Temple of Embodied Pleasure

Switch off and turn yourself back on.

A Shaking Medicine, Tantra and Temple Night retreat on a private bush property on the NSW Central Coast. A weekend to shake off the everyday, come alive in your body, explore your sexuality and remember just how good it feels to be fully yourself.

This retreat is for people with an adventurous spirit. For those who are curious about sexuality, embodiment and personal growth. For those who want to feel more comfortable in their body, more confident in their sexuality, more energised by life, and who love the idea of exploring all of this alongside a supportive community of like-minded humans.

Over the weekend we move through Shaking Medicine, Neo-Tantric practices, embodied connection, play and a Temple Night, creating a space to let go of some of the tension and inhibition we carry in everyday life, and to discover what becomes possible when we feel more relaxed, present and alive in our bodies.

No previous experience is necessary. Just bring an open mind, an adventurous spirit and a willingness to explore.

What you'll learn

Shaking Medicine. The science and practice of therapeutic tremoring: why shaking is a natural human mechanism for releasing tension, stress and excess activation from the body. You will learn to work with neurogenic tremoring, nervous-system regulation, pandiculation and therapeutic Qi Gong, and, more importantly, a practice you can take home and use to shift out of stress and back into calm, balance and flow.

Tantra. Neo-Tantric practices that bring more presence, connection, pleasure and authenticity into the way you relate to yourself and others. Becoming more sensitive to sensation. Recognising what you genuinely want, communicating it clearly, and feeling confident expressing both your desires and your limits.

Temple Night. A beautifully facilitated Saturday evening of ritual, play and embodied sensual exploration, where the practices of the weekend come together through music, movement, guided experiences and conscious connection. You are welcome to explore your sensuality and sexuality as much or as little as feels genuinely right for you. Everything is invitational, with choice, boundaries and consent at the heart of the evening. Come dressed in something that makes you feel sensual, expressive and playful. And if what your body asks for that night is rest, Temple Night is completely optional.

Somatic Bodywork & Tantra Massage. The art of giving and receiving deeply nourishing bodywork through a fusion of zen Thai somatic bodywork and Tantric touch: flowing movement, conscious touch, breath, presence and body awareness. You will leave with practical skills to share with a partner or loved one, and greater confidence giving, receiving and communicating around touch.

Is this retreat for you?

• You feel disconnected from your body and your sexual energy
• You are holding physical or emotional stress and tension
• You want to deepen intimacy with yourself or your partner
• You want to feel more alive, energetic and full of vitality
• You want more freedom of expression, in life and in your intimate experiences
• You enjoy personal growth in a supportive community and want practical tools you can use every day

It may not be suitable if you are experiencing acute psychosis, have untreated severe PTSD where group work may be overwhelming, or are currently dependent on alcohol or drugs. If you are pregnant or have a major medical or mental health condition, contact us first and we will talk it through with you. Eighteen and over.

You'll leave feeling more relaxed, more present, more emotionally open, more connected to your body, more confident expressing yourself, more grounded and more alive. Sensitive without feeling fragile, grounded without feeling shut down, confident without needing to perform, sexual without needing to be anything other than yourself.

The venue

A private bush property on the NSW Central Coast, ninety minutes north of Sydney, entirely surrounded by state forest and national park and bordered by two creeks, with a swimming hole. We have it to ourselves. There is a large undercover communal space with lounges and a firepit, hot showers, compost toilets and open paddocks to camp in. Phone reception is very limited and there is no internet, which is rather the point. The exact address is emailed to you after you book.

Where you'll sleep

This is a camping retreat. Camping is included in every ticket: bring your own tent, bedding and gear, or park a van. If you have neither, a glamping bell tent is the way to come.

Glamping is available as an add-on: furnished five-metre bell tents, raised off the ground, made up with proper mattresses, linen, pillows and blankets, rugs, bedside tables and solar lanterns. Each sleeps up to four, as a queen bed, a queen with one or two singles, or three singles. $450 per tent for the weekend, shared however you like.

Sunday night can be added for $35 if you would rather not drive home straight after closing circle. There is no catering on Sunday evening.

Food

All food is provided and completely vegetarian: six meals across the weekend - dinner on Friday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday, with tea and coffee throughout. Please tell us about any dietary requirements when you book, and bring your own plate, cup and cutlery to reuse through the weekend.

What's included

• The full programme, Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon
• Shaking Medicine, Tantra and Qi Gong sessions
• Temple Night
• The Somatic Bodywork & Tantra Massage playshop
• Six vegetarian meals, plus tea and coffee throughout
• Two nights camping on the land

Not included

• Travel to and from the property; car-pooling is encouraged
• Camping gear and bedding: bring your own tent or van, unless you add a glamping bell tent
• Your own plates, cups and cutlery
• Glamping tents and the Sunday night, sold as add-ons

