Somatic Toolkit for a Resilient Nervous System
THE RETREAT with Michelle Murray and Katrin Heuser
Learn somatic practices and skills to integrate into your existing work, and create a safer and more trauma-informed environment. Develop a greater capacity for nervous system regulation, both personally and professionally, so you can support your clients without feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
An accredited 50-hour trauma-informed training for yoga teachers, bodyworkers, coaches, facilitators and all others in a therapeutic profession PLUS a retreat at the same time.
27th July - 3rd August 2024
at Bodhi Bhavan, Algarve, Portugal
An accredited 50-hour trauma-informed training for yoga teachers, bodyworkers, coaches, facilitators and all others in a therapeutic profession PLUS a retreat at the same time.
27th July - 3rd August 2024
at Bodhi Bhavan, Algarve, Portugal
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You’re passionate about your work, and find it increasingly difficult to show up for your clients and students in a meaningful way.
These days, so many people suffer from anxiety, depression, pain, chronic conditions, and unresolved trauma. You may feel overwhelmed and ill-equipped to deal with these issues and the heaviness of the stories your clients share with you. You’re doing your best to hold space, and you also realise that your skillset and toolbox of practices continuously need to evolve. Creating an environment that feels safe and inclusive for clients with complex conditions can be challenging, and even exhausting, if you don’t have the necessary skills or experience. Most training courses have not evolved to be either trauma-informed, or specifically informed about the nervous system, even though people’s needs have changed significantly. |
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In order for your work to be both sustainable and effective, it is essential that you:
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The trainingThis 50-hour in-person Continued Professional Development (CPD) training gives you the missing educational piece as well as the space to explore somatic practices that will be useful for you both personally and professionally. Together we will explore themes around boundaries, the body-mind connection, nervous system regulation, co-regulation, trauma, safety and inclusivity, embodiment and resiliency.
Our approach is both bottom-up drawing on somatic practices including movement, breathwork, sensory tracking and enquiry; and top-down with education around neuroscience and trauma. There are no quick fixes to the systemic issues we all face, but during this training you will have the opportunity to develop your own personal Somatic Toolkit to resource from, as well as use with your clients. Our hope is that you will feel deeply nourished by new insights, somatic practices, real connection and community, and being in an authentic space of exploration. |
The retreatIt’s your turn. Allow yourself to receive, learn and practice. Let us hold space for you for a change.
Taking some time out from your daily routine is a gift to yourself that will give back to you many times over. This week offers a space for you to immerse yourself in nature, be held in a deeply nourishing space and learning environment, and to make heartfelt connections with like-minded professionals. We are both experienced retreat facilitators with 100+ retreats between us and a combined experience of 50+ years of somatic practice and enquiry. We’ve chosen Bodhi Bhavan for our venue because the owners have created a beautiful space from the heart, and we resonated with them as people committed to living an authentic life and their vision for the space and regenerative land management. |
Course overview
Pre-retreat: Approx. 2 hours of essential reading/viewing available July 1st 2024
Retreat: 27th July - 3rd August 2024
Post-retreat: Online integration session on Saturday 21st September 2024, 10:00-13:00 UK time
Retreat: 27th July - 3rd August 2024
Post-retreat: Online integration session on Saturday 21st September 2024, 10:00-13:00 UK time
What to expect
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This 50-hour CPD training consists of 39 hours in person during the retreat, a 3-hour online integration call post-retreat, and 8 hours of home study, practice, enquiry and reflection which will be fundamental for integration.
Daily Schedule Our days during the retreat will typically unfold like this: 07:30-08:30 Morning movement practice 08:30-09:30 Breakfast 10:00-13:00 Morning workshop 13:00-16:00 Lunch and free time 16:00-19:00 Afternoon workshop 19:30 Dinner The morning workshops will include a presentation, with time for both personal enquiry and discussion in small groups. The afternoon workshops will be practice-based, followed by reflection and time to apply the toolkit in small groups - this experiential learning will support integration and also help you develop your capacity to facilitate others. Each day will offer new resources for your somatic toolkit which we will be building up over the duration of the week. Additional course materials will be made available on a well-structured online platform, including comprehensive hand-outs to support learning and deepening your enquiry, suggested reading material and videos for further study, plus bonus practices. |
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Course contents
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DAY 1: Boundaries & the Responsibility of Self-Care - Why is it fundamental to you and your clients’ wellbeing?
DAY 2: Body-Mind Connection
DAY 3: Understanding the Nervous System
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DAY 4: Trauma
DAY 5: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Space
DAY 6: Embodiment for Resilience
Saturday 21st September: Integration (online call) We meet a few weeks after the retreat for integration of whatever has arisen during the training. Integration is the key to real and lasting transformation so this call is as important as the course, and perhaps even more so. |
Who is this training for?
There are a few prerequisites for joining this training:
You might particularly enjoy this course if:
This course may not be the right fit for you at this point in time if:
- you are a qualified yoga teacher, bodyworker, coach or retreat facilitator;
- or you are in a supporting profession such as counsellors, social workers, front-line workers;
- you take your continued education responsibility seriously and want to do further training;
- you are open to a non-dogmatic approach to somatic facilitation;
- you have a solid self-practice;
- you are open to work on yourself.
