Day Retreat Location
The retreat will be held at the beautiful, architecturally inspiring High Noon. The house is located on Wurundjeri country near the river in Warrandyte and is very secluded with plenty of space to explore surrounding bush walks and swim in the pool on the property.
Somatic and Meditation Practices
A morning movement and meditation practice will be led by somatic therapist and yoga teacher Shannon May Powell. The practices will focus on nervous system regulation and will be designed for all levels. Everyone is welcome and no experience is needed.
Long lunch banquet
Prepared by our resident Chinese Medicine herbalist, Giulia Chiro, who is passionate about creating rituals around sharing meals and whose medicinal food is informed by Chinese Medicine principals and nutrition.
Yin and acupuncture workshop
A two hour specialised yin and acupuncture workshop led by Chinese Medicine acupuncturist and herbalist Giulia Chiro and somatic therapist and yoga teacher Shannon May Powell. The workshop will be designed to support healthy sleep habits, and to soothe and reset the nervous system. You will leave with a complimentary sleep tea and acupuncture beads created by Giulia herself, so that you can continue to sleep deeply.
Your hosts
Shannon May Powell
Founder and co-director of Small Beyond, Shannon (pronouns: she/they), is a writer, artist and embodiment practitioner of Irish and French settler descent who currently lives and works on sovereign Kulin nation lands (Melbourne, Australia). They believe embodiment is a human right and their practice is person-centred and grounded in creativity, care and liberation.
Shannon has trained in dance, creative writing, yoga, massage and somatic therapy. Alongside their art practice, Shannon also works for a non-profit, trauma informed organisation called Collective Being whose aim is to provide wellbeing practices to communities who don’t have access to mainstream resources and services.
Shannon is interested in how creative and embodied practices can support our values and actions becoming aligned, building our ability to live from a place of empathy, purpose, joy and resilience.
Giulia Chiro
Giulia is a passionate Practitioner of Chinese Medicine, holding a Bachelor of Health Science (Chinese Medicine) from Torrens University. With prior university study in Chiropractic, and qualifications in Shiatsu Massage and Yoga, she brings a depth of anatomical understanding to her practice of Chinese Medicine.
Giulia believes that Chinese Medicine is both an ancient wisdom and profoundly relevant to the modern day; a system that recognises physical, emotional and environmental health as deeply interconnected. Acupuncture has long been a people’s medicine, a form of collective care that has supported communities through times of instability. She believes healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and that the treatment room should be a space where all feel safe, heard and supported.
Her work is gentle, evidence-informed and individually tailored. Giulia crafts thoughtful treatment plans based on each person’s unique needs. Using acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion, gua sha and cosmetic acupuncture, she supports the body back toward balance.
Retreat itinerary
Morning
10-11am: Tea ceremony and snack
12-1pm: Somatic movement practice
Lunch
1-2pm: If the weather is fine we will sit outside at a long table under the gumtrees.
Afternoon
3-5pm: Restorative yin yoga and acupuncture workshop
Book your retreat (back to top)
To ensure we’re making our retreats as financially accessible as possible, we have concession and non-concession prices available as well as a payment plan option. If you have any questions please email us at small.beyond@gmail.com.
Your booking is fully refundable until 30 days before the retreat commences to give us enough time to find someone to take your place.
