This weekend training is offered out to all certified practicing somatic practitioners and breathwork facilitators. Whilst priority will be given to Seven Directions graduates, we welcome people from other relevant trainings to join us for this incredible opportunity to work directly with Dawn Oakley Smith's 'Empowered Herd' of 9 magnificent teachers.
This is not a personal healing retreat, it's a professional training offered to those who already work in these relevant fields of practice. Please only apply if that's you (we will request completion of a short intake form for those expressing interest).
Having recently experienced Dawn's work with horses for myself and having many years' practice in breathwork facilitation and training, I can honestly say that nothing has taught me as profoundly and quickly what it truly means to regulate my breath and nervous system, to come into full presence and attunement as working with horses did in a very short space of time.
In order to work with horses, we have to be absolutely congruent and maintain 100% presence and awareness of what it means to work with another nervous system, and how we regulate our own in doing so.
We will gather for two days of intimate exploration of the essential aspects of understanding the three energetic fields of working with horses, which we can also apply to our work with humans. This work is fully transferable and appropriate to your own practices.
NOTE: The event does not involve riding or mounting the horses, and we approach with reverence and respect for all that these wonderful creatures can teach us.
We will gather on the Saturday morning to start learning about:
- the connection between what the horses will teach us and what we can bring to our own professional practice
- how to work with the horses in a conscious and ethical way
- how to work with our clients in a conscious and ethical way
- how to use body scans to identify what is happening in our own system (which we can also use with our clients
- what presence and attunement really mean in embodied work
- how to regulate the breath before working with horses
- how to establish strong and healthy boundaries, which is very necessary for working with horses but also with people.
And much more.
We will start at 9:30 am on the Saturday morning and finish at 6 pm, and start at 10 am on the Sunday morning, finishing at 5 pm. Participation is for both days.
The event is non residential but there is a possibility for 9 people to stay on site in shared accommodation (suitable for friends willing to share double beds) at £120 per night split between the number sharing (eg 3 sharing rating their own beds pay £40pp/pn or 6 sharing double beds = £20 pp/pn), or for a small number of camping places at £15 per person per night. As these on site rates are extremely cheap, kindly note that people staying on site in the shepherd's hut or other accommodation will need to be willing to allow a small number of campers to share the showers in each accommodation block. There are two campsites close by and other Airbnb options available locally for those who prefer their own space or a little more luxury and comfort.
Investment:
£330 Earlybird rate (£130 deposit ASAP, £200 balance to be paid before March 15th 2027)
Earlybird Deposit: https://wise.com/pay/r/kS3QjzFUvkz_t2o
Earlybird balance of payment (balance due before 15/3/27) https://wise.com/pay/r/oH8ogljE79CTig4
If paying in non-UK currencies, please make sure that you cover any currency conversion fee.
£380 Standard rate (£130 deposit and balance of £250)
We expect this event to fill up fast, so please make sure that if you wish to join us, your deposit is paid as soon as possible. All deposits are non-refundable
For all other terms please see our website https://sevendirectionsbreathwork.com/events
About Dawn Oakley Smith:
Dawn always had a very strong connection with horses. Equal to her passion for equines was Dawn’s fascination for the subject of Theology, which she studied at Lampeter University in Wales, and where she explored many different religious belief systems, curious about humanity’s relationship and definition of the divine.
Dawn works with people and horses in a variety of ways which can include Equine-Assisted Learning, Horse Riding and Horsemanship for Autists and for children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities and Natural Horsemanship.
She also offers more spiritual workshops, such as Horse Dance and The Medicine Journey. In each and every one of these activities first and foremost comes a connection with and deep respect for the horses, who live naturally as a herd on Heartshore land. Horse Riding is less about technique, more about relationship and communication; the technique can be learned and practised, but it is the connection here that is most important for our clients and horses.
Dawn works closely with Somerset based charity, Key4Life who have made it their mission to turnaround the lives of some of the most disaffected young people in Britain. Along with teaching Natural Horsemanship, Dawn began to work with Autists and their families which she has done now for close to 20 years. Dawn’s experience and level of understanding is humbling and awe-inspiring.
She says of the work: “I am not a medical expert or a scientist, I do not rely on research or statistics. Instead, I am mindful of what I see and how my heart and body respond. I listen to what my soul tells me, and what the souls of others tell me.”
Dawn continued to work with people and horses therapeutically and out of all this came a strong relationship with Somerset based charity, Key4Life. Key4Life’s mission is to reduce youth re-offending by delivering a programme to those in prison and those at risk of going to prison.
https://www.heartshorehorses.com
About Steph Magenta:
Steph founder of internally acclaimed Breathwork Facilitator Training School, Seven Directions® Breathwork. The school was founded to uphold Steph’s deep commitment and passion to cultivate a new wave of breathwork facilitators who embody a devotion to personal and planetary change.
Steph has spent over 40 years invested in the exploration of many different spiritual, mental, emotional and psychical healing modalities in a quest to reveal the true path of her (and our) human existence - the remembrance of the ultimate truth of the power of love and breath as the Medicine for our times.
After overcoming many years of serious addiction, she became an addiction and recovery researcher for Lifeline Drug & alcohol agency, and from there went on to founding her own juice bars, detox programs, clean food cafes, and healing centres. During this time, Steph worked extensively with a range of powerful plant medicines in the quest to heal her own past.
She has trained in bodywork (massage, reiki, Thai yoga massage, lymph drainage massage and more), and more recently Oxygen Advantage Advanced Practitioner training, TRE (trauma release and tension exercises), authentic relating (somatic version), The Right Use of Power, The Wheel of Consent - foundations and professional levels), and is currently training in the SAH Method (Somatic Active Healing)
In her 65th year, her personal path as a Medicine Woman and Elder has taken her more deeply into her commitment to her shamanic practices and teachings. She has trained with Northern Drum, been mentored by Algonquin wisdom keeper Maya Larose and is currently committed to the Toltec Mexhica path where she is mentored by friend, colleague and teacher Abuela Martha Pico.
She has completed Don Miguel Ruiz’s Path to Authenticity program, and some training in working with the Obsidian mirror which she loves! Steph remains devoted to learning as much as possible about these teachings alongside those of her own land with the Celtic/Pagan path of her Irish and English roots.
Steph lives in Glastonbury in the UK, often known as the heart chakra of the planet, and travels widely with her work. She is the mother of three grown up children and an avid fan of books, football and contrast therapy though she gets to neither of the latter as much as she would like.
https://sevendirectionsbreathwork.com
https://instagram.com/sevendirectionsbreathwork
Please reach out with any questions to our PA Charlotte at: teamsevendirections@gmail.com