RETREATS
February 21-23, 2025
At a private residence in Ojai
About the Experience
Each of us has a unique relationship with time. It’s shaped by life’s external twists and turns, our internal shifts, and where we find ourselves developmentally. For example, a new mother experiences time differently than a recently retired woman. This contrast reminds us that time isn’t just a ticking clock; it’s a limited resource that deserves our mindful attention, no matter where we are in the arc of our lives.
At our Befriending Time Retreat, you’re invited to explore your embodied relationship with time—whether you’re grappling with the fear of wasting it, feeling perpetually behind, or daunted by an abundance of unstructured hours. The point isn’t to conquer time but to stop letting a misguided sense of urgency dictate your choices and start living your daily life in greater harmony with your current needs and values.
Through self-reflection, open conversation, and embodied practices, we’ll help you step into the present moment and trust in yourself. We recognize that this can be challenging work, and we’re committed to creating a safe and inclusive space. This retreat isn’t about measuring moments against societal productivity or financial success expectations. Instead, it’s a chance to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the preciousness of life and rediscover joy and comfort in the here and now.
Join us this February to foster authentic connections and to explore what it truly means to honor yourself and your time.
Schedule + Flow
You’re invited to settle in on Friday afternoon between 3-5 pm. Our opening circle will take place that afternoon, followed by a mocktail/cocktail hour, a healthy, locally sourced dinner, and an evening circle where we can begin to connect and share our stories about how we relate to time in the season of life we’re each in. Saturday morning offers the option of yoga or hiking, followed by breakfast and our first session. We will break for lunch and have an afternoon session, and then you can enjoy some free time for activities such as massages, hiking, or just hanging out. The day will conclude with a mocktail/cocktail hour, dinner, and an evening circle. Sunday will follow a similar flow, with optional yoga or hiking, breakfast, morning session, lunch, afternoon session, and a closing circle. The retreat will conclude on Sunday at 5 pm.
Friday-Session 1: Purge your worry and get present.
In our first session, we step outside of ordinary time and enter retreat time—where we can begin an honest conversation about how time is functioning in your life. We’ll engage in embodied mindfulness practices that support you in embracing your current relationship with time and help you connect with yourself in the present moment. As we explore what it means to be present, we’ll look at the sensations and thoughts that come up—where does your mind wander? How does that affect how you feel physically? This is an opportunity to investigate what might be blocking your presence so you can shift your relationship with time.
Saturday Morning: Session 2 Play with time.
Whether you feel there’s never enough time or you have so much of it that you don’t know where to begin, our relationship with time can be overwhelming and disorienting. In our afternoon session, we’ll bring your real-life experiences with time to the forefront. Through embodied exploration and open conversation, we’ll invite you to be brave and lean into the discomfort of how you currently relate to time. We’ll explore research on how our brains react to stress and urgency, allowing you to apply those insights to your life. This is your opportunity to practice choosing presence over panic, creating space for clarity and connection.
Saturday Afternoon-Session 3: Get Practical
In this session, we’ll learn what happens when you leave the safety of retreat and return to everyday life. We’ll explore nervous system work, teaching you how to tune into your body in real-time and recognize when your nervous system is making time feel like a threat. We’ll also turn into your internal voices and the parts of you who show up when you feel fearful about time. We’ll use embodied practices to help you align with your more profound truth when you feel overwhelmed by time. This is the foundation for changing your priorities and how you show up in the weeks ahead.
Sunday Morning Session 4: Attune to nature’s time
You’re wired for deep connection at your core—not just doing but genuinely being. In our final session, we’ll turn to nature as our guide. Each season has its own rhythm, energy, and distinct needs, reminding us that our lives have a natural order. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of the world around you and reflect on what it reveals about the season you’re currently in and the direction you want to take. As you prepare to return home, you’ll have clarity on what this season is asking of you and cultivate an inner knowing and trust that empowers you to embrace time in a new way.