You might particularly enjoy this course if:
- you have experienced and enjoyed Embodied Yoga, Somatic Movement, Feldenkrais or Qi Gong;
- you love and practice regular self-care rituals;
- you are increasingly coming to trust your gut and body signals when they say no to situations;
- you are a great listener;
- you get quite excited by neuroscience, physiology and research studies;
- you love movement and want to experience more freedom in the way you move.
This course may not be the right fit for you at this point in time if:
- you are not able or willing to invest 50 hours for this training;
- you are not able or willing to spend the time before and after the retreat for the essential reading and integration session;
- you are currently dealing with your own deep trauma process. This training could be too overwhelming for you and not aid your own healing process at the moment.
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About the venueBodhi Bhavan is located on Picota mountain in Monchique with amazing views of stunning sunsets and sunrises. Peacefully embedded in the magical nature of Algarve’s second highest peak, the location offers lots of walking trails around the venue. Natural spring water comes out of the mountain and is stored in open natural tanks which provide welcome refreshment on hot days and invite for a refreshing dip. On more than six hectares of land, everybody can find a peaceful mystical spot to rest. The ground has a strong energy supporting any practice of self exploration and peacefulness.
All guest bedrooms are twin-share with an ensuite shower room. |
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What people say about working with Michelle and Katrin
I want to thank you both for this training and your facilitation! My Wednesdays started having a different meaning since the beginning of this course: self-care and nurturing my own needs. :) I will miss them. The content was clear and very useful, mixing theoretical reflection and bodywork practices. The fact that you made us (me) feel that there was no rush or pressure whatsoever and we could take our time to study and reflect was important to keep that spirit of respect and awareness of our own needs at the moment. The learning platform was very useful as well. This course made me want to deepen my knowledge and resources about trauma and how I can be able to support myself and others in life through our bodies. The duration and weekly basis worked very well for me and enable me to introduce some practices into my own work and experience both as receiver and facilitator. I learned so many new poses and techniques for releasing tension/ trauma in the body, soothing the nervous system and relaxing. Katrin’s approach is deceptively simple yet the benefits are profound. The careful attentive approach and the kindness of the Yoga make it suitable for people of any age, and I continue to learn from Katrin's subtle insights into the body/mind connection. It’s all about ease and becoming friends with your body once again. Quite a complex task, but Katrin is very good at navigating you through. She has all the qualities I value in a teacher - caring and dedicated to her students, paying attention to their individual needs, being serious and fun and giving clear instructions and explanations. |
Michelle’s yoga class is a wonderful experience. Highly recommended! The practice feels like a journey to your “true home“. On the way you learn to be soft to your body, to nourish it, to listen to what you need. Michelle is the most incredible Breathwork Therapist I ever worked with. She showed me three different Breathwork tools and I instantly could feel a difference after the session with her. Michelle is a warm-hearted and gifted woman! I really appreciate working with her on my health. I think you've done a very good job in dealing with all the different needs of the people. I felt seen and I also had the impression that you took me seriously not only as a customer but also as a person. Thank you for that. Michelle is so kind, generous with her time, words and patience. Her zest for life and her deep self-love and appreciation radiated through the room during our hours of yoga in the morning and at night. I have come back home with my very own practice. It has given me so much joy to continue this practice on my own. It is a much-needed approach to teaching yoga and has been of a great help, personally, to navigate current times. Learning to create safe and inclusive spaces and deepening the understanding of the body in all its dimensions have been only a few of the many valuable teachings. |
Register now
This training course is offered with a scaled pricing structure with three options rather than one fixed price. The intention is to allow more people to access the course, supported by the community and those who have access to more funds. Please choose the option that feels appropriate to you and your circumstances. You will not be asked to justify your choice.
