Wellness Retreat for Women with Yoga & Ecstatic Dance on the Northern California Coast
Over one luminous early-fall weekend—September 26–28 (Fri–Sun)—the Sacred Feminine community welcomes those who identify as women (ages 20+) to a sun-dappled forest gathering that blends yoga, mindfulness, free-form dance, writing, and a gentle, invitational group process. The intention is simple and profound: to nourish your nervous system, restore your sense of play, and help you feel at home in your own body. Your “yes” and your “no” are both honored, always. Reserve your space on the Sacred Feminine page (bookings via the facilitators) and explore additional dates on the Spirit Camp Retreats calendar.
Book here: Sacred Feminine · Full calendar: Spirit Camp Retreats.
From the very first session, we keep a steady thread through the primary intention: this is a Wellness Retreat for Women. You’ll encounter yoga practices designed for real bodies, mindfulness that meets you where you are, and ecstatic dance that invites your inner rhythm to rise. Across two nights and three days, rest is not an afterthought—it’s the hearth fire of your renewal on the Northern California coast.
Context for Women’s Wellness — a contemporary, grounded view
In recent decades, mindfulness-and-movement retreats have become beloved refuges for stress relief, connection, and emotional well-being. Popularized as approachable, secular practices, mindfulness and gentle somatic work offer practical tools that help many people downshift from chronic busyness into presence. Coverage tracing this “mindful turn” in contemporary culture notes how programs like MBSR and similar approaches have carried body–mind practices into everyday life—schools, hospitals, workplaces, and, increasingly, accessible retreats that center compassion and community. (TIME)
At the same time, it’s wise to keep expectations balanced. Evidence suggests mindfulness can support stress management, emotional regulation, and even physical markers of health for many—but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all cure. Evidence-aware guides encourage starting gently, noticing what feels supportive, and seeking trauma-informed care when needed. This cautious optimism—practical, curious, and compassionate—shapes how we approach practice across the weekend. (SELF, Verywell Mind)
Gentle yoga complements mindfulness by giving you a tactile, breath-led doorway back into yourself. Rather than emphasizing athletic achievement or strict forms, we favor accessible shapes, breath awareness, and the cultivation of interoception—the felt sense of what’s happening within—so you can move at the speed of trust in your own body. Even small practices in breath and posture can become instruments of steadiness, offering a quieting ballast to the mind’s noise. (Encyclopedia Britannica, YogaUOnline)
Ecstatic—or free-form—dance completes the triad with a communal practice that centers agency and self-expression. There are no steps to memorize and no performance to perfect; you are invited to listen, loosen, and let the body speak. Many dancers describe feelings of connection to self and others, as well as meditative effects that soften stress and invite serenity. We approach this practice as a nurturing container for exploration, play, and joy. (Wikipedia,Ecstatic Dance)
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 Wellness Retreat for Women. All cabin spaces are included in Northern California coast wellness retreat.
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.
Facilitators — Two guides, one shared purpose
Lisa Gungor is a Grammy-nominated artist and author whose facilitation is both grounded and imaginative. A 200-hour YTT graduate with a background in design and music, Lisa tends spaces where movement and voice feel welcome, gently encouraging your body to trust its own tempo.
Dr. Hillary McBride is a therapist, researcher, and author with a PhD in Counselling Psychology (RCC). Her work explores embodied healing and compassionate presence. Together, Lisa and Hillary co-founded Sacred Feminine in 2018, and since then they’ve crafted non-hierarchical spaces where play and agency are core values. Their partnership honors the full spectrum of women’s experience—from tenderness to laughter to fierce self-leadership—so that you can participate in the ways that feel most authentic to you.
Spirit Camp Experience — nourish through movement, meals, and camaraderie
Imagine stepping into a forest lodge scented with wood and light. Breakfast is plant-forward, locally sourced, and lovingly prepared—food that supports yoga and dance rather than weighing them down. Long tables foster easy conversation; quiet corners invite journaling or tea between sessions. You might unfurl a mat in the Sanctuary, a sun-kissed gathering space whose south-facing windows glow even on fog-soft mornings. After practice, you wander through gardens humming with bees and butterflies, or drift to Magic Meadow where the canopy parts and warmth pools on the grass.
