The Living Thread

An Immersive Somatic Retreat
for Healing, Connection & Transformation

Exploring Intergenerational Trauma, Embodiment, Community,
and the Spiritual Dimensions of Healing

The Living Thread will be guided by an interdisciplinary SE™ Practitioner team of experienced Ergos Retreat leaders specializing in Somatic Experiencing®, embodied practice, bodywork, expressive arts, movement, and trauma-informed healing.
Dr Levine will join us for some time together on February 6 & 7, including discussions & demonstrations.

Shelter Island, San Diego, California

Small Group Retreat - Limited Space
*Lessons in English*
*Breakout groups available in English, Spanish, and Japanese*
*one-on-one sessions available*

Retreat Tuition & Accommodations

Pricing includes programming, lodging, meals, and venue amenities
Tuition ranges from $2,995–$3,495 per person, depending on when you register
20% deposit w/ payment plan available until November 1 w/ final payment due by retreat start

A seven-day retreat to reflect, reconnect, & restore
Reserve soon to secure your spot

Embodied Learning • Community • Reflection • Creativity • Movement • Nature • Small Groups • Nourishment • Integration •

Embodied Learning • Community • Reflection • Creativity • Movement • Nature • Small Groups • Nourishment • Integration •

Why The Living Thread?

Most of us can recognize the moments in life that changed us.

What can be harder to recognize are the threads that quietly shape us.

The ways we protect ourselves without realizing it. The stories we inherit. The expectations we carry. The patterns that influence how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.

Some of these threads are woven through our own lived experience. Others emerge through family, culture, community, and the survival strategies passed from one generation to the next.

Yet what is passed forward is not only hardship.

Alongside survival live resilience, creativity, courage, wisdom, love, and an enduring capacity for healing.

Inspired by the work of Peter Levine and Euphrasia (Efu) Nyaki, this retreat invites us to become curious about the living threads that connect us—to our bodies, our relationships, our ancestors, our communities, and something larger than ourselves.

Together, we'll explore how greater embodied awareness can help us recognize inherited patterns that no longer serve us while strengthening the resources that support a fuller, more connected life.

Rather than becoming someone new, this work is an invitation to remember and reclaim more of who we have always been.

We chose The Living Thread because it speaks not only to what is carried across generations, but also to what continues to grow, adapt, and heal within each of us.

Carrying the Thread Forward

This retreat began as a shared vision between Peter Levine, Euphrasia (Efu) Nyaki, and the Ergos team. Together, they imagined an experience that brought Somatic Experiencing® into conversation with intergenerational healing, spirituality, community, and the wisdom that can emerge when we gather with openness and curiosity.

Following Efu's sudden passing, we took time to consider whether this program should continue. Rather than setting the vision aside, we chose to carry it forward—honoring the conversations, ideas, and values that inspired its creation while allowing it to evolve into something new.

Throughout the week, you'll find threads of Efu's influence woven into the retreat through opportunities to explore ancestry, active imagination, embodied practice, movement, dance, ritual, reflection, and our connection to something larger than ourselves. These experiences are offered with openness and respect, inviting each participant to engage in ways that are personally meaningful, calling upon support from our practitioner team as needed.

We look forward to gathering at Humphreys Half Moon Inn in San Diego to continue this work together and to honor Efu's legacy by creating a welcoming environment where learning, embodiment, community, and spiritual exploration can unfold side by side.

“Some ancestral influences have had negative (even traumatic) effects on us, while others may be life-supporting and life-affirming. We must work together to allow what is holding us back to move through so that what sustains us can move forward.”

— Dr Levine

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Throughout the Week

We'll develop body-based healing skills that invite both professional growth and personal reflection. Some may deepen your clinical understanding. Others may invite new questions about your own life. Together, they create a retreat-like experience designed to support learning, curiosity, and embodied exploration.

We aim to engage the whole person—not just the thinking mind.

Together We'll Explore

• Body awareness, nervous system regulation, and embodied resilience

• Belonging, identity, and relational safety

• Creativity, curiosity, and play as resources for healing

• Deepening our relationship with known and unknown ancestors through active imagination

• Intergenerational trauma and inherited survival patterns

• Embodied practices that explore energetic connection and cultivate ancestral resources

• Ritual, reflection, and a spiritual connection

• Grief, joy, and post-traumatic growth

• Community, connection, and co-regulation

• How we show up for ourselves and others

• Building greater capacity rather than striving for perfection

*This program is designed for those aware of their biological lineage and for those who are not.

“SE is not what you do but how you do what you do. The magic of the work is that SE principles can apply to all types of healing practices.”

