Retreat Leaders

A Journey Guide Through the Healing Waters of Transformation

Leslie Bruder, the visionary behind the Welcome Home Retreat 2023, is a multifaceted program creator, thought leader, healer, animal lover and a grand master. Her life's journey has been like a river, flowing through diverse landscapes, gathering the wisdom of the water to create transformative experiences for her participants.

Leslie's expertise in bodywork began at the tender age of five, working on her grandfather and family dog!  She has since developed the unique modality of Phenomenal Touch®️ massage. With a master's degree in counseling and communication, and additional training as a body-centered psychotherapist, Leslie brings this added attribute to her massage sessions, courses and retreats.  She has authored seven articles and published an extensive book on three dimensional massage, distinguishing ordinary from extraordinary touch. 

A Voyage Through the Wilderness of the Soul

Leslie's journey continued as she studied  with Evan Hodkins at the School of Alchemy, learning heartwarming chants, Sufi dancing, transformational poetry, and extraordinary wisdom.  She led Outward Bound excursions and mental health courses, as well as experiential education wilderness adventures, and instructed for Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars. As an avid rock climber and river guide, Leslie has explored the mountains & canyons of Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Mexico, Colombia, Europe and Nepal, navigating the rapids of life and discovering the depths within the heart of the human spirit.  Through all of this, Leslie has developed an aptitude tor helping people and animals to feel seen, held, safe and loved in her presence. 

The Welcome Home Retreat 2023 

is the culmination of Leslie's diverse experiences, talents, creativity, and passion. Guided by Leslie and Cedar, participants will embark on a journey to their deepest, most profound sense of self through circles, song, touch, ceremony, and heartwarming activities that bond groups and individuals. 

Amidst the breathtaking beauty of the tropics, this retreat offers a healing oasis, where participants can rediscover the rhythm of their own hearts and souls. 

Join Leslie & Cedar, for the Welcome Home Retreat 2023 and experience the transformative power of their multifaceted expertise, as they guide you on a journey through the healing waters of self-discovery, connection, and emotional growth. 

The Fluidity and Grace of a Mermaid, Navigating the Ebb and Flow

Cedar Johnson is a highly skilled massage therapist with over 25 years of experience and a master instructor of Phenomenal Touch for almost 20 years. Her expertise in creating heart-opening rituals, sharing circles, and fostering self-discovery, self-love, and transformation has made her a sought-after massage therapist, instructor, and retreat leader. Cedar's passion for her work and the art form of touch is evident in her thriving private practice, where clients continually claim life changing experiences after receiving her powerful touch and presence. 

A Safe Container of Love and Reverence 

Cedar's ability to create a safe container of love and reverence allows her to touch the soul of each person, meeting them exactly where they are and finding the rhythm and dance of their body. As a dancer herself, Cedar brings a unique flow to her practice and life, making her an outstanding teacher who truly lives what she teaches. Her connection to the healing and transformative power of water is reflected in her deeply water-like approach to massage, creating an immersive experience that leaves participants feeling renewed and inspired.

An Outdoor Loving Adventurer, Cedar has spent a great deal of time in the oceans and mountains of California, Mexico, Thailand and Bali as well as the canyons and rivers of Colorado and Utah and Oregon. She brings a bountiful vibrancy, tender honesty and an all-encompassing passion that creates a safe place for participants to feel held, embraced and seen at their core.