Women's Wilderness Retreat

A supportive weekend retreat for women contemplating change. Participants will learn from experienced practitioners in the areas of integrative/functional medicine, behavioral health, and spiritual growth.

Join Us

A supportive weekend retreat for women in mid-life and beyond, seeking to explore strategies for change or re-direction. Throughout the ages, the wilderness is often described in many faith traditions as a place in the natural world where heightened awareness and introspection both serve as catalysts for renewal.

Drawing from the wilderness imagery, our retreat will provide a space for women to assess readiness to take next steps in their growth journey.  We offer respite, educational, and experiential opportunities to assist participants in navigating their personal wilderness in an atmosphere of community and self-reflection. Our approach to enhanced self-directed inner wisdom is the balancing of mind, body, and spirit. Participants will be provided opportunities to derive strength, insight, and motivation from community as well as private moments of reflection.  

Our class and experiential workshop format includes time for private journaling, quiet time, hiking by a mountain creek, and a fire-side group event. Relax in a hot-tub. (bring your bathing suit)

Psycho-education about health and change, group interaction and private time are all components of our Women's Wilderness Retreat. Stressful thoughts and feelings might emerge. While participants will be offered support(s) to assist them in moving through any moments of discomfort or distress throughout the weekend, this retreat is not a substitute for treatment or therapy. 

Retreat Location

Hancock Village Inn

102 Main St, Hancock, MA 01237, USA

Built in 1820, the Hancock blends historic charm with modern comfort. This beautifully restored inn was designed for families, groups, and ski getaways. After a hike, unwind in the 8-person hot tub, gather by the fire pit, or simply relax in one of the home’s many comfortable spaces.

Please be advised that most of the guest rooms are on the second floor. The stairs are steep.

What to Bring: Bathing suit for hot tub, warm clothes (sweaters and jacket), hiking sneakers, comfortable clothes for yoga, flat- indoor shoes, personal toiletries, multiple pairs of socks, bug repellant, yoga mat if you have one (or we will supply)

Applause for Menopause: Finding the Beauty within the Second Half of Life

Kelly Clady-Giramma L.Ac., Diplomat O.M.

Uncover the unique advantages of life middle age and beyond with Chinese medicine practitioner, Kelly Clady-Giramma. Acupressure, healing herbs and foods, and qigong energy movements will be explored as well as simple nervous system regulation techniques that can, over time, lessen or even resolve many physical ailments brought on by stress and suppressed emotions. During this workshop, you will identify next steps towards enhanced life purpose as well as what deep self care looks like for you.  Be ready to become inspired and amazed by your body again, no matter what stage of life you are in!

Kelly has been a licensed acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, and therapeutic qigong instructor for nearly a quarter century; she has extensive clinical training from China where she resided for three years before moving to the Berkshires in 2007.  Her specialities include women’s health, dermatology, neurological conditions, autoimmune disorders, Chinese Medicine Pediatrics, and weight loss. In addition to being a Chinese Medicine practitioner, Kelly is a trained Chronic Pain Coach and an Emotional Freedom (tapping) Technique instructor. https://cladycoach.com/

Yoga and Meditation for Harmony, Joy and Balance

Mina Hamilton, MA

Class will include gentle warm-ups, a sequence of safe, restorative yoga postures, and a loving-kindness meditation. The session will end with a deep and calming relaxation. Appropriate for beginners, as well as more seasoned practitioners.

Mina has been teaching yoga and meditation for over twenty-five years. She is an advanced-level, certified Kripalu Yoga teacher. She has studied yoga with Todd Norian, Sudha Carolyn Lundeen and Rudy Pierce, anatomy and neuromuscular training with Irene Dowd, meditation with Thich Nhat Hanh and Toni Packer, and stress-reduction with Jon Kabat-Zinn. A certified Yoga Therapist, Mina trained with Michael Lee. She is also a Life Coach trained by the Coaching That Works program. Her book, Serenity To Go: Calming Techniques for Your Hectic Life was translated into six languages.  https://carnegiehillyoga.com/ 

Life-mapping

Eileen Lawlor, LICSW, LADC, EMDR-Certified

Life-mapping is a fast-paced brainstorming technique developed to help people help themselves out of any 'stuck' place. It is a free-flowing paper and pencil exercise easily learned and mastered in this 1-1/2 hour workshop. Life-mapping is a highly portable skill and lots of fun.

Eileen Lawlor is a licensed Clinical Social Worker, licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and a certified EMDR therapist. She holds two master's degrees: one in Social work and the other in Creative Arts Therapy. Her first career was in theater as a dancer and actress, with credits ranging from several Broadway Shows to multiple national television commercials. In the mid - 70s Eileen was interviewed by Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. As a Therapist for the last 38 years, her professional experiences have included work in: inpatient psychiatric hospitals; outpatient services; Canyon Ranch, a renowned integrative health and wellness resort; and, private practice.

Wellness Intention: Creating an Action Plan to Support Change

Melanie Masdea-Dignum LICSW, LCSW, ACHt

Whether you are anticipating change for the first time or have experienced many past attempts at goal attainment, the contemplation of sustainable change can often feel overwhelming and pointless. The creation of an action plan that mirrors one's internal dialogue about change, can make the difference in sustaining motivation and promoting success.  Join Melanie for three short presentations throughout the weekend about how to embrace change through resource development, psycho-spiritual pursuits, skill building, and finally, practical action steps.   

