Wander Retreat Recap
“If you want to know where your heart is, look to where your mind goes when it wanders.”
We wandered and delighted in the fall extravaganza before our eyes. Wow was she REALLY POPPIN’!!!!
As soon as we hit the driveway at Deep Portage, it was a spectacle. I mean… could you even drive down without stopping…multiple times?! The leaves, the way the sun shines through in the fall - absolutely, hands down, 100% outstanding. I think my mouth was hanging open in awe the whole 2+ mile drive down to the building.
Once we arrived, we got to work! Thank you to Stacy Nightwine, Jessica Baumhofer Frank, Jessica Beaty, Jami Nelson, Alison Olson Cox, and Cindy Geibe for arriving early to set-up and prepare for a beautiful weekend. We got everything set-up, squared away, and ready to greet our retreaters for this highly anticipated fall getaway!
Everyone arrived and settled in for a phenomenal Green Scene catered dinner.
We were all stuffed and happy as we made our way down to the Great Hall for our welcome circle.
Jessica, Stacy, and Bryana co-led an evening class together before bed. It was soothing and gentle, ending with a sound bowl session by Jessica.
Many retreaters hopped in and out of the Silver Creek Sauna + cold plunge throughout the weekend.
In the morning we woke up to a gentle rain, pitter pattering on the stunning leaves. Folks chose to sleep, join a morning meditation in the Great Hall by the crackling fire, or wander out into the soft rain to hike to the tower. Wow was the viewing GIVING FALL!!!!
Despite the rain, it was quite warm outside. Sarah Miller, our photographer, said she was going to wear shorts on the tower hike because wet + sweaty sounded too uncomfortable. I couldn’t help but agree, so I ditched my pants for shorts and she and I both enjoyed the oddity of October rain + fall colors + shorts weather at sunrise.
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
The day was full of delightful choice: two morning yoga class options.
Jessica taught a progressively energizing yoga session to prepare for the day ahead.
Stacy taught an energizing yoga flow that wandered through balance postures and twists.
We enjoyed brunch from the Green Scene and chatted about “goals” for the day. Are you wanting to go rock climbing, hiking, learn more about fresh juice, get a massage, etc? The retreat is your oyster!
At noon, Stacy taught a very relaxed yoga session. I heard her tell folks that inquired, “don’t worry - it’s going to basically be a yoga NAP.” And yes, I joined for part of her lovely class between stoking the sauna, it was a lovely restorative yoga session that resembled an amazing nap. Lol! It was perfect Stacy, thank you.
I was able to get a little marma point session in with Vanashree Ayurveda as my allergies have been pretty unbearable these days (allergy medication at all sigh). Marma Therapy is: “an ancient healing technique from Ayurveda that focuses on stimulating vital energy points (marma points) in the body to promote balance and well-being. These points are believed to be intersections of physical, mental, and energetic pathways, and their manipulation through massage, pressure, or herbal treatments can help alleviate pain, improve circulation, enhance energy flow, and support overall health. Marma therapy is often used in conjunction with other Ayurvedic practices to target specific health issues or promote holistic healing.” Vanashree gave me amazing Ayurvedic tips and methods to try to improve my health. We are hoping to work together at future retreats! If you are in the Minnetonka area, I also highly recommend checking her out.
Stacy got her rock climbing on! Her facial expressions in these photos are HILARIOUS! She has been wanting to rock wall climb for the 8 years she has been retreating at Deep Portage. And hey- she finally did it! Good job Stacy!!
After rock climbing, our guests were able to choose to hike with Deep Portage environmental education staff. They took in the fall colors as they trekked out to the bog.
Jessica enjoyed quality time with her daughter Ligeia, as well as with her sister and sister-in-law. Ligeia has been retreating with us for a couple years now and it’s so fun to spend time with her and watch her practice evolve. Look at how sweet this mother/daughter duo is?!?!? It’s so fun to have “our people” at retreats.
