• Move

  • Play

  • Relax

  • Connect

All the details…

Weekend Theme

This weekend retreat is all about “clarity and connection” - i.e. reconnecting to yourself and what lights you up in life. There will be a mix of practices and activities available to you to give you time to reflect and look inward, connect with others and build community, and get more comfortable in your body and your movement. You’ll see below that we’ve included a tentative schedule to give an idea of the flow of the weekend. Keep in mind that you can opt in or opt out of anything and everything on that list and really take what you need from the weekend retreat. Our location this year at gives us a perfect natural landscape to aid in truly unplugging and getting back to basics of being in community and appreciating mother nature. I (Dara) will be right there with you on this adventure and happy to support you with any need that arises.

Location & Accommodations

This year’s retreat takes place at Wildwood Hills Ranch in St. Charles, Iowa. The location is approximately 35 minutes away from the DMWY studio. This provides us easy access for arrival and departure and (new this year) the opportunity to attend just during the day if overnight isn’t your thing.

We are renting a cluster of three-story cabins (see pictured) that have options for private rooms with king beds or shared lofts with twin beds. Most options are for shared bathrooms/living spaces, but there are a few private rooms with private entrances and bathrooms available. These ultra-private accommodations also have the option to add a second guest if you’re coming with someone, such as a partner, you’d like to share a bed with/have more privacy.

In addition to the cabins for overnight guests, we’ll also have a community lounge with a small kitchen space and couches, etc. (in the red building pictured) along with a larger gathering space for our yoga practices and full-group sessions. As weather permits, some sessions will also take place outside! There is also an on-site dining facility where some of our meals will take place.

Movement & Mindfulness Practices

This is a yoga retreat, after all! We will have a variety of movement and mindfulness practices available to you throughout the weekend, and you can participate as much or as little as you wish. Yoga will be offered each day - ranging from super relaxed practices like restorative and yoga nidra before bed to more active, energizing morning flows. For the early birds among us, we’ll also have some bonus pre-breakfast options each day, including opportunities for lakeside journaling and meditation (a perfect way to start the day)!

Nourishment

Food is always the first thing on my mind when traveling, so maybe that’s true for you too. But we’ve got you more than covered! All meals will be provided from Thursday dinner through Sunday breakfast (as well as plenty of snack and grab-and-go options available between meals). For those attending day-only, lunch is provided both days. Meals will be a combination of on-site dining from Wildwood Hills Ranch as well as catered in lunches from local Indianola bakery Savor the Rise to incorporate more fresh produce and dietary-specific options. We’re also totally having s’mores by the fire one night, because it would be wrong to stay at a camp and not partake in that tradition! We can accommodate nearly all dietary restrictions, and we’ll collect your preferences/requests when you register.

On-Site Extras

Horseback Riding: Going on a horseback ride will be one of the options during afternoon free choice time. We are also excited about this because one of Dara’s fellow yoga teacher/fitness friends works in the barn and is planning to lead the ride for our group!

High Ropes Course: Another fun option for the adventurous among us is to attend a 2-hour high ropes course experience. This will be a great way to build your confidence and work together supporting your fellow yogis to conquer a new challenge.

Paddle the Lake: We will have exclusive access to the lake if you want to kayak around or just chill and relax in the afternoon.

Hiking/Explore the Property: There are miles of trails on the property as well as plenty of spots to just throw down a blanket and relax. You’ll have plenty of built-in downtime to enjoy the natural landscape.

Massage: We try not to go anywhere without our massage therapist friends! Massages will be available at various times throughout the weekend and you’ll be sent information on how to book ahead of time prior to the retreat. Any remaining open time slots will be shared a the time of check-in and can be claimed last-minute, as available. These will primarily take place during afternoon free choice time, but may also be offered while other sessions are happening - you are responsible for your own schedule management. Massages are an additional cost, but we promise it’s worth every penny.

Goodie Bag: This weekend is meant to be a real treat for yourself, so we’ll help you get settled into the retreat space with some goodies upon arrival.

