The group of 25 men and women are applauding and laughing. It has been a pee-in-yer-pants kind of funny and insightful day at this retreat. “Improvisation For The Spirit” is a series of workshops and retreats (and for the first time ever in Montana, co-ed!) that use improvisational theatre games to access one’s inner creativity. Led by Katie Goodman of Broad Comedy, Camp Equinox, and Spontaneous Combustibles in Bozeman, Montana, this spiritual workshop is unusually inspiring. 

The participants have come for a number of reasons. “I have a very loud inner critic and I want to work on quieting it down,” says Jill, a woman who started the day shy and a little anxious. It’s day two and she has just brought the house down with an improvised rap. “Whatever it is that is blocking my expressive self, stands between me and everything I want in life – self-esteem, artistic expression, confidence, joy, love,” she says.  

Some are here to learn how creative people go about “crow-barring open the fire-doors between their mouth and their muse” as one participant put it. And some are here simply looking for new insight and renewed energy for their lives and work. Whatever the reason, they have found that they have more creative potential than they’d thought when they walked through the door a day earlier. 

The next upcoming retreat will be held at Chico Hot Springs, January 23 – 24, 2016. Goodman is a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher and has combined her interests in the spiritual growth process with her skills as an improvisational comedian and teacher.

 The workshop will use improv, in Goodman’s words, “to enable participants to learn self-trust, release themselves from judgment, take-risks and accept challenges, practice being present, and be flexible and open to change. The comedy improv exercises teach us to surrender to the moment, ridicule perfectionism, stay in beginner’s mind, listen to our intuition, move with the flow and give up the goal.” The retreat promises that all of what will be experienced in this workshop can be easily applied to our daily lives. 

Comedy improv games are designed so that you don’t have time to censor yourself, so that you are pulled automatically into the flow of the game. Learning to feel comfortable in this flow is important for those of us who don’t operate this way on a daily basis. Improv takes us out of normal time and interactions and can be used as a diagnostic tool in discovering how we operate. We can look at ourselves, laugh at ourselves, and learn from others. We can then use the improv to practice changing our behaviors, such as bravely going for it, ignoring our inner critic, and being present.  

“This retreat is a great place to connect with other like-minded, creative souls,” says Goodman. “There will be a lot of laughter and a lot of self-discovery.” Lisa, an enthusiastic participant shares her perspective:

“Improvisation for the Spirit answers the question ‘How can I be whole in all that I do, achieve and who I interact with?’ And ‘How can I be whole when I am angry, hurt, disappointed?’ It was beautiful! Katie wonderfully blended a playful yet professional approach in all the activities. She chose a curriculum that spoke to me and the others in an encouraging way.”  

“I knew the workshop would energize me and give me confidence,” says a vivacious woman named Pam, “but I’m amazed at the strength of the energy and confidence this weekend has inspired. Katie possesses a real knack for putting people at their ease. Her inner peace and strength draw others to her and her humor and intelligence keep them around.”  

The all-women workshop begins Saturday morning, January 23rd, at 9:00am and ends at 5:00pm, Sunday, January 24th. Chico Hot Springs is located one hour from Bozeman, Montana. The workshop fee is $255. This includes lunch and a workbook to take home. Prices for accommodations vary from $45 - $200/night. Lunches are provided for workshop participants both Saturday and Sunday. Exceptional cuisine from one of the region’s finest restaurant is available in the Chico Lodge restaurant for breakfast and dinner, as well as other budget options nearby. Other activities available include massage, hiking, horse-back-riding and more. Registration is filling up, so sign-up right away by going to the website: www.katiegoodman.com or call now for details: (406) 522-7623.