Speaking of, my best friend from college, Kristen came again this year. HI KRISTEN!! We were randomly assigned freshmen year roommates at the U of M and have been best friends ever since. Spending time with Kristen is always amazing, but in the season of life where we both have small children, a yoga retreat is extra special, low-key, and lovely. Love you Kristen.
Some of us enjoyed an afternoon fresh juice wellness workshop with Jami Nelson of The Just Juice Co! She told us all about her journey, her methods to juicing, and the benefits. Of course she also created fresh concoctions for us right there. I can still smell the absolutely delicious freshness of that prepared organic healthy juice. Thank you Jami!
In the afternoon, I taught a Delight in Yoga class centered on our book club read; The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. I mixed journaling prompts into the yoga session. We ended with a nice long savory savasana.
“It didn’t take me long to learn that the discipline or practice of writing these essays occasioned a kind of delight radar. Or maybe it was more like the development of a delight muscle. Something that implies that the more you study delight, the more delight there is to study.”
Before dinner, Jami thrilled us with a fresh juice + mocktail bar! She called it sweater weather and had the cutest menu of options. Once included a beautifully smelling cider, and the others were thoughtfully crafted cold mocktails. Thank you Jami - that was truly delicious and fun!
Dinner was another stunner by Green Scene. My favorite was after dinner, when someone said, “Now, I eat a lot of nachos. Some might even call me a nacho expert. And these were hands down the BEST NACHOS I’VE EVER HAD!” I couldn’t agree more.
That night Stacy and Jessica drifted everyone away with a yoga nidra + sound bath session.
If you were alert and motivated enough afterward, some of us hit the woods for a campfire! We enjoyed the warm fall evening and tried our best to get in a little bit of the Halloween spooky spirit, accompanied by laughter.
Others took one more late night sauna sesh!
The next morning we woke up to either a morning meditation in the Great Hall with Stacy, or a pop-up final hike to the tower to see the leaves with Bryana. I just couldn’t resist getting out to see the peak colors again. This time instead of rain, it was REAL WINDY! We had a joyous time.
“The more stuff you love, the happier you’ll be.”
Our nature mandala that we started on the first night really evolved beautifully over the weekend, as everyone brought in fall treasures from their outdoor adventures.
Our final morning yoga session was co-led by Jessica and Bryana. We ended with delightful journal prompts, haikus, and a closing circle. Stacy took to the woods with our beautiful fall nature mandala from the weekend. Our memories and experiences will stay forever at Deep Portage.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Wander retreat! Everything really went so smoothly. It couldn’t have been any better fall colors for us. Thank you for having yourselves a good time, and allowing us to treat you!
Sincere thank you to our Reiki Specialist, Cindy Geibe of Inner Harmony Healing! One of my favorite retreat reviews after a session with her was, “Wow. That was incredible. It’s like a massage for your brain!”
Thank you Alison Olson Cox for your utterly relaxing Thai Yoga Bodywork sessions. I delighted in the opportunity to sneak in for another session. And UFFDA - it just keeps getting better. THANK YOU!
Thank you Jill Jacobson, local Walker, MN massage therapist! You always deliver the most soothing sessions to retreaters!
Thank you to our team for their outstanding work. Whether it was keeping the sauna hot, hauling buckets of cold water to the cold plunge, making coffee, keeping the Great Hall fire going, teaching wonderful classes, workshops, etc. - you all are amazing to work with! The fact that I get to do this, and with you, it blows me away. Thank you.
We also had a special guest with us over the weekend. Crystal Gail Welcome and her service doggo! Please read more information about Can Do Canines, and how to support/get involved! This organization serves Minnesota and Wisconsin and “is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs”.
“I just hope you can see the beautiful chaos of how the path twists and bends, and how the journey is absolutely worth taking without knowing how it ends.”
Seeking a Winter Retreat?
We’ve got three incredible options this winter!
