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Retreats & Collaborations 

A reclamation of self through nervous system restoration, connection, and embodied expression.

​We aim to create retreats and programs unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Our intention is for you to leave our spaces equipped with tools to navigate life’s ebbs and flows, along with wisdom gained from your own somatic experiences, where deep listening and a remembering of your innate authenticity and uniqueness can be truly embraced and embodied.

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We hope to create immersive spaces for you that are  educational, experiential, and empowering  where self-agency is at the heart of everything we offer. Build tools for deeper self-enquiry through nourishing interoceptive techniques and stress management practices, designed from a neuroscientific, psychological, somatic, and mental health-aware perspective, to integrate seamlessly into your daily life.​

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Please note some of the shorter retreats are facilitated by Lauren or in collaboration with other facilitators for longer offerings. 

Retreats 2025

Meet your facilitators

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Lauren Albans

350hr Trauma-Informed Facilitator, 200hr Somatic Dance Practitioner. Restorative/Yin, Shaking medicine, Sound journey, Cacao and laughter yoga facilitator.

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Director of Creative Embodiment

At the heart of healing lies connection—with ourselves, with each other, and with the wisdom of our bodies. Lauren believes in the profound intelligence of human resilience, drawing from neuroscience and somatic research to create compassionate spaces of transformation.

Through restorative movement, sound journeys, and mindful practices, Lauren offers a soft invitation to explore the body's innate capacity for healing, compassion, and joy. Her work is a tender bridge between scientific insight and the deep, intuitive wisdom of human experience.

Partners

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Lauren and Amanda are currently co-faciltating:

​Somatic Dance (fortnightly)

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Nourish Your Nervous System Retreat

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Embody Your Feminine Essence Retreat

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Venus Rising

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Lauren, Amanda & Nikki are currently co-faciltating:

​​Venus Rising

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Amanda Hanna

BA Psych - MA Psych Student, Integrative Somatic Practitioner
300hr TCTSY-F, 1000hr E-RYT, YACEP, Certified Mindfulness & Meditation Trainer 

Somatic Dance Teacher, Shaking Medicine Facilitator


Director of SomaPsych

Amanda weaves science with embodied wisdom, crafting spaces where curiosity thrives and empowerment takes root. Her approach is nervous system focused, polyvagal informed, collectively-minded and grounded a deep reverence for all things ecosomatic and alive. 

 

When Amanda and Lauren met in 2021, it was a catalyst for transformation. Connected through their vision of nervous system support and dedication to reclaiming what society often dismisses, they recognized in each other an undeniable calling to create profound change. Their connection, sparked by shared purpose and full of genuine joy and laughter, quickly revealed itself as the foundation for something extraordinary.

 

Together, they embody a rare fusion of depth and lightness, weaving their complementary expertise into an alchemy of transformative work. Their synergy creates an atmosphere where deep healing flows alongside authentic warmth, where powerful breakthroughs emerge through the delicate balance of wisdom and joy. In their retreats, this dynamic partnership comes alive, offering participants an experience that transcends traditional approaches – one where nervous system nourishment unfolds naturally, guided by two practitioners who understand that the most profound transformations occur when depth and light dance as one.

Nikki Van Heerden

Women’s Photographer and Empowerment Advocate

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Nikki is passionate about empowering women to embrace their authentic beauty and discover the transformative power of self-love. A self-love advocate and photographer, she believes every woman has the ability to transform her inner world and radiate confidence.

Having walked her own journey of self-worth, Nikki understands the vulnerability and courage it takes to reclaim personal power. Through her work, she uplifts and inspires women to step into their uniqueness and stand boldly in their authentic selves.

The Venus Rising™ Experience is more than a photoshoot—it’s a celebration of resilience, self-expression, and empowerment. Nikki’s compassionate and custom-tailored approach ensures each woman feels seen, supported, and celebrated as she embarks on her transformative journey.

Dedicated to fostering a ripple effect of empowerment, Nikki’s mission is to build a community where women lift each other up, creating an endless circle of strength, grace, and unapologetic self-worth.

Paula Vintiner​

Founder of Your Own Yoga
Yoga Teacher & Movement Guide Trainer

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Paula has been a student of movement since the age of 3, beginning with ballet in her hometown of London. In 2013, she discovered yoga as a way to honor her body’s needs while embracing the rhythm of breath and mindful movement. For Paula, yoga is more than a practice—it’s a gateway to inner peace amidst the complexities of modern life.

In 2017, she founded Your Own Yoga, embodying Krishnamacharya’s wisdom: “If you can breathe, you can do yoga.” Paula believes yoga is for everybody and invites her students to explore their unique practice with compassion and self-awareness.

When she’s not on the mat or dancing barefoot on the grass, Paula finds joy in baking bread, savoring meals with her husband Andrew, or relaxing in the garden with their beloved greyhound, Fleurie.

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