The Women's Winter Renewal Retreat offers an opportunity to gather in the sacred space of Heart Song Retreat to share in yoga postures, meditation, chanting, and make herbal preparations with the gifts of the cottonwood tree whose buds are ripe with healing resin in mid-winter. You will take home the herbal preparations you make and receive a free e-booklet, so you can make more at home.
Early bird pricing of $85/person through November 1; $95 after.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Welcome and Ananda Yoga and Meditation Practice
We’ll begin our day with a warm welcome and practices to counter the contractive nature of mid-winter. Through yoga postures, pranayama, chanting, meditation, and affirmations, we’ll invite expansion—into our bodies, our breath, our shared space, and the beauty of nature. This is a time to reconnect with yourself and your surroundings, cultivating presence and vitality as we move through the heart of winter.
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM | Nourishing Lunch
Enjoy a warm and hearty vegetarian lunch.
1:15 PM – 3:00 PM | The Gifts of the Cottonwood Tree Workshop
Step into the blessings of Nature as we explore the healing properties of the cottonwood tree, which abundantly surrounds the Heart Song property. Participants will learn to create two traditional remedies:
Cottonwood Bud Oil (to be steeped for 6–8 weeks)
Cottonwood Bud Honey
There also will be a demonstration on how to make a salve using the infused oil—perfect for addressing inflammation and arthritic pain. Cottonwood bud honey offers soothing relief for stubborn coughs and respiratory congestion.
If the weather permits, we’ll gather buds directly from fallen branches on the property; otherwise, buds will be harvested in advance. Late January is the ideal time for this practice, and we’ll also discuss proper harvesting techniques and ethical wildcrafting.
Throughout this session, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the ecological gifts of cottonwood: its root systems that stabilize the land, its role in water filtration, and the resin-rich buds that offer potent healing, and more.
Bonus: Each participant will receive a complimentary E-Booklet with the recipes and insights on working with cottonwood tree buds.
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