Hi Guys,
2024. It’s been a year of ups and downs, twists and turns for many, and with the end-of-year hurtling towards us at a dazzling pace, there is a solution in sight for you to catch your breath as 2025 begins!
In January 2025, the internationally renowned OYNS (Optimize Your Nervous System) team is heading our way from Europe, to share their lighthearted and transformational workshops as well as intensive immersive retreats in Johannesburg and Cape Town for the first time!
Start 2025 with a nervous system reset by joining the knowledgeable, experienced, compassionate and playful facilitators Torunn Avelsgaard Lien and Robbin van der Crussen from Norway at one of their immersive retreats, taking place from 13 – 17 January at Melody Hill (1 hour from Johannesburg) and 23 – 27 January at Fynbos Estate (1 hour from Cape Town).
It’ll be 4 days of no phones or outside distractions, with 4 sessions each day, activities that swing between high activation and deep relaxation, relational games and practices that reveal how deeply a safe nervous system allows us to connect to each other, high-quality lectures on the nervous system, silent hours in the mornings and evenings, live music and light-heartedness.
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| Melody Hill - Johannesburg Retreat |
Instill in yourself a thorough understanding, the practical skill and a deeply felt inspiration for how to use your breath and body awareness to meet life's inevitable challenges, as wonderful opportunities to wake up to more of your natural capacity to heal, love, laugh, lead, connect and create.
With small groups of just 18 per retreat and an individual call before and after the retreat with Robbin and Torunn, your personal transformational process will be facilitated in a safe and grounded way.
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| At a retreat |
What is OYNS?
(Optimize Your Nervous System) offers retreats and workshops providing a complete nervous system reset that revives the inherent joy of simply being alive.
The retreat is held by radical, intuitive medical doctor Torunn Lien and world-renowned music wizard and breathworker Robbin van der Crussen,
Since they met six years ago, they have shared a common fascination for self-explorative and self-transcending work, inspired by ancient traditions of healing and modern scientific methods for creating health and well-being.
Working closely together, they mirror and support each other as they unravel ever deeper understandings of what a human life can be and how to make the most out of it. They have dedicated their lives to share their experiences and knowledge with others, with the intention of aiding the evolution of human consciousness.
Join the duo in the serene countryside within easy proximity of the cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town, to gently smash your heart wide open and reconnect with yourself. Get out of the City, and take a breath of fresh air in the beautiful retreat venues.
%20and%20Robbin%20van%20der%20Crussen_1.jpg "Torunn Avelsgaard Lien (left) and Robbin van der Crussen_3") |
| Torunn Avelsgaard Lien (right) and Robbin van der Crussen |
Why South Africa?
Robbin van der Crussen explains excitedly; “We are very excited to bring OYNS for the first time to the African continent, the very Mother Continent - the oldest inhabited continent on Earth. As our work is based on feeling our bodies as a path towards experiencing the pure essence of who we are, , we are curious to keep exploring what it means to be human, and how we can turn the current human crisis into a beautiful and hopeful opportunity for humanity to transcend out-dated ways of being, inspired by the land we all came from originally.”
Torunn Lien adds; “People from all over the world come to our retreats in Norway - now we feel the calling to bring our work to other parts of the world. We always seek out beautiful places in nature for our events. The stunning nature of South Africa makes this a perfect choice for our retreats.”
Watch the Promotional Video
HERE
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU RETREATS
JOHANNESBURG
13 – 17 January
Melody Hill, Magaliesburg, (1 hour from Johannesburg)
CAPE TOWN
23 - 27 January
Fynbos Lifestyle Estate (1 hour from Cape Town)
Price: R14 900
Early bird price (if booked before December 1): R12 900
This price includes food and accommodation (but excludes travel) and the 4-days retreat programme
With limited space of only 18 per retreat, sign up now before you’re disappointed.
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| Music is an important component at a retreat |
2-HOUR WORKSHOPS
In addition and prior to these retreats, they will be holding 2-hour workshops in Jozi on 9 & 10 January and in Cape Town on 20 & 21 January.
JOHANNESBURG
January 9 at 7-9pm
Relational Aliveness - Connect with each other, and wake up together
Venue: The Dance Junxion, Bryanston
Space for 50 people only
Cost: R290
January 10 at 3-5pm
Breath of Freedom - Be safe in your body, be safe in the world
Venue: The Dance Junxion, Bryanston
Space for 50 people only
Cost: R290
CAPE TOWN
January 20 at 7 – 9pm
Breath of Freedom - Be safe in your body, be safe in the world
Venue: Ananda Sanctuary, Woodstock
Space: 30 people only
Cost: R290
January 21 at 7 – 9pm
Relational Aliveness - Connect with each other, and wake up together
Venue: Ananda Sanctuary, Woodstock
Space: 30 people only
Cost: R290
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| Melody Hill - Johannesburg Retreat |
Free Online sessions
If you’d like to see if their work resonates with you before signing up for the retreat, join them on one of their 1 hour FREE weekly online sessions - “Breath of Freedom”, taking place each Wednesday at 17h00 (CET).- which is 18h00 South African time. A simple and enjoyable way to access your body’s inherent wisdom and power to heal itself, through breath, relaxation, and body awareness.
