California Redwoods Retreat
Ecotherapy, Yoga & Collective Care to Build Connection and Resilience
for Sensitive Women & Gender Minorities
July 13-18, 2025
California Redwoods Retreat
Ecotherapy, Yoga, and Collective Care to Build Connection and Resilience
for Sensitive Women & Gender Minorities
July 13-18, 2025
Root in the Community and Strength of the Redwoods
As we face significant global and societal challenges—including the pressing realities of the climate crisis—connection and collective care have never been more vital.
This redwoods retreat offers a supportive space to connect with your strength, build meaningful connections, and gain renewed clarity and purpose for the path ahead.
We’ll gather in a family-owned farmhouse, just a short walk from the towering giants in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve.
Each day offers a mix of yoga, ecotherapy practices, and engaging discussions to nurture resilience and inspire sustainable–and joyful–ways to impact the world.
With a spacious schedule, you’ll have time to hike scenic coastal trails, paddle the Russian River, or relax in the forest’s embrace.
This retreat offers accessibility features like ground-level accommodations and flat trails so that all participants can enjoy the experience. (More details in FAQs)
Leave feeling replenished, connected, and strengthened to bring your values and gifts into your community.
At a Glance
Facilitator: Melissa Renzi w/ Retreat Chef Anjali Sunita
For: Sensitive women and gender minorities
Highlights: Redwoods, Sonoma Coast, Russian River
Venue: 6-bdrm historic farmhouse in Guerneville, CA
Rooms: Single or shared occupancy, private bathrooms
Food: Ayurvedic vegetarian (can adapt to dietary needs)
Activity Level: Mild with accessible trails
Weather: Day 80s °F, night 50s °F
Group Size: 10-12 people
This retreat is for women and gender-expansive people who resonate with the experiences of sensitivity. It’s for those seeking connection, resilience, and inspiration to create change in a challenging world. (More in FAQs)
At a Glance
Facilitator: Melissa Renzi w/ Retreat Chef Anjali Sunita
For: Sensitive women and gender minorities
Highlights: Redwoods, Sonoma Coast, Russian River
Venue: 6-bdrm historic farmhouse in Guerneville, CA
Rooms: Single or shared occupancy, private bathrooms
Food: Ayurvedic vegetarian (can adapt to dietary needs)
Activity Level: Mild with accessible trails
Weather: Day 80s °F, night 50s °F
Group Size: 10-12 people
This retreat is for women and gender-expansive people who resonate with the experiences of high sensitivity. It’s for those seeking connection, resilience, and inspiration to create change in a challenging world. (More in FAQs)
The Land & Space
A Retreat Surrounded by Diverse Nature
Located in Guerneville, California, on ancestral land of the Kashaya Pomo, this retreat places you in the heart of the region’s vibrant biodiversity.
We’ll stay just a quarter mile from Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, offering you the time to connect with the land and listen to the wisdom of the redwoods, black oaks, Douglas firs, and lush ferns.
The nearby Russian River, 5 minutes by car, offers opportunities for kayaking, tubing, and SUP. For panoramic ocean views and hiking trails, the Sonoma Coast is just a 25-minute drive away, offering a stunning contrast to the towering redwoods.
A Town Welcoming of Diversity
Guerneville is a queer-friendly town and home to at least two LGBTQIA+ hotels.
Convenient Access
By car, Guerneville is approximately 1.5-2 hours from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and 25 minutes from the Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, making the location both remote and accessible.
Your Home Away from Home
We’ll stay in a renovated, historic farmhouse designed for both comfort and connection. The house features six bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. An open kitchen, dining area, and living room featuring a cozy fireplace create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Most rooms will accommodate two people.
Outside, you can explore the vibrant life and colors of the farm, soaking in the beauty and rhythm of the land. Multiple patios, a fire pit, and a hot tub offer perfect spaces to relax and unwind in tranquility.
Physical Accessibility
The house features a ramp for easier entry and a couple of rooms at ground level. Armstrong Redwoods offers a flat trail, specifically designed for accessibility. The Sonoma Coast also has some flat trails. Reach out so that we can do our best to place you in a room that matches your needs.
Food That Nourishes
Our meals will be prepared by Anjali Sunita, who loves nourishing others through food. Guided by Ayurvedic wisdom, she crafts fresh, gently seasoned, and easy-to-digest vegetarian dishes that inspire self-care and mindful eating. Breakfasts and dinners will be served at the house, with packed lunches provided for flexible exploration.
The Land & Space
A Retreat Surrounded by Nature
Located in Guerneville, California, on ancestral land of the Kashaya Pomo, this retreat places you in the heart of the region’s vibrant biodiversity.
We’ll stay just a quarter mile from Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, offering you the time to connect with the land and listen to the wisdom of the redwoods, black oaks, Douglas firs, and lush ferns.
