A Yogic Journey to Self - Power Vinyasa Yoga Retreat for Experienced Practitioners
May 13-17, 2026 | Weekday Retreat | 5 Days | Wednesday to Sunday
Journey back to your truest self through dynamic power vinyasa practice woven with ancient yogic wisdom and epic tales amid the redwoods and wild Pacific coastline of Northern California. This transformative 5-day immersion combines athletic practice with mythic storytelling, forest bathing, breathwork, and optional Esalen massage to awaken your innate strength and reconnect you with your essential nature. Led by E-RYT500 Kristi Bettencourt and supported by Esalen-trained practitioners, this retreat calls to experienced yogis seeking both physical challenge and spiritual depth.
Retreat Modalities Included
Power Vinyasa Yoga
Yogic Philosophy and Epic Tales
Forest Bathing
Breathwork
Meditation
Esalen Therapeutic Massage (optional)
Cold Plunge (optional)
Who the Retreat Is For
This retreat is designed for experienced yoga practitioners (at least 6 months of regular practice recommended) who are drawn to strong, dynamic yoga practices and are ready for both physical challenge and spiritual depth. Participants must be 16 years or older. This immersive experience is perfect for athletic yogis seeking to deepen their practice while exploring the ancient wisdom and mythic dimensions of yoga beyond the purely physical.
Retreat Description
A Sacred Container for Power, Wisdom & Transformation
In our increasingly disconnected world, the yearning for authentic transformation and deeper meaning calls us to pause, listen, and remember. Between ancient redwoods and the wild Pacific coastline, Return to Radiance: A Yogic Journey to Self invites experienced practitioners to journey back to themselves through powerful power vinyasa yoga practice, mythic storytelling, and sacred stillness. This yoga retreat at Spirit Camp Retreat Center offers a rare blend of physical intelligence and spiritual depth from May 13-17, 2026.
For over 15 years, lead facilitator Kristi Bettencourt has been weaving together dynamic vinyasa yoga practice with the timeless wisdom of yogic philosophy and epic tales. Drawing from extensive studies in body mechanics, kinesiology, and physical therapy, her teaching offers a unique integration of athletic precision and mythic imagination. Through storytelling and mindful movement, participants explore how the ancient teachings of yoga illuminate contemporary lives and guide them back to their innate wisdom. Discover more transformative experiences on our full retreat calendar.
Dynamic Practice Woven with Ancient Wisdom
Each powerful session is an invitation to explore both your physical edge and the deeper mysteries of the practice. While classes are athletic and challenging, they're infused with purpose and meaning—creating space to listen deeply to bodies, to timeless wisdom, and to the whispers of hearts. The power vinyasa yoga sequences awaken strength and flexibility through dynamic flows, with posture clinics and gentle restorative sessions unveiling new layers of possibility.
This isn't just about building physical capacity—it's about discovering how the yogic philosophy embedded in epic tales can illuminate your own hero's journey. Kristi's rare ability to blend body mechanics expertise with mythic storytelling creates a uniquely powerful container for transformation. As past participant Karen shares: "Kristi's knowledge of yoga and its many forms is exceptional... She has a unique ability to provide excellent instruction to all levels of students from very advanced to beginning."
Sacred Pauses and Transformational Practices
The journey deepens through thoughtfully woven moments of stillness and connection. Forest bathing experiences invite participants to immerse in the healing embrace of ancient redwoods, while oceanside meditation sessions create space for profound listening. Early morning sits, journaling among the trees, or simple solitude—each moment becomes an invitation to remember your essential nature.
For those seeking additional invigoration, optional cold plunge practices offer a powerful reset for body and spirit. The breathwork sessions provide transformational journeys that bypass the thinking mind, release deeply held patterns, and access expanded states of consciousness. These sacred pauses create essential space for integration, allowing the wisdom gained through dynamic movement to settle deeply into your being.
Esalen-Rooted Support for Deep Renewal
Your transformation is supported by an exceptional team bringing deep roots in the healing traditions of the Esalen Institute. Executive Chef Alex Shepherd crafts soul-nourishing vegetarian meals that celebrate both wellness and community, drawing from his prestigious background and wisdom gained as Esalen's Executive Chef. His dishes connect people through food, nourishing both body and spirit throughout your journey.
To further support your renewal, Retreat Coordinator Grace Law offers optional Esalen therapeutic massage sessions that blend nurturing techniques with therapeutic deep tissue work. These bodywork sessions help your body recover from practice, unwind chronic patterns, and integrate the transformative work of the retreat. Grace brings a decade of experience in holistic healing arts, having studied at Esalen Institute and with esteemed teachers worldwide.
What Awaits You on This Journey
Participants can expect dynamic vinyasa practices that awaken innate power and reveal hidden strength, along with ancient wisdom and epic tales that illuminate personal hero's journeys. You'll gain deep understanding of your body's intelligence and untapped potential, while sacred moments in nature reconnect you with your true essence.
