Embodied Earth
Join us for a week in Costa Rica revitalizing and regenerating our soil and soul.
You will explore the vital relationship between the human body and the earth, approaching them as partners for creating and sustaining a healthy life.
March 22nd - March 28th 2026
For millions of years, the world beneath has evolved to model a collaborative, interactive, and interdependent community. Microorganisms, fungi, worms, and plant roots intersect in a journey of growth, decay, and renewal. Like the soil, we too have similar intelligence woven into our beings. We’ll move and dance with curiosity as we investigate the tapestry of our inner and outer world.
Revitalize our Inner World
We will be tapping into the healing power of our bodies though intuitive movement practices and ancestrol wisdom. We will explore qigong and movement fundamentals suited for all abilities to fortify your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Learn to listen to your body, appreciate your vulnerabilities, and practice contemplative communication. This is an opportunity to unwind your body and mind. In addition to daily movement practices, your bodies will enjoy river swims, healthy home cooked meals, and abundant natural beauty to relax and reset your nervous system.
Regenerating our Outer World
La Huerta is a 12-acre farm located in central Costa Rica, a world away from the distractions of modern life. La Huerta operates according to the ethical values and design principles of permaculture—a balanced, whole systems approach to community building that promotes regenerative and restorative relationships between humans, nonhumans, and the earth. We’ll be learning about regenerative soil practices, water harvesting and management systems, composting, the principles of permaculture from a heart-centered community.
All inclusive stays starting at $1600
6 nights accommodation at La Huerta
Fresh cooked meals
Activities and Classes
Transport to and from the airport
Enjoy living and sleeping next to the earth in a spacious glamping tent while eating nourishing food planted, grown, harvested, and cooked on-site.
Meet Your Facilitators
Brenda Harris
Brenda promotes health through a synchronized balance of movement and stillness. She is an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine provider who works to ignite the body’s innate ability to be strong, content, and joyful in daily actions to live the fullest life possible. Brenda holds a Masters degree, is nationally accredited and board certified. Her education emphasized scholarship and clinical practice, in East Asian philosophy and biomedical science, informed by classical texts and infused with case discussion and lineage transmission. Brenda’s long-time practice of medicine, qigong, Yijing, and herbalism is her way of living and guide for helping others to Be Vital Now! ™
Jane Hawley
As a dance artist, teacher, and scholar, Jane investigates how the body is understood and experienced as an intelligent instrument fostering the integration of mind, body, and spirit. She is deeply curious about exploring the self and body through somatic movement. In 1996, Jane created Movement Fundamentals® (MF) as a paradigm to support the development of selfhood and artistry through creative, regenerative, and inclusive practices that empower people to love and feel gratitude for their bodies. This paradigm engenders all bodies as works of art that dance. The MF paradigm is presented nationally and internationally, and in 2019, Jane and MF alumni developed the Movement Fundamentals Institute for certification and ongoing research.
View from upper part of the farm
More About the Retreat
Hands on experiences with composting systems, soil amendments, and regenerative soil practices from the team at La Huerta.
Learn about soil microscopy and view the the microorganisms living in the soil through a microscope.
See different ecosystems and soil conditions from degraded cattle pastures to forest floors.
Cacao - This fruit provides the beans used to make chocolate.
Hand constructed cob bathrooms
Amazing sunset view a few steps above your tents
Vegetable gardens - Yum!
Embodied Earth Retreat by
Embodied Connections - Explore | Play | Connect - Decorah, IA USA