The Breath of Life Course

maui

Waters & Whalesong Retreat

January 21-26, 2025

We are honored to invite you to six days of deep nourishment in the lush jungles and pristine waters of the beautiful island of Maui.

Our days will include Biodynamic Craniosacral training (the Breath of Life Course, Introductory Level One*), delicious meals from the regenerative farm, waterfall excursions and ocean immersions.

Together, we will cultivate a space to soften, unwind, rest and learn the art of embodied presence through healing touch.

“This container has transformed my life forever and is perhaps one of the most precious cultivations I’ve experienced over the past years. These immersions are so profound and truly a favorite.”

— Thais, Breath of Life Course Participant

Group of people sitting on yoga mats in a circle, participating in a discussion or workshop with two women leading, inside a room with large windows overlooking a lush green landscape with trees and palm trees, and a cloudy sky.

The intention

The prayer of our gathering is vibrantly alive, just as these lands are. It is an honor to gather together here in the spirit of healing, for ourselves and for all of Life.

To be nourished by these waters, the lovingly-grown food harvested freshly from the farm, and the presence of the whales in their migration... is a true gift that we look forward to sharing together.

A woman lying in bed with a blanket, surrounded by five women standing around her in a wooden room with large windows and natural light.

The FLOW

Our days will consist of slow mornings of peaceful stillness, nourishing meals with ingredients grown on the farm, guided meditations, and gentle somatic movement.

In the late mornings and afternoons we will learn the art and science of biodynamic craniosacral — a holistic modality that focuses on the restoration of the natural forces of healing.

Interspersed in our time together will be optional excursions to the visit the beach, walk through the bamboo forest, commune with a waterfall, and/or sit beneath a great Banyan tree.

A tall waterfall cascading down a lush green cliff into a pool below surrounded by vegetation.

A woman walking through a dense bamboo forest on a narrow trail.

the Retreat Center

We will be held on a lush 13-acre biodynamic and regenerative family farm in East Maui. The weather is warm with an abundance of bright sun, green earth, and hydrating rain. There is a beautiful class space overlooking the ocean, vibrant farm fresh meals, and wood-fired sauna.

Aerial view of a lush, green tropical garden with a mix of trees, vegetable patches, and small buildings, near the coastline with the ocean in the background.

Group of people practicing yoga in a bright, open yoga studio with large windows showing trees and ocean view.

A garden with various plants including leafy greens and ornamental plants in front of a house with large windows and a balcony, under an overcast sky.

View from inside a room looking out through large open windows at a lush green landscape and ocean in the distance.

Various sliced tropical fruits including papaya, passion fruit, mandarin oranges, and avocado arranged on green leaves.

the Nourishment

The food from the farm is as fresh as you can imagine and straight from the land. It is always a feast for the eyes and deep nourishment for the belly.

There is large orchard with hundreds of varieties of tropical fruits including coffee, cacao, avocado, papaya, banana, durian, jackfruit, zapotes, and citrus, as well as a tropical field crops such as pineapple, ginger, and turmeric. Meat or vegetarian meals are available.

the training

Course Overview

In this introductory course, we will delve into the guiding principles of craniosacral biodynamics, embodiment meditation, somatic movement, and attunement. No prior experience necessary.

Key Concepts

Orienting to Presence, Stillness, and Wholeness.
Embodied Practices: Engaging in embodied felt-sense, resonant contact, full body breathing, midline, neutral.
Listening to Life Forces: Understanding Primary Respiration and the Breath of Life. Sensing tides, fulcrums, stillpoints and subtle rhythms of the craniosacral system.

Learning Outcomes

Develop essential skills for grounding and centering in your being.
Learn to create and maintain safety and trust with self and other.
Enhance the potency of your touch and the sensitivity of your awareness, with anaotomical insight.

Essential Skills Cultivation

Through the resources of Dynamic Stillness and the Breath of Life, we cultivate our ability to support the body’s Innate Wisdom of Healing in ourselves, in each other, and in the world.

the Schedule

Day 1

Airport Arrivals
Dip in the Beach!
2 hour Drive to Retreat Center
Settle in
Opening Dinner

Days 2-5

8am: Breakfast
9am: Movement + Stillness Practice
10am-1pm: Craniosacral Biodynamics (Lecture, Hands-on Practice, Q&A)
1pm-3pm: Lunch, Rest, Nature Excursion
3pm-6pm: Craniosacral Biodynamics (Lecture, Hands-on Practice, Q&A)
6pm: Dinner
Optional Sauna

Day 6

Closing Circle
Final brunch
1pm Departures

the Facilitators

A woman with curly hair holding pink flowers while standing near a body of water during sunset.

