A One-Day Stress & Trauma Release Retreat for Women

“Trauma is not actually the story of what happened a long time ago; trauma is the residue that’s living inside of you now.” Dr Bessel van der Kolk

The body remembers what the mind has learned to live with. Trauma is not held only in our thoughts or memories. It can also live within the body and nervous system, showing up as anxiety, tension, panic, irritability, emotional overwhelm, exhaustion, disconnection, or a sense that it is difficult to truly relax and feel safe within ourselves.

Trauma can arise from many experiences: childhood adversity, relationship abuse, illness, burnout, sudden loss, or other overwhelming life events. Even when the experience has passed, the body may continue to carry its imprint.

This gentle one-day retreat offers an opportunity to pause, breathe, reconnect and begin exploring ways of releasing some of what the body has been carrying.

Rather than trying to “fix” or force anything, we will create space to listen to the body with curiosity and compassion, while practicing practical, trauma-informed tools that can support nervous-system regulation, emotional resilience and a deeper sense of connection with ourselves.

A Day to Slow Down, Breathe & Reconnect

You’ll be guided by Metka Zurman-Volkwyn, a trauma-informed life coach, Certified Trauma Release Exercise (TRE®) Provider, mentor, and survivor of complex trauma. The retreat takes place in a beautiful, peaceful setting designed to support rest and reflection.

Between sessions, there will be time to simply be, perhaps taking a quiet walk through the beautiful garden, resting beside the pool, or spending a few contemplative moments walking the labyrinth made from rose quartz stones.

There is no need to rush.

No need to perform.

Just an invitation to slow down and come back to yourself.

What You’ll Experience

• A safe, confidential and compassionate space to explore stress release and body-based approaches to healing.
• Trauma-informed insights into how overwhelming experiences can affect the body and nervous system.
• Gentle group conversations offering connection, understanding and shared experience with other women.
• Two TRE® sessions, introducing a body-based practice that uses natural neurogenic tremors to help release muscular tension and support a return towards calm and balance.
• Vagus nerve stimulation techniques to support the body’s natural relaxation response.
• Breathwork to help release stress, settle the nervous system and cultivate emotional resilience.
• A science-backed cue-controlled relaxation technique that can be used almost anywhere, using just one word.
• Grounding practices for moments of anxiety, overwhelm or dissociation, helping you gently reconnect with the present moment.
• Time and space to rest, reflect and integrate what you are learning.

This Retreat May Be Especially Supportive If You Are

• Experiencing anxiety, panic, irritability or chronic stress.
• Living with feelings of anger, overwhelm or emotional exhaustion.
• Carrying difficult memories or persistent physical tension.
• Experiencing chronic pain, IBS, tension headaches or disrupted sleep.
• Moving through burnout, illness, PTSD or a life-altering diagnosis.
• Simply feeling disconnected from your body and longing to feel more grounded, calm and at home within yourself.

A Few Important Things to Know

• Women only. The group will be kept small to create a sense of safety, intimacy and personal attention.
• This retreat is not a quick fix. It is an opportunity to engage in practical, empowering somatic tools that you may continue exploring as part of your longer-term healing journey.
• The retreat is not suitable during pregnancy, for those with a history of seizures, following recent major surgery, or for anyone unable to comfortably perform gentle leg exercises.
• To keep costs accessible, and to accommodate the many different allergies and food sensitivities people may have, the retreat will be self-catering.
• Payment is non-refundable, but your place may be transferred to a friend or family member who meets the same participation criteria.

You Don’t Have to Do It All at Once

Healing doesn’t always begin with a big breakthrough.

Sometimes it begins with a breath.

With noticing your feet on the ground.

With allowing your shoulders to soften.

With listening to what your body has been quietly trying to tell you.

This day is an invitation to step away from the busyness of everyday life and give yourself permission to pause, feel, breathe and reconnect.

You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the relationship between trauma, stress and the nervous system, along with gentle self-help practices you can return to in everyday life.

And perhaps, most importantly, with a little more space inside yourself.

Come as you are.

There is nothing you need to prove.

Just a day to breathe, reconnect and begin coming home to yourself.

www.releasehealrenew.com