Fall Equinox Women’s Retreat at Valaterra
Join Lee Schardein of Anahathapathways & Ana for a weekend of connection, deep rest, farm to table meals and the wisdom of the goddesses.
Root
The land at Valaterra is not simply where this retreat takes place—it is part of the retreat itself. Set on more than 100 acres of forests, meadows, trails, a creek, and a labyrinth, right down the street from our beloved hometown of Louisville, this sanctuary invites us into a different rhythm. Here, we remember what it feels like to slow down, to listen, and to be in relationship with the living world around us.
Ritual
Throughout the weekend we'll weave together Yoga Nidra, gentle movement, mantra, mudra, storytelling, meditation, and seasonal ritual. Together we'll explore the wisdom of several Hindu and Yogic goddesses—not simply as stories to learn, but as living archetypes that can help us navigate our own lives.
Nourishment
Meals are woven into the retreat as their own sacred practice. Together we'll share seasonal, farm-to-table food prepared with reverence, pausing to honor the countless relationships that nourish us. Around the table we'll slow down, savor, connect, and remember that eating can be an act of gratitude as much as sustenance.
Lee & Ana's 1st Retreat Together
Every year, as the days begin to shorten and the first hints of autumn arrive, I feel myself slowing down.
This retreat was born from a desire to honor that turning.
My friend Lee and I have been dreaming up a weekend that weaves together many of the things we love most: yogic mythology, meditation, story, ceremony, nourishment, community, and a deeper relationship with the living world around us. This retreat is a dream of co-creation coming to life for us!
Lee will guide us through the stories and wisdom of several goddesses from Hindu and Yogic mythology. Through meditation, mantra and journaling, we will explore how these archetypes continue to live within us, offering guidance, challenge, comfort, and inspiration as we navigate our own lives.
My role will be to weave together Yoga Nidra, movement, mudra, ritual, and food in a way that helps us embody these teachings rather than simply learn about them.
Because for me, wisdom is not something we collect.
It is something we experience.
Something we taste, feel. and remember.
As with all gatherings hosted by yours truly. food will be a central part of our time together.
As a chef, I believe that preparing and sharing a meal can be every bit as sacred as sitting in meditation. Throughout the weekend I will prepare seasonal, farm-to-table meals inspired by both the season and the themes we are exploring together.
We will gather around the table not simply to eat, but to practice gratitude and presence. We will pause to acknowledge the countless beings that make our nourishment possible: the soil, the rain, the seeds, the plants, the pollinators, the farmers, the animals, the microbes, and the hands that prepared the food.
In a culture that so often encourages us to rush, eating together can become its own ceremony
-
Premium lodging with high-quality amenities
All daily meals (local & seasonal)
Guided Movement Practices & meditations
Supplies for all activities
Ample time for rest & reflection
-
1- Spend the weekend with us! Arrive on Friday at 4 pm and leave on Sunday at noon.
2- Commuter special! Come each day to share meals and practices with us, then go home after dinner to sleep in your own bed
-
Private room: ~$995 -only one available!-
Shared bedroom: ~$625
Shared Common Space: ~$555
Commuter weekend: ~$420