Our 2023 Immersive Sonic Medicine and Somatic Therapy Retreat just wrapped up. It was held at Maple Grove Hot Springs from Sept. 28-Oct. 1. Even as I write this post, I am still feeling overwhelmed by such a great experience. That being said, I understand that some readers may not understand what happened during the retreat.
I thought it might be helpful to delve more into somatic retreats and what they entail. Somatic retreats are a form of healing retreats based on the principle of somatic therapy, a therapy first proposed by Peter Levine, PhD.
Somatic therapy is all about releasing trauma and its negative effects on the body. Whether trauma is the result of a childhood experience, a tragic accident, or even being victimized by crime, releasing that trauma is key to restoring mental, emotional, and physical health.
A Holistic Approach to Healing
To understand exactly what goes on at a somatic retreat, you first need to know that somatic therapy takes a holistic approach to healing. Somatic therapists believe wholeheartedly in the undeniable connection between body and mind. Practitioners combine a variety of activities and exercises designed to promote calm and relaxation with the goal of eventually releasing the pent-up fear, anxiety, and tension so typical of trauma.
By contrast, those talking therapies commonly utilized to deal with trauma only address the mind. That is not a bad thing in and of itself. But somatic practitioners believe that body and mind should be addressed together if trauma is to be fully released. That is the goal of a somatic retreat.
A Range of Activities and Facilitators
One of the beautiful aspects of somatic therapy is that it can be accomplished in so many ways. In fact, the holistic approach to healing embraces as many worthwhile activities as possible. For example, our most recent retreat offered opportunities for:
- Sound healing.
- Yoga sessions.
- Celebratory dance.
- Group and individual meditation.
The retreat featured some of the most accomplished facilitators offering relevant workshops and activities. One of the highlights of the weekend was the music. Omway played nightly shows to help us all continue our calming relaxation after the day’s activities had ended.
Many Paths to Spiritual Healing
When trauma is fully released through somatic therapy, a person doesn’t experience only physical and mental healing. There is also a spiritual healing that takes place. That being the case, it is important to remember that there are many paths to spiritual healing.
My specialty is sound healing. I assist people on a spiritual healing journey through sound baths and other similar practices. But I am just one facilitator among so many more.
Other facilitators specialize in vocal toning, bodywork, breathwork, and embodiment exercises. We all work with yoga and meditation facilitators to create an environment that is extremely conducive to trauma release. Best of all, we continue to facilitate year-round, even when retreats are not currently on the calendar.
It’s Time to Release Your Trauma
While our most recent somatic retreat has come to an end, there will be others. A quick online search reveals no shortage of retreats planned for 2024. We encourage you to consider going on one if you are struggling with trauma that you find hard to release through mere talking therapies alone.
It’s time to release that trauma so that you can complete the healing journey. A somatic retreat can be a fantastic facilitator to that end, ultimately changing your life forever. Between now and that retreat date, Maloca Sound is here to help with calming and relaxing sound therapy. We offer both individual and group sessions.
