Cultivating the Wisdom of the Body

Embodied Listening® offers a way to move through blockages, challenges and uncertainty by tuning into your most reliable source for guidance — the wisdom of your body.

In this time of challenge and upheaval, learning to be present to your body’s inherent knowing is an essential skill.

During this retreat, we will draw on three contemplative practices that cultivate insight, compassion, and confidence:

• Mindfulness Meditation to relax mental holding patterns
• Alexander Technique to release physical holding patterns
• Focusing to access deeper feelings held in the body

This highly experiential workshop is held within a safe and supportive environment and includes periods of meditation, exploration of the felt sense alone and with partners, guided instruction on alignment, a lying down practice called constructive rest, sharing and humour.

Rather than trying to figure things out, we learn to spend time with the way our bodies hold our experience in any given moment called the “felt sense”. The felt sense is an inner bodily sensation that holds meaning for our lives. It is always operating, but we usually don’t notice it. By listening to these mysterious yet palpable expressions of our lived experience, we gain insight into what’s needed to resolve a conflict, make a decision or transform our stuck places. We discover the wisdom in the holding pattern.

Who Should Attend

Everyone is welcome to attend this retreat. Meditation instruction and individual posture adjustments will provided.

The weekend is ideal for anyone who wants to know themselves better and learn a simple and radically different way to approach what troubles them.

Overview of Schedule (Atlantic Time)

Time Zone Converter

All times listed are in Atlantic Time. If you live outside of the Atlantic Canada region, please check the time Zone Converter to calculate the time in your area.

Important Notes Regarding the Online Session Schedule

1. The teachings are progressive, so please begin at the beginning, and attend sessions in order if possible. Hope will do a brief review of the previous session at the beginning of each class.
2. Please try to attend all teaching sessions. During the teaching sessions, Hope will be taking questions, observations and making suggestions for adjustments.
3. Attend as many practice sessions as possible, as there will be some guided meditation instruction and guided lying down practice. Guided meditations and contemplations will be recorded.
4. Links to recordings will be posted on the Online Program Resource Page if you miss a session.
5. Please make an effort to view recordings for any missed session before the next teaching session if possible. (The  Zoom Coordinator will take special care to upload recordings at the next meal or session break.)

September 16

•  7:45 Atlantic: Orientation & Opening Talk

September 17 -18

Morning

• 7:00 – 8:00: Optional (Outdoor Contemplative Practice)
• 8:00 – 9:15: Breakfast Break
• 9:15 – 10:15: Meditation Instructions and Practice
• 10:15 – 12:30: Teaching Session
• 12:30 – 2:00: Lunch Break

Afternoon

• 2:00 – 2:30: Meditation Practice
• 2:30 – 4:00: Teaching Session
• 4:00 – 4:30: Tea Break
• 4:30 – 6:30: Meditation & Teaching Session
• 6:30 – 7:45: Dinner Break
• 7:45 – 9:00: Evening Activity or Session (Optional. Join if Time Zone permits.)

NOTES:

• There will be breaks offered during scheduled sessions.
• The final Teaching Session on September 18 will be a half hour longer, and the retreat will end at 4:30 pm Atlantic.

Program Costs

Tuition: $175

Participants who enroll in both the Shape of Awake® and Embodied Listening® programs will receive a 15% discount on the tuition of both retreats.

Testimonials

I learned so much about myself, and began the journey of accepting myself and holding myself in compassion. Now, I can be kinder to those around me, because I can be kind to myself. — Kate Smith

This workshop was a rich, rewarding and powerful blending of 3 practices that all seek to bring awareness and balance to the knowing body. I came away grateful for much that I will carry into both my personal and professional life and I recommend it highly. — Sharon Andrews

Embodied Listening helped me to deepen my sitting practice and move into a more respectful rapport with some deep parts of myself that had been asking for my attention. How obvious and radical it is that contact with the felt sense is profoundly assisted by an aligned structure, support from the earth and a deeply embodied experience. — Alexis Honiotes

I find Hope to be a very skilled teacher with a strong intuitive sense of how to work with each individual. Her Alexander work is deep and subtle, and has been extremely helpful in deeply understanding some of the principles of meditation posture that had eluded me for many years. — Michael Chender