The nearby Russian River, 5 minutes by car, offers opportunities for kayaking, tubing, and SUP. For panoramic ocean views and hiking trails, the Sonoma Coast is just a 25-minute drive away, offering a stunning contrast to the towering redwoods.
A Town Welcoming of Diversity
Guerneville is a queer-friendly town and home to at least two LGBTQIA+ hotels.
Convenient Access
By car, Guerneville is approximately 1.5-2 hours from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and 25 minutes from the Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, making it both remote and accessible.
Your Home Away from Home
We’ll stay in a renovated, historic farmhouse designed for both comfort and connection. The house features six bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. An open kitchen, dining area, and living room featuring a cozy fireplace create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Most rooms will accommodate two people.
Outside, you can explore the vibrant life and colors of the farm, soaking in the beauty and rhythm of the land. Multiple patios, a fire pit, and a hot tub offer perfect spaces to relax and unwind in tranquility.
Physical Accessibility
The house features a ramp for easier entry and a couple of rooms at ground level. Armstrong Redwoods offers a flat trail, specifically designed for accessibility. The Sonoma Coast also has some flat trails. Reach out so that we can do our best to place you in a room that matches your needs.
Food That Nourishes
Our meals will be prepared by Anjali Sunita, who loves nourishing others through food. Guided by Ayurvedic wisdom, she crafts fresh, gently seasoned, and easy-to-digest vegetarian dishes that inspire self-care and mindful eating. Breakfasts and dinners will be served at the house, with packed lunches provided for flexible exploration.
Sample Daily Schedule
7:00–8:15 AM – Morning Forest Immersion
Begin the day in Armstrong Redwoods with a quiet walk, a self-guided ecotherapy practice, or a stretch toward the sky with the tress.
8:30–9:30 AM – Nourishing Breakfast
Delight in a freshly-prepared breakfast made by our chef, Anjali.
10:00 AM–12:00 PM – Ecotherapy Session
Engage in mindfulness and expressive arts practices to nurture your relationship with the rest of the natural world.
12:00–4:30 PM – Spacious Free Time
Wander among the trees, relax at the farmhouse, visit the Russian River, or explore the coast with a packed lunch in hand.
4:30–5:30 PM – Evening Yoga
Wind down with gentle yoga to release tension and embody stillness.
5:45–7:00 PM – Reflection Circle
Share insights and nurture meaningful connections with the group.
7:00–8:00 PM – Delicious Dinner
Savor the flavors in the company of others or in quiet solitude.
Melissa’s eco-arts and yoga retreat was healing for me, due largely to her radiant empathy, careful planning, and competent group facilitation. I arrived as a bundle of nervous anxiety and grief and left feeling hope and joy. That feeling has sustained for the days I have been back home. I am grateful to have been with this group under her guidance and would eagerly do another retreat with her.
Your Redwoods Retreat Hosts
Melissa Renzi (she/her) is a yoga teacher, ecotherapy guide, and community builder with a social work background. She facilitates retreats where sensitive people can find belonging, build meaningful connections, and explore how their unique strengths can contribute to a better world.
Melissa’s yoga classes emphasize accessibility, agency, and an inward journey to uncover one’s true self. She approaches ecotherapy in a way that supports local ecology, minimizes harm, and honors the wisdom of indigenous stewards. These sessions invite participants to slow down, listen to nature allies, and cultivate a reciprocal relationship with the Earth.
Since 2016, Melissa has led over 20 retreats in 7 countries, offering supportive spaces that meet diverse needs, encourage authentic participation, and celebrate neurodiversity.
Anjali Sunita (she/her) lives as a retreat chef, certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, and yoga teacher (for 20 years) now residing in New Zealand. She travels to help others learn to love their own insides and to connect their inner experience to the natural world through nourishment, breath, and yoga practices.
Her prior experience includes the founding of two community yoga centers and a BIPOC led non-profit wellness program in Baltimore city, a vibrant Ayurveda practice, and now, in New Zealand, she has founded Village Life Kitchen, a community meal subscription service in her small town feeding busy families and mostly elderly.
Anjali is passionate about teaching, learning, and being of service in community and views her loving work as prayer to the Divine Mother. You can learn about her background, courses, and programs at www.villagelifewellness.com.
What’s Included
- 5 nights in a charming modern farmhouse surrounded by nature
- 14 delicious meals (starting w/ dinner, ending w/ breakfast)
- Daily guided ecotherapy and expressive arts sessions
- Daily gentle, nature-connected yoga to ground and unwind
- Facilitated reflection circles to deepen connection and insights
- Pre-retreat Meet & Greet to meet fellow participants (via Zoom)
- Private WhatsApp group to connected before and after the retreat
- Unlimited coffee, tea, and water throughout your stay
- Easy access to Armstrong Redwoods and other amazing places
- Ample free time for rest, relaxation, and personal exploration
Not Included:
- Airfare to/from SFO or STS
- Ground transport to/from retreat
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Gratuities for retreat chef (optional)
- Additional activities, massages, etc.
