Writing Retreats

Being a part of writeyourjourney is a rewarding experience I've enjoyed and benefited from the writing prompts which Kerstin provides and found our group sharing inspiring. For anyone hesitant about getting into writing this forum provides great support. We are often critical of our writing but with the camaraderie of other writers many wonderful stories are created and shared,

Fantastic writing workshops with Kerstin - highly recommended! Kerstin uses her heart and long standing expertise to guide others through their writing journey. She typically starts a writing workshop by a meditation, which always put me in the best mindset to write but also to relax, unwind and unfold details of my stories. I really enjoyed the feeling of learning a lot while relaxing and finding peace. I gained a lot from every sessions I did with her and I took the wisdom to my daily life. I can't recommend her enough.

Wonderful experience I went to the September 2019 retreat in Hoi An. Kerstin and Nigel take such good care of everyone, the hotel An Villa where we stayed also looked after our group so well. Nothing was too much bother for staff and they got to know everyone in the group well. We were treated to amazing local food and trips into the village and surrounds. Make sure you go to the cooking class, it was really fun and we were able to see how they grow their vegetables for the district as well as make some amazing flavorsome food and have a lot of fun at the same time. On top of all the cultural experiences we also did a lot of writing! Kerstin's incredible background as a writer and her ability to tune to individuals and the group created such a nurturing experience for us all. We were given prompts to encourage some creative flow and able to share our writing with others which really did enhance the experience and bonded to the group together. It's amazing to hear what other people write as well as getting the courage to read out your own. The great thing is that it's always optional too. Nothing is forced. The yoga by Victoria each morning was just such a wonderful way to wake up to the day, followed by meditation and lovely sound bowls. It is hot in September, but it didn't rain much. It's all such a wonderful experience, I couldn't say which part was my favorite. The whole retreat blends in so well together. If you think this is for you, don't hesitate. You will get something out of it.

A magical week It may sound hyperbolic to describe the Write Your Journey retreat as magical, but that is the word that comes to mind each time I'm asked about it. From the daily writing sessions, early morning yoga, and sound bowl meditations, to the excursions into Hoi An and the cooking class, everything was perfect. Although I wasn't sure what to expect, I can say with conviction that everything exceeded my expectations. I am new to creative writing, but that didn't matter. The nine women on the retreat were all at very different stages of their journey, and the camaraderie was lovely. The venue - An Villa - is an idyllic place run by beautiful people. Heaven. A special mention, of course, goes to Kerstin, the retreat conductor, as well as to Nigel on sound bowls and Victoria on the yoga mat. See you there next year!

The experience of a lifetime! I was blessed to attend a weeklong Write Your Journey retreat in Vietnam in September of 2018. (The option didn't allow me to select September so I selected the closest mont). The week with Kerstin was an outstanding, deepening and inspiring experience. Kerstin clearly poured her heart and soul into providing the most spacious, accepting and safe environment for writing together. There was a great balance of prompts, discussion and teaching, writing, reading and sharing. As the week progressed, we all went deeper and deeper into our creative expression. I particularly liked that there were a variety of approaches to opening up our writing: visual, verbal, drawing. The yoga, meditation, sound baths and excursions were all wonderful. Kerstin attended to every aspect of being in a foreign country. The individual writing consultations were extremely helpful, motivating and inspiring and as a result, I am leaving with a project that I knew I needed to do but was avoiding. If any part of you is pulled toward this experience: GO!! Heidi, craniosacral therapist, Woodstock, NY

Kerstin gets you writing! I have been visiting the Hoi An Writers Group on and off for the last 1.5 years and I always enjoy it. Not only is it a very well-prepared and well-lead class with a great combination of meditation and writing (which works for me personally very well!), but there are also always great laughs. It's a really nice and welcoming group of people. I've also joined a few of Kerstin's Yin yoga, sound bowl and writing workshops that were equally wonderful. Highly recommended to check out her website for any events when you're in town.

Unearth the stories you didn't know you had! I love attending Kirsten's Friday workshops whenever I get the chance. She is a very kind and nurturing person and this seems to overflow into the rest of the group, so you feel very comfortable writing about and sharing things that are sometimes quite personal. Sometimes it's a surprise what you find yourself writing about and sometimes it can also be a surprise to find out how creative you can be. And in the middle of a busy life, it is a joy and a pleasure to spend some time nurturing yourself in this way, in this very nice group and under the care of this very special and creative woman.

Write Your Journey at Hoi An! I participated in one of Write Your Journey's sessions in Vietnam (Hoi An) along with my husband, who is actually an engineer...not a writer. But both of us enjoyed the session and it brought out a lot of stories and ideas from both of us. I think the whole point about participating in any writing session is to be able to come out of it with your head full of motivation and memories and ideas that could shape themselves into an essay or book in the days to come. Write Your Journey is a good way to kickstart the writer in you. I recommend this with all my heart.

A safe space and fun place to unleash your creativity! I've been coming to Kerstin's Write Your Journey workshop every Friday for the past few months. It is, without a doubt, one of the highlights of my week. Having struggled to write anything for quite some time and now feeling the flow of creativity, the desire to tell a story, pretty much every day, is just proof of how effective those couple of hours are. From the gentle meditation to help us relax, to the clever writing prompts to help us focus, to the well-planned exercises and discussion points of the workshop, Kerstin never fails to deliver a Friday morning that's insightful, creative and fun! Not to mention the support and feedback from our wonderful group members – who I'm very grateful to call both teachers and friends. Their advice is invaluable, and inspiring. Whether you're just visiting Hoi An for a few days, a few weeks or you've come for a longer day, Kerstin (and the rest of us!) will make you feel welcome at the group. You won't regret this great gift to yourself! :)

Amazing Time At Write Your Journey Kerstin was such a lovely facilitator. I would absolutely recommend this experience. It's also a great way to meet other travellers.