Exploring creativity with the Extraordinary Vessels
Our deepest creativity is expressed in the Extraordinary Vessels because they connect us to our infinite potential. We will tap into its many expressions including creativity in our work, relationships, fertility and self-expression. We will explore creativity through shiatsu, massage, movements, dance, sounds and other expressions which feel appropriate to the group.
The Extraordinary Vessels are at the core of the creative expression of our energy. Linked directly to our creative palaces (our reproductive organs) they give us the capacity to conceive new life in all its many forms, whether children, works of art, day to day acts of creating with our movement and our bodies, with the land and with her beings.
The difference, and benefit, of being on a retreat is having the space to connect more deeply with where we are at personally, as well as in our therapist role. We will have time to exercise, meditate, reflect and relax as well as longer practical sessions which allow the work to be geared to your needs. Although we cover relevant theory, the focus is more on the experiential aspects of the work.
If you are a massage therapist, please be aware that we will be including shiatsu (as many participants are shiatsu practitioners) so if you want to brush up your shiatsu skills you might want to consider doing the on line course on shiatsu
If you would like some more information about the Residential you might want to read about retreats at La Source or the Blog of a previous residential, written by Alexandra Gelny or the one which I wrote Blog
There is also a blog on the Residential at Gallese 2018 by Kate Codrington
Note that you must have attended a course with a Wellmother teacher to enroll onto this course. Please contact us for more information.
Themes of the course
We will explore different aspects of all Eight Vessels in their relationship to how they evoke our creative nature.
- Being creative with our shiatsu and finding new ways of working with the Extraordinary Vessels
- Being creative with movement – Suzanne will guide some movements and then give you space to explore in your own way including dancing
- Being creative with the land – making sculptures, building fires, gathering flowers, picking fruits, dressing trees.
- Being creative with sounds – bowls, our voices, singing, chanting, the sound of birds and the wind
- Being creative and creating sacredness with all objects – stones, rocks, all the elements,
A Typical Day
07.30-08.30 Exercise & meditation with focus on day's theme
08.30-10.00 Breakfast and Meditative activity outside
10.00-13.00 Practical Session inside
13.00-15.30 Lunch, Siesta, Walk, Activity, Integration
15.30-18.30 Practical Session inside
19.00 Supper
20.30 Exercise & meditation
One evening an "event" : a celebration/ceremony depending on needs of group.
Your location: La Source, near Mielan, Gers,
The teaching room is a hexagonal pavillon by a linden avenue. There is plenty of outside space. We will be a small group of 8 people plus Suzanne. It is where Suzanne lives and accommodation is in the main house with a couple of camping spaces. There are 3 hectares of land to explore around the house.
The food is provided by a local vegetarian cook. It will be organic and vegetarian. We are in the middle of the countryside with a lake nearby.
Course times
Arrive on Wednesday for an evening introduction and meditation and finish Sunday afternoon for a closing gathering. Final times will be decided depending on people's flight times but the main teaching is Thursday to Sunday. You can arrive from Tuesday night and stay until Monday morning.
I have really enjoyed the CPD training over the years , in particular the residentials. These are 5 days of bliss, meeting wise women, inspirational teachers and therapists and allowing myself rest and physical, emotional, social and spiritual nourishment in an idyllic setting. They have introduced me to Qi Kung and yoga, which I now incorporate into my daily life and into my teaching sessions.
Catherine Tugnait
Massage therapist and NCT teacher
This course arrived at its own divine timing, at a time in my life when I needed some deep nourishment and some support to reconnect with my creative centre, to get some clarity about where to direct that creative energy next. The course gave me all I needed and more, in a very organic and fluid way. It's so beautiful to be the receiver (as I give out so much, on a daily basis, to my family and clients); to feel fully nourished and to be able to feel the creative flow within me newly activated; to know where to focus this renewed creative energy now. I am really grateful!
I loved the way Suzanne guided me to move and feel into my body, and I am still integrating lots of the practices in my own yoga and meditation practice. I feel really enriched. The mudras were incredibly powerful too! And this work on myself is already slowly rippling into the work I do with other women, as postpartum doula, bodyworker and facilitator of women's circles.
Marinella Benelli
Postpartum Doula, Women's Circles Facilitator, Yoga Teacher & Massage Therapist
Available languages
- English
Dates and location
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South west France, Mielan02/07/2025 - 06/07/2025
Teacher
Suzanne Yates
Suzanne is the founder and principal teacher at Wellmother, established 1990Entrance Requirements
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You need to have already attended a Wellmother course, but you can come from any discipline. Note that we will be working a lot with the energies of Chinese medicine and especially the Extraordinary Vessels, so if you are less familiar with these you might want to do the on line Shiatsu foundation course to brush up your skills.
Price
Cost: teaching £440 (early booking £410)
Cost: Accommodation: 280 euros for the 4 days’ full board.
Nearest airport Toulouse: one half hours drive: transport can be arranged (approx 15 euros each way depending on numbers)