— Dr Levine

During Our Time

We'll move between large-group learning, experiential practice, body-based exploration, small-group dialogue and processing, creativity, reflection, and time for integration. Some sessions invite quiet observation, while others encourage active participation. Some deepen professional understanding, while others create space to become more aware of your own embodied experience.

Together, we will create an environment that allows learning to unfold gradually—giving both your mind and nervous system time to absorb, reflect, and integrate. Recognizing that participants thrive with different rhythms, we'll work to balance meaningful learning experiences with opportunities to rest, connect, and simply be.

Throughout the week, you can expect:

• Didactic teaching

• Live demonstrations with discussion

• Bodywork & somatic healing practices

• Guided movement sessions

• Active imagination and guided reflection

• Large and small-group discussions

• Small processing groups, including Spanish & Japanese language breakout groups

• Time for personal reflection, rest, and integration

• Informal gatherings will be encouraged, like chats around the fire-pit and walks on the harbor or beach

• Dr Levine will join us February 6 and 7 for live discussions and demonstrations

  • Recording from his presentation on February 7 is included (for privacy, no recording is allowed February 1-6)

Additional Offerings Included:

• Educational materials

• A welcome gift to support your week

• Pre-and-Post online gatherings for members of the retreat team and participants to support preparation, connection, and integration

• Pre-retreat access to the Intro to Somatic Experiencing® recording w/ Dr Levine

• Pre-retreat access to a client session demonstration video w/ Dr Levine

• Six nights of accommodations at Humphreys Half Moon Inn w/ the option to upgrade your room and or extend your stay

• Shared lunches and dinners — 5 lunches & 5 dinners included

• Access to onsite swimming pool, hot tub, fire-pits, gym, and more

Optional:

• One-on-one private sessions

• Spa services

• Bike rental

What May Begin to Shift

• Your Unique Story

  Each person arrives with a unique story and their own hopes for the week ahead. Whether you're here to deepen your professional understanding, explore your own journey, or simply reconnect with yourself in the company of others, there is no single path through this experience.

  As we learn and grow together, you may find yourself becoming curious about...

• Your Relationship with Yourself

  • The ways you've learned to adapt, protect, or persevere

  • Perfectionism, over-responsibility, or always caring for others first

  • Your relationship with rest, play, and creativity

  • Developing greater self-awareness and self-compassion

  • Rediscovering vitality, curiosity, and possibility

• Relationships & Attachment

  • Early attachment experiences and developmental trauma

  • Patterns of closeness, distance, trust, and belonging

  • Receiving support and allowing yourself to be cared for

  • Boundaries, authenticity, and relational safety

  • Co-regulation and the healing potential of connection

• Intergenerational Exploration & Healing

  • Inherited survival patterns

  • Family systems and relational roles

  • Ancestral resilience alongside ancestral burden

  • Grief, repair, forgiveness, and reconciliation

  • The ways family history continues to influence present experience

• The Wisdom of the Body

  • Listening to the body's signals with greater awareness

  • Building capacity for regulation and flexibility

  • Recognizing patterns of activation and settling

  • Reconnecting with sensations that support safety and presence

  • Discovering how the body can become a resource rather than something to overcome

• Meaning, Community & Purpose

  • Living with greater presence

  • Curiosity instead of certainty

  • Finding support within community

  • Ritual, creativity, and reflection as companions to healing

  • Exploring the spiritual dimensions of healing through embodied experience

• The Arc of Healing

  Healing rarely follows a straight line.

  For some, the week brings clarity, relief, or a renewed sense of possibility. For others, it may open questions that have been waiting to be explored. You may find yourself feeling lighter, more emotional, more connected, more uncertain—or several of these at different times. Each person's nervous system unfolds in its own way, and there is no "right" experience.

  Sometimes people leave feeling deeply settled. Others discover that meaningful integration continues long after they return home. Occasionally, becoming more aware of long-held patterns, emotions, or survival responses can feel challenging before new possibilities begin to emerge. This is not a sign that something has gone wrong—it is often part of allowing the nervous system to reorganize and develop greater capacity.

  Likewise, moments of joy, peace, or profound connection are deeply meaningful, but they are not the finish line. Our hope is not to create temporary peak experiences or spiritual bypasses, but to support lasting change that can continue to unfold in everyday life.

  Throughout the retreat, our experienced team is available to help participants navigate this process with care, respect, and appropriate support. We also encourage everyone to return home with realistic expectations, self-compassion, and practices that allow the work to continue integrating over time.