Accommodations
Shared Bunk / Daybed
- Twin bed (scroll photos)
- Private bathroom
- Ground level or second floor
You will be placed in one of 3 rooms: bunkbed; loft w/ 2 beds (shares bathroom w/ king below); daybed/trundle (wheelchair accessible) sharing room with 1 person.
$2,000.00 p.p.
Shared Twin Room
- 2 twin beds (or 1 king)
- Private bathroom
- Ground level or second floor
You will be placed in one of 2 twin rooms, one of which has a private entrance. If booking with a partner, the twin beds can be converted to a king.
$2,150.00 p.p.
Shared (King or Queen) Room
- 1 queen murphy or 1 king (scroll photos)
- Private bathroom
- Second floor or ground floor
You will share a room with 1-2 others. The king is on the second floor and sits below a loft with 2 beds. The queen shares room w/ 1 other person and is wheelchair accessible.
$2,250.00 p.p.
Single Queen Room
- 1 Queen (single occupancy)
- Private bathroom
- Private entrance, ground level
This single occupancy room offers extra privacy with its own entrance on the back patio. If you’d like to book this room with a partner, we can offer a special rate.
$2,600.00 p.p.
Root in Sensitivity, Grow Community, and Empower Your Strengths Among the Redwoods.
July 13-18, 2025
Review the Cancellation Policy and other FAQs below.
We are dedicated to creating a space where everyone feels welcome and respected, affirming all genders, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, abilities, ages, and other diverse identities. We ask participants to join us in fostering an environment rooted in equity and respect.
Root in Sensitivity, Grow Community, and Empower Your Strengths Among the Redwoods
July 13-18, 2025
Review the Cancellation Policy and other FAQs below.
We are dedicated to creating a space where everyone feels welcome and respected, affirming all genders, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, abilities, ages, and other diverse identities. We ask participants to join us in fostering an environment rooted in equity and respect.
Melissa was organized, accommodating and a beautiful person to connect with. She made the retreat exceptional. It was great to be surrounded with like-minded people, as we all felt we could easily open up and genuinely be ourselves.
Melissa sets everyone at ease without fuss. She arranges supportive yoga sessions and encourages adventures out on your own. I never felt rushed or overwhelmed. Lifelong friendships were forged and forever memories engraved on my heart.
Melissa is way more than just a trip organizer, she goes above and beyond to connect people together and creates an atmosphere of open-mindedness with other travelers, local people, and local experiences.
Cancellation Policy
Read the FULL policy and terms: Yoga Retreat Agreement
A clear cancellation policy ensures a fair and equitable relationship with our customers while protecting both parties. Mutual commitment to scheduled retreats is essential to making these events both possible and sustainable. Adhering to our cancellation policy helps cover costs associated with:
- Administrative work and expenses
- Non-refundable expenses paid to partners
- Additional efforts required to rebook cancelled spots
- Lost opportunities to rebook (holding a spot prevents other bookings)
Payment Details for U.S. Retreats
- All deposits are non-refundable/non-transferable.
- Fifty (50) percent of the balance must be paid sixty (60) days before retreat start date.
- Total remaining balance must be paid thirty (30) days before retreat start date.
Trip Cancelled by Participant
If you decide to cancel your trip, the following fees apply:
- More than 60 days before the retreat start date, receive a full refund of your payment, excluding your deposit.
- 31 to 59 days before retreat start date, 50 percent of any payment previously made may be applied to another retreat, excluding your deposit. You will forfeit 50 percent of your retreat payment in addition to the deposit.
- If you cancel 30 days or less before the retreat start date, you will forfeit your entire payment.
Trip Postponed by MNR Retreat, LLC.
We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the itinerary or postpone the retreat where deemed advisable for the safety and well-being of participants. If it is necessary to postpone the retreat due to conditions that may be hazardous such as pandemics, weather, political concerns, or any other reason we deem necessary, we reserve the right to postpone said retreat. In this case, 100 percent of all payments will be applied toward the same retreat on future dates.
We reserve the right to cancel any retreat prior to departure in the event that there are too few people booked in which case you will be given a full refund of your payment, including your deposit. We strongly recommend that you purchase your flight after your retreat is confirmed.
Read the FULL policy and terms: Yoga Retreat Agreement
Getting to the Redwoods Retreat
Check-In + Check-Out
- Check-In: 4:00 PM
- Check-Out: 11:00 AM
Please arrive in time for our opening circle at 5:30 PM on the first day and stay through the closing circle on the final evening.
