Body, Mind and Heart – Tamalpa UK Summer Retreat, 26th & 27th July 2025

Tamalpa UK Summer Retreat – In person with Lian Wilson MSMT/MSME, 26th & 27th July 2025.

If you love to dance, have your own movement practice or simply enjoy dancing around your house and curious to explore further what your own body wisdom has to share, come and join us for our annual Summer Weekend Retreat in Sandgate, on the beautiful Kent Coast.

There is an essential connection between creativity and life that can facilitate greater wellbeing and self-development. At Tamalpa UK we are interested in a new aesthetic that reflects the here and now reality of peoples’ authentic life experiences, rather than a beauty based on form or technique. For us it is our real-life experiences that inspire our art, and our art that informs the real issues in our lives.

The Tamalpa UK Summer Retreat is an introduction to some principle Tamalpa Life Art Tools, skilfully facilitated with guided Somatic movement explorations and creative activities, mark making and reflective journal writing designed to support you to leave the weekend feeling recharged and equipped with practical resources to support your current goals in life.

“I found the Tamalpa tools helped me to cut through the clutter of everyday life and be kind to myself for a couple of days. I had time to relax and evaluate what was important to me and create some positive ideas to make space in my life for the things that have real meaning to me, amazing!” ~ Retreat participant

The Retreat is a dynamic embodied experience of the Tamalpa Life Art Process®️, it can be used as a stand alone experience or a an introduction to the larger Tamalpa trainings.

Join us this July for an opportunity to unwind, relax and recharge, physically, emotionally and mentally, facilitated in a safe and compassionate way.

No dance or art experience necessary.

Date: 26th & 27th July 2025

Time: Saturday 26th 10.00am – 5.00pm

Sunday 27th10.00am – 4.30pm

Cost : £210 (concession rates £175 available)

Example of a typical retreat day:

Morning session 1

10.00am – 13.30pm (includes a short break)

• Arrival and welcome

• Guided somatic movement explorations – ‘Arriving in Your Body’

• Creative drawing & writing explorations – ‘Identifying what your body needs’

13.30: Lunch Break – 1 hour

Afternoon session 2

14.00pm – 17.00pm (includes a short break)

• Guided movement explorations – ‘Reigniting Life Vitality’

• Introduction to a key basic Tamalpa Life Art Process® tool

• Further expressive art explorations – ‘Identifying Life Resources’

• Digestive quite time

• Closing activities

17:00: Finish

What you will need:

• Note book and pen
• Layers of clothing to keep you warm between art activities
• Bottle of water
• Travel Mug

Please note all movement and activities will take place inside the Chichester Memorial Hall in Sandgate. For further information please contact us via our website: www.tamalpa-uk.org

Tel: 01303 488 538

What is the Tamalpa Life Art Process?

The Tamalpa Life-Art Process® developed at the Tamalpa Institute in California, is a multi-modal approach that explores the wisdom of the body expressed through movement/dance and imagination. We use embodiment, artistic processes, somatics and media to explore and deepen our relationship to psychological life, to social issues and to creativity its self.

The foundation of the Tamalpa Art/Life Process® is based on a view of the body and movement. The body holds our entire life experience. We understand movement as the body’s primary language.

For us, movement is synonymous with life. Movement is personality and soul made visible, and dance is body, feelings, and imagination in motion. We believe that movement/dance is a way for all people to live a more embodied and creative life – one that fosters healing and social transformation.

Movement and dance are ways to express the full range of human emotion and to connect, deeply and authentically, to our truest selves.

Main Event Image credit: Cottonbro Studio

Image: Beach coastline from Folkestone to Sandgate in Kent. Participants love and enjoy their quite or social time by the sea and in the surrounding natural landscapes.

About the Facilitators

Lian Wilson MSMT/MSME

Lian is a Master Somatic Movement Therapist MSMT and Master Somatic Movement Educator MSME with ISMETA (International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association) A Tamalpa Practitioner and Dancer. Lian is the Creative Director of Tamalpa UK and an internationally respected Tamalpa teacher.

Lian graduated from the Tamalpa Institute in California in 2003. Since then, she has worked extensively with Anna and Daria Halprin, assisting on trainings, workshops, events and performances. She was invited to launch the Tamalpa UK branch in Folkestone’s Creative Quarter in 2012. Leading trainings and public workshops in person in Folkestone/Sandgate/London and Scotland, as well as online formats now.

Her primary interest and passion is in the development of health and wellbeing in individuals and diverse communities through the participation and education of the benefits of dance and somatic movement based expressive arts, notably through the Tamalpa Life Art Process ®.

She was an Assistant Researcher at the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health, Canterbury Christ Church University, supporting research into the benefits of Arts & Health, Dance and Dementia and Dance for Falls Prevention.

In her personal & professional life Lian draws upon her love of movement, creativity, nature and ongoing daily practice of living and sustaining a healthy life.