Location + Weather
Our retreat will be held at a stunning private residence in the breathtaking Ojai Valley. Just a short, scenic drive up the 33 leads to a picturesque organic farm, where our expansive home with tranquil views awaits you. Situated on 135 acres, this exclusive setting boasts a network of trails, inviting outdoor sitting areas, a spacious patio with a rejuvenating hot tub, refreshing outdoor showers, and a cozy fire pit.
Inside, you’ll find two fireplaces to keep you warm and snug on cool nights. Approximately 1.5 hours north of Los Angeles, Ojai’s enchanting history dates back over 10,000 years to the Ancient Chumash Indians, who revered the valley for its mystical energy and harmonious ambiance.
Discover Ojai’s vibrant culture, featuring art galleries, top-notch restaurants, unique boutiques, craft breweries, and tasting rooms showcasing wine, kombucha, olive oil, and honey.
This eclectic community is home to talented artisans, visionary farmers, free-spirited individuals, renowned personalities, and seekers of spiritual enlightenment.
Embrace the idyllic charm of Ojai in February’s crisp and refreshing air. Greet with the sun’s warmth daily and enjoy peaceful moments in the gentle 68-degree daytime temperatures. Clear nights offer a touch of magic, with temperatures dipping into the low 40s.
Meals
All meals are included in the retreat price and will be organic and locally sourced. Our menu will focus on plant-based dishes accentuated with animal proteins. Colleen will lovingly prepare everything. Snacks, fresh fruit, water, and beverages will be available throughout the retreat. We want you to feel nourished in body, mind, and soul. If you have any special dietary needs, let us know once you register, and we’ll take care of you.
The Team
Wendy
Wendy has been an LPCC Certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Facilitator (MBSR) for over thirty years. Her expertise lies in empowering people to access and activate soul wisdom through being present and listening from within. As a longtime mindfulness practitioner and instructor, she guides people to find safety, kindness, and connection in the present moment. Her work is deeply influenced by her teachers, Jon Kabot Zinn, Jack Kornfield, Pema Chodron, and Christina Feldman.
Jay
Jay is an embodiment educator and coach with over twenty years of experience helping people stay true to themselves in their relationships and lives. She guides individuals to cultivate body awareness and regulate their nervous systems to feel more grounded, confident, and authentic in challenging situations. Jay’s approach integrates theory and practical tools, supporting clients as they navigate relational patterns, overcome people-pleasing tendencies, and learn to set healthy boundaries. Through her coaching, she empowers individuals to build fulfilling relationships and create a life that aligns with their deepest values.
Accommodations and Pricing
Master bedroom #1
Spacious room that opens to a balcony with valley views. It has a King bed with luxury Hasten mattress and an additional comfy foldout single bed. Two retreat guests can stay in this room and will have their own separate bathroom. The ensuite bathroom with mountain views has a Jacuzzi tub, 2 sinks and separate shower.
2 Guests
$2,100 for King
$1,900 for a fold-out single
Master bedroom #2
A spacious bedroom that shares the balcony with the Master bedroom #1. This room has 2 twin 100% organic natural latex mattresses.
2 Guest
$2,000 per guest
Bedroom #3
A bedroom with mountain views that has 2 twin Tempur-pedic mattresses.
2 Guest
$2,000 per guest
Bedroom #4
A bedroom #4 with a skylight facing the mountains, and one queen high density foam mattress.
1 Guest
$2,000 per guest
Sunroom
The lovely sunroom is surrounded by picture windows and has a couch that converts to a comfy queen bed. Two curtains on both sides of a wall separate it from the living room.
1 Guest
$2,000 per Guest
Registration Information
One-half of the cost of the retreat is due upon registration, the other half of the cost of the retreat is due by January 15. If you cancel your registration prior to January 15, 2025, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel your registration between January 15 and January 21, 2025, you will receive one-half of your monies paid to date. If you cancel after January 21, 2025, there will be no refunds.
