Retreats

Sing | Nourish | Uplift | Connect

Sisters in Harmony Summer Retreat

August 7–9, 2020

Register HERE

A women’s singing retreat at the stunning Om Oasis Retreat Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Please join Heather, MaMuse, Becky Reardon, Debbie Nargi-Brown, Amanda West and Kaitie Ty Warren for a nourishing weekend of singing in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Immerse yourself in sacred sisterhood, song, yoga, qi gong, meditation, ritual, nature, saltwater pool, hot tubs, and saunas. We’ll be singing together in one big group the entire weekend! Fill your cup with songs that open your heart and uplift your spirit!

Food – Organic, locally sourced, vegetarian, gluten-free meals.

Lodging – Camping, yurts, cabins, and tree houses are available. Private beds in shared rooms and cabins.

If you would like to camp, and are flying in, we have plenty of gear to share! Just plese let us know in advance.

Transportation – It’s easy to take shuttles and Ubers from the airport.

Schedule – (Subject to change)

Friday:
1:00 – Arrival, Settle in, Free Time
5:00 – Welcome Circle
6:15 – Dinner
7:30 – 9:30 – Evening Singing Session

Saturday:
7:15 – 8:15 – Yoga or Qi Gong
8:30 – Breakfast
10:00 – 12:30 – Morning Singing Session
12:30 – Lunch and Free Time
3:00 – 5:45 – Afternoon Singing Session
5:45 – 6:15 – Silent Time
6:15 – Dinner
7:30 – 10:00 – Evening Round Robin (participants invited to share / teach songs)

Sunday:
7:15 – 8:15 – Yoga or Qi Gong
8:30 – Breakfast
10:00 – 12:30 – Closing Circle
12:30 – Lunch
Goodbyes

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Amanda West

Amanda is an award-winning singer, songwriter, song-circle leader, music teacher and mother. She is co-founder of Womb Song, U.S., an organization that supports women into motherhood through music. She understands music to be a part of our human birthright, playing an essential role in our experience of being alive, and has found her life-path and greatest joy through sharing music with others.

Becky Reardon

Becky Reardon’s voice is familiar to the millions of people who heard her sing on the Charlie Brown TV specials. She is a singer, composer, guitarist, performer, and musical collaborator who co-founded the trios “Natural Rhythms” and “Shepherd Moon”. Her rounds and songs are sung by university and community choirs, and song circles all across the US, Canada and British Isles. She travels widely to perform and lead singing workshops and retreats. At present she is
working on a musical about a women’s song circle.

Debbie Nargi-Brown

For over 3 decades, Debbie Nargi-Brown has been leading dancing and singing in Santa Cruz and beyond; teaching African Inspired dance classes, leading Community Sings as well as facilitating retreats and workshops. She writes songs for the heart, for healing, for transformation, for love, for grief and all those things that connects us as human beings. Bringing people together in dance and song is one of her greatest sources of joy!

Heather Houston

Heather is passionate about uplifting hearts, freeing voices, and transforming lives through the power of singing! She spreads her magic through her 40 voice strong women’s choir Yala Lati, her 20+years of international song circle leading, and her on-line programs – The Art of Mindful Singing and Sisters in Harmony Song Leader Training. Heather also leads regular Sisters in Harmony circles at Breath+Oneness in Capitola, annual Women’s Spirit Song retreats at Skyote Mountain in Scotts Valley, and is one of the featured song circle leaders at the annual Singing on the Edge at the Esalen Institute, Song Village in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and SongFest in Los Angeles. Heather’s 2016 ZMR top ten album Prayers for the Water is featured on the International World Water Day Summit with Depak Chopra, and she just released her second solo album, Sisters of the Moon, featuring her choir of angels, Yala Lati.

Kaitie Ty Warren

Kaitie Ty Warren is working to restore harmony in community. She is passionate about waking people up to the joyful potential in their bodies and voices in a playful, connective way. Kaitie leads the Living Room Choir in El Cerrito, teaches group speech classes for people with Parkinson’s, and offers private lessons for all-things-voice. She also performs, composes, writes and records. She is a member of the Ubuntu Choirs Network, an international group that believes it’s everybody’s birthright to sing.

Kinsha Em

Kinsha brings immense care and consciousness in her role as a percussionist. Her listening ability and support for any artist she accompanies is one to behold and cherish. She is spontaneous yet supportive, fun and quite calm. Relax into her 11 years of drum accompaniment. She’s an intimate treat amongst many in our beloved Santa Cruz Community.

