The Soulful Woman Presents 

Essence of Lakshmi:

Women's Spiritual and Regenerative Retreat

Ubud, Bali

October 22-28, 2010

Welcome

Come and join us for 6 nights in beautiful Ubud, Bali, for a week of self-pampering, inner journeying, resting and stretching, regeneration and renewal for your body, mind and spirit. 

Other Retreat Dates

If can't make October 2010, we're also running the same retreat in March 2011. For more information go to: March 2011 Women's Bali Retreat. We'll be running retreats each year, so let us know if you're interested. 

We're thinking of doing a month-long retreat in Bali for sometime in 2012, a truly transformative experience. Numbers will be limited, so if you'd like to express your interest and be notified when registrations are opened, let us know by emailing us at: gemma@goodmind.com.au

If you'd like to be notified about our ongoing events, send us your email at: gemma@goodmind.com.au and we'll put you on our list. 

Accommodation

Accommodation will be at the Honeymoon Guesthouse, a delightful abode full of gentle staff, Balinese art and sacred spaces for quiet reflection. 

Honeymoon Guesthouse is perfect for rejuvenation. Elegant Balinese style guest rooms with private balconies are set amid a lush tropical garden complete with beautifully carved stones statues, carp ponds, and a grand saltwater pool for relaxing. There are also in-house massage and facial services for very reasonable prices. 

Daily breakfast includes fresh tropical fruit, homemade yoghurt, fresh health juices, and freshly baked pastries and bread from the world-renowned Honeymoon Bakery.

Honeymoon Guesthouse is only a five-minute walk away from the heart of Ubud's shopping, eating, art and performance hub. 

You can learn more about Honeymoon Guesthouse by clicking on: www.casalunabali.com

Retreat Program

Body Blessing

Each day will include a session working gently with the body, incorporating restorative yoga, sensuous stretching, mindful movement, and honouring the body. 

Soul Spa 

We will also have a daily session for guided meditations, healing visualisations, creative journalling, and inner soul work. 

Group Gatherings

There will be sessions devoted to sharing and exploring the questions and challenges in our lives, allowing us to create a space where resources, information, support, healing and conversation can occur. 

Evening Empowerments and Enjoyments

Evening sessions will consist of inspirational presentations, movie clips, and other special events.

Luscious Leisure

There will be plenty of free time for participants to enjoy massages, facials, shopping, exploring, resting, reading, chatting, eating, reflecting, and swimming.

Retreat Inclusions

6 Nights accommodation

6 Breakfasts

1 Massage at Bali Botanica ( A truly heavenly experience!)

1 Balinese Spiritual Ritual 

1 Special Brunch in a surprise Rice Field Oasis

Plus all retreat activities: restorative yoga, meditation, guided visioning, creative journalling, dreamwork, presentations and lectures.

Plus a few surprises. 

Retreat Benefits

~ Feel refreshed in your body, mind and spirit.

~ Find answers to questions and challenges in your life.

~ Enjoy greater access to your inner guidance and wisdom.

~ Experience a sense of feminine empowerment.

Retreat Vision

We know that each woman will come to the retreat with her own intentions and personal vision. Our vision is to create a safe and sacred space that is both pampering and empowering, allowing each woman to find the answers, energy, healing and guidance she seeks. 

Lakshmi: Our Retreat Goddess

Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of inner and outer abundance, both materially and spiritually.

She is the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Bali's predominant religion is Hindu, so we think it is fitting to invite the divine graces of Lakshmi into our retreat space, as we nurture and celebrate ourselves. 

Networking and Connecting

Our retreats are also an opportunity to make new connections and friendships between women.

We're big believers in the power of networks, synchronicity and the female grapevine for unleashing creativity, new insights and inspiring change.

Your Retreat Facilitators

Your facilitators for this retreat will be Gemma Summers PhD and Shushann Movsessian MA. 

Gemma and Shushann are both highly experienced coaches, counsellors and facilitators with over twenty five years experience. They're also writers and adventurers, and bring a wealth of knowledge and commitment to their work, along with plenty of humour, heart and soul. 

Read more about Gemma and Shushann below.

Shushann Movsessian MA

To learn more about Shushann, click on her website: www.shushann.com

Shushann Movsessian: MappSc (Soc Ecol), Dip.Teach, clinical member CAPA and PACFA, psychotherapist, educator, coach and author of best-selling book, "Puberty Girl" (Allen and Unwin 2004).