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TIER 1
REBALANCING For those with good financial resources and wish to support the participation of others to help rebalance systemic inequity. EARLY BIRD €1,350 until 15th Nov 2023 full value €1,600 |
TIER 2
FAIR For those with medium incomes and who have sufficient financial resources and can pay the fair value for the training. EARLY BIRD €1,250 until 15th Nov 2023 full value €1,500 |
TIER 3
SUPPORTED For those who currently have limited financial resources and can benefit from a place supplemented by the community. EARLY BIRD €1,150 until 15th Nov 2023 full value €1,400 |
What's included>> 7 nights shared accommodation in en-suite twin rooms
>> 11 x 3-hour workshops >> Daily morning practice >> Fully equipped practice space >> Lifetime access to additional online resources for further study, reflection and practice >> Post-retreat 3-hour online integration session >> Delicious hearty vegetarian meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner (starts with dinner on arrival day and ends with breakfast on departure day) >> Water, tea, coffee, biscuits and fruit available throughout the day >> One organised group transfer from and to Faro airport Optional extras >> On-site massage therapy >> Afternoon beach excursion Not included; flights or other travel and insurance. Travel Faro is the closest airport, a 1h drive from the venue. The group transfer will leave at 3.30pm. The return transfer will leave at 10.30am, so please book your flight for after 1.30pm. Parking is available, if you prefer to come in your own car. There are regular fast coaches from Lisbon to Faro. Additional information will be in your travel pack. If you have different travel times, extra transfers can be arranged at an additional cost. |
Booking terms and conditions
Whether you are paying in full or in instalments, the following T&Cs apply: In order to guarantee your place on this training, you need to make a minimum payment of at least one instalment. If you choose to pay in instalments, the first one is due on registration, and the remaining instalments will be charged in one-month intervals from the date of your booking. Cancellations made on or before 27th January 2024: you will receive a full refund minus a €100 admin fee. Cancellations made between the 28th January and the 27th May 2024: you may transfer your place to another person you know. Alternatively, if we are able to fill your space from the waiting list, we will offer you a full refund minus a €75 admin fee. Otherwise, no refunds of payments made so far will be given. Cancellations made on or after 28th May 2024: payments are non-refundable. However, you may transfer your place to another person you know. No-shows or early departures: no refunds will be given. In the unlikely event that we should need to cancel the whole course due to unforeseen circumstances, all monies paid will be refunded without penalty. You are responsible for having adequate travel insurance throughout your retreat stay and we will not be held responsible for any injury, loss, or damage you may incur whilst participating in other activities outside of the retreat space. |
Certification
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We and all courses are registered with the Complementary Medical Association, who promote ethical, responsible, professional complementary medicine to the public and the medical profession.
In addition, the training is accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals, an internationally recognised organisation promoting best practices for teachers and trainers. On satisfactory completion of the training you will receive a certificate to record your CPD. Note: To meet the requirements for certification, you need to attend at least five of the seven sessions live/in person and catch up on the missed modules via the recordings that will be available. |
Frequently asked questionsI’m a qualified professional but nor working at the moment. Can I still join the course?
Yes, absolutely. Maybe this course will inspire or enable you to go back to sharing your work. The last couple of years have been challenging financially. Is it possible to pay by instalments? Yes, we want to make sure it’s possible for you to join. You can choose from a one-off payment or monthly instalments. So many people I work with deal with high levels of anxiety. Will these tools be immediately helpful to me and my clients? Absolutely. We encourage you to implement as many of the tools as much as possible as soon as you feel you have embodied them. I am worried I might get triggered during the course. Will there be support available? When working with the nervous system, things may come up for you. If this happens during class and you need support to ground yourself, please let Katrin or Michelle (whoever is not teaching at that moment) know. Exploring these themes in a group setting means that our own bodies, and our reactions to other participants, may bring stuff up and this will be a valued part of the learning experience. If something comes up for you that you need more in-depth support with, then you are welcome to book a 1:1 session with either Katrin or Michelle after the retreat, or we can refer you to another practitioner if that feels more appropriate for you. I have specific dietary requirements. Will they be catered for? We are able to cater for vegan, as well as basic gluten-free and lactose-free requirements, if you notify us in advance. For any more serious food intolerances or allergies, please contact us before you register. |
Orientation CallsThere will be two free orientation calls for Q&A as well as some taster practices. This will also be an opportunity to get to know us a little more.
Tuesday 17th October, 17:00-18:00 Tuesday 7th November, 13:00-14:00 Do you have any other questions?Interested to join the next round?Feel free to register your interest for the next round, and you will be the first to know the dates.
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About Michelle and Katrin
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Michelle has worked in the field of somatics since 2002, initially as a massage therapist and yoga teacher in London, followed by various other locations before settling in Portugal. Over the years, Michelle has followed her interests (and her heart) learning from many amazing teachers and facilitators. However, the basis for everything she offers is her personal experience and continued exploration.
Her work is person-centred and responsive to what arises in the moment, and in recent years has evolved to include a deep dive into the field of trauma healing and nervous system regulation. Michelle continues to deepen her understanding with ongoing study including training in Somatic Experiencing®. Focussing on stabilisation, integration, resilience, wholeness and freedom, she invites you to reconnect with who you most deeply are, to find your own voice, and to stand in the power of knowing that you are enough. Read more about Michelle on her website: michellemurray.eu |
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Her whole life, Katrin has been interested in the body and movement. After many years of dance, her Scoliosis led her to Pilates and finally to Yoga and Thai Massage, which then became her path in life.
For Katrin, her work is about the never-ending exploration of the body and mind, and a way of discovering the beauty of life. As we bring awareness to what is happening inside and where we are in the present moment, the body is encouraged to release where it is holding. Then we can embark on a journey of restoration and growth. She holds a 500h Level 4 NVQ Yoga Teaching qualification, trained in Manual Lymph Drainage and has studied extensively in Thai Yoga Massage and Osteothai, including a Master Osteothai qualification, over the past years. Through her work as a bodyworker comes also her understanding of trauma, chronic conditions and pain, as well as the influence of working with fascia, the craniosacral system, structural support and regulation of the nervous system. Katrin used to run a Yoga Festival in London and launched an online anti-stress breathing programme. Since 2015 she has lived in Lisbon and runs Little Yoga Space, where she teaches and gives Osteothai treatments, and she is the director of Hadadi, offering foundation and advanced training courses in Thai Massage and trauma-informed Yoga worldwide. |
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