Life Moves: Human Dialogue in Nature

Three-day Meditative Movement Retreat with Mala Sikka & Terry Hagan

Sept. 18-20, 2026 - big happy land, near Cremona, AB

Hosted by Ruth Levin

“The essence of movement is not only expression but a form of transformation; movement from the state of being unaware to being aware… ”

- Suprapto Suryodharmo, Founder of Joged Amerta

Join lifelong practitioners and teachers, Mala Sikka and Terry Hagan, hosted by Ruth Levin, for three incredible days of movement practice, completely immersed in nature’s healing embrace. We will be staying and practicing in the beautiful, natural setting of the ‘Big Happy Land’ ~50mins NE of Calgary, Alberta. Over two nights and three days, staying in various accommodations on the land and shared meals, experience a profound settling of your nervous system as you return to your true home, present in your body, held by the land and sky, together with other caring and explorative practitioners.

'Life-Moves©' is a profound movement practice with no set patterns to 'master'. Its origins lie in the work of Suprapto Suryodharmo, a Javanese movement shaman and mystical teacher. It borders the land between still mediation practice, ecstatic dance practices like the 5Rhythms, Authentic Movement and devotional and somatic practices.

It is practiced without recorded music; we allow ourselves instead to connect to the natural sounds and silence around us, incorporating live, spontaneous sound and music (please bring your voices and musical instruments) as the movement and moment calls for.

We explore natural bodily movements which develop fluidity and authentic expression as we learn to trust subtle responses rather than habitual reactions. This builds confidence and understanding that helps us embrace refuge, vitality, and heightened awareness in our daily lives, gives us vitality, and a heightened awareness of our communication through movement with others and our environment. We can experience ourselves and others as we are, without blame, judgment, false humility, pride or needing approval. We come to accept our limitations and perceive others and our surroundings more clearly, discovering that our attitude in movement is as important as the movement itself.

This particular workshop will focus firstly on bringing greater awareness and acceptance to what is present within ourselves. From there we will begin to experience the connection with each other and the living nature around us.

You do not need any prior movement, meditation or dance experience to enjoy and benefit from this practice. 'Life-Moves©' can also be appropriate and healing for those with injury or more limited mobility. Please connect with Ruth for more information on your particular situation.

For more information about Amerta movement practice: https://www.triarchypress.net/glimpses.html

This workshop offers the following opportunities:
• Explore guided movement in a supportive atmosphere, with the group, in small groups and one to one, with guidance throughout.
• Learn how structure of our body supports every movement. Finding perspective and proportion in our movement, allowing it to open in its vocabulary in space and time.
• Deepen your capacity to value being with whatever the condition is that arises and passes
• Free life-energy that is otherwise seized in self-doubt and self-criticism, and redirect this energy to create a vocabulary in movement
• Increase vitality, joy of moving, and appreciation for authentic caring expression that enables us to let go of old, tired habits-connecting with the impulse that initiates movement
• Learn to be present in daily movements and to become aware of the movement around you, opening the potential of “reading” and “writing” through the window of the body while moving.

Registration:

Sliding scale of:

 $475 (bring your own tent / limited means) to $750 (private trailer accommodation / reasonable means).

Registration includes course fees, accommodation on the land, meals, outdoor shower.

Limited space to 15 registrants. Book now to ensure your spot.

NOTE: We have room for a few work exchange places! We are seeking one chef and one general assistant to assist with meals, clean-up, rideshares and other related activities in exchange for free attendance and accommodation over the course of the weekend. Please contact Ruth if you are interested.

Register and reserve your spot here.

What to bring:

• Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing you can move it

• Lots of layers, warm clothing, socks, slippers and rain gear as we hope/plan to work outside as much as possible regardless of weather conditions

• Water bottle and thermos for hot beverages

• Some food or drink item(s) to share with the group over the course of the weekend

• Musical instruments to contribute to the soundscape of sessions if/as/when that arises

Reach out to Ruth to save your spot today and/or with any questions or concerns.

Comments  from Mala and Terry’s past workshops

"Moving Into Freedom with Mala and Terry was such a unique experience that it's hard to find the words. They created a really safe and comfortable space allowing me to express vulnerable parts of myself. I felt immense support from everyone in the space. Some ideas I found extraordinarily beneficial to explore in the classes were leadership, learning to receive, taking refuge in my body, and moving from 2D into 3D movement. It was a personal journey, yet I also found a lot of connection with the people moving with me and was able to explore different and new ways of relating to other people.

