ALLOWED TO GRIEVE

EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF YOGA, QI GONG AND STORIES

belval (france) 21-23 octobre 2022

IN BELVAL (FRANCE) 21-23 OCTOBER 2022

We all lose loved ones in our lives. Death is part of life. How do we mourn a loved one? How do we heal ourselves? How can we take up our lives again with at least as much zest for life and courage?

With this 2 day retreat two I want to offer a place where mourning is allowed and can transform into something unexpectedly beautiful, perhaps.

With fall just around the corner, it's a great time to let your grieve expand into courage. According to Chinese Medicine, autumn is the best time to heal grieve, strengthen the lungs and cultivate courage. Experience the space to breathe, mourn, and transform in a magical renovated chapel at Belval.

““After your death you will be what you were before your birth” ”
— Arthur Schopenhauer

With yoga, qi gong and inspiring stories, you can give space to what you feel, without losing yourself in it. Every fall is an opportunity to release grieve from the lungs. This rhythm of the seasons finds its roots in Chinese Medicine, where it is said that grieve is stored in the lungs until we release it. With specific exercises for the lungs, you can expand your capacity to to let go and can cultivate courage as a way to go through life.

THE PLACE

You will stay in a unique chapel in France, bois-des-dames Belval (just across the border with Belgium, 2h30 drive from Merchtem), surrounded by pure nature and tranquility. In the area you can walk and swim. Afterwards you can warm up in the sauna and at the wood stove.

FOOD

Cooking can be A healing, connecting and relaxing experience. We take care of the food together during the weekend. We go for healthy and tasty seasonal food.

PROGRAM

Friday 21 October 21:

  • Check-in from 3 p.m

  • Space to freely explore the area, to rest, to arrive, to enjoy a sauna, …

  • From 6 pm there is fresh pumpkin soup with bread and healthy spreads.

Saturday October 22:

Morning

  • Introduction circle: overview of the program and the intention for this retreat

  • Qi gong to purify, open and fill the lungs with fresh energy and courage. In Chinese medicine, the lungs are associated with the emotions of sadness (grief, disappointment, …) and courage. The season of the lungs is autumn. That means that autumn is the most powerful season to clear and strengthen your lung energy.

Pause

  • Sharing inspiring stories about loss and courage:These inspiring stories can come from a book, a movie, a person you know, a cultural custom that fascinates you.

Lunch

Afternoon

  • Outdoor walking and breathing exercise

  • Tea break

  • The myth of the hero: Introduction to hero structure in stories, myths, and how they are also intertwined with the human psyche. Space to view your own story within this hero structure.

  • Yoga

Dinner

Evening

  • Campfire with a ritual where we throw something into the fire and see it transform into ashes and smoke, space for silence, healing sounds, our stories, free movement and dance.

Sunday October 23

  • Free morning with room to sleep in, go for an early walk or do what you need

  • Closing session: yoga and qi gong, writing down your story, drinking tea charged with the healing power of this moment,

  • Healing self massage with oil

  • Checking out

YOUR GUIDE

Nathalie discovered the power of yoga and qi gong years ago. Together with (re)writing her story and daring to look at life from new angles, these have given her the necessary tools to process strong feelings of loss and sadness. In this two-day retreat, Nathalie shares her story, the tools and the processes that worked for her.

PRICE AND ENROLMENT

  • Cost of food and accommodation: We divide the price for accommodation and food by the number of participants. Price accommodation: between 160 and 260 euros per person, depending on the number of participants.

  • For the guidance and sessions you can pay a free contribution (around 150 euros) to confirm your registration.

  • This weekend will take place with a minimum of 2 participant and a maximum of 5 participants.

  • You don't need any qi gong, yoga or writing experience to participate.

You can enrol, aks your questions or a phone meeting by sending an email here to nathalie.desnijder@gmail.com.