The Somatic Facilitators Retreat is designed for people who work with individuals and/or groups in a psychological, spiritual, and/or somatic capacity. Therapists, social workers, coaches, academics, community organizers, chaplains, yoga teachers, youth educators, physicians, and more have joined passed iterations of the weekend.
The three-day non-residential retreat offers participants ways of cultivating self-intimacy and creative connection as a group/with our more-than-human community while simultaneously exploring their roles as facilitators/holders of space. In addition to offering opportunities to practice leading body-based activities and getting feedback, as well as exploring how to adapt approaches for different populations, the weekend encompasses peer support processes grounded in mutual care, touch, ritual, movement, and the Internal Family Systems method. This range of intentions and activities allows participants to experientially contemplate their motivations, desires, habits, and fears in doing psycho-spiritual-somatic work and to deepen their understanding of the relationship between personal and professional engagements.
In designing and leading this ever-evolving gathering, I draw from my extensive background in dance and performance, my work as an Internal Family Systems counselor, twenty years of practice and study in Insight/Thai Forest meditation, my work as a gender and sexuality expansion worker (trained in the Urban Tantra method and other modalities), a commitment to ritual, ceremony, and celebration as a way of life, and my many years leading groups in psycho-somatic-spiritual practice, including artists, activists, engineers, elders, children, elementary school teachers, police officers and fire fighters, corporate workers, political refugees, and more.
Testimonials:
“Hana is an incredibly generous leader and I came away from this workshop with many concrete tools for leading somatic workshops. Perhaps the most special aspect of the workshop though was how expertly Hana held a container for us to practice the intuitive knowing that really makes a skilled somatic facilitator. Having that space and time to practice building confidence in my intuition is a gift I continue to refer back to weeks later.” - Megan Daalder, artist and somatic educator
“I cannot recommend Hana's facilitation workshop highly enough. I went in expecting to learn new ideas of somatic group work and to get a chance to process obstacles to facilitating this kind of work with groups who are resistant or unfamiliar with it. The workshop exceeded my expectations on both of these fronts, and I was surprised how nourished I felt in my own relationship with the workshop group. I left feeling lucky and spoiled, eager to facilitate and hopeful to attend another workshop soon. I especially recommend working with Hana for those with curiosity about decentralized facilitation strategies, and those curious about the intersection of therapeutic and movement based practices.” - Netta Sadovsky, social worker and artist
“What an inspiring long weekend! Hana has a way of weaving somatic practices into a seamless, fluid experience that is so nourishing, provocative, expansive, and deeply personal and universal. Her presence fosters a supportive and open space where I feel safe to explore my edges and empowered to take care of myself.” - Tracy Hu, MD
"I truly can't recommend this training highly enough. I came into the weekend feeling stuck and a little disillusioned in my work as a teacher and healthcare practitioner. I left feeling a new sense of capacity and inspiration and with a set of tangible tools to use personally and professionally. Hana facilitates a wonderful and unusual cocoon for exploration with deep care, curiosity and skill." - Jordan Schmidt, Food Program Director at North East Community Center and nutritional therapist