WINTER SPINE Retreat : The Art of Rest

When you are feeling emotionally depleted and are ready to return to yourself/ cells
through rest & ritual alongside nature.

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Dec 18th - 20th

Five overnight spaces. A limited number of additional day spaces will be available.
Membership discounts are available.

Come as you are ~ Participate at your own pace ~ Leave room for wonder.

Winter SPINE: The Art of Rest

December 18–20, 2026 · Chapel Hill, North Carolina

An invitation to soften, reconnect, and experience the wisdom of winter.

There is a particular kind of magic in gathering during winter. The world grows quieter, the trees reveal their intricate architecture, and nature reminds us that not every season is meant for blooming. Some seasons invite us inward, asking us to listen more closely, tend to what matters, and make room for rest.

Join y Respira for Winter SPINE: The Art of Rest, an intimate retreat nestled in a beautiful natural setting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Through yoga, somatic practices, nature, nourishing food, meaningful conversation, and spacious moments of simply being, we will explore what it means to care for ourselves while remaining connected to one another and the world around us.

This is an opportunity to experience winter rather than rush through it.

Our SPINE Philosophy

SPINE invites us to tend to the whole of ourselves by tapping into our intuitive body.

• S — Space: Create room to breathe, pause, and simply be.

• P — Physical Body: Move, stretch, restore, and listen to the body's wisdom.

• I — Intention: Reconnect with what deserves our attention.

• N — Nature & Nutrition: Nourish ourselves through seasonal foods and our relationship with the natural world.

• E — Energies & Emotions: Make room for the feelings, stories, and experiences that make us human.

Planting Our Winter SEEDS

Winter is a time to turn inward, conserve our energy, and prepare the ground for what comes next. Together, we will plant our SEEDS for the next three months, setting intentions we can nurture throughout the season.

Inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we will explore the themes of winter through five simple touchstones:

• Season — Winter: Rest, reflection, and renewal.

• Element — Water: Adaptability, wisdom, and trust.

• Emotions — Fear: Meeting uncertainty with curiosity and cultivating courage.

• Diet & Nourishment: Exploring seasonal foods and TCM principles associated with the Kidneys and Bladder.

• System — Respiratory: Bringing awareness to our breath, movement, and the ways we create space within ourselves.

Through reflection, movement, seasonal nourishment, and connection with nature, we will consider what we want to nurture and carry into the next three months.

Who Is This For?

For the curious, the tired, the reflective, the nature-loving, and anyone who wants to experience yoga beyond the mat.

You don’t need to be flexible, have yoga experience, or fill every moment with activity. Simply bring your whole self: your quiet self, your questioning self, your joyful self, or your not-sure-what-I-need self. All are welcome.

Our intention is not to escape life, but to return to it with greater presence, care, and capacity.

What Our Weekend Holds

• Silent morning meditation, yoga education, and movement

• Leisurely forest strolls and nature immersion

• Journaling, if you wish

• Bike rides, if you wish (bring your bike!)

• Nourishing winter meals prepared with love by Chris and Victoria

• Evenings gathered by the fire

• Time for connection, solitude, and simply being

Choose the Stay That Works for You

• Full Weekend: Enjoy two breakfasts, two dinners, and one lunch, all provided. Price is per person

• Saturday Day Retreat | December 19, 10 AM–4 PM: Join us for the day, including a nourishing lunch.

• Sharing the Stay: Can't stay both nights? Come with a friend and split the overnight stay—one of you stays Friday night, the other Saturday night.

A Weekend Without Pressure

This is not a weekend about fixing yourself, keeping up, or following a perfect schedule. It's an invitation to arrive as you are and participate in whatever ways feel right for you.

Some moments may invite conversation and connection; others leave room for solitude, journaling, quiet observation, or wandering at your own pace. There is no right way to be here.

We gather not only to nurture ourselves, but to cultivate the care, presence, and capacity we carry back into our communities and the wider world.

Whether you join us for the day or the full weekend, may you find space to rest, reconnect, and welcome winter in your own way.

Come as you are. Leave a little more connected to yourself, to nature, and to what matters.

Our time together

FRI 18

Arrive & Settle In

Settle into the house, (5pm) share a welcome tea and dinner, and ease into the weekend with a gentle practice and opening circle. An evening to exhale, connect, and leave some of the outside world at the door.

SAT 19

Explore & Experience

Our shared retreat day will weave together movement, somatic awareness, nature, seasonal nourishment, reflection, and restorative yoga. We will make space for both collective experiences and personal exploration.

SUN 20

Integrate & Carry Forward

Begin the morning with a grounding practice, breakfast, and a closing circle. Leave with a little more space inside yourself and a renewed appreciation for the wisdom of rest.