Georgia Highly Sensitive & Introverted Women’s Retreat
A Cozy Autumn Gathering to Ground & Connect in the Embrace of the Blue Ridge Mountains
November 7-12, 2024
Georgia Highly Sensitive & Introverted Women’s Retreat
A Cozy Autumn Gathering to Ground & Connect in the Embrace of the Blue Ridge Mountains
November 7-12, 2024
Gather for a sacred pause in the vibrant autumn foliage of the forest.
Fall, a time to harvest the fruits of our collective efforts and ground in gratitude, also beckons us in toward quietude and reflection. This post-election, pre-holiday retreat is an invitation to collectively pause, process, and prepare for the season ahead.
We’ll stay in a cozy retreat house surrounded by 216 acres of mostly untouched forest, overlooking a 100-foot waterfall canyon.
Each day will offer a blend of restorative yoga, season-tailored ecotherapy exercises, and engaging discussions. With ecotherapy and expressive arts practices, we’ll give expression to emotions, engage in creative play, converse with nature allies, and explore ways to steward our local ecosystems.
We’ll also have plenty of contemplative solo time for journaling, forest bathing, or fireside tea-sipping.
Come ground in your body, breathe fresh mountain air, and connect in community.
At a Glance
Facilitator: Melissa Renzi
For: All HSPs or introverts who identify as women, including cis & trans women
Highlights: Eco arts, yoga, nature immersion on 220 acres
Venue: 7-bdrm house in mid-range nature retreat center
Rooms: Single or shared occupancy w/ shared bathrooms
Food: Meat, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free options available
Activity Level: Mild to moderate (steps / yoga / nature walks)
Weather: Variable – day mid-60s °F, night 30s-40s °F
Group Size: 12 maximum, likely 10-11, including facilitator
Cost: $1695- $2295 / person
Our retreats are LGBTQ+ Friendly & Affirming.
The Land & Space
Elohee Retreat Center is a non-profit that sits on 30 acres within 216 acres of land in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, which is the traditional homeland of the Cherokee, Yuchi, and Miccosukee.
The center was created to provide a space in Nature to allow for self-exploration, growth, and mind/body healing. It has a retreat campus that hosts larger groups, but we’ll stay in a private, forest-nestled retreat house on the land.
The family is conscious of operating in partnership with nature. They minimize waste, avoid single-use kitchenware, use energy efficiently, and have purposely left most of the land untouched.
Elohee sits at roughly 1500 feet. Early November is peak leaf season and enjoys moderate weather. Daytime temps average in the 60s °F and nighttime temps in the 40s/50s. Elohee is a 2-hour drive from Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
Accommodations: The house where we’ll be staying has 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 living rooms w/ fireplaces, a yoga studio, kitchen/dining room, and patio fire pit overlooking the waterfall. Rooms will be single, double, or triple occupancy with a more intimate group size than other retreats.
*Quick note: I’ve written a blog article that goes into my venue selection process. It speaks in detail to the issues I have with the naming of this retreat center’s houses, and my reasons for going forward with the venue.
Facilities: Several miles of hiking trails and a waterfall canyon begin outside our door. You’ll also have access to the following shared communal spaces on the main campus: tea house, natural pond surrounded with 360 mountain views. massage spa, and gift shop. There will be other groups on the main campus, but our accommodations will be private for our group.
No words can fully describe how beneficial Melissa’s retreats are for me. I leave with a nourished body and spirit, and beautiful memories.
Schedule (may vary)
7:00-8:00 – Self-Guided Forest Bathing/Meditation
8:00-9:00 – Breakfast
9:30-12:00 – Embodied Movement + Ecotherapy
12:00-1:00 – Lunch
1:00-4:30 – Downtime (hike, relax, journal, etc.)
4:30-6:00 – Sunset Flow + Restore Yoga
6:00-7:00 – Dinner
7:00-9:00 – Bonfire / Fireside Circle
What’s Included
- 5 nights accommodation at Elohee Retreat Center
- 14 meals (starting w/ dinner, ending w/ breakfast)
- 4 embodied movement & eco arts sessions
- 5-6 yoga classes w/ Melissa, most evenings
- Opening & closing reflection circles
- Pre-Retreat Meet & Greet via Zoom
- WhatsApp Group for retreat participants
- Unlimited coffee, tea, and filtered water
- Access to Elohee’s cozy Tea House
- Access to the massage spa & gift shop
- Miles of trails, a natural pond & waterfall views
Not Included:
- Airfare to/from Atlanta Intl Airport (ATL)
- Ground transport to/from retreat center
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities for retreat staff (about $40.00)
- Additional activities, massages, etc.
Accommodations
Prices vary according to each room. The king en suite is available for a couple or two friends, and is the only package inclusive of 2 people. All other prices are per person.
Click the Book Now button below for full details and availability.
$1,695 – $2,195 / person
Join us to pause, process the post-election moment, and ground in our collective resilience before the holidays.
This retreat is for you if…
- You feel deeply connected to nature and seek heartfelt practices that support a healthier human-nature relationship
- You care about social and environmental justice, recognizing the intersectionality of justice work
- You are concerned about the climate crisis and have experienced anxiety or grief about the state of the Earth
- You seek a supportive space where you can laugh, cry, and honor the full spectrum of your emotions
- You believe in the power of community and fostering resilience in the face of challenging times
Join us to pause, process the post-election moment, and ground in our collective resilience before the holidays.