Getting to the Retreat
You have two airport options:
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 1.5 to 2 hours by car
- Sonoma County Airport (STS): 25–30 minutes by car
Travel Tip: Some cities offer direct flights to STS, and renting a car from this airport can sometimes be more economical.
Transportation Options
Rent a Car: We recommend renting a car at the airport, as it provides the most flexibility. Turo is another option for car rentals. To coordinate rides with fellow participants, you can use our WhatsApp group.
Shuttle SFO to STS: Groome Transportation offers a shuttle between SFO and Santa Rosa (STS). You’ll need to take a taxi to Guerneville.
- Schedule: Runs about every hour
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Fare: One-way fare is $51.00 (as of January 2025)
Taxi or Rideshare Santa Rosa / STS to Guerneville:
- Duration: About 30 minutes, depending on traffic
- Fare: Taxi – about $65 one-way; Lyft and Uber may be cheaper
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is for women and gender-expansive people who resonate with the experiences of high sensitivity. It’s for those who care about social and environmental justice and are seeking connection, resilience, and inspiration to create change in a challenging world.
While most of my retreats are open to all genders, I’ve limited this one was because of the shared room setup. I know that many of my guests may not feel comfortable sharing a room with a cis gender male they don’t know.
All gender minorities / gender-expansive folks are welcome on this retreat regardless of how they present or sex assigned at birth.
If you have questions about whether this retreat is for you, please email info@melissanoelrenzi.com and I’d love to discuss!
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance to anyone coming from outside of the United States, as healthcare can be extremely expensive. While U.S. participants with health insurance should not need additional medical coverage (if you have health insurance), you may wish to insure your retreat package, flight, rental car, and any other travel costs.
We don’t recommend a specific company or policy, but we’ve partnered with InsureMyTrip as an affiliate for the best option to compare plans. They have many travel insurance plans, as well as a recommendation engine to help travelers find the right plan. They will also provide support before, during, and after your trip if you should need anything, including help with a claim.
You might consider “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage, which will cover your trip in the event you are unable or choose not to attend for any reason. CFAR insurance typically reimburses 50 or 75 percent of your trip cost if you need to cancel for reasons not otherwise covered and requires the following conditions:
- Purchase the policy within 14-21 days of first trip payment.
- Insure all prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses prior to departure.
- Cancel more than 48-72 hours prior to your departure date.
Read the policy terms. If you miss the window for CFAR coverage, you can still buy other comprehensive policies.
Food / Alcohol / Drugs
Food: Guided by Ayurvedic wisdom, we’ll savor fresh, gently seasoned, and easy-to-digest vegetarian dishes that inspire self-care and mindful eating. Breakfasts and dinners will be served at the house. Packed lunches will be provided to allow you extra free time and flexibility.
Snacks: We encourage you to bring snacks for hikes and between meals. There are also restaurants and grocery stores just a few minutes down the road by car.
Alcohol & Drugs: We kindly request that guests refrain from bringing alcohol and other drugs into the retreat space. We understand you may want to explore the local vineyards during your free time. We simply ask that alcohol not be consumed at the retreat and encourage mindful consumption. If you have concerns or exceptions, such as medical marijuana, let’s discuss.
Physical Accessibility (+ Yoga)
House: The house features a ramp for easier entry, as well as a couple of rooms at ground level. Only one is wheelchair accessible. Reach out so that we can do our best to place you in a room that matches your needs.
Trails: Armstrong Redwoods offers a flat trail, specifically designed for accessibility. The Sonoma Coast also has several flat trails.
Yoga: Melissa teaches from a trauma-informed lens and prioritizes accessibility, choice, and belonging, while honoring yoga’s traditional teachings. Our sessions will be held on the outdoor patio, which offers railings and chairs for support. Expect gentle, slow-paced movement and with a variety of options so that you can explore what feels supportive for your body. No expereince with yoga is necessary. Beginners to seasoned practitioners are welcome.
WiFi + Cell Service
Cell service is likely to be limited in the area. The house is equipped with high speed WiFi.
Weather + Fire Risk
Guerneville enjoys warm but pleasant weather in July. Temperatures average 80s°F and lows in the 50s°F. While fire risk is a reality in our changing climate, Guerneville is in a less fire-prone area and has not had the extreme heat of some of the dryer areas. The community is proactive in fire preparedness.
Packing List
The following is a general list and may not be all-inclusive:
- Daypack for hiking
- Hiking boots
- Flip flops / sandals
- Light jacket or fleece
- Hoodie or long sleeve shirt
- Short sleeve shirts
- Full-length pants
- Shorts
- Socks / underwear / bras
- Pajamas
- Comfy clothing for yoga
- Swimsuit & towel
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Book, journal, pens
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Earplugs / headphones
- Toiletries
- Sunscreen
- Repellent
- Medications