Join us for a happy somatic festival in Vaasa on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 13.00 to 21.00!
Program
Meditative singing
Sing yourself into meditation with short, beautiful melodies. Experience the silence that lies beyond your thoughts and emotions. Facilitator: Charlotta. Studio 1, 15.30–17.00.
Happy rhythms
Join me for a unique rhythmic journey! Bring your drum – or your feet – and let your creativity flow! Let’s play and dance together! Facilitator: Hedson. Black Box, 15.30–17.00.
Thriving in an overwhelming world
The nervous system is more sensitive than we think. In this workshop, we’ll use movements from Movingness and insights from applied neurology to create a feeling of safety and build resilience. Facilitator: Peter. Black Box, 13.45–15.15.
Healing voice
Use your voice to deepen and calm your breathing, reduce stress, and relieve pain. You do not need to “know how to sing” – everyone has their own unique voice. And that is enough. Facilitator: Sirkka-Liisa. Studio 1, 13.45–15.15.
Body art and painting
Color your world – paint your body! In this workshop, we’ll use ecological colors you can apply to your face, hands, or wherever you like. Facilitator: Marja. In the small dance and yoga studio, 18.00–19.00.
Play and release!
Open your senses with playful and whimsical exercises! Explore different ways of moving and different emotional states. Loosen up, let go and move! Faciliatator: Katja. In the large dance and yoga studio, 18.00–19.00.
Ecstatic Dance with LIVE music
Move and dance to the sound of healing voices (Sirkka-Liisa), song and guitar (Charlotta), drums, bells and percussion (Hedson)! Move your body and let magic touch your heart! Facilitator: Peter. In the large dance and yoga studio, 20.30–20.30.
Relaxing soundbath
Lie down, close your eyes and let the sounds wash over you. Enjoy the sound waves surrounding you from all directions. Allow them to calm and relax your body and mind. In the large dance and yoga studio, 20.30–21.00.
Schedule 13.00–17.00
The first half of the festival is in Taikon, Kasarmi 11, Itäinen Kasarmintori 7–9.
13.00–13.30. Welcome! Opening ceremony in Black Box (Hedson, Charlotta, Sirkka-Liisa, Katja, Marja & Peter)
Black box
13.45–15.15. Workshop: Thriving in an overwhelming world. What happens when the nervous system is constantly overloaded? Learn how to use Movingness and applied neurology to understand your nervous system and what it needs to thrive (Peter)
15.30–17.00. Workshop: Happy rhythms! Djembe drum and dance workshop with Hedson, master drummer from Benin in West Africa. Bring your own drum – or your feet!
Studio 1
13.45–15.15. Workshop: Parantava ääni – Healing voice. Experience the deep healing power of your own voice (Sirkka-Liisa)
15.30–16.45. Workshop: Meditative singing. Learn how to quiet your mind with short melodies, chants, or mantras (Charlotta)
17.00–17.45. FOOD BREAK
Meet your facilitators
Hedson
Hedson Agbogladja is a drummer and percussionist from Grandpopo, Benin. He’s know for his happy energy and long, creative improvisations.
Charlotta
Charlotta Kerbs is an internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter. As an educator, she offers workshops for meditative singing and mantra circles.
Sirkka-Liisa
Sirkka-Liisa Ypyä is a powerful sound healer. She’s also a dancer, body therapist, relaxation coach, yoga teacher, and Movingness teacher.
Schedule 18.00–21.00
The second part of the festival is in the sports facilities at Artellikuja 4 (about 300 m from Taikon).
Small studio
18.00–19.00 Body art and painting (Marja)
Large studio
18.00–19.00 Play and release (Katja)
19.00–20.30 Somatic ecstatic dance with live music (Hedson, Charlotta, Sirkka-Liisa; facilitator Peter)
20.30–21.00 Relaxing sound bath (Katja)
Meet your facilitators
Peter
Peter Appel (MSME) is an internationally acclaimed movement teacher and the founder of Movingness, an ISMETA-approved somatic movement method.
Katja
Katja Memeti is a yoga, pilates, and yin yoga teacher. She’s also a Movingness practitioner. Katja enjoys playing singing bowls.
Marja
Marja Nivala is a visual artist and somatic dancer.
Festival area
The first half of the festival is in Black Box and Studio 1 at Taikon, in beautiful Kasarmi 11, Itäinen Kasarmintori 7–9, 65100 Vaasa. The second half is in the sports facilities at Artellikuja 4 (about 300 m from Taikon).
Choose your favorite classes
Feel free to choose your favorite workshops – with space reservation.
Languages
All classes are in Finnish, Swedish or English, or a mix of all three – depending on the participants.
Food
Bring light food, for example a salad or a soup, with you. You can use the kitchen in Taikon to warm it. Or to make a cup of tea or coffee.
Tickets
Join us in the afternoon, in the evening – or for the full festival! Please note that there’s a limited number of tickets!