  You are welcome exactly as you are. There is nothing to perform, nothing to prove, and no expectation that you should have a particular experience. Only an invitation to meet yourself with curiosity and allow your own process to unfold.

Meet The Living Thread Team

The Living Thread is guided by an interdisciplinary team of experienced educators, clinicians, and bodyworkers who share a deep commitment to Somatic Experiencing®, embodied learning, and trauma-informed healing. Each member of the team has supported Dr. Levine through his Ergos SE™ Master Classes, Retreats, and experiential workshops, bringing a shared familiarity with the depth, pacing, and clinical sensitivity of his work.

Together, they bring decades of professional experience supporting individuals, professionals, and communities through developmental and attachment trauma, intergenerational healing, therapeutic touch, expressive arts, movement, and cross-cultural approaches to well-being. While each member contributes a distinct perspective and area of expertise, they share a common intention: creating a thoughtful, welcoming, and well-supported environment where learning can unfold with curiosity, depth, and care.

Throughout the week, you’ll experience the richness of learning from multiple voices as the team guides large-group teaching, live demonstrations, body-based explorations, experiential practices, and small-group learning, including Spanish & Japanese language breakout groups. The teams ongoing presence—both inside and outside the classroom—offers opportunities for meaningful connection, individualized support, and conversations that continue beyond each session.

The Retreat begins the afternoon of February 1st and ends the afternoon of the 7th.

Dr Levine will join us on February 6th & 7th.

*Retreat team members are subject to change. 

The Learning Experience

• Educational Materials & Preparing for the Retreat

  Before we gather, you’ll receive complimentary access to a recorded Introduction to Somatic Experiencing® taught by Dr. Peter A. Levine, along with a full client demonstration session to watch at your convenience. Suggested reading, handouts, and additional preparation materials will also be provided.

  You do not need prior experience with Somatic Experiencing® or other healing practices. These resources are intended to help everyone arrive with a shared understanding of the foundational principles that will support and enrich our learning throughout the week.

  We’ll also offer simple guidance to help you prepare personally for the retreat—what to bring, how to pace your travel, and ways to create a little more space before arriving so you can settle in as fully as possible. You may also be invited to reflect on what is bringing you to the retreat, what you hope to explore, and what support will help you feel comfortable and present during the week.

  Retreat recordings and preparation materials will be available in the participant portal by January 1, 2027.

  *View the FREE resources on somaticexperiencing.com for more information on somatic healing.

• Pre-and-Post Retreat Online Gatherings

  Your retreat experience includes two online gatherings with members of the retreat team and other participants. They are designed to support preparation, connection, and continued integration. For privacy, online gatherings will not be recorded, so please add them to your calendar and plan to attend live.

  Pre-Retreat Gathering — Friday, January 22, 2027 | 10:00–11:30 am PT

  Meet fellow participants, become familiar with the retreat experience, and explore your personal goals and intentions.

  Post-Retreat Gathering — Friday, February 19, 2027 | 10:00–12:30 pm PT

  Reconnect with the retreat community for continued support, reflection, and integration as you bring the experience into daily life. You’ll also receive a referral list of Somatic Experiencing® practitioners who work in person and online.

• Community & Connection

  One of the things participants tell us again and again is how much they value the people they meet along the way.

  While the teaching is an important part of the experience, so are the conversations over coffee, shared meals, walks along the marina, and the opportunity to spend time with others who are curious, engaged, and committed to learning.

  Throughout the week, you'll be supported by an experienced team of educators, clinicians, bodyworkers, and facilitators who remain actively engaged with participants both inside and outside the classroom. Beyond the scheduled sessions, there are many opportunities to continue conversations, ask questions, deepen relationships, and learn alongside one another.

  We've found that some of the most meaningful learning happens through genuine connection—in moments of curiosity, shared experience, and discovering that you're not exploring these questions alone. Our hope is to create a community where people feel welcomed, supported, and inspired long after the retreat has ended.

• Embodied Practice & Bodywork

  Healing is not something we simply think our way into.

  Throughout the retreat, participants will explore Somatic Experiencing® principles through embodied practice, movement, and body-oriented exercises that support awareness, regulation, resilience, and connection through direct experience. Depending on the day's focus, participants may engage in experiential learning individually, with a partner, in small groups, or within the larger group.

