Continuum in the Relational Field: Continuum Flow Retreat 

with Cherionna Menzam-Sills and Jane Okondo

In this retreat, we will take time to learn a heart-opening Continuum sequence, settle together and establish safety within our relational field, and then expand our awareness to include the others in the field and our sensations in relationship to them. 

Where Continuum tends to be an individual enquiry practice, in this special retreat we will extend the enquiry into the possibility of interacting with others. With subtle awareness we will practice listening to our inner impulses, sensations, feelings in the presence of others, in choosing to interact (or not) with authenticity and clear boundaries.

We will explore the possibility of moving towards or away from others with subtle awareness of our own timing and inner knowing. When we have adequately settled together with the sequence and as a field, we will dive together in sacred silence for 2-3 days.

Continuum involves specific breaths, sounding, mindful awareness and gentle fluid movement. We slow down, relax and dissolve restrictive patterns in our tissues and nervous systems opening to new, more creative resilience and potential.

 

This special 5-day retreat marks the beginning of a new series with Cherionna Menzam-Sills and Jane Okondo, who were both authorized as Continuum teachers by founder of Continuum, Emilie Conrad.

 

• Are you attracted to deepening in your Continuum practice within a field of experienced, curious, committed movers?
• Have you had at least five days experience with Continuum already?
• Have you been longing to dive deeper, melt more, devour deliciousness?...

 

To support those drawn to deepen in this fluid practice, to experience the mysterious nuances and their healing effects, and possibly to become teachers, we are offering these 5-day retreats to those who have had at least 5 days experience with a Continuum teacher.

 

Clcik on the photo to watch this video of Emilie talking about the importance of sensation and demonstrating Conintuum in a class setting.

Since Emilie passed away in 2014, there has been ongoing enquiry amongst Continuum teachers as to how interested, committed movers might now become teachers of this profound, beautiful work. In the past, all teachers were authorised by Emilie after an extensive period of Continuum exploration under her guidance, including participating in numerous longer workshops.

The importance of these longer retreats is that they enable us to spend extended periods of time in silent enquiry, where we can deepen under more habits and patterning, including that of time.

“If a system was not bound in time, would it be susceptible to the impact of the environment?” – Emilie Conrad

This question is an important aspect of our enquiry in Continuum. The effects of time patterning begin as early as our birth, or even before. How do we listen to our own impulses, discover our own rhythms, when we need to rise to an alarm in the morning, eat at certain times, sleep at certain times, etc. Within the extended field of an “all nighter,” an extended silent dive, we can begin to explore what is beyond the constraints of time.

The retreat will include 2-3 days in silence, beginning once the group is adequately settled and the sequences taught have been established.

These retreats are open to anyone who has had at least 5 days experience with Continuum teachers, and is ready to dive deeper. If you do not yet have this much experience with Continuum, please check our websites for our class schedules at www.birthingyourlife.org or www.somaflow.co.uk

If you are interested in eventually teaching Continuum, these retreats will provide some of the experience to support you in this process. Our mentoring programme will also include further group and individual mentoring with Jane and Cherionna, either online or in person.

Please click here to learn more about our Continuum Flow mentoring progam. Please let Jane or Cherionna know if  you are interested.

 

“If we really want to understand fluid systems, water’s legacy, and the gifts it has to bring, we must merge our consciousness with it. No one really knows the immensity of the fluid that pulsates within. What we can do is fully enter, sensually and with love, the beckoning pool, wet our knees, our throat, until at last disappearing into the welcoming aquese, we sink far, drown well, lose our mind, and become the fluid, utterly and completely. You must love madly, utter its name at night, sing its praises in the morning. Its secrets will whisper in your heart. Enchantment awaits.”

 – Emilie Conrad, Life on Land

 

JANE OKONDO

Jane has been practicing in the field of somatic therapy since 1995. She is a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist with ISMETA and a Registered Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist. Jane met Emilie Conrad in 2000 and began being mentored at this time. In 2007 Jane was Authorised by Emilie Conrad to teach this work and she became the first Continuum teacher in the UK. In 2014 Jane and Cherionna (who moved to the UK in 2010) began co-teaching Continuum retreats together and from here developed their mentoring programme, Continuum Flow.

Jane is on faculty for the Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy Diploma training which is based in UK, Russia and Lithuania. She is currently participating in the Circles of Four programme for the Discipline of Authentic Movement, which deeply informs her practice. Her focus of research has been on the connection between breath, somatic patterns and fluid body dynamics and how movement supports our access to resiliency and connection.

Jane's website: www.somaflow.co.uk

CHERIONNA MENZAM-SILLS 

Cherionna was authorised by Emilie Conrad in 2007 to teach Continuum. She teaches Continuum as well as practitioner trainings in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy across North America and Europe, often teaching with her husband, Biodynamics pioneer, Franklyn Sills. Also a Prenatal and Birth Therapist, she facilitates small womb surround process workshops to support healing early trauma. Currently a senior tutor at Karuna Institute, she co-teaches with Franklyn a training called the Prenatal Person to support practitioners in skillfully meeting prenatal and birth issues arising in their practices, as well as teaching Craniosacral practitioner trainings and post-graduate seminars.

Cherionna has been adjunct faculty at Naropa University and the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, teaching graduate students in Somatic Psychology and Prenatal and Birth Psychology, and has taught embryology through movement for 20 years. Also a published author, she is devoted to writing about fluid embodiment, including embryological development, in a creative, accessible way. Cherionna lives in Devon, where she has a private practice, as well as offering online mentoring and supervision. Cherionna draws on 40 years experience as a therapist. She is committed in her work & life to embodied presence. 

Cherionna's website: www.birthingyourlife.org

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EarthSpirit Centre is a beautiful, peaceful retreat cente near Glastonbury, England. You can learn more about it by clicking here.

The price of the retreat includes shared accommodation. There is a £67.50 supplement for single room.

Delicious vegetarian meals are included. Some special diet needs can be accomodated. There is a  £40 supplement for special diet requests.

For more information or to request a single room or special diet, please contact Jane at jane@okwellbeing.com.

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Registration fees include accommodation and meals from arrival at 6 p.m. (for dinner at 7 p.m.) on Friday, October 12th until 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 17th.

A non-refundable deposit of £150 along with your completed booking form secures your place if you have adequate prior experience. Your deposit will be returned if for some reason we cannot accept you to the retreat.

Please note early bird fee of £765 ends August 12th! After this the fee is £795 until September 30th. The late fee starting September 30th is £850.

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