LeTa Jussila

Dr. LeTa is a Certified Qi Gong Instructor for the past 15 years and has studied under various masters in the U.S. and in China. Qi Gong literally means “Energy Cultivation Practice” in Chinese. It sees your thoughts, emotions and the physical body as an integrated energy source that can be mastered and cultivated. Dr. LeTa will lead you in different Qi Gong practices to help you have a a deeper connection to your own internal energetic experience and start your day off in flow state. LeTa is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and national wellness expert.

MaMuse

Wholeheartedly fed by the folk and gospel traditions, MaMuse (Sarah Nutting and Karisha Longaker) create uplifting music to inspire the world into thriving. Interweaving brilliant and haunting harmony with lyrics born of honed emotional intelligence, MaMuse invokes a musical presence that inspires the opening of the heart.

Testimonials

Heather Houston is the Voice Whisperer. Yes, Heather’s teaching/coaching brings out our best voice and creates an arena where we can have fun singing. Heather invites you to discover your voice, how to nurture the parts of your body that create your unique sound, and learn ways to access your breath to allow your beautiful voice to flow.

As my voice gets exercised and stronger, and feelings are awakened and honored, I’ve learned that singing can be healing, nurturing, and therapeutic. In these unprecedented, uncertain times, singing has been a way to come together as a community, as well as heal myself and the world.

“Heather’s song leader training changed my life! I was searching for a substantial way to help others through music and to make a living at it. Heather helped me to get my own women’s circle going through fantastic repertoire, leadership tips and techniques, mentorship, and business coaching. My first intro night had 32 women. My first circle had 18 registrants!”

– Zoey Wren, Nelson, BC

“I must say, I have been taking private singing lessons for several weeks and I have gotten TONS more out of a single lesson in this Art of Mindful Singing course than I have through all my weeks of private lessons! I would sincerely love to just contiue learning with you online however that may be possible!”

– Anonymous

“I feel very blessed to have participated in the Art of Mindful Singing Online Class. I learned many tips, songs and postural techniques that taught me to embody singing and will serve me throughout the rest of my singing life. I practice many of her techniques every day. My soul was nourished and I left feeling so open and giving of exactly that energy into the world. I love singing, and now never worry that I am good enough, because I sing from the inside out. Thank you from my deepest being. – Jackie, Madison, WI

“I was a part of Heather’s online Spring Session of The Art of Mindful Singing. It happened to coincide with the time of shelter in place orders for Covid-19. Heather’s guidance in singing became my place of self care and grounding during a transitional time of great unknowns. I felt refreshed and protected by her calm, encouraging presence. The songs themselves became a meaningful shelter during the week when fear or stress would arise. I always felt that singing could be both a spiritual and deep somato healing practice and longed for a teacher to guide me into the art with this as a focus. Heather’s approach supports this in spades. I’m so grateful.”

“I love Heather and the delightful, positive, encouraging manner in which she teaches. I love her voice and the light in her eyes. I loved the songs she taught from all over the world – uplifting songs, songs of welcome, spiritual songs. And she never put anyone on the spot.”

– Jayla, Santa Cruz, CA

“I love how Heather encourages women to sing and share their light. I love how excited she gets when we sing. There is such an appreciation and love that her energy surrounds us with, and it helps everyone feel safe.”

– Adora, Santa Cruz, CA

“I needed a versatile vocalist to headline my children’s music album. Heather exceeded my expectations in every way, sounding absolutely incredible on tracks ranging from Country Western, Calypso, Celtic, and Rock. Not only did she manage the entire project, bringing together a fantastic recording and studio crew, she even contributed her own original song to the mix.”

– Drew Freeman, Santa Cruz

“I started taking voice lessons with Heather because I thought it was time to get over my fears. With Heather’s instruction, I have already far exceeded my own expectations. I am finally experiencing the joy of singing! That’s me who you see driving around town singing – with a smile on my face, and in my heart!”

– Ted, Santa Cruz, CA

“I would like to tell you how much I enjoy your “Dis Moi” vocal music. Now I will tell you. Hold on -here it comes! “I REALLY LOVE IT!” THANK YOU SOOO VERY VERY MUCH! Your voices are so ethereal, other worldly and out right divine!”

– Ingela Sakkestad

“It’s been great to have such a safe and fun place to start to learn about how to hear my voice and mingle it with others. Heather is a total inspiration of how beautiful and full of emotional voice can sound and I am further drawn toward that journey. Thank you!”

– Katlin, Soquel, CA