Free Your Movement Retreat
Hollyhock Lifelong Learning Centre
August 23 – August 30, 2023
Free Your Movement Retreat
Hollyhock Lifelong Learning Centre
August 23 – August 30, 2023
Essential Somatics on Beautiful Cortes Island
If you have “tried everything” to relieve your chronic muscle or joint pain for the long term and have only experienced short term relief (or none at all), then this program is for you. Come learn how to restore freedom of movement, resolve chronic muscle tension, so you can live more fully.
Eliminating muscle pain, stiffness, and the feeling of ‘getting old” starts with the brain. Trauma, stress, and postural compensations and habits change the way the brain senses and moves us, and how we experience ourselves on a physical and emotional level. The good news is that you can change that.
Essential Somatics teaches you to restore fluid, effortless, and joyful movement – on your own, wherever you are and whenever you need it. Come and learn to be more present and comfortable in your body and in your life.
An all too common myth is that limited movement, disability, and pain is the inevitable result of aging. In reality, it is the way in which we unconsciously adapt to the stresses of our lives – the accidents, injuries, surgeries, and emotional and psychological stresses – that determines whether we become “creaky and old” or maintain our physical freedom, self-awareness, and independence. The choice is yours. To learn to maintain freedom of movement requires a new perspective on movement, ourselves, our habits, the brain, and how it controls us from the inside out.
What Will I learn?
Through inspiring discussions, movement sessions, and interactive participation you will learn critical, missing link information that will leave you feeling lighter and brighter, with a renewed sense of awareness of yourself.
- ^Learn how your habitual responses to stress may contribute to chronic pain and muscle tension (Sensory Motor Amnesia), and how it presents in 3 universal stress reflex patterns of muscular holding
- ^Apply this understanding as you explore how to improve your relationship with your body and your movement
- ^Experience the technique of pandiculation in order to restore optimum muscle function, calm your nervous system, and improve your voluntary muscle control
- ^Explore a basic routine of easy, safe, and profoundly effective Somatic Movements that, when practiced daily, improve self-awareness, maintain flexibility, eliminate chronic tension, improve balance, and prepare you to move better in your favorite activity.
- ^Discover a new perspective on how your body works and how you can expand your movement possibilities and learning for the rest of your life
Your Retreat Facilitator
About Martha Peterson
Martha Peterson is a Certified Clinical (Hanna) Somatic Educator and leader in the field of Somatic Education. She is the founder and CEO of Essential Somatics® and author of the book Move Without Pain. Martha heads a growing faculty of Clinical Somatic Educators who present Essential Somatics® trainings, retreats, and seminars in the US, Canada, Europe, and around the world. She maintains a private clinical practice in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Martha’s expertise comes from more than 30 years of working in the field of dance, bodywork, and Somatic Education.
About Hollyhock
Hollyhock is Canada’s internationally renowned leadership centre for learning and well-being, located on Cortes Island, off beautiful British Columbia’s West Coast.
In your free time, you can relax on the beautiful beaches, enjoy morning yoga classes, go on outdoor adventures such as sailing or kayaking, soak in the ocean view hot tubs, treat yourself to bodywork, and enjoy delicious, gourmet organic food made with love.
Retreat Details
Dates: Aug 23 – 30, 2023
Location: Hollyhock, British Columbia, Canada
Retreat Registration Fee: TBD