What to bring

• Tent, bedding and camping gear, unless you are glamping
• Your own plate, bowl, cup and cutlery, to reuse through the weekend
• Drinking water if you would rather not drink the land's unfiltered rainwater
• Comfortable clothes you can move in, and a warm jumper for the evenings
• Swimmers, and towels and a sarong for the massage playshop
• Yoga mat, blanket, pillow, water bottle, journal
• Something that makes you feel sensual and playful to wear for Temple Night
• Earth-friendly toiletries only; nothing goes in the creek, not even sunscreen or repellent
• A torch or headlamp; the campsite is unpowered
• Any medication you need

Your facilitators

Scarlett Rachel is a Tantra and Sacred Sexuality teacher, tantric bodyworker and facilitator devoted to helping people experience deeper intimacy, embodied pleasure and more freedom in their sexual expression. Based in Sydney, Australia, Scarlett works with individuals and couples through private sessions, workshops and retreats, weaving together Tantric philosophy and practices, conscious tantric touch, breath, movement, nervous system awareness, authentic relating and embodied exploration. Her work supports people in moving beyond shame, performance, disconnection and limiting beliefs around sexuality, and into presence, confidence, sensitivity and connection with their bodies. At the heart of her approach is the belief that sexuality can be far more than an act or performance, it can become a pathway into self-awareness, vitality, creativity, intimacy and connection. Her passion is helping people reclaim sexuality as something natural, playful and deeply human. Instagram: @scarlett.rachel_

Dr. Keith R. Motes (PhD) is the founder of the Shaking Medicine Foundation, a Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist and bodyworker, Yoga & Qi Gong teacher, and Quantum Physicist. Originally from Louisiana, he blends rigorous scientific insight with somatic wisdom to support people in awakening their innate healing capacity and accessing their fullest potential. During his Quantum Physics PhD in Sydney, Australia, Keith published 14 peer-reviewed papers, completed Yoga Teacher Training, and became a dual Australian-US citizen. Near the end of his doctorate, a profound spontaneous therapeutic tremoring experience arose unexpectedly - his body instinctively shook, pandiculated, and released long-held childhood trauma he had not consciously known was present. This direct encounter with the body's primal, autogenic healing intelligence sparked a deep awakening and inspired him to establish the Shaking Medicine Foundation. Shaking Medicine is now an internationally accredited somatic modality that Keith has been developing full-time ever since. Instagram: @drkeithmotes and @shakingmedicine

If you have any questions about the modalities either of us teaches, you are welcome to reach out to us directly on social media.

Consent and boundaries

• Participation is always optional and you set your own pace
• Consent is ongoing and can be withdrawn at any time
• Touch only ever happens with consent
• No nudity is required. Nudity is welcome, and you will see it
• Confidentiality is respected, for everyone in the room

There are dedicated support people on the team through the whole weekend, there to help you with whatever comes up.

Keeping the room balanced

For harmony and an even flow we hold the space balanced in masculine and feminine energy. Single tickets are open to women; men are warmly welcome to come with a partner or a friend on a pair ticket. If you are a single man and would like to attend, join the waitlist - leave your details and Scarlett will be in touch as places open, after a short conversation so she can make sure the space is the right fit for you.

Good to know

Do I need experience? No. Bring an open mind, an adventurous spirit and a willingness to explore.

Is this sexual? The retreat is centred around sexuality, in a grounded, integrated and respectful way. Everything is invitational, and you choose your own level of participation at every step.

Will there be nudity? Nudity is welcome but never required. Come with the understanding that you will see nudity, particularly on Temple Night.

What if I'm nervous? Very normal, and welcome. Many people arrive feeling exactly the same, and there are dedicated support people there for you.

Can I come on my own? Yes. Most people do.

What should I wear? Clothes that are comfortable and easy to move in. Something sensual and playful for Temple Night.

How do I get there, and is there phone signal? It is a ninety-minute drive north of Sydney. The exact address, gate instructions and directions come by email in the week before the retreat. The last stretch of road is unsealed but fine for a normal car driven slowly. There is very little phone signal on the land and no internet.

Can I swim? Yes, there is a creek and a swimming hole. The owners ask that nothing goes into the water, not even earth-friendly soap, sunscreen or insect repellent.

Water, showers, power, dogs, kids? The property runs on unfiltered rainwater; plenty of people drink it happily, bring your own if you would rather not. There are hot showers and compost toilets. The campsite is unpowered, so bring a torch. No dogs and no children.

What if I have an injury, or I'm pregnant? Tell us when you book. Most things can be worked around, and a facilitator will talk it through with you beforehand.

Booking, transfers and cancellations

Paid in full at booking. Your place is confirmed when payment clears, and the address and arrival details come by email in the week before the retreat. You sign a short waiver as part of the booking.

Transfers. You can pass your place to someone else of the same ticket type with our approval, up to three days before the retreat. We need to know who is in the room.

Cancellations. Until 5 January 2027: a full refund, less the booking fee. From 6 January: no refund, because the land, the food and everything else are paid for by then. Serious illness or bereavement is handled case by case, with kindness - talk to us.

Weather. The property can flood in very heavy rain and is in bushfire country. If the owners call a postponement for safety, usually three to four days out, every ticket rolls to the new date or is refunded in full.

Come for the adventure. Come because you are curious. Come because a weekend of shaking, Tantra, connection, laughter, exploration and Temple sounds like exactly the kind of reset you need.