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.
Long lunch banquet
Prepared by a local chef and shared by the fireplace inside or outdoors under the gumtrees if the weather permits.
Life Sculpting Workshop
A two hour life sculpting workshop hosted by artist and designer Claire Hermon. This will be similar to a life drawing class except we will be sculpting the life models body with clay and other textural materials. You will also have the opportunity to take your sculpture home and fire it so you have a lasting relic of your retreat experience to keep in your home.
Restorative Yin
We will be exploring self massage and self-soothing techniques for restoring the bodies energy, while also looking at how rest based practice can soothe and regulate the nervous system. No experience is needed, the content and participation will be accessible for all levels of experience.
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.
Clare Hermon
Life drawing has been around forever, a way of looking closely, slowing down and letting your hands follow your eyes. Life Sculpting takes that same idea and shifts it into three dimensions. Instead of paper, you're working with clay. Instead of a line, you're building form.
We will be gathering around the fire for an afternoon of making. A life model, clay and tools, snacks and tea. Time to look closely and see what your hands come up with.
You'll be guided through a handful of short poses focusing on smaller sections of the body, building up to longer poses and eventually a 30 minute hold to work on the figure as a whole. I'll be there throughout with guidance and tips, but this isn't a workshop and there's no right or wrong. Just make what feels right.
All levels welcome. All materials supplied.
Retreat itinerary
Morning
10-11am: Tea and welcome
11-12pm: Somatic movement and meditation
Lunch
12.30-1.30pm: By the fireplace inside or if the weather is fine we will sit outside at a long table under the gumtrees.
Afternoon
2-4pm: Life sculpting workshop
4-5pm: Restorative yin yoga
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.
Day retreat
from A$180.00
We have concession and non-concession prices available. Concessions are available for First Nations folk, students, elderly, people experiencing a disability and/or people who are currently earning a low income (less than $25k p/year).
Your payment can be made in two instalments. The first is a 50% deposit and the remaining 50% can be made within 30 - 60 days from initial payment.
If you have any questions regarding payment plans for the remaining 50% please email us.
