life.
If you can sit on the floor, you can do these exercises! Once you learn how to relate to the stretch reflex you will be amazed how little you need to move to expand flexibility and increase blood flow so gently, and powerfully.
If you are very flexible you will gain deeper insight into patterns that protect you, gain access into areas you didn't realize were hiding, and align and move energy even more easily through your body to improve health.
To learn more about Somatic Stretch® click here.
We will be covering;
* In depth understanding of the stretch reflex. This is the core teaching of Somatic Stretch® ~ re-educating the mind to recognize the point in movement where flexibility can greatly increase without strain. Understanding the role of postural alignment is emphasized once the essentials of the stretch reflex are covered, and both are integrated into a full, somatic awareness for each individual by the week’s end.
* We will be learning about Fractal Anatomy, how to see the geometric structure of the nervous system to witness core tension patterns in the body. This helps us to understand how the nervous system and our emotions play a part in our tension responses, and how to access this for better health results.
* We will be learning a lot about trigger point work/acupuncture points you can do on yourself to work with your specific issue, as well as how to begin understanding how to help others by using particular points that unlock significant areas holding tension.
* We will embark on a deep journey of sound and somatics! One workshop and two added afternoons of visits to sacred sites, we will be led by Ani Willams!
* Morning chanting and evening kirtan winddowns with the healing kirtan of Adam Bauer - this will be a journey of voice and Body you will love!
*Emotional response and release are often part of the process of letting physical pain go. This can happen and these emotions are held in a safe space where one person’s vulnerability actually affects and releases tension in other participants – it’s all part of an alchemy you don’t need to prepare for, or be nervous about. Anything that happens in these retreats happens with a lot of ease and less stress than you can imagine. Even ‘anti-group people’ who come with concerns about meeting other humans in a group setting leave happy! One such student emailed me after a retreat and said,
“I feel so crazy blessed to have met so many wonderful people and shared so much deep emotion, the likes of which I have never experienced before… “
For those interested in a more comprehensive study between Western and Eastern medical systems and Fractal Anatomy you can learn more through the free, short videos online on my webpage here.
This retreat has a very special addition of beautiful kirtan music with Adam Bauer that will be woven throughout the retreat with morning sounds and evening wind downs. Get ready to dive into the depths of resonance as you heal and learn about those hard to get to places in your body.
Day 1: Retreat begins: Dinner gathering early evening 7:30 pm with orientation and evening kirtan
Day 2:
7:00 – 8:00 am: Morning Meditation (always optional)
8:00 – 9:00 : Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 : Welcoming circle and introductions
10:30 – 12:00 : Stretch class – stretch reflex integration
12:00 – 2:30 : Lunch and break
2:30 – 4:30 : The Anatomy of Posture and full stretch class working with your specific issues
4:30 – 6:00 : Personal time
6:00 - 8:00 : Dinner and personal time
8:00 - 9:00: Kirtan with Adam Bauer and evening wind down
Day 3:
7:00 – 8:00 am: Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00 : Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 : Integrations/check in
10:30 – 12:00 : Stretch class
12:00 – 1:30 : Lunch
1:30 - 6:00 : Workshop with Ani Williams
6:00 - 6:30 : Break
6:30 – 8:00 : Dinner
8:00 - 9:00 : Evening kirtan wind down
Day 4:
7:00 – 8:00 am: Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00 : Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 : Integrations/Check in
10:30 – 12:00 : Stretch Class
12:00 – 2:30 : Lunch and personal time
2:30 – 4:30: Stretch class
4:30 – 6:00 : Personal time
6:00 – 8:00 : Dinner and personal time
8:00 - 9: 00; kirtan wind down
Day 5:
7:00 – 8:00 am: Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00 : Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 : Integrations/check in
10:30 – 12:00 : Stretch class
12:00 – 1:30 : Lunch
1:30 - 6:00 : Site visit with Ani Williams
6:00 - 6:30 : personal time
6:30 – 8:00 : Dinner
8:00 - 9:00 : Evening kirtan wind down
Day 6:
7:00 – 8:00 am: Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00 : Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 : Integrations/Check in
10:30 – 12:00 : Stretch Class
12:00 – 2:30 : Lunch and personal time
2:30 – 4:30: Stretch class
4:30 – 6:00 : Personal time
6:00 – 8:00 : Dinner and personal time
8:00 - 9: 00; Intention and renewal ceremony
Day 7:
7:00 – 8:00 am: Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00 : Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 : Integrations/check in
10:30 – 12:00 : Stretch class
12:00 – 1:30 : Lunch
1:30 - 6:00 : Site visit with Ani Williams
6:00 – 8:00 : Dinner out
8:00 - 9:00 : Evening kirtan wind down
Day 8:
7:00 – 8:00 am: Morning Meditation
8:00 – 9:00 : Breakfast
Departure by ten a.m
Early bird price for all organic meals, accommodation, classes, kirtan, and transport to and from Toulouse airport:
Early bird price before April 30th, 2023: $3985 USD
After April 30th: $4299 USD
Payment schedule:
40% Deposit upon booking;
early bird: $1594 USD
sleepy bird: $1719 USD
Balance due 60 days before retreat;
early bird: $2391 USD
sleepy bird: $2580 USD
This lineage of work has come from my Grandfather (the herbalist and massage therapist), to my mother (the famous dancer), to me (shiatsu therapist, teacher, researcher and founder of Neural Resonance Therapy®).
