Body Tales: Retreats

Upcoming Retreats

Body Tales Love into Leadership Retreat
Feb 13–15, 2009, Salamander Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains
With Olivia Corson and Lysa Castro

Join us for 2-1/2 days of Body Tales, divine meals, beauty in nature, stars, hot-tubbing, rest, camaraderie, deep creativity and healing at Salamander Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Open to all; enrollment limited to 12. Previous experience in Body Tales, Authentic Movement, or related forms recommended. Please call Lysa: 510-649-1791 before registering.

Fri noon to Sun, 6 pm
Sliding scale: $375 to $575 (actual cost is $475)
Fee includes workshop, shared accommodations, fully catered exquisite meals.
Contact Lysa: 510-649-1791

ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE

General Information

Body Tales® and Authentic Movement retreats provide in-depth creative and healing time within a supportive environment. Retreats offer space for slowing down, self-care and replenishment.

Over the years, we have brought more than 500 people together in small groups (ranging in size from 8 to 16 participants) to share these deeply transformative practices. People come to these retreats to claim protected and uncluttered time for nurturing their inner lives and their creative and spiritual paths. They find an environment unique in its profound respect for the individual and for the group.

Body Tales retreats offer participants powerful opportunities to restore and strengthen their core relationship with body, self and world.

"Burnout brought me to the Body Tales retreat. I was looking for rejuvenation. I found expression, understanding, safety and freedom."
— Mimi Moyer, dance therapist

Retreats are held in places where nature and beauty run wild and free. Most of our retreats are within an hour's drive of the San Francisco Bay Area. We also lead retreats nationally and internationally in gorgeous rural locations including Esalen Institute and retreat centers in Costa Rica, Hawaii and Mexico.

Retreat sessions are held primarily in beautiful indoor movement spaces — sometimes spilling out onto outdoor decks or secluded meadows. Some sessions may be held outside among trees, grass and sky or in the sand, sun and water. This creative time brings us into powerful and rich relationship with the earth and with primary sources of inspiration and belonging.

"I loved bearing witness to the unfolding of our human stories — feeling all of the hearts, getting to peek into and honor so many aspects of soul/being. A deeply beautiful and nourishing retreat: a retreat in the truest sense."
— Padma Gordon, counselor & somatic movement educator

Food
Many of our retreats are fully and divinely catered. We offer a delicious and healthy California cuisine full of fresh, often local and organically grown food, with delicious vegetarian, and chicken or fish options. Our caterers bring great skill and love to food preparation, and work brilliantly with individual needs and sensitivities.

"I came to a Body Tales retreat not knowing what I'd find in myself. I left with some clear and specific ideas about what I want and need to keep exploring — and how to do that."
— Mary David Walters, massage therapist

Schedule
During retreats, we settle into a rhythm of Body Tales or Authentic Movement work. We share exquisite meals, and enjoy leisure, exploration and warm camaraderie. This rhythm produces deep somatic work and provides new perspective and energy for our everyday lives.

Early mornings are free for walking, writing, socializing, quiet contemplation or sleeping in.
After breakfast, we gather for a 3- to 4-hour session.
Midday, we have 2 to 3 hours free for lunch and open personal time. Between sessions, thoughtful and lively conversation can alternate with rest or solitude. People might choose time in the redwoods or on the beach. You can swim, soak in a hot tub, meditate, write, or take that essential siesta.
Late afternoon, we meet again for a second 3- to 4-hour session.
Evening begins with a fabulous dinner together, followed on alternating days by a 1- to 2-hour session or free time — rest, hot tubbing, artwork, dancing, singing.

"The retreat was a pleasure — calming, expanding and fun. Feeling this sense of community left me joyous and lit up inside."
— Joe Costella, attorney