Shushann has a private practice in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and is an experienced and mature counsellor working with individuals, teens and couples.

She is passionate about supporting the significant transitions women and girls make in their lives, whether it be maidenhood at puberty, motherhood, living into their “queenliness” at midlife, or honouring the ageing process after menopause.

Her vision is to support women and girls to believe in the power of their dreams and visions and their sense of purpose in the world.

She has worked as a senior counsellor in Relationships Australia for over 8 years and has strived to assist women in their self-esteem and healthy relationship choices.

She is on the teaching faculty for the Diploma Program in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Metavision Institute, Bowral. Shushann also has over 19 years experience in running early intervention workshops for parents and preteen girls. She has featured in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Essentials Magazine and on Radio 2GB for her expertise on the importance of the father/daughter relationship: www.letstalkgrowingup.com.au

Shushann loves her daily walk with her dog along the coast, is a keen traveller, and for several years pursued a passion in tango dancing.

Gemma Summers PhD

To learn more about Gemma, click on her website: www.goodmind.com.au

Gemma Summers: PhD (Soc Psych), Dip.Clinical Hypnotherapy, clinical member CAPA and PACFA, psychotherapist, coach, facilitator and author of "Resolving Your Conflicts With Power and Grace: A Woman’s Guide to Conflict Resolution."

Her book was originally published by Random House in 2002 under the title, "How to Get What You Want Without Losing It: A Woman’s Guide to Conflict Resolution" and was featured in newspapers and radio shows nationally. Gemma also wrote the weekly "Coaching Column" for The Age during 2003-4.

Gemma has a private practice in Sydney’s Lower North Shore. She is an experienced and mature counsellor working with individuals and couples and is a relationship and communication specialist.

These days she is passionate about women’s journey in life, both inner and outer, and views the significant life transitions as doorways to deeper self-knowledge and transformation. Her current vision involves helping women strengthen their relationship to their own inner guidance and purpose.

Gemma is currently on the teaching faculty for the Diploma Program in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Metavision Institute, Bowral. She has extensive experience as a workplace trainer and developer and has facilitated management development programs, including the Executive Development Program for senior NSW Health executives. 

Gemma loves to write, read and travel. Family and female friendships are central passions in her life, along with cultivating a meaningful creative and spiritual life. 

Our Gorgeous Yoga Facilitator

Our daily yoga session will be led by the wonderful Tina Nance, an Australian yoga, dance and meditation teacher. Tina is the  director of Alchemystic YogaDance and has been practising Yoga for over 13 years and teaching yoga and movement meditation around the globe for the past 7 years.

Tina is passionate about creating opportunities for women of all backgrounds to connect directly with their body, mind and spirit. She has spent over a decade travelling and exploring spiritual traditions, practices and healing arts.

Tina is trained in Taoist and Classical Indian Yoga, Dance and Movement Meditation, Kinesiology, Shiatsu, Remedial, Thai and Chinese Massage, Vibrational Healing, and Reiki. Tina has taught throughout Australia, Europe, America and Asia. She is currently living and teaching in Bali. For more information on Tina, visit: www.alchemysticyogadance.yolasite.com

Retreat Schedule

The Retreat commences at 4pm on Friday, 22 October 2010 with a Welcome and Introduction to the Retreat, and completes at 11.00am, Thursday, 28th October 2010. 

There will be morning, afternoon and evening retreat sessions which will vary from day to day, allowing participants plenty of time to enjoy their surrounds and soak up the deeply healing energies of Bali.

Retreat Costs

$AU 1650.00 per person (single room)

$AU 1450.00 per person (share room)

Early Bird: Full cost paid by 31st July 2010

$AU $1550.00 per person (single room)

$AU $1350.00 per person (shared room)

(Shared rate only available if you're booking with a friend.)

Early booking is essential as spaces are limited. 

Retreat costs do not include airfare.

Further Registration Information

An information package about travelling to Bali, what to bring, how to get to Honeymoon Guesthouse, and how to prepare for the retreat will be sent upon registration. 

Our advice is, if the retreat feels right, register now to avoid disappointment, as places are limited. 

We can't wait to see you in Bali!

Warm wishes, 

Gemma and Shushann xx

The Soulful Woman

The Soulful Woman is a collaboration between Gemma Summers PhD and Shushann Movsessian MA. Our vision is to explore and nourish women's sacred inner life and self-care.

We provide workshops and retreats designed to replenish a woman's body, mind and spirit, and to create greater balance in the cycle of giving and receiving.

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