Beach Yoga Retreat with Sunrise Sauna & Community Healing on the Mendocino Coast

As autumn turns the air crisp and luminous, Ground & Glow invites you to settle, soften, and reignite your inner light during a four-day Beach Yoga Retreat at Spirit Camp on the Mendocino Coast. From all-levels yoga to candlelit restorative practices, Reiki, sound journeys, forest bathing, and a sunrise beach sauna with an optional ocean plunge, this immersive experience blends movement, stillness, and community. Learn more on the Ground & Glow page (link to “Ground & Glow” and to “this transformative retreat”): Ground & Glow Retreat & Booking and see Spirit Camp’s full calendar at spirit.camp/retreats.

Awaken Your Body & Spirit by the Ocean: A Mendocino Yoga Gateway to Autumn

Ground & Glow (October 9–12, 2025) is designed as a seasonal reset—an invitation to listen inward as the year turns. Mornings begin with enlivening, all-levels yoga; afternoons lean toward restorative sessions, meditation, or quiet forest time; evenings unfold in the Sanctuary with opportunities for Reiki or sound journeys.

Among the weekend’s rituals, the sunrise beach sauna by the Pacific—with the option of an ocean plunge—offers a memorable way to greet the day, woven into a weekend that balances movement, reflection, and community care. Over four days and three nights, you’ll be nourished by Simone’s Kitchen, guided by Aubrey and Jenn, and held by the redwoods in a rhythm that restores.

The Benefits of Practicing Yoga by the Ocean

The sea is a natural ally for presence and grounding. Studies highlight how time near “blue spaces” like the ocean can ease stress, support sleep, and boost mood—benefits that blend seamlessly with yoga’s emphasis on mindful movement and breath.

At dawn, practicing by the water deepens this connection. The crisp sea air, rhythmic waves, and expanding horizon encourage awareness and renewal. The warmth of the sauna, paired with the spaciousness of the shoreline, becomes an embodied reminder of balance: steadiness and flow, energy and rest. For those who choose the optional cold dip afterward, some find the shift invigorating—though equally transformative is sitting quietly with a blanket, noticing the morning light.

The gift of this Mendocino yoga getaway is choice: you can stretch, meditate, walk the shoreline, or rest. Each practice honors yoga’s essence of inquiry and personal attunement, without pressure to achieve or perform.

Yoga in Contemporary Practice

In today’s world, yoga is practiced in countless forms, but at its heart, it’s about uniting body, breath, and attention. Modern yoga integrates movement (asana), breathing techniques, and mindfulness in ways that are adaptable to different needs—whether easing tension, building strength, or creating space for reflection. Health resources such as the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health point to yoga’s potential benefits in areas like back comfort, stress regulation, balance, and overall well-being.

This adaptability is what makes yoga so accessible for retreat settings. An athlete may discover new mobility, a caregiver may find stillness, a beginner may simply breathe more fully, while seasoned practitioners may reconnect to their practice in a deeper way. The structure of a retreat—time away from routines, surrounded by nature—supports this process by creating a container where practice can land more fully.

At Ground & Glow, yoga is approached not as performance but as presence. Some mornings emphasize energizing flows; afternoons may slow into restorative stillness. Together these practices mirror the rhythms of nature itself—expansion and contraction, energy and rest. Combined with mindful meals, redwood silence, and community connection, yoga becomes less about shapes and more about inhabiting your whole self.

Perhaps most importantly, yoga here is held within a community container. Shared mats, shared laughter, shared silence—these are as healing as the poses themselves. Participants are encouraged to explore what supports them most, knowing that guidance and modifications will always be offered. In this way, yoga becomes not just an individual practice but a collective journey of renewal.

Photo of Deer Haven, one of the our many unique cabin spaces. This cabin has three beds. Cabins have between 1 to 8 beds each and provide several different sleeping arrangements for Beach Yoga Retreat. All cabin spaces are included in community healing Mendocino.

Photo of Group Glamping Tents Setup in Sunset Meadow.  We have 10 Glamping Structures that can be added with 1to 3 beds each. This can increase bed capacity of campus to 50 guests across 20 unique accommodation spaces.  

Meet Your Guides: Aubrey Romero & Jenn Nelson

Aubrey Romero is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor, wilderness explorer, and rafting guide whose life has been shaped by the rhythms of the natural world. She teaches Power Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Restorative, and Sculpt & Flow, blending playfulness and compassion in every session. As retreat lead and organizer, she brings her love of community and her vision of yoga as connection to every detail of Ground & Glow.

Jenn Nelson is a heart-centered yoga teacher, sound healer, and Reiki practitioner. With more than a decade of practice and years of teaching, Jenn holds space through Vinyasa, Restorative, Yin, and meditation. Her warm, grounding presence helps participants feel safe, seen, and supported.

Together, Aubrey and Jenn weave a weekend where practices—whether active or restful—become pathways into both personal grounding and collective glow.

Spirit Camp: A redwood retreat center by the Sea

Spirit Camp, nestled in the redwoods of Mendocino County, is a queer-owned, inclusive retreat center designed for rest and renewal. Accommodations range from private heated cabins to glamping tents (seasonal) and cozy bunkhouses, offering something for every traveler.

The Sanctuary, with its copper roof and year-round sunlight, becomes a beacon for evening gatherings, while the Redwood Lodge welcomes communal meals and spontaneous connection. Magic Meadow and Sunset Meadow invite reflection under open skies, while trails wind quietly through the forest. Learn more at Spirit Camp.

Meals are crafted by Simone’s Kitchen—fresh, plant-based, seasonal, and made for nourishment. Communal dining turns each meal into a continuation of the retreat’s theme of connection.

The Mendocino Coastline Experience: Close to Town, Close to Awe

Spirit Camp is in Mendocino on the Northern California West Coast, about three hours from San Francisco and Oakland, and roughly two hours from Santa Rosa. Just ten minutes from the historic village of Mendocino, it offers both immersion in nature and easy access to coffee shops, small groceries, and cliffside views. This balance makes Spirit Camp a natural choice for those seeking a yoga retreat North of San Francisco or a coastal yoga weekend California.

FAQs

1. Do I need yoga experience?
   Not at all. Ground & Glow is open to all levels, with options and modifications provided throughout.

2. What should I bring for the sauna and beach activities?
   Pack a swimsuit (if you’d like to cold plunge), a towel, warm layers for cool mornings, and comfortable footwear for sandy walks. Always listen to your body’s signals with heat or cold exposure.

3. Are meals included?
   Yes. All meals are included and prepared by Simone’s Kitchen. Please share any dietary needs in advance so they can be accommodated.

Local Activities: Hiking & Oceanfront Wandering

Russian Gulch State Park – Waterfall Trails & Coastal Drama

Just minutes away, Russian Gulch offers fern-lined canyons and coastal headlands. Its 36-foot waterfall and dramatic “Punch Bowl” sea cave are highlights, with trails and a bike path providing opportunities to explore redwoods and ocean vistas alike.

Big River Beach – Estuary Calm, Ocean Majesty

Where the Big River meets the sea, this sandy shoreline stretches wide, offering space for kayaks, shoreline walks, or simple rest by the horizon. Dogs on leash are welcome, and access is easy from town or Big River Road.

Ready to Ground & Glow?

Step into a weekend that honors your body’s wisdom, nature’s rhythms, and the warmth of community. Learn more about Ground & Glow and reserve your space here: Ground & Glow Retreat & Booking. To explore other retreats in this spirit, visit the full calendar at spirit.camp/retreats.

TOPICS:
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