  Experiences throughout the week may include:

  • Body tracking and nervous system awareness

  • Self-touch and embodied resourcing

  • Orienting, grounding, breath, and gentle movement

  • Therapeutic touch principles and supervised experiential practice

  • Educational bodywork demonstrations with participant involvement

  • Creative expression and journaling

  • Guided reflection and active imagination

  • Individual, partner, small-group, and large-group experiential explorations

  All practices are offered as invitations rather than expectations. Participants are encouraged to honor their own boundaries, comfort level, and professional scope of practice.

  Alternative ways of participating are always available, and any hands-on exercises remain entirely optional. All practices are fully clothed.

• Large Group Gatherings

  Large-group sessions are woven throughout the retreat, bringing everyone together for presentations, demonstrations, discussion, movement, and experiential learning. Together, these shared experiences invite continued exploration while supporting embodied practice, reflection, and integration as the week unfolds.

• Small Group Practice & Integration

  Throughout the retreat, you'll meet regularly with the same small group and facilitator, creating a consistent space for deeper personalized exploration, embodied practice, reflection, and integration. These groups will also offer opportunities to ask questions about the week's teachings, build meaningful connections, and receive support as your experience unfolds.

  To help participants engage as fully as possible, dedicated language small groups will be available with a team member for those who would like to do sessions in Spanish or Japanese.

  Large group sessions will be in English.

• One-on-one Private Sessions

  For participants who would like additional one-on-one support during the retreat, a limited number of 45-minute private sessions will be available with participating members of the retreat team.

  These sessions are completely optional and are not necessary to benefit from the retreat. They offer additional space for individualized support, integration, or deeper exploration of something arising during the week.

  To help keep the overall retreat cost more accessible while maximizing shared programming for everyone, private sessions are offered separately rather than included in registration. Some participants already have long-term practitioners they prefer to work with, some may find individual work more useful after the retreat, and others may want more than one session while onsite.

  Private sessions are offered at a reduced retreat rate:

  $115 per 45-minute session
  A savings of $85

  Reserved sessions will be thoughtfully assigned based on practitioner availability and, when possible, your individual needs, interests, or preferred area of support. We’ll do our best to honor specific requests, though not all retreat team members will be offering private sessions.

  Session times will be scheduled around the retreat programming, and practitioner assignments and appointment times will be finalized at the start of the retreat. Your practitioner will receive the information you shared on your reservation form so they can prepare for your session and contact you by phone if needed.

  Because availability is limited, we recommend reserving in advance if you think you may want this additional support.

• Recording & Privacy

  The final retreat session with Dr. Peter A. Levine on February 7, 2027, from 10:00 am–1:00 pm PT will be livestreamed and recorded by the Ergos Institute for future educational use. If you ask a question, present a case, or participate as a demonstration client, your voice or likeness may be included in the recording. Retreat participants will receive access to this three-hour recorded session.

  To protect the privacy of the retreat community, no other retreat sessions may be recorded by Ergos or participants (Feb 1-6).

  Photographs may be taken only with the explicit permission of everyone included.

  The pre-and post-retreat online gatherings will not be recorded.

• Registration & Participation Agreements

  By registering, I agree to:

  • Help create a respectful environment in which cultural, religious, historical, generational, societal, and personal differences are met without judgment, criticism, or harm.

  • Take from the program what is helpful to me and leave what is not.

  • Maintain the confidentiality and privacy of fellow participants, retreat team members, retreat experiences, and copyrighted program materials.

  • Refrain from recording retreat sessions, taking photographs without explicit permission, or sharing my private portal link or access code.

  • Follow any health and safety guidelines in place for the in-person program.

  • Take responsibility for determining whether I am physically and emotionally able to participate safely.

  I understand that the final session on February 7 will be livestreamed and recorded. If I ask a question, present a case, or participate as a demonstration client, I authorize the inclusion of my voice or likeness in that recording.

  I understand that this program is educational and is not psychotherapy, medical care, crisis intervention, or a substitute for individualized treatment. I will consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical or psychological condition or treatment needs.

  Participation

  During Ergos programming, we agree to:

  • Be as present as we reasonably can, allowing that to be enough for the day.

  • Begin where we are rather than expecting perfection from ourselves or others.

  • Take responsibility for the energy we bring to the group and for how we respond to our experiences.

  • Respect our own boundaries and the boundaries of others.

  • Share personal trauma histories only when invited and when appropriate to the learning environment.

  • Refrain from trying to diagnose, rescue, treat, or take responsibility for another participant.

  • Receive guidance from the retreat team and respect those learning and healing alongside us.

  • Protect the confidentiality of what others share throughout the retreat.

  Participation, Assumption of Risk & Release

  I understand that experiential and body-oriented practices may bring up physical sensations, emotions, memories, or nervous-system activation. Participation is voluntary, and I may decline or modify an exercise, request an alternative, or step away when needed.