We eradicate the 'goal' of where you think you're 'supposed' to be, and start from where you are comfortable - and we stay there. No reaching, no stress and above all - no pain! This work is what I call 'the path of least resistance' and the path of most pleasure.
We approach the stretch reflex in a way that is not found in other work.
This means you reach MUCH less and acquire so much more flexibility in a short period of time. You can eradicate any thoughts of how you 'can't stretch', or you 'don't like to', or it hurts, because this work transforms your relationship with your body, and how you stretch.
Leaving home and creating space and time for yourself in an environment conducive to healing allows you to work through issues you've had for years, and bring home a renewed sense of health and personal empowerment.
To learn more about Somatic Stretch® and the reflex, click here.
* 7 nights at the beautiful Domaine de Mournac; 2 per room.
* Transportation to and from Toulouse airport and afternoon pilgrimages
* 7 breakfasts: 6 lunches; 6 Dinners of homemade, organic vegetarian meals prepared by our local, private chef
* 9 Somatic Stretch® and Fractal Anatomy classes to relieve aches, pains and troubleshoot physical issues
* One afternoon sound workshop with Ani Williams
* Two afternoon pilgrimage journeys to Magdalene sites led with song and story by Ani Williams
* Morning chanting and meditation
* Evening kirtan and soothing wind downs with Adam Bauer
* Yoga mats and bolsters
* Round trip air travel expenses to France (Toulouse airport)
* Dinner and tips out on the last night
* Personal Insurance
* Travel Insurance: Highly recommended
Myth #1: I need to be flexible to do this!
This is what you come here for! The secret is the stretch reflex, which you will learn to embody so that you can bring home new insights into your own patterning, inside and out, and create some serious strides in really amping up your health and flexibility. If you can sit on the floor, you can do this amazingly easily! "How did I move so little and gain this much flexibility"! - is a common phrase at our retreats.
Myth #2: Flexible people don't need to do this!
The inner sanctum of where you move easily can lead you to places you've never felt before. This draws you into the interior, to listen to the impulses of our nervous system that express themselves in rays of geometry that guide us to deeper insight and expansion. There is a whole world of exploration you will not have known before you experience this work.
Somatic Stretch® classes
This technique, handed down and refined into a method through three generations, uses the stretch reflex to radically improve flexibility and tension release, which results in an ability to alleviate pain and increase bounce!
Sound Healing
Harpist, Singer, Songwriter, Author, Sound Therapist and Pilgrimage guide, Ani Williams, will be transporting our voices through an afternoon workshop, while Adam Bauer leads us in sacred chant each evening.
Fractal Anatomy and the Geometry of Healing
We will be learning how joints are fractal and how we can help our shoulders and hips - not to mention everything else! You don't need to be a therapist to understand it, or use it in a way that truly empowers your ability to self heal.
Click here to learn more about Fractal Anatomy.
An Idyllic Homebase
Our location in Mournac is ideally located in the heart of Magdalene country. We will be visiting two sacred sites on two different afternoons in this historic region led by Ani Williams.
Pricing: All inclusive
Transport to and from Toulouse airport; Accommodation for seven nights; All meals; Nine Somatic Stretch classes; Two Magdalene local journeys; One Sound and voice healing workshop; daily kirtan and joyful embodiment; Early Bird before March 30th, 2024: $4369 USD Sleepy Bird after March 30th, 2024: $4599 USD
Begin Registration Here
This will get you started! We will call you when your send in this questionnaire, and go over your personal needs and goals to determine if this is exactly what you're looking for before you book!
