9-day residential retreat in Orval (southern Belgium)
A Movement Medicine key workshop led by Rosie Perks and Ben Yeger
Initiation is a resourcing, adventurous and sensitively held 9 day exploration of our journey through life. Supported by good companions and expert guidance enabling a strengthening of our relationship with ourselves and life.
Few other trips, of any kind, can match this beyond amazing experience. Thanks to Rosie and Ben, the assistants, BLC, MM, all the fellow dancers and myself! - Ingrid (Initiation, Orval 2024)
The focus of this journey is two-fold:
1. To bring recognition, acknowledgement and gratitude for life's journey;
2. To help us learn from the crunchy and smooth of our personal histories, so we can understand ourselves better and establish more ground to act from choice rather than compulsion as we step forwards.
During the retreat, we will work with the nine cycles of the life journey: conception, birth, childhood, puberty, adolescence, adulthood, maturity, old age and death.
Through Movement Medicine and other body based practices we will explore the landscape and archetypes of each life cycle, acknowledging what has been, bringing understanding and learning where we can, particularly to any challenges we faced. In the transition between adolescence and maturity, we will spend time on a mini vision quest to gain insight for our adult lives. We will then invoke death as a teacher to remind ourselves that our time here is short and precious, enriching our understanding of what really matters to us as adults and elders.
The intention of this retreat is to bring acceptance, love and compassion to the journey we have experienced so far and recognise what was initiated in us with the resources accessible at that time. Giving acknowledgment to important initiations from a place of more resource and offering ourselves what we might have wished for but did not receive. To then dream into our future as encouragement for our present selves.
This 9 day retreat is an opportunity to update and strengthen our relationship with ourselves and life. So we can re-enter the world and our communities better equipped to support that which brings life, connection and kindness.
The workshop has brought me many insights. I can now look at the people around me with more gentleness. Especially towards my parents, I feel more softness and love. Since the workshop, I have become even more aware that I can and may trust my inner voice. Because of this, I notice that my days naturally flow more smoothly. My creativity also flows more easily. It's as if I can now simply allow the creative force to work through me instead of creating something with my mind. - Elke (Initiation, Orval 2024)
This workshop is accredited by the School of Movement Medicine as the required Initiation prerequisite workshop for Movement Medicine Apprenticeship and Professional Training.
I felt their deep dedication to us and the facilitation and trusted them completely. Two beautiful, but different souls. - Jesse (Initiation, Orval 2024)
Registration
Please first fill in the application form if you are interested in participating.
Pre-requisites: A minimum of 40 hours of Movement Medicine or related practices before the retreat begins.
Workshop venue: Ecological center La Ferme du Bois-le-Comte
La Ferme du Bois-le-Comte is an eco-friendly group venue located near the Abbey of Orval (Ardennes, close to the French border). It has a unique location in the heart of nature. The kitchen serves vegetarian meals, with an option for those who prefer fully vegan options.
Questions?
Subscription information
Cost includes full-board accommodation (100% organic & vegetarian) in 4-bedded room. Single, double or twin room: + 342 EUR. The early booking discount on the course fee is for payments received before 15.01.28: 1791 EUR for places booked and paid by 15.01.28Planned sessions (10)
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Session 1: Monday 15 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 2: Tuesday 16 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 3: Wednesday 17 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 4: Thursday 18 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 5: Friday 19 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 6: Saturday 20 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 7: Sunday 21 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 8: Monday 22 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 9: Tuesday 23 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
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Session 10: Wednesday 24 May 2028 - Orval - Bois-le-Comte
