September 5, 2024
Retreats 101
September 5, 2024
Retreats 101
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Yoga retreats. For the elusive? For the spiritual heady? For the elite? For me, it ought to be an experience for everyone.

Retreats make me feel plugged in. It’s time and space for me to simply focus on ME, not the house, the chores, the work, the kid, the day to day. It feels gloriously self-ish. But rewards me (and my family) ultimately so much, because I come back refueled, invigorated, restored and inspired. It truly is the best investment I can make for myself and those around me in my day to day.

Rhianna

MY WHY: 

A retreat is one of the best ways I know to do deep, important healing. To have the true time and space to step away from the day to day. To meet a like minded community that can support and nourish you in ways you didn’t even know you were needing.

It’s also a chance to tap into our adventurous side – trying new things, being bold, getting out of our comfort zone in a very enriching way. And of course – exploring rad new places, their traditions, their cultures, the wisdom of the land, breathe different air, touch different soil.

It’s been a major source of refresh & celebration for me in my life. I always come home from experiences like this with a newfound appreciation for my home and family, a newfound deep sense of self, connecting to my desires and nourishing my needs. And a deep appreciation for my self. For how far I’ve come, living a heart centered life. And that pause to celebrate it all and have some deep fun, well it nourishes me for the year to come.

I also love retreats as a way to set up new rituals and routines for yourself – I never feel more connected to my spiritual & holistic health practices than when I come back from an immersive retreat experience. I take better care of myself afterwards, in a lasting way. Which is HUGE! It’s so easy not to tend to ourselves (in the ways we’re really craving) when we’re doing our day to day.

And if you know me, you know I love rituals. To me, rituals anchor us into rhythm – whether it be daily, seasonal, annual. It allows our body to know what to expect, have a chance for deep release, reflection and connection and our bodies begin to really settle into that. Our own internal rhythms start to feel more balanced, and thus all of our life goes a bit more smoothly.

And it doesn’t mean we’ll always stay there, but it does mean we’ll know how that feels and why it’s important to come back to it. And we’ll have new tools to guide us back to balance!

But of course I love retreats, it’s a big part of my dharma (life’s purpose) here on this earth. To take women to sacred places within themselves and around the world. 

So that women can truly get to know themselves better and have a clearer understanding of their needs, desires and how to communicate them. 

When we can own that place within ourselves, it makes it a lot easier for our needs to be met and our desires manifested. 

Then we sync into this rhythm where it feels like life is actually working for us, not to us. 

 Life begins to feel a lot more relaxed, pleasurable, purposeful, supportive, and juicy. Can I get a hell yeah?

WHY WILD FEMININE

I choose to call my retreats Wild Feminine retreats because I believe we’re all desiring feeling a bit more wild & free in our day to day & in our lives. How many of us feel stuck or in the monotony of it sometimes? How many of us have been taught to diminish our needs, or struggle to communicate our boundaries, or struggle to have the energy to tend to ourselves after a long day of simply living?

The feminine is indefinable and is completely unique to each of us. There is no to-do list when it comes to tapping into the feminine. It’s a state of surrender and deep intuition that guides us in our lives and allows us to move and speak from a place of authenticity and knowing.

But in order to tap into that space, we need to deeply receive. We need our needs met, to feel safe, cared for, well nourished. This is the exact space I aim to hold for every retreat I offer. Women are often caring for so many others – on my retreats, we get to care for YOU! From high quality local food prepared fresh daily, to comfortable accommodations, to deep space holding rituals, to immersive time in some of the world’s most scenic nature, to open and supportive community – you can show up exactly as you are and know it is not only okay, but deeply welcomed.

Sidenote: I find that women tend to feel safer to share freely and openly amongst the presence of other well-intentioned women, which is why, for now, my retreats are women only. There’s a chance for understanding and vulnerability, for openness and communication that women have experienced for millenia when sitting in circle together. (One day I’ll do couples retreats with my husband, but for now this is for the women!).