Koa Kalish — Instructor & Guide

Koa is a healing practitioner, artist and teacher with fifteen years of extensive training in craniosacral osteopathic medicine, as well as a deep well of learning from indigenous medicine keepers, mystic spiritual leaders, and the initiation of her own healing journeys (including concussion, chronic pain, brain injury and recovery, near-death experience).

She has held her private practice since 2016 and has been teaching internationally since 2021. Humbly guided by the healing forces of nature, she lives and works in devotion to the potency of transformation, trauma integration, and collective liberation.

Koa has been recognized as a natural healer for her unique gifts of tapping into the unseen, working with subtle energies, transmitting divine frequencies, and creating space for true healing to occur. Both her private sessions and group immersions are known to be deeply transformative, restorative, and healing.

A woman with braided hair and colorful earrings, wearing a green outer garment, standing outdoors in a forested area.

Hanna Leigh — Hostess & Songweaver

Hanna Leigh is a singer-songwriter, weaver, and voice doula. She is also the founderess of an organization called Weaving Remembrance, which supports folks in connecting with their indigenous European roots. These lands of Maui, Hawaii have deeply shaped her soul path, inspiring her as a musician and gardener.

As part of her mission, she finds joy in supporting others to open to the power and beauty of their natural singing voices, and receive songs from the land and waters. It is with humble gratitude that she welcomes our group and invites us to arrive together in openness, humility and respect to the great healing force of these lands and all who have walked here before us.

what’s IncludeD

— Daily workshops, meditation and somatic practices

— Three delicious meals each day with local products

— Beach, waterfall and forest excursions

— Accommodations at a biodynamic, regenerative family farm

— Access to Wood-fired Sauna

— Airport Pickup & Drop-off

— 28 CEU's for the introductory level Breath of Life Course*

Not Included

— Flight to Maui

— Small Fee for Airport Pickup & Drop Off

*This course offers a Certificate of Completion for 28 CEU’s through NCBTMB. It does not, however, certify you to become a craniosacral practitioner. Consider this a beautiful beginning, a jumpstart into a lifelong path of cultivation.

traveling here

We will have two pickup times (11am & 2pm) at the main Maui airport in Kahului (OGG).

Upon registration and booking your flight, we will organize your transport to our retreat center.

It is a 2-hour, gorgeous and adventurous drive.

reciprocity

These lands ancestrally belong to the Hawaiian people. A percentage of our funds will be offered to a native Hawaiian woman-led land restoration project.

Scenic coastal view of lush green cliffs beside the ocean, framed by trees and foliage, with partially cloudy blue sky.

ACCOMMODATIONS

All package pricing is per person and includes full retreat, biodynamic craniosacral training with hands-on practice, accommodation, three organic farm-to-table meals per day and beautiful nature excursions.

Shared Loft

One of three single beds in shared loft with shared bathroom. Open air space above classroom. Must be able to use stairs to access. Shared bathroom.

Loft bedroom with three beds separated by white curtains and large windows with greenery outside. Interior features wood vaulted ceiling, black railing staircase, and yellow walls.

View of a bedroom from the foot of the bed, showing large windows with a scenic view of green trees outside, inside a room with a sloped ceiling.

A bedroom with two beds, window curtains, wooden furniture, and a view of trees outside.

Shared Double Room

One of two beds (queen or single) in a private room with shared bathroom.

Tiny bathroom with a small white sink, a toilet, a large window showing green trees outside, a wooden ceiling, and a colorful round rug on a light wood floor.

Private Room

Private bed in private room with shared bathroom.

A bedroom with a wooden ceiling, large windows overlooking greenery, a bed with white bedding, and a wooden chair with a mirror.

Bright bathroom with a vintage clawfoot bathtub, white walls, a toilet, a small sink, colorful rugs, large windows with white curtains, and a wood-paneled ceiling.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 reserves your space. Three Month Payment Plans are available.

testimonials

For the Breath of Life Course

I keep thinking that if everyone took this class there would be peace on Earth.

— Kimberly

Hard to put into words the complete fullness, wholeness and expansiveness I experienced from taking this course. So inspired by the way Koa transmits these teachings. I am so grateful for her devotion to her students, her care and her communication. She holds the space so beautifully. Highly recommend studying with Koa!

— Amanda

This container has transformed my life forever and is perhaps one of the most precious cultivations I’ve experienced over the past years. These immersions are so profound and truly a favorite.

— Thais