SOME REVIEWS
“Very powerful and easy-to-learn methods for learning to understand your nervous system.” Kristian Haaland, IT & Event Manager
"The approach, skills, and flow of the days we had together have revolutionized my relationship with my body, spirit, and mind. I have gained tools and approaches I easily can use in my day-to-day life.
But instilled in me is also a new, more joyous, and blissful view of life.” Vikki
“It's a safe and playful space created by two amazing guides who complement each other very well, and that are ready to go on this journey with you. Go on that journey.” Vanessa
"The environment was safe, welcoming, well-organized, and challenging enough for me to experience what my body was ready to reveal." Sebastian
"They combine shamanic wisdom and scientific knowledge in a delightful manner." Adrian
"Concrete practices that give more freedom in how I react and respond to my feelings and emotions." Håkon
"The way the sessions are guided and held by Robbin and Torunn feels super natural and welcoming, as they both live and breathe what they teach. The way they complement each other makes for a diverse, musically delicious and super insightful retreat experience." - Elias
“The days at OYNS have enriched my life on so many levels. The space of loving presence, beautiful music and stillness allowed me to explore, activate and relax with breathing and movement. ” Ina Flugsrud Gustavsson, Facial Reflexologist, Doula
“I had an amazing experience with myself, guided by very knowledgeable and gentle Robbin and Torunn.
I can only recommend if you need love, peace, transformation, or important knowledge on how to
take care of yourself..” Laila Pellennec, Master Student in Indigenous Studies
“I’m amazed by the power we all have inside us, and our breath, to heal and to bring us back any time we need it! I believe everybody needs in their life to be part of this retreat.” Andrea Castillo Herrera, Architect, Yoga Instructor
"A great opportunity to slow down, and look inward while combining with relationship-building exercises. Stunning scenery and nature as well as live music all add to an unforgettable experience.
Highly recommended. Even the ice bath!" Auguste Miller, Strategy Consultant
Follow OYNS, Robbin and Torunn on Social Media:
- Gently change your inner environment and watch the world around you transform.
- Be safe in your body, be safe in the world!
- Let your mind have a breakdown so your heart can have a breakthrough!
About OYNS
OYNS, (Optimize Your Nervous System), is a platform created by Torunn Avelsgaard Lien and Robbin van der Crussen. Here they join forces to offer retreats and workshops that are constructed to give participants a complete nervous system reset. By simply freeing the organism from its baseline level of stress through breathwork, body awareness, movement, and conscious relating they help people get in touch with their creativity, resourcefulness, and passion for life. The retreats are infused with music, humour, and playfulness, and is based on the principle of becoming safe in our own bodies. We are resilient to any stressor that happens outside and our perception of the world around us brightens up when we can feel everything that happens inside of us without fear and resistance. This is the prerequisite for cultivating a healthy and flexible baseline in our nervous system.
- Tools, skills, and inspiration you need to build a resilient nervous system
- Safe and trauma-informed spaces for you to explore at your own pace
- Retreats, workshops and online courses designed to make you autonomous in the practices
BIOGRAPHIES
Robbin van der Crussen
A music creator and breathwork teacher. For 8 years he has integrated breath and soulful presence into his DJ sets with original music and live harmonica at festivals and stages all over the world. He hosts retreats and breathwork experiences focused on relating to self and others with increased body awareness. His voice and uniquely lighthearted guidance is featured on the Open meditation app and a sought-after contributions at visionary, thought-leading and multidisciplinary events.
He holds a master's degree in music production from Kingston University, London, is a certified Vivation Breathwork teacher, and cranio sacral therapist, and is immersed in many different directions within breathwork.
%20and%20Robbin%20van%20der%20Crussen_3.jpg "Torunn Avelsgaard Lien (left) and Robbin van der Crussen_3") |
| Torunn Avelsgaard Lien (left) and Robbin van der Crussen |
Torunn Lien, MD
A medical doctor and a driving force in the global revolution of empowering people to reclaim their intrinsic nature of health and vitality. She specializes in the human being as a self-healing organism, and how safety in the nervous system is the source of healing of chronic and so-called incurable conditions. Her life and work is devoted to sharing information and practices that help people from all over the world, from different walks of life and with all kinds of needs to regain health in a simple, natural and affordable way.
A licensed yoga, meditation and breathwork practitioner, she offers retreats, workshops, and lectures, and her first book on health as a natural process will be published in 2025. She is a growing inspiration to patients and healthcare professionals worldwide in embracing the body’s inherent intelligence and power to heal itself.
Aum Namah Shivay!
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%20and%20Robbin%20van%20der%20Crussen_1.jpg "Torunn Avelsgaard Lien (left) and Robbin van der Crussen_3")
%20and%20Robbin%20van%20der%20Crussen_3.jpg "Torunn Avelsgaard Lien (left) and Robbin van der Crussen_3")