Lodging options meet a range of needs and budgets—private cabins with cozy heaters and linen bedding, shared rooms with thoughtful amenities, the nostalgic bunkhouse for camp-style camaraderie, and seasonal glamping or BYO tents where night skies stretch and owls sometimes call. Hygiene is meticulous, and the atmosphere blends playful minimalism with Redwood comfort. For a sense of the full campus and its offerings, explore this healing retreat environment at the Spirit Camp homepage: Spirit Camp.
Location & Access — coastal Northern California within reach of the Bay Area
Spirit Camp rests in the redwoods of Mendocino County on the Northern California coast, about three hours from San Francisco and Oakland and roughly two hours from Santa Rosa—a serene alternative to far-flung destinations without sacrificing wonder. It’s just minutes from the historic village of Mendocino and Highway 1, so you’re never far from clifftop trails, ocean overlooks, or a café for a post-practice treat. If you’re mapping travel or considering arriving early to savor the coast, you can also browse dates and options on the Spirit Camp Retreats page: spirit.camp/retreats.
FAQs
Who typically attends?
This is a Wellness Retreat for Women designed for those who identify as women, ages 20 and up. Many arrive solo; some come with a sister, friend, or small group. Whether you’re new to yoga and mindfulness or returning to practices you love, the weekend is invitational and accessible.Are meals included—and can you accommodate dietary needs?
Most retreats at Spirit Camp are all-inclusive, with plant-based, locally minded meals that are both nourishing and delicious. If you have allergies or preferences, share them with the facilitators in advance; caterers can usually accommodate with notice.Is the retreat queer-inclusive?
Yes. Spirit Camp is queer-owned and deeply welcoming. The community values body positivity, diversity, and inclusive spaces where all participants are invited to show up as they are.What if I choose to opt out of a session?
Your agency is central. Every activity is an invitation, not an obligation. Listening to your body—whether that means dancing, journaling in the sun, or taking a restorative nap—is celebrated.What should I pack for redwood weather?
Think layers for cool mornings and evenings, plus a water bottle, hiking shoes, and your favorite journal. If you love stargazing, a warm hat and a blanket make the Magic Meadow irresistible after dusk.
Nearby Activities — extend your coastal ease
A few minutes from camp, the Big River Estuary unfurls in a calm ribbon of water between riverbank and redwoods. On still mornings, paddling can feel like breathing with the landscape—otters tumble near the banks, great blue herons stalk the shallows, and harbor seals sometimes surface like silver commas. Kayak and canoe rentals are conveniently available nearby, making it easy for beginners to glide along the tide and let the forest hush settle in around them.
To the west, Mendocino Village perches on headlands where sky, sea, and cliff meet. After practice, it’s a delight to wander artisan shops, sip something warm at a café, and pause at the overlooks where waves carve arches through honeycombed rock. At golden hour, the light drapes the town in soft amber, and the coastline’s drama invites a quieter kind of awe—the sort that follows you back to evening circle, still thrumming just under the breath.
Top Transformational Retreat Experiences in Northern California
If you’ve been searching for a wellness retreat North of San Francisco or dreaming of a coastal women’s wellness weekend, this gathering keeps travel easy while delivering the kind of depth usually reserved for destination retreats. The combination of yoga, mindfulness, and ecstatic dance offers multiple doorways into presence. What you explore on the mat or dance floor often ripples into the everyday—steadier mornings, kinder self-talk, and a nervous system that remembers how to exhale.
Looking for a Healing Retreat “Near Me”? Explore Spirit Camp
Sometimes the body simply wants a setting that feels like permission. Under redwoods that lean toward sun and stars, in rooms designed for warmth and simplicity, with facilitators who respect your edges, you can let the weekend carry you. Walk the private trails in quiet, feel the forest invite you to slow, then rejoin the circle with cheeks flushed and shoulders softer. This is the living texture of a Wellness Retreat for Women on the Northern California coast: agency, play, and the kind of rest that lingers.
Final Invitation & Conclusion
When you’re ready to step into a weekend that honors your voice and your pace, Sacred Feminine and Spirit Camp will be there—music low, mats unrolled, tea steaming in the morning cool. From mindful movement to dance that frees your laugh, from shared meals to quiet journals under a skylight, the shape of the weekend is yours to choose. Learn more and reserve via the facilitators’ page: Sacred Feminine. To browse similar experiences and upcoming dates, explore the full calendar: Spirit Camp Retreats.
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