Regeneration, Potency,
and the Embryo

A Continuum Exploration

Continuum is a somatic movement practice that naturally takes us into regenerative fluid states reminiscent of the embryo. Engaging in gentle breaths, vocalized sounding and mindful movement, we generally find our body tissues softening, old patterns dissolving, and creative energy arising.

In this five-day retreat for those experienced with Continuum, we will blend embryogenesis with the underlying fluid potency held within Craniosacral Biodynamic concepts, of deep, universal forces that guide our development from conception on. When life conditions have obscured our sense of Health these forces of support remain in the background, like the sun behind the clouds, and we can re-connect with them. Continuum is a profound and often pleasurable way to return to these primordial states essential to life.

This retreat is a special offering from Continuum teachers Jane Okondo and Cherionna Menzam-Sills to support deepening in this beautiful, subtle practice. Over the five days, we will review aspects of embryo development and explore Craniosacral Biodynamic concepts of Long Tide and Potency in relation to teachings of founder of Continuum, Emilie Conrad, and our own experience in the fluid field we create together.

The intention of this Continuum retreat is to deepen our experience, understanding and practice of Continuum. To apply you will need to have at least 3 days previous experience with this profound, subtle practice. It can also serve as support in your development and preparation towards becoming a Continuum teacher, if that is your intention.

As part of the deepening together, we will spend 2-3 days and nights in silence other than the sounds within the practice of Continuum. This is part of the advanced practice of Continuum that Emilie offered, with the intention that each person has the space to reconnect to their own internal rhythms. Another major intention in our spending time in silence is to come out of the patterning of speech. We will discuss this in detail at the seminar. In this process, we often come to a much quieter place within ourselves, enhancing our ability to sense at increasingly subtle, even cellular levels. Where the resources and connections arise from within us. We will take time before we end to gently emerge from the silence and begin integrating our experience into our everyday lives.

Pre-requisite: To prepare for deepening into silence for an extended period, you must have enough experience and familiarity with Continuum, and the core concepts. This equates having an equivalent of at least 3 days, and preferably more experience with a Continuum teacher. We also request that as we go into a deep process of silence that you are confident that can hold your own process of inquiry. If you would like to speak with Jane or Cherionna before applying, please be in touch.

Cherionna Menzam-Sills

A therapist since 1978, Cherionna worked intensively with founder of Continuum, Emilie Conrad, the final decade of Emilie’s life. Cherionna was authorized in 2007 by Emilie to teach Continuum and has been teaching frequently since then. She is a member of the Continuum Teachers Association and registered with ISMETA as a somatic movement therapist and educator. Her passion for Prenatal and Birth Psychology (PPN) led her to pursue a PhD in this field, where her dissertation addressed prenatal and birth themes in dance and movement. Inspired by her doctoral studies, she has taught embryology through movement since the 1990s and was adjunct faculty for graduate students in Somatic Psychotherapy and PPN, at Naropa University and the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. Trained and experienced as Occupational Therapist, Massage Therapist, Dance/Movement Psychotherapist, Bodymind Psychotherapist, and Prenatal and Birth therapist, her background includes intensive mindfulness meditation practices as well as extensive training with prenatal and birth therapy pioneers, William Emerson and Ray Castellino. Cherionna has been a senior tutor at Karuna and has taught Craniosacral Biodynamics, PPN, and Continuum across North America and Europe, often with her husband, Biodynamics pioneer, the late Franklyn Sills. She is also a published author, with her writings highly influenced by her time with Emilie and Continuum. Cherionna is committed in her life and work to embodied presence.

More on Cherionna and Continuum at www.birthingyourlife.org

Jane Okondo

Jane has been teaching in the field of Somatic Therapy since 1995 and has a private practice offering individual and group sessions in Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy, Continuum, the Discipline of Authentic Movement, Somatic Experiencing ® and NeuroAffective Touch ® from her studio in London.

She has a Master’s degree in ‘Dance and Somatic Wellbeing’ from the University of Central Lancaster, is a member of the Continuum Teacher Association, on Faculty with the Circles of Four programme for the Discipline of Authentic Movement and a registered master member of ISMETA and Continuum Teacher Association.

She is co-director and is international faculty for the Integrative and Bodywork and Movement Therapy training programme, IBMT. She is a guest trainer for Somatische Akademie in Berlin, teaching Continuum and CPD workshops on Body and Trauma. Jane is also co-lead assistant for the NeuroAffective Touch trainings in the UK.

Jane’s workshops and retreats in the UK and Europe have a focus on embodied presence and somatic approaches to working with trauma that integrate movement and hands on practices.

More on Jane and her work at www.somaflow.co.uk