Retreat Parenting Ourselves
with Susan Bögels and George Langenberg

In a beautiful place, at De Hoorneboeg

The theme of this retreat is 'parenting ourselves'. The way we were raised ourselves (by our parents, siblings, teachers, grandparents, etc.) not only affects the relationship with our own children and grandchildren, but also the relationships we have with partners, colleagues, friends, clients, students. And most importantly, the relationship with ourselves. In this retreat we carefully investigate the relationship with our inner child.

Our Inner Child

We explore how our inner parent responds to this child and how they provide for the needs of this inner child. In each of us there is an inner parent who, from the moment we are born (and before), connects with our inner child. Just as our parents and others have bonded with us, so we can take care of what our own inner child needs as best we can. We build and strengthen new ways to take care of ourselves.

As a child, we "internalized" the way our parents responded to us. For example, the reaction we received when we were hungry, happy, sad, angry or scared. Or if we couldn't sleep or we were getting caught up. If we passed a test or failed it. By internalizing that reaction, we made their behavior "ours." Their behavior has gone in, become a part of us. But is this really who we are and who we want to be? For the rest of our lives, we spend a certain amount of time trying to find that inner child, the "me" under layers and layers of learned behavior.

In a retreat, by being in silence with ourselves, we rediscover the inner child. The chatter of the mind becomes silent. We feel pure and raw emotions and use our senses the way children do. In a retreat we can again intensely enjoy food or the nature around us. We cherish the subtle moments when we are in contact with all living things around us. Therefore, during a retreat, we can sometimes feel vulnerable, almost naked like babies.

Bodywork

Actual change begins in the body. The body is our home in this life, the body is the place where we hold emotions and early childhood memories. Processes that we work through during these days continue to flow when we are aware of how our bodies resonate. Mindful Yoga is therefore an important part of the retreat.

If deeper layers are touched, then it is important that we can land in the body. Not by weighting, but by moving along and letting the body unlock itself. With lightness we can touch an experience. At these moments, the body is allowed to lead and we can land in softness.

The yoga we do is a welcome exercise of physical exertion and relaxation. The head takes a break, although our overcontrolling 'mind' makes attempts to determine the story. But the body knows what's needed there and then. We don't want to move around that, we deal with loving attention, sometimes with physical discomfort or emotional pain. For example, yoga can be a compassion exercise for the whole consciousness, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Pricing

• 1275, - for a single room
• 1075, - for a double room

Agenda

• 12 t/m 17 December 2021
• 24 t/m 29 April 2022
• 16 t /m October 22, 2022

Register

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Susan Bögels

Susan Bögels is a psychotherapist and professor. She provides mindfulness training for parents and children to professionals worldwide and at the Centre for Mindfulness. She publishes on mindful parenting and mindfulness for children.

Visit Susan's website

George Langenberg

George Langenberg is an acupuncturist and teaches yoga and meditation classes in Haarlem. He is supervisor and trainer of mindfulness and yoga teachers. In 2013 he wrote a children's book on mindfulness and compassion.

You are now on George's website

Five Day Retreat

Midweek in Silence

This 5-day retreat consists of sitting and walking meditation, yoga, working meditation in the vegetable garden or the forest grounds (1 hour a day) and 'reparenting' exercises. Occasionally there is the opportunity to share experiences and ask questions in small subgroups, which are accompanied by one of the trainers.

Silence is not only a rule of the retreat but a practice in practice that helps us to direct attention inwards and recognize the quality of our inner eyes and ears. This retreat is entirely silent except when we work in subgroups.

The Hoorneboeg

A beautiful retreat in the middle of nature

During this midweek there is a chef who cooks for us every day. After the last meditation you can use the sauna in the evening. The entire location is spacious, large enough to allow you to retreat from the group, or to get a breath of fresh air for a walk on the moor or in the forest.