  By registering, I voluntarily assume the ordinary risks associated with my participation and agree to release Ergos Institute and the applicable program personnel, contractors, affiliates, and venue from claims arising from those ordinary and inherent risks, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

• For Continuing Education Participants

  Educational Objectives

  (Pending CE approval)

  • Upon completion of this retreat, participants will be able to:

  • Describe principles of Somatic Experiencing® relevant to trauma healing and nervous system regulation.

  • Identify characteristics of developmental, attachment, and intergenerational trauma.

  • Explain how inherited survival patterns may influence present-day emotional, physiological, and relational experiences.

  • Recognize indicators of nervous system regulation, dysregulation, and increased resilience.

  • Apply somatic principles that support grounding, orienting, and embodied awareness.

  • Describe the role of co-regulation, relational safety, and community in supporting trauma recovery.

  • Differentiate between activation, overwhelm, and titrated somatic processing.

  • Identify internal and external resources that support regulation and integration.

  • Discuss ways creativity, ritual, and reflective practices may support embodied healing and resilience.

  • Integrate principles from Somatic Experiencing® and complementary body-oriented approaches into personal or professional practice while remaining within one's scope of training.

“Attending the Sedona Retreat (hosted by Ergos) was a pivotal and life changing experience for me. It was here that I experienced a significant gear shift and paradigm change in my healing journey. The teaching and experiential work at the retreat enabled me to become aware of how and where trauma sits in my own body, its effect on my nervous system and the subsequent ways I unconsciously have related to myself, to others and to Life and the world. The depth of trust and friendships that formed with other participants as well as the team was both surprising and moving, especially in how that informed my personal healing process, opening me up to new possibilities and ways of relating I had not felt were possible for me before. This experience led me to continue my personal healing journey through SE and also to dive into the full SE professional training so that I could bring SE into my therapeutic work with clients, which has also been transformational.”

— Participant Anonymous

The Rhythm of the Week

• Daily Schedule • Subject to Evolution

  The schedule will balance large-group learning, demonstrations, small-group exploration, embodied practice, creative work, meals, rest, and integration time.

  Some timing may shift in response to the needs and rhythm of the group. Session details will be added as we move closer to the retreat. The most up-to-date schedule is below.

  Monday
  2:00pm Opening Session
  5:00pm Break / Check-in to Lodging
  6:00pm Group Dinner
  9:00pm Quiet Time

  Tuesday
  9:00am Group Movement (restorative)
  10:30am Group Session
  12:30pm Group Lunch
  3:00pm Group Session
  6:00pm Group Dinner
  7:30pm Group Session
  9:00pm Quiet Time

  Wednesday
  9:00am Group Movement (restorative)
  10:30am Group Session
  12:30pm Group Lunch
  3:00pm Group Session
  6:00pm Group Dinner
  9:00pm Quiet Time

  Thursday
  9:00am Group Movement (restorative)
  10:30am Group Session
  12:30pm Group Lunch
  3:00pm Group Session
  6:00pm Independent Dinner
  9:00pm Quiet Time

  Friday
  9:00am Group Movement (restorative)
  10:30am Group Session
  12:30pm Group Lunch
  3:00pm Group Session
  6:00pm Group Dinner
  7:30pm Group Session
  9:00pm Quiet Time

  Saturday
  9:00am Group Movement (restorative)
  10:30am Group Session
  12:30pm Group Lunch
  3:00pm Group Session
  6:00pm Group Dinner
  7:30pm Group Session
  9:00pm Quiet Time

  Sunday
  10:00am Demonstration Session w/ Dr Levine
  1:00pm Book Signing
  
  *Group sessions include large group work and breakout groups
  *There will be short breaks as needed throughout the sessions
  *Fire-pit gatherings will be added on to evenings as desired
  *We encourage participants to enjoy quiet time after 9:00pm to integrate & rest
  *Retreat includes approx. 45 hrs of programming

• Monday • Arrive & Settle

  We begin Monday afternoon with our opening gathering and introductions, giving everyone an opportunity to meet fellow participants and begin orienting to the retreat.

  Afterward, there will be time to settle into accommodations before we come together for a shared dinner and a relaxed close to the evening.