This retreat is for you if…
- You feel deeply connected to nature and seek heartfelt practices that support a healthier human-nature relationship
- You care about social and environmental justice, recognizing the intersectionality of justice work
- You are concerned about the climate crisis and have experienced anxiety or grief about the state of the Earth
- You seek a supportive space where you can laugh, cry, and honor the full spectrum of your emotions
- You believe in the power of community and fostering resilience in the face of challenging times
November 7-12, 2024
For our Cancellation Policy and other FAQs, see the tabs below.
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.
Payment + Cancellation Policy
Read the full policy and terms in our Yoga Retreat Agreement before reserving your spot.
Payment Details
– 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 and are due at the time we receive written notice of your cancellation.
– 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, 75 percent of any payment previously made may be applied to another retreat, excluding your deposit. You will forfeit 25 percent of the price of your retreat, excluding 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, 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 full payment, including your deposit. We strongly recommend that you purchase your flight after your retreat is confirmed, which will be no more than 60 days days prior to retreat start date.
You will not be entitled to claim any additional amounts or seek any compensation for any injury, loss, expenses or damage, either direct or consequential, or for any loss of time or inconvenience which may result from such cancellation, including but not limited to visa and passport fees, flights, flight cancellation, and other reservation fees. We strongly encourage and recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your trip.
Getting There + Check-In
Schedule
Day 1 – Thursday, November 7th
3:00 – Check-In
4:30 – Gentle Stretch & Opening Circle
6:00 – Welcome Dinner
Day 2 – Friday, November 8th
7:00-8:00 – Self-Guided Forest Bathing or Meditation (optional)
8:00-9:00 – Breakfast
9:30-12:00 – Embodied Movement + Ecotherapy (Earth Focus)
12:00-1:00 – Lunch
1:00-4:30 – Downtime (hike, journal, massage, etc.)
4:30-6:00 – Gentle Flow + Restore Yoga
6:00-7:00 – Dinner
7:00-8:00 – Fireside Circle
Day 3 – Saturday, November 9th
7:00-8:00 – Self-Guided Forest Bathing or Meditation (optional)
8:00-9:00 – Breakfast
9:30-12:00 – Embodied Movement + Ecotherapy (Water Focus)
12:00-1:00 – Lunch
1:00-4:30 – Downtime (hike, journal, massage, etc.)
4:30-6:00 – Gentle Flow + Restore Yoga
6:00-7:00 – Dinner
7:00-8:00 – Fireside Circle
Day 4 – Sunday, November 10th
7:00-8:00 – Self-Guided Forest Bathing or Meditation (optional)
8:00-9:00 – Breakfast
9:30-12:00 – Embodied Movement + Ecotherapy (Fire Focus)
12:00-1:00 – Lunch
1:00-4:30 – Downtime (hike, journal, massage, etc.)
4:30-6:00 – Gentle Flow + Restore Yoga
6:00-7:00 – Dinner
7:00-8:00 – Bonfire + S’mores
Day 5 – Monday, November 11th
7:00-8:00 – Self-Guided Forest Bathing or Meditation (optional)
8:00-9:00 – Breakfast
9:30-12:00 – Embodied Movement + Ecotherapy (Air Focus)
12:00-1:00 – Lunch
1:00-4:00 – Downtime (hike, journal, massage, etc.)
4:30-6:00 – Gentle Flow + Restore Yoga
6:00-7:00 – Dinner
7:00-8:30 – Fireside Closing Circle
Day 6 – Tuesday, November 12th
7:00-8:00 – Self-Guided Forest Bathing or Meditation (optional)
8:00-9:00 – Breakfast
9:30-10:30 – Embodied Movement + Gratitude Ritual
12:00 – Check-out
Weather
Early November can see variable temperatures that may range from high 50s to low 70s during the day and can drop down to 30s-50s at night. We recommend you check the weather as the dates approach and plan to pack layers.
Food + Dietary Needs
Elohee serves delicious, nutritious, and seasonal meals, using local ingredients when possible. They can accommodate a variety of diets including vegetarian, vegan, omnivore, and pescatarian. If you have specific dietary needs you may want to bring food with you to supplement the meals. You may also want to bring snacks to have between meals.
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, 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.
Packing List
The following is a general list and may not be all-inclusive:
- Daypack or satchel for hiking on property
- Hiking boots or tennis shoes
- Slippers
- Jacket and/or fleece
- Rain jacket (check weather)
- Hoodie or sweaters
- Long sleeve shirts
- Full-length pants
- Short sleeve shirts
- Shorts (check weather)
- Socks / underwear / bras
- Pajamas
- Comfy clothing for yoga
- Swimsuit & towel (if you plan to brave the waterfall or pond!)
- Hat
- Reusable water bottle
- Book, journal, pens
- Phone & charger
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Earplugs / headphones
- Toiletries
- Medications
- Sunscreen and repellent (may not be needed)
WiFi / Cell Service
The house is equipped with high speed WiFi and cell service is good with most major carriers.
Alcohol / Drugs / Firearms
Elohee is an intoxicant-free facility. Firearms are NOT allowed on the property.
Physical Accessibility
Unfortunately, all bedrooms listed require walking up some stairs. The one exception of a very small room on the 1st floor, which is a former wine cellar. There is at least one bathroom on each of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors. Reach out to discuss.
I’ve been teaching yoga in healthcare settings for 8 years. I make a point to ensure my classes are slow, self-paced, and truly accessible to all bodies and abilities.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss your needs. My goal is to offer an ADA compliant retreat by the end of 2025.