THESE RETREATS ARE FOR:

Women aged 18-endless. It truly depends on your activity level, but we’ve had women from 20 to 75 on our retreats. Honestly that intergenerational span is one of the most rewarding parts. We all need to support, cheer, and learn from each other at all stages of life! Some base actively level is of course needed, feel free to reach out if you have questions! 

The yoga: is always made very accessible. We are not practicing intense poses, focusing on the physical. We move and breathe and feel good, but please do not think it will be a bunch of bendy 20 year olds! I promise you’ll fit in =) It’s one of my top values in the yoga we teach and offer – making the practice feel inviting and accessible to all life stages and ability levels.

GUATEMALA MYSTICAL & WILD FEMININE RETREAT

This retreat is in honor and reverence for the Mayan people & culture. Over 20 dialects are spoken around Lake Atitlan, considered one of the natural wonders of the world. A mecca for the spiritual curious and nature lovers. To see a quick general overview of this retreat, watch here. 

We explore Antigua, a charming colonial town about 45 minutes from the international airport. Full of cafes, art, history and incredible coffee – it’s the perfect landing spot!

From there we venture together to Lake Atitlan, where everyone gets around by boat! Boating on this majestic lake, surrounded by volcanoes, is one of the most incredible experiences. We land at our private retreat center, welcomed by our private chef, and explore from there. We enjoy morning meditation and yoga practices, afternoons exploring the villages around the lake (shopping, eating, sight seeing). We also work with local shaman & healers and dive deep into truly transformative spiritual and mystical practices, we are so fortunate to receive. We aim to create a deep exchange of gratitude, appreciation, reverence and respect.

Number of days: 9 days (with travel days included)

Number of participants: 5 + Jess (6 total)

Ability to meet dietary preferences: No prob!

Time of year: End of January/beginning of February

Climate: 55-80 degrees, Guatemala is known as the land of eternal spring. It’s the perfect getaway during a cold winter. We will be at an altitude of about 5000 feet, so while it’s warm, it’s not humid or too buggy or hot. It’s truly perfect!

Getting there: Typically we’ll fly out of Houston together. You can meet us in Houston to go into the country together, or arrive at your own timeframe. A private car will be at the airport to pick you up, no matter the time you arrive (including if flight changes – we got you!). We always spend 2 nights in the city we land in, so if anyone is delayed, there is still plenty of time to arrive before the next adventure begins. If you’d like more time in the country, we can help with suggestions.

Activity: this is open to all ability levels. Should be able to walk a mile or 2 at a time for our journeys and exploring, but it’s relaxed and never super strenuous. The locations around the lake are steep, so do be prepared to do lots of steps! We do enjoy a nature reserve with the option to hike and enjoy swinging rope bridges or zip lines, but that is simply optional to everyone in the group!

Accommodations: each participant has their own private room & bathroom

Full Guatemala retreat info here

PATAGONIA ROOTED & WILD FEMININE RETREAT

This retreat is about stepping away from it all. 

Expansive. Space holding. Wild. Free. Mountainous. Adventurous. Delicious. Fun.

All words that embody this journey of a lifetime. This isn’t just a yoga retreat, but an investment in knowing yourself better, being bold in following your advenurous side, getting out of your comfort zone in the best of ways, and letting some of the most expansive wilderness in the world hold space for you.

After the noise and bustle of the world, let some of the earth’s most pristine nature care for you, quiet your mind, & mend your body in this experiential trip of a lifetime.

This trip is for people who love trying new things, hiking, getting their feet on the ground & into the wild, and experience some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery.

Number of days: 7 days, 6 nights (plus travel days, not included)

Number of participants: 7-8+ Jess (8-9 total)

Ability to meet dietary preferences: Vegetarian, due to the remote nature of this retreat, we cannot accommodate other food allergies

Time of year: mid-late March

Climate: 45-78 degrees. It’s the beginning of Autumn for the Southern hemisphere when we go! Buenos Aires will be a bit warmer. But as we head into our mountain towns, you can expect some chiller nights and beautiful days (about 65 degrees).

