When the body lets go: A Spring Grief Retreat
This women-only retreat offers a structured, supportive space for women to process and release grief and loss through the body. Grief is not only emotional; it is stored physically and neurologically. When unexpressed, it can show up as tension, fatigue, numbness, anxiety, or a sense of being “stuck.”
This retreat focuses on somatic release and grief movements, allowing grief and loss to move safely through the body using evidence-informed practices. The intention is to reduce emotional load, restore regulation, and help participants feel more grounded, present and resourced.
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is suitable for women who are:
Grieving a death, relationship, role, or life transition (changes in health, loss of job etc)
Carrying long-term or unprocessed grief
Feeling emotionally heavy, shut down, or overwhelmed
Wanting a non-verbal, body-based approach to emotions in grief
Seeking a calm, professionally held space without pressure to share
No prior experience with somatic, grief movement practices is required.
Retreat Flow (Approx. 4 Hours)
1. Arrival & Grounding
Establishing safety, orientation, and body awareness to support regulation.
2. Understanding Grief in the Body
A brief explanation of how grief is held somatically and why movement, breath and sound support release.
3. Somatic Grief Movement Session
Guided grief movement designed to allow emotions in grief to surface and move through the body without forcing or catharsis.
4. Rest & Integration
Time for stillness, journaling, or quiet reflection to allow the nervous system to settle.
5. Sacred Flower Mandala Ritual
You will be guided to create your own intention-infused mandala using fresh flowers, dried herbs, petals, and spices. Each element is placed mindfully, honouring your grief while gently anchoring what you are ready to carry forward.
All materials are thoughtfully provided. You will leave with your own handcrafted mandala — a sacred reminder of remembrance, integration, and quiet transformation.
6. Closing Sound Bath & Yoga Nidra Meditation
At the close of our time together, you will be guided into Yoga Nidra meditation— a profound meditative state between waking and sleeping, where healing unfolds gently and naturally.
Surrounded by the resonant tones of 20 singing bowls, Koshi chimes, drum, gong, and other healing instruments, your body will be bathed in vibration. Sound works beyond words, reaching places where grief often lives quietly within.
This final ceremony allows integration, release, and deep rest — supporting you to return home anchored, nourished, and held.
Please Note: Light refreshments, tea, notebooks and handouts will be provided. Goody bags will also be provided at the end.
What Participants May Experience
Emotional release or softening
Reduced physical tension
Greater clarity or emotional spaciousness
A sense of being held without needing to explain
Practical tools for managing grief in daily life
Responses vary; all experiences are valid.
Facilitation & Safety
The retreat is held in a structured, calm environment with:
Clear boundaries and guidance
No pressure to share verbally
Permission to rest, step back, or opt out at any time
A focus on regulation rather than emotional intensity
Closing Intention
This retreat does not aim to resolve grief. It offers a space to move with it, reduce its weight, and leave feeling more resourced to continue living alongside it.
Please note: This retreat is for women navigating loss—whatever that loss may be.
Grief movement activities are accessible, and can be done seated.
About Tahmina:
Tahmina is a certified yoga instructor, as well as a certified Grief educator and Grief Movement Guide, including special yoga for children and adults with additional needs. Tahmina is a certified Sound therapy practitioner with singing bowls which she uses in her sessions.
She discovered yoga studying in Costa Rica, at the United Nation's University for Peace and has been practising Hatha and Vinyasa yoga for over 18 years.
Over the years, Tahmina has taught yoga and mindfulness classes and Qigong, which are inclusive and accessible to anybody. The style of yoga which Tahmina uses is Hatha and Yin yoga, as well as grief and somatic yoga. Tahmina combines in her session’s gentle movements, breathwork, acupressure points, Qigong and meditation with singing bowls.
Contact: If you have any questions regarding this session, please email programming@stmargaretshouse.org.uk
Venue: The Studio at St Margaret’s House, 27 Old Ford Road — E2 9PJ
Access: If you have any access needs of which we should be aware, please let us know. The Studio is on the first floor, accessed via stairs, or a stairlift (one step into the building, ramp available). If you require access to an accessible toilet, please get in touch with us on 020 8980 2092 or email emily@stmargaretshouse.org.uk so we can arrange this for you.
Date: Saturday 11th April
Time: 1-5pm
Tickets - Please note, this is a women-only session:
Pay Less (covers some of our costs) – I am a student, unemployed, on benefits or financially stressed - £35
Standard (covers most of our costs) – I am employed, have some expendable income, and manage to meet my basic needs - £40
Pay it Forward (covers all of our costs and supports our work) – I am employed or have enough savings to comfortably meet my basic needs - £45