hello
I'm looking forward to welcoming you.
Almost everything you need to know about the day retreat is on this page.
But please feel free to contact me if you have a question or concern.
Below is more retreat information and guidelines on how to make your experience as enjoyable as possible.
Our details are:
Address
4 Church Street
Greyton
Western Cape
7233
Phone - Maja Heynecke +27 798921753
Mail - maja@heynecke.com
You'll find a map if you scroll down.
If you need any more info, please feel free to contact me.
I look forward to a meaningful and restful day together.
See you soon!
Maja
WHAT TO EXPECT
As an introduction to Bodhi Somatics, the day includes somatic movement, reflective practice and nervous system awareness practices informed by the principles of yoga, mindfulness and meditation.
The focus of the day is not on learning techniques or outcomes, but on direct experience - how somatic work supports presence, regulation and embodied awareness, and how this may relate to the way you already work with clients / patients.
Rather than staying in an intellectual understanding of these ideas, the invitation is to notice what happens in your own system as you move between stillness, attention, rest and gentle guided exploration.
THIS DAY IS FOR YOU IF:
-
you work with clients in a therapeutic, coaching or healing capacity
-
you spend much of your working life holding, listening, tracking, containing or supporting others
-
you notice the effects of this work in your own body - fatigue, overextension, emotional saturation or subtle disconnection
-
you are interested in the body as part of the healing and relational process, not only as a concept but as lived experience
-
you want to understand nervous system awareness in a way that is felt, not just theorised
-
you are curious about how it might feel to soften your attention from the outside world and return it inward
WHAT WE WILL DO:
-
nervous system settling and somatic presence through mindfulness-based awareness, with space to pause and orient as needed
-
responsive, embodied movement informed by yoga and somatic practice, sometimes slow and subtle, sometimes more exploratory, always guided with choice
-
reflective inquiry that may include noticing sensations, impulses, emotional tone or patterns of holding
-
somatic restorative myofascial release with integrated breath, allowing the body to soften without forcing release
-
guided practices that support staying connected to bodily sensation, especially when attention begins to drift outward or disconnect
-
exploration of regulation patterns, including pendulation between activation and settling, and noticing where the system tends to hold or organise itself
-
simple somatic practices that can be taken into daily life - especially in moments between sessions or after emotionally demanding work
-
creative reflection and integration through writing, noticing or quiet process
-
time for rest, stillness and not having to respond to anything at all
INVESTMENT
Places are limited to 8 participants.
To support accessibility to the retreats, while also honouring
the depth of this work, Im offering a limited number of places at an introductory contribution.
For this first Bodhi Somatics retreat at Amandari,
the contribution is R1500.
As the work develops, future offerings will be priced differently
to reflect the time and attention involved
in the facilitation.
1 sponsored place is available
for someone who is really interested and would like to attend
but is not currently in a position to contribute the full amount financially.
If you'd like to be part of this first experience,
please message or mail me direct.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW:
This is not a training or certification programme, and it is not a skills-transfer course.
It is an experiential immersion into Bodhi Somatics - a day to step out of the role of holding others and into your own internal experience, with enough structure to feel supported, and enough space to simply notice what is present in your system as the day unfolds.
How we use the space
We are together in a retreat space, so a few simple guidelines help everything flow smoothly and keep things easy throughout the day.
These are not strict rules - more like supportive agreements that help us maintain a calm, focused atmosphere for everyone.
🌿 ARRIVAL AND MEETING POINT
We’ll be spending the day at Amandari Yoga Shala, 4 Church Street, Greyton.
🌿 START TIME
The retreat begins at 9:30am.
Please aim to arrive by 9.15am, so there is time to settle in, meet each other, and handle any last-minute questions or adjustments before we begin. This helps us start on time and in a relaxed way. If you’re running late, just let me know what time to expect you.
🌿 WHAT TO BRING
Please bring what will help you feel comfortable throughout the day. The studio is fully heated with underfloor heating and standing heaters.
A yoga mat (there are a few available if you don’t have one)
A meditation cushion or bench (optional - available at the studio)
A light jersey, shawl, or wrap, plus something waterproof in case of light rain
Warm socks (it can get cool when sitting still for longer periods)
A notebook and pen / pencil for reflections or notes
🌿 FOOD DURING THE DAY
All food provided will be nourishing, light and vegetarian / plant-based, with a gluten-free option available on request (please let me know when booking).
A light vegetarian / plant-based lunch will be provided, as well as tea, water, juice and snacks. You’re welcome to bring your own food or extra snacks if needed - But I respectfully ask that you please keep all food brought into the space vegetarian / plant-based.
🌿 BEFORE WE BEGIN
To feel comfortable during movement and meditation practices, it’s best not to eat a heavy meal for about 1–2 hours beforehand. A light breakfast is usually ideal for staying energised without feeling too full.
🌿 ACCOMMODATION
If you’d like to stay in Greyton the night before or after the retreat, there are many lovely accommodation options nearby.
Accommodation and breakfast / dinner arrangements are self-organised.
🌿 SILENCE DURING THE DAY
There will be periods of silence during the retreat.
If this is new to you, it might feel unusual at first, but it can create space for deeper rest, reflection, and connection with yourself. You’re invited to experience and enjoy it as a supportive part of the day, rather than something to do “correctly.”