Getting there: You’ll need to fly into Buenos Aires, and then take a local flight to Bariloche. Typically it’s best to transfer to the smaller local airport to do this. We highly recommend spending 1-2 nights in the country before retreat start (in Buenos Aires or Bariloche). Please note most flights to Buenos Aires are overnight flights and we’ll need to plan accordingly! If you’d like more time in the country, we can of course help with suggestions and will guide you on booking your Bariloche flight. And at an additional cost Jess can book all of your additional logistics for you, if you’d like.

Activity: this is our most active retreat. We will be doing many hikes, although we always meet the needs of the group. Luckily most of these places we stay start at sea level, so altitude is not as big of an issue. You should be able to hike 2-3 miles at a time, but know you will never be left behind. We’re not in a hurry on retreat!

Accommodations: private or shared accomodation options

Full Patagonia Retreat info here

MONTANA WILD FEMININE RETREAT

A beautiful retreat in my home state! This retreat is a mix of local Montanans, Canadians, and women from all across the country! 2025 will be my 5th annual retreat at the Feathered Pipe Ranch, a yoga retreat institution in the United States! It’s been considered by Yoga Journal to be a top yoga destination in the world, and is the oldest yoga retreat center in the United States.

This ranch is full of magic, big forests, wild space holding, and is so cozy and welcoming. We practice rituals, enjoy the prayer flag forest, enjoy fun ceremonies, incredible local food, and even though it’s a bigger group size, we always feel so connected and supported. Especially since many women end up coming back year after year, ready to welcome you in!

Number of days: 3 days (plus travel days, not included)

Number of participants: up to 33 + facilitators – Jess and 2 others (36 total)

Ability to meet dietary preferences: Absolutely

Time of year: end of May into June

Climate: 40-75 degrees. This retreat is at the start of summer in Montana, so it can still be a bit chilly. Montana weather is very unpredictable! Whether we’re inside practicing by the log fire, or out on the yoga nature deck, it’s truly a haven.

Getting there: Fly or drive into Helena, Montana. The ranch can accommodate airport or hotel pickups within Helena. If you’d like more time in the state exploring, we can help with suggestions.

Activity: this is open to all activity levels. There is an optional hike of 2-3 miles, but it’s done in a relaxed and open way. 

Full Montana Wild Feminine retreat info here

PRIVATE MONTANA HALF & FULL DAY RETREATS

These retreats are fully customizable and unique to your group or situation. I create a general outline you can see here. This is a chance to connect deeply to the local land, enjoy an immersive experience, and can be done solo or in a group setting. You provide the group and the space (private space rental can be arranged, as desired). This is a perfect way to unwind after a long day exploring, a chance to go deep into your healing, or to connect and celebrate milestones (blessingways, bachelorette, weddings, birthdays, reunions, etc.)

Full private Montana retreat info here

PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL RETREATS

I do offer my international retreats privately! If you have a group in mind and a destination in South or Central America, I am available to hire to be your travel agent, bilingual tour guide, yoga teacher, energy healer, and facilitator. This would be a customized experience based on your group and desired experience. Just reach out to inquire and get the conversation started!

DON’T JUST TAKE IT FROM ME, HEAR FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS!

Watch an interview with Ellen from Texas about the Montana Wild Feminine Retreat

Jess with Cacao Ceremony

2025 Rooted & Wild Feminine Retreat in Patagonia, Argentina

Expansive. Space holding. Wild. Free. Mountainous. Adventurous. Delicious. Fun.

All words that embody this journey of a lifetime. This isn’t just a yoga retreat, but an investment in knowing yourself better, being bold in following your adventurous side, getting out of your comfort zone in the best of ways, and letting some of the most expansive wilderness in the world hold space for you.

March 18 – March 24, 2025

Get my ebook, Healing From Within: How Boundaries Transform Your Nervous System

A guide to resetting the nervous system, and moving from self sabotage to self trust, through an inside out & energetic approach to boundaries.

Jess with Cacao Ceremony

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