RETREATS
Retreats, Workshops, and Circles
2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
A Weeklong Retreat
New York, NY
A powerful circle of women who meet on a yearly basis; these week-long retreats set the stage for each woman’s upcoming year. These are long standing relationships between women who are wives, mothers, business owners, singles, gay, celibate, American, European, Asian, African-American. Each retreat was centered on a deep level of personal awareness, trust and willingness to go through and allow the body, mind and emotions deeply personal releases.
Each woman’s story had room to be listened to, felt by the entire group, and witnessed from time to time, which allowed for her Higher Mind to become clear and open and grounded within her choices and where she wanted to go next, in her life. To be able to release and genuinely “‘let go” of deeply held onto history, brings a woman to a kind stillness and silence and back to her natural self.
2013
A WOMAN’S CONSIDERATION
Weekly Women’s Group
Austin, Texas
During this weekly women’s group, we explored the question of what is the feminine? What makes a woman unique, and different from masculine or male principles? How do we trust our own unique way? How do we share that way with our intimate relationships, family, and community?
2010 – 2011
A WOMAN’S CONSIDERATION
Nine Month Program: Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark
This program was for women who had a deep yearning to understand themselves, and embrace deep practices that bring their attention into a direct experience and relationship of themselves. During this program we focused on: Beautiful somatic practices that unlocked emotional holding patterns, learning to touch, as a way to assist one another to release, developing a deeper sense of trust of being. We engaged in Inquiry Work by Byron Katie, writing an emotional history paper to be shared with the group, and circle work where each woman has the opportunity to be seen by the group.
2010
UNFOLD YOUR BEING
New York City
A continuous circle of women sit together and share their life’s wisdom, inquiries, and intimate subjects. Through Somatic practices that allow for the body and mind to release hurtful or painful parts of each woman’s past, each woman is witnessed as she goes through her own unique process of naming what’s needed to named, and then working through that, intimately within the group. This workshop is for woman who have worked with Ariel and GiGi previously.
2010
DIVING INTO THE UNKNOWN + RECLAIMING YOUR GIFTS AS A WOMAN
A Four Day Retreat
Copenhagen, Denmark
A moving four day retreat, with mothers, daughters, sisters, coworkers and friends of a larger community. Through learning how to touch, and learning how to be touched physically, each woman was exploring what lies beneath her long standing holding patterns that kept her ‘story’ alive and living. She stepped through limitations of her past, she learned the gift of when Mind and Body, are in ease and wellbeing, that silence and authenticity is where she actually lives.
2009, 2008, 2007
A WOMAN’S CONSIDERATION
A Three Year Closed Women’s Group
New York City
A powerful, ongoing women’s group that met weekly for three years. We explored every topic of interest that was brought to the group from the group. What is feminine vs. masculine? How to embody the feminine, and is it possible to not embody feminine qualities? How to “let go” when all I feel is tension and anger? How do I work with others in my community and still be authentic? Through beautiful practices individually, with partners, and with the group, we learned to trust and how to move beyond being “frozen” and into our natural sensuality.
2009, 2008, 2007
RECLAIMING YOUR LIFE AND GIFTS AS A WOMAN
A Weekend Workshop
Los Angeles, CA
In this workshop, we explored true intimacy and learning to bring your attention and awareness inward. We experienced practices to allow trauma and held-in emotions to release. We learned about grounding through a natural confidence, and explored feminine and masculine qualities and why they are relevant to understand.
2009
EMBODYING THE CREATIVE PROCESS AS A WOMAN
A Weekend Workshop
New York, NY
Learn to create personal practices as a woman that nourish your emotional process. End the war with yourself and become kind while developing a profound sense of self awareness.
2009
DIVING INTO THE UNKNOWN AND RECLAIMING YOUR GIFTS AS A WOMAN
A Four Day Retreat
Copenhagen, Denmark
This retreat allowed a deep sense of belonging to yourself. We experienced somatic and touch practices in dyad and group work that allow for personal story to unfold and let go. Participants were asked to bring their attention inward, learning what they need by direct experience and sharing that in practice and circle work together. This retreat built warm and lasting friendships with other women, committed in kindness and authenticity together.
2009
BEING TRUE, AS YOURSELF
A Weekend Workshop
New York, NY
We engaged in body practices to release your “story” to learn who you are on the other side. This workshop included circle work, group work, dyad work, and separate practices to allow a depth of personal connection – all with the intention of letting go.
2009, 2008, 2007
INTRODUCTION TO A WOMEN’S GATHERING: LIVING WHAT’S INHERENT
A Woman’s Weekend
Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark
During this weekend, we learned how to practice somatic methods that allow emotional processes. We learned to witness and be with others in a group while trusting yourself.
2009
HOW THE SHADOW AND LIGHT ARE ONE AND SAME
A Weeklong Retreat
Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark
Exploring through somatic practices, we learned how to not shy away from emotions that may be judged as bad, but instead learn to meet them with full awareness, kindness and attention as you allow the body and mind to follow through a process. We engaged in powerful circle work.
2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003
DESIGNER OF WOMEN’S PRACTICES TO DAVID DEIDA’S WORKSHOPS AND RETREATS
Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Kripalu, Massachusetts; The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Austin, Texas
Participants learned the profound distinctions between masculine and feminine principles. Together, we learned from the power of polarity, in intimate relationships, friendships and professional relationships. We learned how to sustain sexual polarity in intimate relationships.
2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
THE YOGA OF LOVE AND SEXUALITY
Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden
New York, NY
A weekend of deep somatic practices unique for a woman’s body and a man’s body. Learning how to trust your innate and authentic way to love and be in partnership.
2008
EXPERIENCE THE SACRED AS A WOMAN’S BODY
Living in Devotion to Women’s Principles
A Weeklong Retreat
Kripalu, Massachusetts
In this retreat, we learned together within a powerful intimate circle of women, and experienced somatic practices to allow trauma to release. This included dyad and group learning processes to enhance trust and build community. We played with sacred theater to allow hidden aspects of the psyche to come alive and be known.
2008, 2006
THE FIRE MUST HAVE ITS WAY
Weekend Woman’s Workshop
New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA
This workshop included deep group work and conversations, of what it is the be a woman in today’s world. The weekend was steeped in somatic practices to unlock deeply held emotional tendencies, to allow personal clarity and confidence to move forward in our lives.
2008, 2006
TASTING THE TEXTURE OF BEAUTY
Women’s Intimate Circle
Asheville, NC; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA
We explored the gift and power of a woman’s emotional flow, and engaged in practices to allow the body mind to move through deeply held holding patterns. We got in touch with the beauty of our essential self, something that happens when we learn to allow.
2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003
THE YOGA OF FEELING
Evening Talks Featuring Practices for Men and Women
Clearwater, FL; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA
Dynamic evenings exploring Feminine and Masculine principles in practice and discussions, for couples and singles.
2006
THE UNBEARABLE ECSTACY OF BEING
Living from Your Deep Feminine Core
A Weekend Workshop
San Francisco, CA
During this workshop we experienced somatic practices to release trauma, and group and dyad practices that deepend trust and ease together.