  *We are not serving a group lunch on Monday

• Tuesday through Saturday • Learn, Practice & Integrate

  Each day follows a natural rhythm that may include:

  • Morning or evening embodied movement practice

  • Large-group teaching sessions

  • Small processing groups

  • Experiential practices

  • Bodywork lessons & experiential opportunities

  • Live demonstrations

  • Creative and reflective activities

  • Shared lunches and dinners

  • Personal integration time

  • Opportunities to enjoy the venue amenities and waterfront and connect with fellow participants

  While each day has a unique focus, with in-depth material, the overall intention is to allow learning to unfold gradually—giving both your mind and nervous system time to integrate new experiences.

• Thursday • An Evening to Explore

  Thursday evening mid-retreat will be intentionally left unscheduled.

  Over the years, we've found that participants appreciate the opportunity to gather in smaller groups and experience the retreat location together. Whether it's sharing dinner at a nearby waterfront restaurant, taking a sunset walk around Shelter Island, or simply enjoying an unhurried evening with new friends, these moments often become meaningful parts of the retreat experience.

  On your evening off, we ask that you do not connect with non-retreat participants or partake in substance use.

  During this time, the teaching team will also gather for reflection, planning, and integration as we prepare for the closing days of the retreat.

• Sunday • SE™ Case Consultation & Demonstration with Dr Levine

  Our final session, on February 7, brings everyone together for a special teaching with Dr Levine.

  Participants will have the opportunity to witness Peter's work through a live Somatic Experiencing® Demonstration and SE™ Case Consultation, followed by audience dialogue, questions, and reflection.

  Retreat registration includes this program and one SE™ Case Consultation Credit.

  For those unable to attend the full retreat, the Sunday demonstration and consultation may also be attended as a standalone program (registration available separately). Live-streaming available for this section only. Programming February 1-6 will not be recorded and is available in person only.

  We'll conclude the program at approximately 1:00pm, allowing those with same-day flights more flexibility.

  ‍A book-signing with Dr Levine will be available from 1:00pm - 1:30pm.

  *We are not serving a group lunch on Sunday

• Meals

  Shared meals are part of the rhythm of the retreat, with five lunches and five dinners included throughout the week. They offer more than convenience—some of the richest conversations and connections unfold naturally around the table.

  Breakfast is not included, allowing participants to shape their mornings in the way that works best for them—whether that means sleeping in, working out, having coffee or a light breakfast, or making breakfast their indulgent meal of the day. The Inn’s waterfront restaurant and several nearby cafés offer a range of options within walking distance.

  One evening will be intentionally left open for participants to explore San Diego’s waterfront restaurants, within walking distance, together in smaller groups.

  To allow for travel, there are no hosted group lunches on the opening and closing days.

  These catered group lunches and dinners will be served in a private dining room at the onsite restaurant.

  During registration, you’ll be asked about dietary needs and preferences so they can be shared with the kitchen and considered in planning the lunch and dinner menus.

  Hot tea will be provided throughout the programming.

Every Participant's Journey Is Unique

• Many Backgrounds, a Shared Experience

  Some participants attend on their own, while others come with a partner, family member, friend, or colleague. Some are experienced clinicians; others are entering a new chapter in their personal or professional lives. There is no expectation that everyone arrive with the same background or level of experience. What participants share is a genuine interest in the work, a readiness to engage, and a willingness to participate at a pace that feels appropriate for them.

• Is This Retreat Right for Me?

  Our hope is simply that participants leave with greater curiosity, increased capacity, and a deeper relationship with themselves, their body, and the people around them.

  This retreat welcomes a diverse community of participants.

  Some come to deepen their professional work.

  Some come because they're navigating changes in their own lives.

  Some simply recognize it's time to pause, reconnect, and spend a week in thoughtful community.

  You may feel at home here if you are:

  • Interested in trauma-informed, body-oriented approaches to healing

  • Curious about intergenerational trauma and inherited resilience

  • Looking for an experience that balances learning with reflection

  • Drawn to community, creativity, and embodied practice

  • A Somatic Experiencing® student or practitioner

  • A therapist, physician, coach, educator, or healing professional

  You don't need to have all the answers.

  Curiosity is enough.

• Is This the Right Time?

  This retreat is educational and experiential. While many participants find it deeply meaningful and supportive, it is not psychotherapy, crisis intervention, or a substitute for ongoing medical or mental health care.

  Because the retreat explores trauma, attachment, and the nervous system through experiential learning, it may not be appropriate for everyone at every stage of life. We encourage you to postpone participation if you are currently experiencing:

  • An acute mental health crisis or significant psychiatric instability

  • Active suicidal ideation or recent suicide attempt

  • Untreated psychosis, mania, or severe dissociative symptoms that would make participation unsafe

  • Active substance dependence that would interfere with full participation

  • A medical or psychological condition that requires a higher level of care than a retreat setting can provide

  If you're unsure whether this retreat is a good fit for you at this time, we encourage you to discuss your participation with your healthcare or mental health provider, or contact us before registering. We're happy to help you determine whether this experience is likely to support your current needs.

