RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

Trauma and the Menstrual Cycle

This retreat explores the relationship between trauma and the menstrual cycle. By bringing together Menstrual Cycle Awareness (MCA) with the Internal Family Systems model (IFS), we have created a framework that expands our understanding of the ways in which trauma affects the body-mind, and offers information about how we can heal from it.

All natural cycles include times of rest in order to restore the body-mind. MCA is a powerful tool for discovering and working with the healing mechanism of the rest phase of the menstrual cycle, and for understanding the phases within this inbuilt time for rest and reflection. IFS offers a way of understanding how and why the psyche organises ‘parts’ in response to trauma, and how these parts, while often protective, can ultimately get in the way of our authentic experience and expression of our individual being and life-path.

Our work synthesises these two models and offers advanced instruction on developing menstrual cycle awareness along with understanding when you are led by a ‘part’ and when you are more in ‘Self energy’. Through building resilience and self-knowledge, the combination of MCA and IFS can have preventative as well as ameliorating effects on physical and emotional wellbeing.

The retreat is designed to provide you with a functioning understanding of these two models and direct experience of uniting them as you work on yourself and with others. 

This retreat is designed for people who have some familiarity with menstrual cycle awareness, such as from reading Lara’s book Her Blood Is Gold  or other work on MCA, and/or taking Red School trainings or similar. You do not need to have knowledge of IFS prior to the workshop, although if you want to read up about this ahead of time, we recommend No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz

THE VENUE

We have chosen the venue for this retreat carefully. It is a special place in an unspoiled and relatively wild valley. Locating the retreat at Lingen Hall means that our workshop sessions can be supported by a range of optional activities: swimming in the heated pool or the lake, walks in the surrounding woodland, and restorative yoga in the evenings. There are firepits by the lake for the evenings, weather permitting.

In addition, we have engaged two experienced massage practitioners who will be onsite and with whom you can book appointments before and during the retreat.

Lingen Hall has been beautifully restored very recently, and all the rooms are well-equipped, and tastefully and calmly decorated.

FOOD & ACCOMMODATION

Rooms

The bedrooms come in several types, and we have priced the retreat in different tiers accordingly.

Two rooms have twin beds and we anticipate people sharing these who do not necessarily know each other, and this is reflected in the price.

You can also share double-bedded rooms if you come with a friend or partner who is also attending the retreat. In this instance the cost of tuition and catering for the second person is added onto the room price.

There is also an option for people who live locally or have alternative accommodation, but this does come with an expectation that you will arrive early and leave late every day, so that you can be a full participant. We don’t want you to miss out on the complete experience, including the healing qualities of this venue and its role in the retreat.

See the Lingen Hall website for more pictures and details of the accommodation.

REGISTRATION

If you have any queries before signing up for the retreat, please email Grace, who runs the admin for Lara’s teaching. 

The course fee includes all tuition, yoga sessions, food, snacks, and beverages throughout, and your room for three nights. Payment for massages from one of our two on-site masseurs is to be paid independently, directly to them.

To reserve a place on the course, browse the room options below and decide which room category you would like. Then please email Grace to check availability before using the booking button below.

You’ll find the workshop only option (no accommodation) at the bottom which you can click on directly to book without having to email Grace first.