Join us for a week of sailing & outdoors movement in the wild landscapes of the Scottish isles: cultivating ecological connection through mindful movement.
This is a unique opportunity to discover the transformative power of mindfulness & movement practices in an extraordinary environment, during a week in July when summer is at its height. You will be supported in a small, friendly group & given expert guidance, making this creative residency accessible for both complete beginners, & those with more experience in outdoor adventures &/or somatic movement practices.
On waking in remote anchorages, we will gather for a short morning practice & hearty breakfast before a day which weaves together time learning to sail on the water, & time moving & creating together on the land. With simple prompts & easy-to-follow instructions, you will be guided through different creative explorations which respond to the surrounding environment as it changes day-by-day. Together we will work with breathing, witnessing, movement, touch, stillness, & reflecting in words & images. Through this embodied play we will discover how slowing down & bringing awareness to sensory experiences can help us find new ways of connecting to ourself, others, & the world.
This collaborative practice asks: what might our role be in witnessing, celebrating, & protecting the interwoven ecological tapestry in which we play a key part? By noticing our sensory experiences, we allow ourselves to enter into a receptive state of deep listening & connecting, through which we can imagine, rediscover, & begin to work towards new ways of being in the world. Return home renewed & inspired by the wild shores of the islands, & your imagination.
>> 6 day creative residency onboard the yacht Merlin
>> 11th - 17th July 2026
>> Round-trip beginning & ending in Mallaig (West Coast of Scotland)
>> A small supportive group with places limited to 6 participants
>> Open level residency: no prior sailing or movement experience required. People of all ages & backgrounds are welcome.
>> £895 all inclusive of food & accommodation onboard the yacht. We are happy to support individual’s applications for grant funding - please contact us.
>> Please do get in touch should you have any further questions before applying
>> Final deadline: 5pm (GMT) Saturday 15th February 2026 Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, so please apply as early as possible.
“The STUDIO SOMA x Sail Britain trip from Ardrossan to Oban was such a wonderful adventure full of favourite moments, but the sunset barbecue on the rock & the dolphins dancing along by the boat will stick with me forever. Over the week I built really fulfilling connections to the sea, to myself, & to the others on board. There were so many unexpected moments of joy, balanced with reflection, & connection. It felt like fine-tuning my senses to myself & to the natural environment. Kate held a very welcoming space for all the magic right from the very start. Thanks to both Kate & Oliver for making it all possible!”
- Sylvie, Residency Participant 2025
“Kate shared her deep knowledge, passion, & practice with generosity, authenticity, & care. This week was deep, playful, & richly nurturing on many levels. The combination of eco-somatic movement practice with sailing across beautiful bodies of water, gently & expertly lead by Oliver, was a unique & wonderful experience. As well as feeling deeply connected to my inner landscape, I had space & time to connect with the land, sea, & creatures around me, & weave all of this in & through my own artistic practice. Life on board created a very lived sense of ‘love in action’ as we all worked together with mutual respect, openness, & admiration throughout the week. I feel resourced, more able to keep my eyes & heart open to the challenges ahead, & full of hope.”
- Suzie, Residency Participant 2025
FACILITATOR // KATE SAGOVSKY is the Creative Director of STUDIO SOMA. She is an international artist specialising in somatics, movement, & live performance. She is an experienced facilitator, who has been teaching movement in a range of contexts for over two decades. She draws on a wide range of practices including Actor Movement, Contemporary Dance, Body-Mind Centering, Meditation, Pilates, & Yoga Asana, as well as being a qualified Feldenkrais practitioner. She is currently completing an AHRC funded PhD on Rewilding Play: Somatic Movement Improvisation, Performance, & Ecological Consciousness. By combining elements of different practices, she creates a warm, interactive, safe environment in which everyone can befriend their body, & discover the joy & power of moving. // Find out more at: www.sagovsky.com
EXPEDITION LEADER // OLIVER BEARDON is the Founder of Sail Britain & Merlin’s Skipper (Captain). He is wildly passionate about sailing & holds the RYA’s highly respected Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate commercially endorsed by the MCA. He has sailed extensively around the UK, the Baltic, & the Mediterranean but is especially drawn to the wild outlying islands of Scotland. Oliver has long experience leading expeditions, teaching sailing as an RYA Instructor, & working with groups of young & disadvantaged people to broaden access to sailing. Oliver is also a fully qualified architect with a particular interest in low energy buildings & sustainable communities, as well as a keen photographer, maker, & adventurer. // Find out more at: www.sailbritain.org