Optional experiences include invigorating cold plunge sessions and Esalen massage for recovery and integration. Nourishing meals foster community and deep connection, while practical tools ensure you can carry this awakening into daily life. Heart-opening connections with fellow seekers on the path create lasting bonds, and the entire experience becomes a profound remembering of who you truly are.
As participant Jessica shares: "Kristi's retreats are amazing. She thinks of everything and works to every skill level to make you feel welcomed and still challenged."
A Call to Those Ready for Depth
This retreat calls to those ready for both physical challenge and spiritual depth. If you're drawn to strong practice but hunger for something beyond the purely physical, you'll find a uniquely powerful container here. In the same spirit that has made Esalen a sanctuary for transformation for generations, this immersion creates space for deep renewal and discovery.
Let the rhythm of the ocean, the wisdom of the redwoods, and the power of practice guide you back to your truest self. Through mindful movement, mythic storytelling, and intentional connection, you'll reconnect with your body's wisdom and emerge feeling strong, inspired, and deeply aligned with your authentic path.
Early registration is recommended to secure your space on this transformative journey from May 13-17, 2026.
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About The Retreat Facilitators: Kristi Bettencourt and Grace Law
Kristi Bettencourt is an E-RYT500 trained in Vinyasa style yoga as well as ashtanga-based yoga, bringing over 15 years of teaching experience to her powerful and purposeful instruction. With a background in body mechanics and kinesiology, Kristi believes deeply in mindful movement and preventative medicine through body and nutrition. Her unique blend of strength and serenity creates a dynamic teaching style perfect for athletic yogis looking to deepen their practice. Kristi's rare ability to weave together physical intelligence with mythic imagination and ancient yogic wisdom sets her retreats apart, creating transformative experiences that honor both the body's capabilities and the soul's yearning for meaning.
Grace Law serves as the retreat's bodywork practitioner, breathwork facilitator, and coordinator, bringing a decade of dedication to the healing arts. Her journey into holistic healing began with personal transformation, leading her to study yoga, massage, breathwork, and somatic practices in various traditions and at the esteemed Esalen Institute. Grace is passionate about helping people reconnect with their true selves, fostering health, love, joy, and peace. Whether you seek relief from discomfort or a deeper reconnection with yourself, Grace offers optional massage sessions to amplify your self-renewal journey and serves as your primary contact for retreat questions.
Executive Chef Alex Shepherd rounds out the team, bringing celebrated culinary expertise honed at prestigious establishments before serving as Executive Chef at the Esalen Institute. At Esalen, Alex discovered a passion for health-focused cuisine, blending wellness with culinary artistry. Known for connecting people through food, laughter, and creativity, Alex crafts experiences that nourish both body and spirit with every thoughtfully prepared dish.
Spirit Camp Retreat Center
Within the gentle embrace of Northern California’s coastal woodlands, the Northern California Retreat Center at Spirit Camp stands as a dynamic portal to healing and self-discovery. Here, emerald ferns catch the morning light, and redwoods whisper old stories into the soft coastal wind. Just a short distance from Mendocino’s artisan shops and only a few hours from the Bay Area, this center merges accessibility and remoteness, granting each visitor the chance to activate their magic and align with nature’s primordial rhythm. You’ll find that even the simple act of wandering through quiet trails or settling before a campfire inspires a sense of reverence and grounded presence.
Spirit Camp curates a multitude of transformative experiences, offering spiritual retreats in Northern California for those seeking inner alignment, dance and embodiment retreats for those craving deeper bodily wisdom, and yoga retreat Mendocino immersions for anyone longing to harmonize breath, movement, and soul. Owned by a queer couple dedicated to inclusivity and authentic community, the center welcomes all who step onto its land. Whether you arrive for a men’s retreat, a women’s weekend, or a fully inclusive circle of seekers, you’ll find an atmosphere that respects diversity, encourages open dialogue, and honors each individual’s unique path.
The accommodations themselves reflect a spectrum of comfort and intimacy. Private cabins offer year-round coziness, while camping and glamping allow you to witness the forest’s nocturnal rhythms firsthand. Each season brings its own flavor of beauty: the hush of winter rains nurturing quiet reflection, the warmth of spring and summer evenings fueling communal connection. And throughout the year, moments of forest bathing, breathwork, and ancestral reconnection emerge as catalysts for meaningful healing, bridging the gap between who you’ve been and who you are becoming.
At Spirit Camp, you learn to unplug, not just from technology, but from the pressures and patterns that limit your growth. Here, you may rediscover your voice, tap into your inner wellspring of creativity, or simply rest in the company of towering trees that have stood watch for centuries. As you depart, carry with you the subtle lessons learned—an imprint of land, community, and spirit that continues to shape your journey long after you’ve returned home.