Sample Timeline (tentative)

  • Arrival (late afternoon/early evening)

    Get settled into sleeping spaces

    Dinner

    Welcome gathering & movement practice

  • Optional early AM movement practice

    Breakfast

    Day-only attendees arrive/check-in

    Welcome gathering

    Active movement practice

    Morning breakouts/mini-workshops

    Lunch

    Free choice time

    Gentle movement practice

    Dinner (day-only group heads home)

    Yoga nidra

  • Optional early AM meditation & journaling

    Breakfast/day-only folks return

    Large group daily kick-off

    Morning breakouts

    Lunch

    Free choice time

    Gentle movement practice

    Large group reflections

    Dinner/day-only folks head home

    Campfire & smores/optional game night

  • AM practice and final reflections

    Brunch

    Pack up & head home

Registration Options

KNOW BEFORE YOU REGISTER:

Save 10% when you book by March 31st with code ‘RETREATEB’!

Please read the full details on the checkout page re: accessibility and cancellation policies!

When you check out, select the ticket tier (room/pricing option) and then choose your payment method - pay by ‘Card’ or ‘Direct Deposit’. Your membership/credits do not apply to the retreat, so if you’re booking on the website you will select “Book Without Membership”.

*If you have an account balance you want to apply to this, email Dara first at info@dmwellnessyoga.com

King Bed Private Room w/ Private Bathroom & Entrance ($779)

This option also comes with the ability to add a 2nd guest for $279 and is ideal for someone attending with a partner or close friend you don't mind sharing a bed with. Please reach out to Dara at info@dmwellnessyoga.com to add the 2nd guest.

King Bed Private Room w/ Shared Bathroom ($669)

These rooms are located on the lower or main cabin level and have common space with a couch and mini-fridge/kitchenette, as well as bathroom on the same floor.

Twin Bed in Shared Double Room w/ Shared Bathroom ($559)

Please note accessibility restrictions for this option: This is a bed in the cabin's loft, which requires going up a small spiral staircase (refer to photos higher on this page). Shared bathroom is on the level below the loft.

Friday/Saturday Retreat Day Pass ($239)

Not comfortable/interested in staying on-site overnight? Join us after breakfast and before dinner each day - daily arrival will be between 8:30-9:00am and departure between 5:00-5:30pm.

 FAQs

  • This year’s retreat will take place at Wildwood Hills Ranch in St. Charles, IA (located approximately 35 miles southwest of the DMWY studio). If you are interested in carpooling with another attendee, feel free to reach out to us.

  • This year we have a few options for attendance. Join us for the full weekend or just for the daytime activities and commute home. Daytime attendees can expect to be on-site approximately 9am-5pm. If you’re coming for the whole weekend, know that everything is optional and you can come and go as you please. We’d love for you to be as engaged as possible, because we think it’s really fun to get to know other attendees and enjoy all that the space has to offer, but you’re an adult and if you need to pop out for a short time to take care of something else - you can do that! There will not be prorated rates for partial attendance, but do what will serve you and allow you at least a little time for you to refresh!

  • Absolutely not! Everything we are doing can be adapted for different levels and all practices are optional. You can choose to participate in as much or as little as possible. Physical movement is not the focus if this weekend. We are gathering to unwind, relax, reconnect, rejuvenate etc. - for some that includes yoga, but maybe not for you.

  • Once you're signed up, you'll receive all the details a couple weeks out from the event. We will be providing all of the food as well as materials for activities like yoga, so it will mostly just be your personal items that you'd normally take for a weekend away.

  • Let us know when you register! We are happy to accommodate special diets and allergies. Per our catering contracts with multiple vendors, we will require 2 weeks notice to ensure allergy accommodation.

  • There are no automatic refunds for retreat registrations. If you need to cancel and would like to request a refund, please reach out to Dara at info@dmwellnessyoga.com. Due to our required deposits with the facility and catering/lodging commitments required ahead of time, refund availability by cancellation date is as follows:

    -by April 8th (30 days out): 90% refund

    -by April 24th (2 weeks out): 50% refund

    -If you can't make it but can find someone to take your spot, we are happy to transfer the name on registration at no cost up until 72 hours prior to the retreat.

  • Of course! You can always reach out to Dara at info@dmwellnessyoga.com.