• **Schedule an Informational Zoom or Phone Call**

  To schedule a 15~ minute Zoom or phone call, please email programs@somaticexperiencing.com or WhatsApp Text Message 1-760-815-7588 (USA number).

“The Sedona Retreat (hosted by Ergos) was a beginning of coming home to myself.”

— Sara J

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Shelter Island, San Diego, California

The Venue

The retreat will be held at the beautifully renovated Humphreys Half Moon Inn, nestled along the marina on San Diego’s Shelter Island. We chose this location intentionally. Its relaxed waterfront setting offers a welcome change of pace, with space to step outside between sessions, breathe in the ocean air, walk along the marina or the shore, or continue meaningful conversations over a meal.

Waterfront restaurants, cafés, and shops are within easy walking distance, where breakfasts and one evening will be left open for participants to explore the area together for meals in smaller groups.

Located just minutes from San Diego International Airport, the Inn is easily reached by taxi, rideshare, or shuttle. No car is needed for this program.

Why Humphreys?

Over the years, we’ve learned that where we gather matters. Humphreys Half Moon Inn has been a longtime home for many of our programs. We return year after year for our workshops because this family-owned venue offers not only a beautiful waterfront setting, but also a sense of familiarity, warmth, and care that has made it feel like an extension of our community.

Accommodations Designed for Rest and Connection

Your retreat registration includes six nights at Humphreys Half Moon Inn, allowing everyone to stay onsite throughout the experience.

Participants registering individually will have a private room with one king bed. Couples may share a king room, while friends or family members attending together may request a room with two queen beds. Suite upgrades may be available.

Due to our agreement with the Inn, retreat tuition is per person, not per room.

Additional nights before or after the retreat may be available for those who would like to extend their stay in San Diego. If you check that option in registration, we will contact you to arrange the details.

All upgrades and extensions are subject to hotel availability and will be invoiced separately through Ergos.

You can book spa services directly with Humphreys.

We Look Forward to Welcoming You

Whether you’re joining us to deepen your clinical work, reconnect with yourself, explore a new direction, or spend a week learning in thoughtful community, we hope you’ll feel welcomed and supported from the moment you arrive.

Our intention is to create an experience that is as thoughtfully taught as it is carefully held—with space for learning, connection, reflection, and your own unfolding process.

To preserve the quality of the learning experience and the intimacy of the small-group format, enrollment is intentionally limited to approximately 30–40 participants. The tuition increases every 5 registrations. Once the retreat reaches capacity, additional applicants will be placed on a waiting list.

We look forward to gathering with you by the water in San Diego.

Tuition Includes

• Onsite Programming February 1-7

• Pre-and-Post Retreat Online Gatherings

• Six Nights of Lodging

• Five Lunches & Five Dinners

• Venue Amenities

• Educational Materials and Videos

• Payment Plan Options

• and more

Tuition ranges from $2,995–$3,495 per person, depending on when you register.
20% deposit w/ payment plan available until November 1 w/ final payment due by retreat start
Reserve soon to secure your spot!

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Continuing Efu's Vision

This retreat was inspired by a vision that Peter Levine and Euphrasia (Efu) Nyaki began creating together—a gathering where embodied healing, community, ancestry, and meaningful connection could be explored in an immersive retreat setting.

While Efu is no longer with us, her generosity, wisdom, and unwavering belief in the healing power of human connection continue to inspire this work. It is our privilege to carry that vision forward and to honor her legacy by creating spaces where people can learn, grow, and heal together.

In Efu's honor, a portion of every retreat registration will support the Ergos Community Health Somatic Education Program, helping expand access to trauma-informed education and embodied healing in underserved communities.

Learn More about Efu

FAQ

• Is this retreat right for me?

  This retreat welcomes both professionals and individuals interested in embodied healing and personal growth. Whether you're a Somatic Experiencing® student, therapist, physician, coach, educator, bodyworker, or simply feel drawn to explore these themes in a supportive community, you'll be welcomed here.

• Do I need experience with Somatic Experiencing®?

  No. Previous experience with body-oriented or trauma-informed approaches is helpful, but not required. Introductory Somatic Experiencing® resources and other preparatory materials will be available before the retreat so everyone arrives feeling comfortable and oriented.

• Can I come by myself?

  Absolutely. Many participants attend on their own.

