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.
Embodied Earth March 22-27.
Travel days - Arrival: March 21 & Departure: March 28.
For millions of years, the Earth beneath us has modeled a collaborative, interactive, and interdependent journey of growth, decay, and renewal. We, too, have similar intelligence woven into our beings.
The wisdom of the earth and our body is not new; it is simply unattended. The ancient yet timeless lineages of Qigong combined with the modern intuitive practices of Movement Fundamentals provide a powerful present dynamic to help us attend to and remember our inner and outer environments.
Revitalize our Inner World
Through experiential questions and cues such as: What is needed? How am I moving? Listen within, and visualize your inner landscape. We will Investigate the tapestry of our inner and outer worlds, exploring the vital relationship between the human body, our Earth, and their co-creative healing power.
This retreat is for anyone longing to slow down, reclaim stability, restore vital energy, and reconnect with the natural wisdom of their body. Through gentle, accessible movement, participants may leave feeling more grounded, present, and connected.
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.
What’s included:
6 nights accommodation
Fresh cooked meals
Activities and classes
—The retreat will begin with a meet/greet and snack upon arrival March 21, teachings March 22-27 and a breakfast and sendoff before departure, March 28
What’s not included:
Airfare to La Huerta - Book flight to arrive to SJO March 21 and Depart SJO March 28
Transfer to and from airport to the farm (taxi or uber) * we will provide some recommendations
Cost - $1600pp
Downpayment of $600 (nonrefundable) due by Jan 31, 2027. Venmo Jane-Hawley4 (last 4 digits:3519) to save your spot.
Second and final payment pf $1000 due by March 1, 2027.
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
Experience the body as an intelligent source and understand how to better tend to our bodies and the earth.
Develop agency (selfhood) and artistry using the four phases.
Empower your inner wisdom through guided embodiment and dance practices of Movement Fundamentals.
Explore the important role of earth & soil in Chinese medicine.
Connect with the movements of the body and breath through the ancient practice of Qigong.
Examine the roles of inner composting and regenerative practices in promoting Essence, Vitality, and Presence in the Body, Mind, and Soul.
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 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