As a dancer I have trained most of my life in Ballet, and even after learning more free forms in university I have always struggled with moving as a performer versus moving in a way that feels good. It has been hard for me to find a deeper connection to my body. I have never felt completely comfortable, intuitive and free in my movement until now. These classes helped me grow through these disconnects I’ve had. The practices Mala and Terry led us through gave me an awareness of my relationship to movement that has completely changed the way I move through space. The overall experience of Moving Into Freedom went way beyond movement for me. It was a very important experience for my overall well being. So much appreciation for Mala and Terry, thank you! “ Katie O’Brien ( the dancer in the smaller pictures in the poster)

"We are not just talking heads - we are body, spirit, heart - not separate.  Mala and Terry remind us to let the other parts lead, in a creative dance that provides joy, nourishment and insight.

In a group context - we can meet each other in new, honest and supportive ways. I finished the course feeling whole, loving and ready to bring a positive energy to the world around me”. Eve Rotstein

Schedule: (Approx. and subject to change)

Friday, Sept 18:

Arrival 9-10am: Land, settle, gather

10:30am-1pm: Morning Session

1-3pm: Lunch, clean-up, siesta

3-6pm: Afternoon session

6:30pm: Dinner

Saturday, Sept 19:

8:30-9:15am: Breakfast

10am-1pm: Morning Session

1-3pm: Lunch, clean-up, siesta

3-6pm: Afternoon session

6:30pm: Dinner

Sunday, Sept 20:

8:30-9:15am: Breakfast

10am-12pm: Morning Session

12-1:30pm: Lunch, clean-up, siesta

2-4pm: Afternoon session

4:30pm-6pm - farewells and departure

~ B R E A T H E ~

A 4-Day Embodied Exploration into the Nature of Exchange

Oct 7-11, 2026 @ Hollyhock Retreat Centre, Cortes Island, BC

With Marianne Bernhard & Ruth Levin

What would it feel like to inhabit and live from a truly sustainable place of reciprocity?

…For each inhale and exhale to be a part of a renewal of belonging, volition and exchange?

What does nature - trees in particular - have to teach us about a process of sustainable exchange?

*

Come join us deep in the luxurious forest on the coast of Cortes Island, BC for BREATHE. Four days of immersive, embodied therapeutic art practice exploring the nature of exchange.

Over the course of these four days and four nights at the gorgeous Hollyhock Retreat Centre you will be guided into deep experience of your embodied and archetypal self.  We will land in our bodies, in our felt sensation, allowing our nervous systems to come into a place of restoration, cradled by ocean and old growth forest. Through Halprin Life Art Processes, we will uncover layers of pattern and meaning related to your experiences of exchange in your life. We will learn about and explore the lungs in an embodied way. We will venture out to connect through our felt senses with the forest and trees of Hollyhock, as nature’s living masters of support and exchange.  We will channel these experiences - alone and together - to uncover layers of meaning and insight, bringing them back into motion and sharing to celebrate, integrate and land again, renewed.

We hope you will join us for BREATHE: Reset your nervous system and uncover an embodied experience of reciprocal, nourishing exchange.

What you can expect to leave with:

• A stronger sense of communion with nature

• A serious detox from the toxins, pace, stressors and enervations of modern life

• A genuinely rested, nourished nervous system - come back to zero

• A renewed, empowered and more sustainable approach to giving / receiving and exchange in your life

Good to know:

• We will move through a wide range of artistic exploration and sharing during our time together - these include: moving/dancing, drawing, sharing… and others

• No dance or other artistic experience required whatsoever

• Curiosity, openness to exploration and a desire for a deep, whole system exhale are good pre-requisites

• Hollyhock is an extremely precious and beautiful spot on planet earth - just being there will be restorative

• Accommodation, three delicious meals a day and all supplies needed are included in your registration fees

• A documentary film-maker will be joining us during the last day of the experience to capture film of those who feel comfortable with this. We commit to this being a non-intrusive and tasteful experience for you. Please see below for more information.

