Embrace and Release Retreat – April and Ashley

Yoga for Grief Workshop 

(90 minutes)

This workshop taught by Ashley Williams is centered around the grief we carry. Grief is funny because it applies to any loss you’ve ever had, and can combine or attach itself to any future loss. It is not just the loss of people we love. Grief can be the loss of a friendship, a relationship, a job, our health or just losing ourselves sometimes.

This workshop will start with some journaling and discussion about what our grief is to us. We will then dive in a little deeper to the connection between our emotional intelligence and our own reflective identity. We will discuss the difference between attachment.

It’s easy to ask, “who am I?”, but that can be an impossible question that ignites anxiety and plants fear. We have to inventory what we are also carrying. We need to reflect on ourselves, an honest mindful practice of what we are holding it in and then we need to work on letting ourselves get bigger not only to hold the hardships with less heaviness, but to fit all that can be wonderful alongside it.

The yoga portion of this workshop includes a specific sequence around our pranayama and postures to hold an honor what we have, but also release ourselves into becoming more than what we are. Hardships and challenges can be an amazing catalyst growth and this workshop aims to help find that space.

Cost of workshop is $45

Intro to Aerial Yoga

(90 minutes)

Aerial yoga utilizes aerial silk fabric which is tied or rigged into  a swing, or hammock configuration. This makes it a lot easier than aerial silks, because with the hammock some of the “puzzle” of aerial silks is already completed.
Aerial yoga flows through a Vinyasa yoga sequence, utilizing the hammock to deepen stretches, support our balance, and help us with inversions off the floor, and on the floor (headstand, handstand, and forearm stand are super accessible with the hammock!)

Aerial yoga can help you release a lot of fear in your body, and it’s super fun! Aerial yoga includes breath work, and a closing savasana.

Cost of workshop is $45.

Restorative Yoga with Massage 

(90 minutes)

When there is stillness in the water you can see a reflection of its surroundings. This workshop taught by Ashley Williams leans into that exact concept.

A workshop to find stillness giving us an opportunity for reflection. Often in the hustle and bustle of life we are so busy doing we don’t have much time of just being. These waves of life can be easily ignored for bigger ones. Restorative yoga focuses on being comfortable and supported in gentle yoga positions by using guidance and props. With guided pranayama (breathing exercises) we get comfortable just existing where we are. This workshop is wonderful for regulating our nervous system to engage the parasympathetic. As a massage therapist, Ashley will offer hands on comfort measures of massage therapy while you hold the poses. Increasing the activation of our restful healing space within.

Cost of workshop is $45

Magic of Intention Fire Ceremony

(75 minutes)

In this workshop we will move through the seven energy centers with visualizations and mantras to clear the way to an open heart and mind. You will then be invited to write down intentions, and something you want to let go of and eliminate from your life. Then using fire we will let go of what no longer serves us.

Next we will write what we WANT to create and invite into our existence, and send these up in fire with the intention of calling it into our lives.

Throughout this process we will use the powerful vibration of chanting, which will amplify our intentions. This practice is also deeply moving in a group setting, where the energy of others will also enhance the experience and amplify the intentions that have been set.

Cost of workshop is $45.