Reset & Renew Retreat : May 2021

2021 RESET & RENEW RETREAT - CANCELLED

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Who Should Come

You are someone who is feeling stuck or overwhelmed in patterns that aren’t serving you well. You might be in the early stages of your healing process, or perhaps you’ve been on this journey for some time, but are looking for additional tools to aid you on your path. Regardless of where you are, a weekend of self-care and nourishment would be a most welcome gift.

The Area

Situated in mid-lower Michigan, the Inn at the Rustic Gate sits just inside the Huron-Manistee National Forest, an area renowned for its quiet beauty. The Inn aspires to, “create a transformational space, to provide a place of welcome and calm that will allow you to temporarily step back from the demands of your everyday life.” You will have the opportunity to stroll the rolling meadows or hike the woodland trails. To pause and take in the beauty of nature offers an invitation for healing and contemplation.

LODGING

Inn at the Rustic Gate

Innkeepers Patricia Barrett, Marcia Stroko and Sharon Stroko have created a space, “where the concept of creativity in its many forms and dimensions would be honored.”

This cozy 8-room Inn, situated on 146-acres, has fields and gardens and trails to wander and explore, along with a common meeting room for workshops, and a meditation / yoga room for quiet contemplation. Each room contains a private bath and is decorated in simple, natural themes to accentuate the surroundings.

MEALS

Innkeeper Sharon Stroko is the on-site chef, and will lovingly prepare nourishing meals, using local ingredients when seasonally available (including their own gardens). She’ll be catering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dietary restrictions will be taken into consideration by the chef. Please be in touch with your particular circumstances, and we will do our best to accommodate. 

GETTING HERE

National and international flights run through the Gerald R. Ford Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, approximately an hour south of Big Rapids

Rental cars are the suggested form of transportation to-and-from the airport. Rental car carriers are situated in the transportation hub of the airport. We suggest you make a reservation ahead of time.

 REGISTRATION

Fee for the retreat:

$695 - Single Occupancy

Registration includes:

Lodging, catered meals, workshops, and community style acupuncture. Private Ayurvedic coaching sessions will be available for each participant. Individual travel expenses to and from the Inn at the Rustic Gate are participant’s responsibility; we will do our best to put participants in contact with one another so carpooling expenses may be minimized.

Payment terms:

Payment due in full upon registration. After registration, Rachel will be in touch to conduct a more detailed intake for each participant.

PLEASE NOTE: Once we have met our minimum number of participants, there are no cancellations or refunds issued. In the event that we do not meet our minimum number of participants, the retreat will be canceled and your registration payment will be returned in full.

Registration deadline: April 12th, 2020

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SCHEDULE  (subject to change)
Here’s a tentative day-to-day schedule:

FRIDAY

3:30-5pm – ARRIVAL AND CHECK IN

To make the most of the weekend, we encourage all participants to arrive between 3:30-5pm. You will have the opportunity to comfortably settle into your room, explore the grounds, have a cup of tea or even take a nap! Please allow yourself sufficient time to transition from your busy life to the sacred, healing space of the retreat.

NOTE: If you are unable to arrive by 5pm, we are happy to accommodate a separate arrival time if necessary.

5:30 pm – OFFICIAL WELCOME

Gather for a pre-dinner meet up, informational chat with the lovely owners of the Inn at the Rustic Gate, and to meet other retreat participants.

6-7pm – DINNER

7:30-9pm – ARRIVAL CEREMONY & SHARING CIRCLE

Rachel will guide a five element ceremony to clear and reset the qi and prana energy bodies, followed by group introductions and intention setting for the weekend. Stacy will introduce participants to a weekend-long writing practice. We will wrap up the final moments of the first evening with restorative yoga postures to help you settle into luxurious, restorative sleep for the entire weekend.

SATURDAY

8am – OPTIONAL – Pranayama (breathwork) and Meditation

8:30-9:30am – BREAKFAST

10am-12pm- WRITING WORKSHOP

Stacy will lead participants through a series of writing prompts / exercises, encouraging excavation and removing emotional blocks.

12:30-1:15pm LUNCH

1:30-3:30pm HEALING TALK & COMMUNITY STYLE ACUPUNCTURE

Rachel will give a short talk and then administer community style acupuncture and/or acupressure (optional) in the meditation loft.

3:30pm-6pm SOLO / FREE TIME

Give yourself the gift of doing (or not doing) whatever it is you want. The following options are here to inspire you, or better yet, follow your own intuitive guidance. Options include: walk the forest trails that begin just behind the Inn, rest, nap, read, write, gather with a new friend, meditate, visit the labyrinth, have a cup of tea, or listen to the nature sounds all around.

6-7pm – DINNER

7:30pm-9pm – CAMPFIRE (weather permitting)

Let’s gather as a group and share warm drinks, treats, and stories.

SUNDAY

8:30am – OPTIONAL – Pranayama (breathwork) and Mediation

9-10am LEISURELY BRUNCH

10am – CLOSING RITUAL

Noon – CHECK OUT

I literally did not want to leave this retreat. Stacy and Rachel created an amazing space to re-connect with myself, slow down, and create new, deep connections with other like-minded women. We switched between reflecting on our own, exploring the beautiful land, having deep writing sessions and learning new Ayurvedic techniques. It was the perfect break from a busy life - learning to simply BE. The most delicious food, sweet caretakers, and wonderful accommodations made it the perfect weekend. You will feel extremely blessed if you join this experience.   -Tiffany N.  

BIOS

Stacy Walsh is a writer, editor, teacher, and host of the & then write podcast. As an undergrad, she studied film production at Grand Valley State University, moving to Los Angeles to work in the film industry for a decade before returning to her home state of Michigan. She obtained her MFA in creative writing from Naropa University in 2009. Her current writing work focuses on creative nonfiction and screenplays; she is the writer for the recently released PBS show Life in Bloom, a lifestyle show centered around flowers.

For the past 15 years, Rachel Redmond has been studying and living an Ayurveda-inspired lifestyle. After healing herself from chronic digestive issues and anxiety with the wisdom of Ayurveda, Rachel is passionate about sharing this knowledge with others. In 2010, Rachel became a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner and has been practicing and teaching Ayurveda ever since. In 2015, she earned her degree as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. Rachel currently works in East Lansing at the Center for Optimal Health where she practices Ayurveda, acupuncture and herbal medicine.