Release & Rest:
A Monthly Movement and Sound Journey
Facilitated By: Niki & Sasha Bogdanowitsch
Second Sundays
This 90-minute experience weaves together movement, rest, and sound into a full-body journey of release, integration, and deep listening. We begin with Niki guiding a brief warm-up to gently awaken the body and arrive in the space, followed by a 30-minute group shake—a somatic movement practice where participants are invited to shake to music or, at times, silence. Shaking is a natural way to discharge tension and can support grounding, release, and reconnection. You’re encouraged to follow your body’s cues: shaking can happen standing, seated, or lying down, with full permission to adjust intensity, pause, or rest at any time.
After the shake, we move through a short guided cool-down to help the body settle and integrate. There will be a brief pause for a bio break and time to create cozy “nests” for the second half of the journey.
The final 45 minutes invite you into a Sonic Immersion with Restorative Yoga, centered around a seasonal or emotional theme (such as grief, anger, renewal, or inspiration from the yoga sutras). Participants will be guided into restful, supported positions while being immersed in a live, multi-instrumental soundscape by composer and multi-instrumentalist, Sasha Bogdanowitsch. Drawing from an extensive collection of global winds, strings, percussion and his own voice, Sasha will create an evolving field of resonance and overtones. This immersive sound journey supports deep relaxation, meditation, and inner exploration.
Some yoga mats, blankets and props will be available, but you’re encouraged to bring anything that will help you feel warm, supported, and at ease.
Please dress comfortably and stay hydrated.
Sample Schedule:
Warm-up Shake: 5 – 5:40pm
(5 min break)
Restorative Yoga + Sound Journey: 5:45 – 6:30pm
Option to stay overnight at WildHeart before or after – come early or stay late. Reach out to us at contact@wildheartcenter.art to confirm your stay.
“Nikita offered a great class with lots of modifications and caring, personalised attention. …”
– Harmony
“Bogdanowitsch makes music like quicksand: it sucks you in slowly, almost against your will, overwhelms you, then brings you out the other side disoriented but grateful.”
– Middletown Press, Mei Tan, Middletown, CT
About the Facilitators
Niki is a mover, performer, facilitator and cook. Finding dance early on in life as a way to transmute unfavourable early life experiences combined with training (later in life) in several movement modalities, has given Niki a solid foundation for working with the body in movement.
She aims to help folx experience safety in their bodies utilizing movement, touch, voice and mind. She is interested in a trauma-informed approach to the somatics of — movement (both physical and e-motional); relating (through relating to self/ communal living/ relationship anarchy/ nonmonogamy/ authentic relating); and food (attuning to internal cues around what/how/why we eat).
She has completed a Diploma in Dance Studies from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance in the UK, a 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training in Hatha/ Vinyasa/ Yin/ Restorative styles of yoga, and is currently pursuing a certification in Somatic Movement Education from the Body-Mind Centering® school.
Listening to her body has been a steady path toward self-compassion, with physical practice serving as a portal into deeper awareness and a catalyst for ongoing personal growth. With two decades of experience working with movement, her teaching style is direct and embodied —often using imaginative cueing, oppositional forces, and playful visualization techniques.
When not in the studio, Niki is busy either wandering in the woods with her dog Kismet, cooking up a storm or running programs at WildHeart.
Sasha Bogdanowitsch is a composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and educator, whose work includes music for theater, dance and film, interdisciplinary performance, concert music and original songs. His compositional output is heavily influenced by his studies of world, folk, early and contemporary music. Sasha has performed worldwide and throughout the New York area in venues such as: Carnegie Hall, Whitney Museum, Symphony Space, BAM and Roulette.
Location
This workshop will take place in the Barn. If you’re coming to WildHeart for the first time, please visit our Directions page for arrival info.
Registration
Program Costs
Sliding Scale – $20-35
By offering a sliding scale, and two free BIPOC spots, we hope to make this offering financially accessible. Paying at the higher end of the sliding scale MAKES IT POSSIBLE for us to offer a sliding scale and scholarship spots. Please pay at the highest level that you are able.
Covid policy
Masking is optional but not required. Please do not attend events if you are feeling sick of any kind, or showing any COVID or flu like symptoms.
Refund policy
No refunds, no transfers
BIPOC spots
We are offering 2 free spots for BIPOC folx. Please select BIPOC Spot from the Pricing drop down to use one.