Deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains sits a private retreat that groups can rent. Here we were able to stay naked all weekend and explore our inner and outer selves without distraction. We had an opening Puja event, a yoga class, couples massage class, game challenges with Kalash, night-time bon fire with fire spinners, hike through the local forest...
On-camera: Leah, Trecker, Kris, Ousia, Kalash, Dick, Jonathan, Cynthia, Delenn, Powel, Holly, Lauren, Sean, Mari, Klaus, Victor, Chatty, Jay, Adriana, Brad, Mary - - - Photos & Video: Nomad, Spencer, Lensmith
event-90
Naked Retreat 2016
event-90
Naked Retreat 2016
gallery-1 97 photos People arrive friday night to attend this weekend of fun workshops. In the hot tub they wait for dinner time.
gallery-2 79 photos The new-arrivals gathered in the main yurt so we could all get to know each other and explore body movement.
gallery-3 79 photos Saturday was busy with a yoga class, casual spinning around the hot tub, the group photo, then a trail hike.
gallery-4 135 photos This is a couples massage event. All images are from a single camera position. Videos will be added to this page.
video-1 9:00 Friday evening participants arrive, hang out at the hot tub and have dinner. Afterwards, party time!
video-2 5:00 Ousia leads the group in free-form dance movements that transcend our usual self-consciousness.
video-3 7:40 With Ousia's guidance people free up the energies in their bodies through fun movements.
video-4 6:18 The next day, a naked yoga class. Always push your boundaries, stretch a bit beyond your limits.
video-5 5:15 A late afternoon, hanging out by the hot-tub, then the group photo. Finally it is dinner time.
video-6 8:03 Ousia is back with another partner massage class. Imagine you are there having tension release all over your body.
video-7 8:24 Working from the shoulderblades down the spine, then up the ankles and along the legs. Absolute bliss.
video-8 7:28 Now starting with the chest and neck to the shoulder and along the arms to the hands. Then ankles up to the shins.
video-9 6:29 We start with the arm-tangle game then on to free dancing. Twister appears and now the real fun begins!
video-10 5:06 As the twister game continues, outside hula hooping and fire spinning start up. The camp fire provides warmth.
video-11 5:08 More spinning and playing with fire! Drums and musical instruments improvise a primal beat.
video-12 5:09 Scenes from the next day: hanging in the hot tub - eating lunch - going for a walk on the local forest trails.
video-13 6:28 On the deck, as the sun sets, we give each other deep massages under the guidance of Ousia and her magic touch.
video-14 4:57 Kalash's workshop continues... everyone makes a list of things in life that makes them happy.
video-15 6:39 The exploring happiness class starts with complete relaxation, then a release of energy with a long shout.
nomad-notes
As of 2021 this event was the last "retreat" event that I organized, focusing more on the yearly Bodyfest and also working toward getting things going in Canada to reduce my travel to California. Then, COVID came along and as of writing this, travel is still problematic between Canada and USA. I also have concerns about increasing wild fires and weird climate variations. Much is different now compared to 2006 when I started. Free-thinking relaxed people are being suppressed in favor of narrow-minded, fear-driven people who want an authoritarion government run by a reality-show host. My heart is heavy for my gentle friends in the Bay Area.
