2024 Fall Retreat
Nurture Your Nature: Attuning to the Somatic
A Nature-Based Mindfulness Retreat
October 5, 2024, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
@ Rising Ranch (Oskaloosa, Kansas)
The formal practice of mindfulness consists of a series of meditations exploring moment-to-moment awareness within four realms of direct experience: mindfulness of the body, mindfulness of feeling tone, mindfulness of mental states, and mindfulness of our experience of the world. These “four foundations of mindfulness” as they are traditionally called, serve as a direct path to the attainment of liberation from suffering.
Join us for a day-long silent retreat designed to guide participants in an exploration of the first of these four foundations—mindfulness of the body. With curiosity and the intention to befriend what can be known moment-to-moment, we’ll bring wise and affectionate attention to the somatic realm—our experiential teacher of what it means to be a living, breathing human being.
Nestled amidst the serene beauty of the land at Rising Ranch, we will spend our day exploring practices and meditations that serve to support knowing the body as the body, recognizing the ever-changing nature of the body, accepting the body “as it is,” and acknowledging the common humanity that weaves us to the bodily experience, each other, and the natural world.
Our retreat will include guided reflections and meditations, mindful movement, sensory explorations, relational practice, and a sound bath— all carefully designed to cultivate a mind-body-heart connection while allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the richness of the natural environment.
The day will be facilitated by a team of experienced mindfulness professionals and healers who are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment while fostering a sense of shared community.
Whether you are relatively new to mindfulness or an experienced practitioner, this one-day retreat offers a space for you to incorporate greater clarity and kindness into your mindfulness practice, deepen your embodiment, and reestablish your enthusiasm for the gift of being alive.
The Retreat Facilitators
Rachel Rilinger
Rachel (they/them) is a Board Certified Music Therapist, Reiki Master Teacher, Accredited Tai Chi Chih Instructor, and Certified Laughter Yoga Leader.
Rachel has a variety of personal and professional life experiences that bring a unique perspective to help you on your journey. Obtaining their masters degree from the University of Iowa, Rachel is trained in ethics, mindfulness, meditation, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), neurologic music therapy (NMT), and has worked with trauma systems therapy (TST). Their professional background includes working in hospice, inpatient and outpatient mental healthcare, addiction rehabilitation, medical hospital, working with individuals with disabilities and is published in the academic journal Music Therapy Perspectives.
Holly Taylor
Holly is a multi-faceted artist who shines the light of hope through her artistic & healing endeavors. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Conservatory of Music. As a certified sound healer/music therapist, creative writer, workshop facilitator, and performer, Holly supports states of vitality for all ages through her work in the creative arts, spirituality, and the ever-expanding field of wellness. With years of professional experience as a Board Certified Music Therapist in schools, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals/behavioral health centers, and private homes, Holly has dedicated her work to the wonders of the inspired journey. She is the Music Director at Unity of Lawrence, and loves performing throughout the community in her groups, Folk in the Flow and StarSister Revival. For more information, please visit Holly’s website.
Amy Zoe Schonhoff
Amy (she/her), is the founder of Mindfulness in the Heartland, a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction through the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, and a certified practitioner of Advanced Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness.
Amy’s mindfulness practice spans over thirty years of personal exploration. Based on her own journey, she has found the practices and principles of mindfulness to be the most instructive and transformative approach to embracing this experience of “being human.” As a result, she is particularly inspired to teach the skills of mindfulness to individuals and communities actively working to integrate and heal from personal and intergenerational trauma.
About the Venue
Rising Ranch, located in Oskaloosa, Kansas, just an hour from the Kansas City metro and twenty minutes north of Lawrence, Kansas, is a refuge, love-nest, and creative space for education innovator, Katie Boody Adorno and artist, Jay Norton.
Situated on 25 acres of beautifully maintained farmland, Rising Ranch provides scenic spaces and meandering paths ideal for reflection and contemplative practices.
Registration Fee: Suggested $120 | Supporter $150 | Reduced $90 *
Register by Wednesday, October 2nd.
* To keep our registration fees as affordable as possible while still acknowledging our teaching, administrative efforts, and costs, we use a sliding scale for many of our classes and workshops. Want to learn more? Check out a description of our pricing structures HERE.