  In fact, it's often one of the biggest concerns people have before arriving—and one of the things they mention most afterward. Shared meals, small groups, and community activities create natural opportunities to get to know one another throughout the week.

• Can I attend with my partner, family member, or a friend?

  Yes. Partners, family members, friends, and colleagues are all welcome.

  There will be a place in registration to note who you will be attending with and if you would like to share a room or not.

  All participants must register separately.

• Will there be opportunities for personal reflection as well as professional learning?

  Yes. This retreat is designed to support both professional development and personal exploration. While many participants attend to deepen their clinical work, others come to reconnect with themselves, gain perspective, or simply spend a week in thoughtful community.

• Will there be bodywork or hands-on experiences?

  Yes. Throughout the retreat you'll be introduced to a variety of body-oriented and experiential practices, including self-touch, embodied awareness, movement, and educational bodywork demonstrations.

  Participation is always optional. You'll be encouraged to honor your own comfort level, personal boundaries, and professional scope of practice.

  All touch-work is done fully clothed, and with consent.

• Will I be expected to share personal experiences?

  No.

  Somatic work can be effective without sharing personal details.

  You'll be invited—but never required—to participate in discussions or experiential activities. Everyone is encouraged to engage in ways that feel appropriate for them. We believe meaningful learning happens when people feel respected, supported, and free to move at their own pace.

• Is this therapy?

  No. This is an educational retreat intended for learning, professional development, and personal reflection. While participants often find the experience personally meaningful, it is not psychotherapy or a substitute for individual mental health treatment.

  *This program does not provide private one-on-one sessions.

• How many people will attend?

  Enrollment is intentionally limited to approximately 30–40 participants to preserve the quality of the learning experience, foster meaningful relationships, and maintain small processing groups.

• Do I have to stay onsite?

  We'll spend the week together at Humphreys Half Moon Inn on San Diego's beautiful Shelter Island.

  Participants stay at the hotel throughout the retreat, creating a relaxed learning community with easy access to the daily gatherings.

  Registrants must stay at the Inn to participate in the programming. We ask that you do not bring anyone not attending the retreat.

• Are meals included?

  Yes. Most lunches and dinners are included with your retreat registration.

  One evening is intentionally left open so participants can explore nearby waterfront restaurants together in smaller groups.

  Breakfasts are left open to accommodate different preferences.

• What airport should I fly into?

  San Diego International Airport (SAN) is just minutes from Humphreys Half Moon Inn, making travel simple by taxi or rideshare.

  Before the retreat, participants will also receive a shared travel document if they'd like to coordinate transportation with others.

• Can I register for Peter Levine's closing day only?

  Yes. Peter's SE™ Case Consultation and Demonstration on the final day will also be available as a standalone program, space permitting.

  For non-retreat participants, attendance can be in-person and live-streamed.

  Retreat participants have in-person access included in their registration.

  REGISTER FOR THE CONSULT ONLY

• Can I apply to participate in Peter's demonstration?

  Yes. Participants may ask to be considered as a demonstration participant during Peter's live session. Details will be provided during the retreat.

• Will Continuing Education (CE) credits be available?

  Yes. Continuing Education information, eligible professions, and the total number of credits will be posted once final approval has been received.

• What should I bring?

  We'll send a detailed welcome guide before the retreat with suggested clothing, weather information, recommended reading, travel tips, and everything you'll need to prepare.

  Comfortable clothing suitable for gentle movement and body-oriented practice is encouraged.

• Can dietary restrictions or accessibility needs be accommodated?

  We'll do our best. Please let us know about any dietary needs or accessibility requests when you register so we can work with the venue to provide the best possible experience.

• Will sessions be recorded?

  No. The retreat will not be recorded.

  Dr Levine’s programming on February 7th from 10am - 1pm will be recorded and live-streamed. The camera will not show a visual of the audience, only the stage and sound.

• What is included with my registration, and what is not?

  Included: Six nights of accommodations, five lunches, five dinners, educational materials, 1 SE™ Case Consultation Credit, a Retreat Certificate of Completion, and more.

  Not included: Airfare, airport transportation, breakfasts, one dinner out, personal expenses, and optional room upgrades.

  *This program does not provide private one-on-one sessions

• What if I still have questions?

  We're happy to help.

  If you're wondering whether this retreat is the right fit or have questions that aren't answered here, please reach out to our team. We'd be glad to speak with you. 15-minute Call or Zoom consultations are available.

  WhatsApp or Text: 760-815-7588

  Email: programs@somaticexperiencing.com