Spanning four decades, Melanie’s career in service delivery to individuals, children, couples, and families has provided her countless opportunities to observe human suffering first hand. In the 1980s and 1990s, Melanie gained vast experience in how to effect change in the lives she sought to help. For the better part of twenty years, beginning in 2000, Melanie became a member of an integrative/functional medicine team that was dedicated to facilitating health and wellness plans for clients who often requested guidelines in identifying solutions beyond the protocols of mainstream medicine. As a behavioral therapist, it was during this timeframe that Melanie developed a psycho-spiritual framework that, when applied with patience and self-regard, clients were able to take the next step toward self-actualization through the process of change, and ultimately, renewed hope.     

Women's Health and Pleasure: Sensual Embodiment in Mid-life and Beyond

Evelyn Resh, CNM, MPH, CSC-S, MSN

This 90 minute combined seminar and facilitated discussion will offer a medically informed view of the therapeutic value of sensuality. Developing, strengthening, deepening respectful, and abiding friendship with your body for health and wellness will be explored. Sexuality and sexual identity in mid-life and beyond will be included in the discussion.

Evelyn has been a certified sexuality counselor with the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists/AASECT since 2003.  AASECT certification assures you that her training in human sexuality and sexuality counseling has been comprehensive and is clinically sound.  She has also practiced as a certified nurse-midwife/CNM providing care to women of all ages and in all stages of life since 1992. https://evelynresh.com/

My Body is a Temple

Janet Ware-Doucette, MA, LMHC

Learn a contemplative practice using the natural stillness of a mountain to manage turbulence in the mind. Use three breathing techniques and three yoga poses to help the body and mind enter solitude and find peace in a troubled world.

Janet is a psychotherapist and wellness coach specializing in mind-body medicine and biofeedback for stress-related illness treatment. Formerly a life management counselor at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA, she founded the Mindstream Center in 2014, a digital media studio producing clinical multimedia content for educational applications. She has also offered meditation training to both corporate and private clients for over 20 years. In 2023, she founded Stormview Mountain Press, an independent publishing company. Her book, Getting to Gamma: A Journey For Those Who Didn't Expect to Take One is scheduled for release in 2027. https://janetdoucette.com/

All Inclusive Attendee

$650

For two-night stay, all meals and all presentations, workshops, classes and community events included. LIMITED TO 7 Attendees

Presentation Only Attendee

$195

For all presentations, workshops, classes, and community events, lunches & Saturday dinner provided. LIMITED TO 7 Attendees

Sold Out?

Wait List

Space is limited. If you wish to add your name to a wait list, please add your email below. We will contact you if a space opens up for this retreat.

Evelyn Resh: My Best Health Consultation

Sevices Offered:

• Women’s health and aging: This consult offers you the opportunity to discuss your overall health in a relaxed and unhurried approach. Questions about menopause, hormone therapy, exercises for osteoporosis, how best to maintain overall fitness, or a review of your medications and proposed surgical options, are topics that can be explored in this consult.

• Sexual health consult: This private session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss your sexuality openly. Orgasmic issues, genital health as we age, expanding beyond the intercourse paradigm, and the value of erotic affection are examples of topics you may choose to discuss.
  

Private sessions: 1 hour consultations on Sunday afternoon: sliding fee scale $150-185

Kelly Clady-Giramma: Chinese Medicine Consultation

Services Offered:

• Health Consultation (45 mins)
  

Choose between a focus on Chinese Herbs for acute or chronic ailments (such as digestion, allergies, insomnia, or inflammation) or Nervous System Coaching to learn tools for alleviating physical symptoms rooted in emotional or life stressors.  

(Note: if doing an herbal consultation you can choose whether you would like pills or powder and the formula will be mailed directly to you.)

• Therapeutic Qigong Lesson (60 mins)
  

Experience a personalized routine of 4–6 movements prescribed based on your specific health concerns and tongue and pulse diagnosis. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a device with a camera if you wish to make a video recording of your routine.

Private sessions: 45 minute and 1 hour consultations on Sunday afternoon. Fees, $125 and $150

Mina Hamilton: Life Coaching Consult

Services Offered:

• Yoga Wisdom
  

Through gentle yoga postures, wise listening, breath work and relaxation techniques, Mina will help you strengthen your current self-care plan, appreciate your unique talents and come into a deep alignment with your life purpose. No prior experience with yoga or meditation is required.

Private sessions: 45 minute consultations on Sunday afternoon: fee $110

Eileen Lawlor: Healthy Lifestyle Consultation

Services Offered:

Making lifestyle changes can be daunting especially for women at transitional stages of their lives. Eileen is an action-oriented therapist who specializes in life transitions, trauma reduction, and Alcohol Family Systems/ACOA work.

Private sessions: 1 hour on Sunday afternoon: fee $125

About Our Retreats

 Our weekend retreats are carefully designed to offer women an opportunity to contemplate personal and spiritual growth in a collaborative and nurturing country setting.  

Whether a gentle shift in awareness or a decision has been reached, change is a deeply personal process that involves introspection, resource development and action.  Our weekend wilderness retreat format combines a psycho-educational structure with quiet time, providing women with a unique opportunity to learn and reflect as they embark on a path towards enhanced self-determination and sustainable change.       

~ Founder: Melanie Masdea-Dignum

www.solewildernessretreats.com