• Getting to Hollyhock and Cortes Island is a serious adventure - and totally worth it. Please see below for more information on getting to/from.

What to bring:

• High quality rain gear + warm clothing! Though we will have a lovely indoor space in which to work, we will move, be and explore outside as much as possible. Please bring clothing to ensure you can stay comfortable and warm while we do this. You can expect average daytime highs around 14°C (57°F) and nighttime lows hovering near 7°C (45°F) - and lots of rain.

• Water bottle / thermos / both

• Comfortable, stretchy and/or loose fitting clothing. Bring layers of differing weight and warm to adjust to activity and temperatures.

• (Optional) Your own journal and art supplies. (We will provide, however you may want to bring your own as well).

• (Optional) Items for a nature altar.

Registration

Registration includes:

• Four nights accommodation

• Three delicious meals a day (light snacks, tea, coffee and hot water in between)

• Access to much of Hollyhock’s grounds (certain areas off-limits for other groups): outdoor hot tubs, beach, forest, beautiful and welcoming indoor and outdoor dining areas

• Ability to participate in general/open Hollyhock activities like morning yoga

• Complimentary shuttle service to/from any dock on Cortes Island to/from Hollyhock

Hollyhock provides a range of accommodation options during our time together. Our registration fees are scaled to align with these.

Select from the accommodation styles below to reserve your space today.

Nice — this actually makes the math clean since it becomes three equal installments.

FEES:

*1/3 of total — due at booking, refundable if canceled before Aug 15; non-refundable after Aug 15

Registration is done in three equal payments: Deposit, due at booking; Payment 2, Aug 15; Payment 3, Sep 16.

SCHOLARSHIPS are available for those in need. Please contact Ruth for more infomation.

6-share dorm (6 available): $1,997 + GST [deposit + two more equal payments of $665.67 + GST]

3-share single house (3 available): $2,397 + GST [deposit + two more equal payments of $799+ GST]

2-share double rooms with a bathroom shared between you (8 available): $2,597 + GST [deposit + two more equal payments of $865.67 + GST]

Single room with shared bath (1 available): $2,997 + GST [deposit + two more equal payments of $999 + GST]

CONTACT RUTH for payment links and methods to reserve your place today.

Early bird bonus: anyone who books (deposit paid) by Aug 15 receives a complimentary 1:1 session with Marianne or Ruth (participant's choice), to be scheduled before the retreat. Pay in full by Aug 15 and receive two complimentary 1:1 sessions.

Cancellation Policy

Before August 15, 2026: Your deposit (1/3 of total registration fee) is fully refundable if you need to cancel. After August 15, 2026 (early bird deadline): Your deposit becomes non-refundable. Any additional payments made beyond the deposit are refundable if you cancel before September 16.

After September 16, 2026: All payments made are non-refundable. If you're unable to attend, you're welcome to transfer your registration to someone else.

We understand life happens, and we want this policy to be fair to you while allowing us to plan responsibly for a small, intimate group. If you have questions or need to discuss a different payment arrangement, please reach out to Ruth directly.

Space and accommodation is limited - register via the links above or reach out to Ruth to reserve your space today.

Schedule:

Oct 7, Wednesday: Arrival between 3-5pm; Dinner at 6:30pm, Orientation followed by a short evening session

Oct 8-10, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Full days of exploration - exact schedule to follow.

Oct 11, Sunday: Breakfast, morning session, lunch at 12:30pm, departure.

Your Guides:

About Ruth - more info here.

About Marianne - more info here.

NOTE on Documentary Film-making:

This workshop is being supported by a non-profit focused on supporting environmental awareness through film. Therefore, a part of the purpose of this workshop is to create material for a short documentary film on the relationship between our bodies, our lungs in particular, and trees and forests, to help draw the link between body and planet. There will be a documentary film-maker present on the last day of our time together.  Agreement to be captured on film during this day is optional. Sensitivity(ies) will be present around more intimate footage and room to decline being filmed as a sole individual is welcomed / ok. If you have questions or feel challenged by this, please let Ruth know during your registration process. 

Here is an example of the type of film and material we will be working towards.

Getting to/from Hollyhock (Cortes Island, BC): Your best resource to explore travel to-from Hollyhock is on the Hollyhock website, here.