Recap: 2024 Self-Love Women’s Retreat
The 2024 Self-Love Women’s Retreat was my best one yet.
Each year these retreats get better as I learn what works and what doesn’t, as more people who need this transformative day find out about it, and as fabulous speakers continue to present and take part in the day. This was not only my biggest turnout, but I also feel that this group of attendees was the most vulnerable and open to connection I’ve had so far.
Let’s recap.
The day started with a beautiful spread of pastries from Rise and Shine Bake shop, a yogurt bar, coffee, tea, and juice. Women filtered in and began to connect immediately. One of my presenters, Dr. Irene Luc, was kind enough to greet each woman as she walked in and direct her to the SWAG bags and the kitchen area. While people arrived, I took pictures of everyone opening up their bags and also got some of the self-love portraits done right off the bat.
We gathered in the living room area, everyone getting cozy on the couches and floor pillows and yoga mats and wrapped up in their blankets, and I opened up the day. I talked about our sponsors, the items in the bags, and the plan for the day. I also reminded everyone that this was a safe, judgment-free space where we were free to share whatever we felt comfortable sharing and the rest of us would hold space. Each woman introduced herself with her name and what drew her to attend, and picked an affirmation card from the deck in their SWAG bags to read out loud. It was a fun opening activity, and most of the cards matched what the woman said in her intro which was a little bonus from the universe.
Our first presenter was Dr. Irene Luc who started our day with a breathwork session. She first guided us through somatic release using a stone, along with breathing exercises that helped us feel centered and relaxed. During the session she played music that created a beautiful ambiance for peace. At the end, she led us through some somatic movement and played a beautiful song by Rising Appalachia to help us feel powerful.
After this session we took a break to reset. Which I’ve learned in previous retreats is completely necessary, so I’ve started working breaks into the day between each presenter. During these breaks I take more self-love portraits, we snack, and we encourage attendees to connect with one another.
Our next workshop was with Lena Garza, who’s a nutrition coach. She presented her body bonding workshop. This workshop is all about identifying times in our lives when we abandoned our body, judged her, or treated her poorly, and getting back to a place of love for everything she’s carried us through. Women shared times when their bodies were violated, judged by people who should have been loving them, and times when they hated their bodies for the way it didn’t fit into beauty standards. They shared times when their bodies carried them through trauma. They shared triumph. They shared sorrow. They shared loss. So many tears were shed.
After such a heavy workshop we needed another break. So we took some time to eat lunch, get some fresh air, and connect with one another a little more. I overheard so many beautifully deep conversations between the women as I walked through the house taking pictures and doing my thing.
Next up was our life coach, Rachael Go, presenting on the power of intrinsic motivation in our goal setting, bringing everything we experienced in the previous sessions together to create some solid plans for who we wanted to be and where we would go from here. She gifted each woman a small frame with chalkboard markers where they could create their own gratitude practice each day. This workshop was held outside, because it was a beautiful day and we were all ready for some fresh air.
During our last break, our sound bath guide set up her bowls and we prepared for the final piece. Keena Santo Tomas performed a beautiful, restful sound bath ceremony that allowed us to experience the healing power of sound frequencies. We were able to let go of all the heavy things we carried throughout the day and leave feeling renewed and rejuvenated.
This retreat was fucking amazing.
And I cannot wait to start planning next year’s. This month is the month where I’ll be making all the big decisions about the 2025 retreat, from venue to date to presenters. I’ll share more once I have it all nailed down, but I plan on these retreats only continuing to grow in their impact and their size.
You deserve to be at the next one, whether you’ve attended one of my retreats or you’ve just been watching from afar. OR maybe this is the first you’re ever hearing of it.