Spring 2022 Massage & Bodywork Options

Amy Miller-Strand of Bodywork Transformation​ will be offering 1 hour long relaxation massage with (optional) essential oils and cupping.

The cost is not included in retreat registration as this is an optional offering. A massage with Amy during the retreat will be $80 for 60 minutes.

I have had the personal privilege of experiencing massage with Amy and can say it is heavenly! She works intuitively with a variety of techniques to both relieve muscle tension and leave the recipient feeling incredibly relaxed.

A little background ~ Amy is an instigator of self care and promotes the adventure of self exploration through bodywork of all kinds. She is trained in Western Massage Modalities and Eastern Medicine Philosophy. Amy creates a fusion of both worlds using Swedish/Deep Tissue/Trigger Point Therapies/ Essential Oils with Shiatsu/Thai/Reflexology/Chinese Cupping Techniques.

Amy has been practicing for about 7 years now and owns her own business doing what she loves. Amy believes in a holistic approach to self care by integrating the body, mind and spirit in her sessions to create balance and harmony in our daily lives. Amy has been called to be of service and hold space for others to inspire and empower them to reach their full potential.

{Signup will become available for massage one month in advance of the retreat.}

Rebecca Benstead
Rebecca Benstead for retreat Reiki & Thai Yoga Bodywork

I’m so excited to welcome Rebecca Benstead back to another retreat! I love the warmth and regeneration I experience through Rebecca’s healing sessions. She has a gift for making people feel welcome and safe.

Rebecca’s practice brings a therapeutic and individualized approach to wellness. She started her journey in 2001 studying TCM and Shiatsu Therapy and has since evolved her work to include Reiki, visualization, breath work, Thai yoga bodywork, and Somatic Therapy. She works with each body to meet them where they are and tailors every session accordingly.

A 60 minute session with Rebecca for Thai Yoga Bodywork and energy work will be $85 at the retreat. Signup will be available one month prior to the retreat.

Ready to register for the retreat? Click here

Save Your Spot At Spring Awakening Retreat 2022

For more information on this rejuvenating retreat, click here!

arc single room

Single Occupancy Lodge Room

Single occupancy room in the lodge, shared bathroom. Meals and yoga included. 4/22/22-4/24/22

$549.00

Double Occupancy Lodge Room *SOLD OUT*

Double occupancy room in the lodge, shared bathroom. Meals and yoga included. 4/22/22-4/24/22

$449.00

Save My Spot

Reserve your spot at the retreat by making a deposit today. Payments may be made at your convenience. Payment in full must be made by 3/19/22 to receive the Early Bird rates.

$100.00

Intro to Ayurvedic Wellness Certificate

6 hour YACEP Continuing Ed credits. Must attend all 6 hours (divided into 3 classes: Ayurveda Basics, Dosha Assessing, & Dosha Balancing) to earn the certificate. Certificate & education provided by Tanya Rice of Azitala.

$63.00

Spring Awakening Retreat Guides

I am SO honored and grateful to share this space with one of my dearest friends and personal mentor, Tanya Rice!

Tanya first practiced yoga in 2010, became certified as an instructor in 2012, and almost immediately began teaching and sharing this transformative passion with family and friends. A few short years later Tanya’s dream of opening a yoga studio to the public was realized. Azitala is now something of a staple in the Elk River community and draws a wide range of bodies. People flock to Tanya’s classes to soak up that yummy energy! From powerfully active classes to deeply moving meditations, her wide range inspires each practitioner to truly feel YOGA — that union between mind and body.

Tanya will be guiding all of the Ayurveda master classes over the retreat weekend and treating us to a sound bath on Sunday morning.

{Tanya is E-RYT 200, E-RYT 500, Module in Kundalini, Module in Yin/Restorative, Module in Yoga Alchemy, Module in Bhakti/Sound Healing, Pranayama, Grief and Trauma yoga, and Certified Reiki Master.}

I (Amber) began my history with yoga over 15 years ago. I loved that post-yoga high and was inspired to become a teacher once I experienced the connection between mind/body/higher power. Teaching yoga feels like both a service to others and a fulfillment of passion and joy for myself. I teach a wide variety of classes and bodies but find that people connect most with my style if they are open to spiritual development and growth.

In January of 2020 I began training in Thai Yoga Bodywork and have been so blessed to share this healing work with a wide variety of people. I work to put my clients at ease and provide sessions that are typically very grounding and nurturing.

I was inspired to create retreats where folks could experience an immersion of sorts; an all-inclusive experience that could refresh the spirits of caregivers in our community.


In the words of Patanjali, “…with a peaceful mind you can go out into the world and serve well.” Join me as your retreat host and yoga teacher for a weekend of cultivating authentic connection in your life so you may continue to serve those around you.

{Amber is RYT 500, Reiki I & II certified, and has Level I, II, & III Certificates in Thai Yoga Bodywork.}

Ready to register for Spring (Re)Awakening 2022? Click here

Spring Awakening April 2022 Itinerary

  • We reserve the right to alter the schedule at any time without prior notice and YOU reserve the right to attend or not attend any of these offerings.

Friday

4-5:30 PM Arrival & Check-in

5:30 PM Welcome Dinner

7-8:30 PM Ayurveda Basics* master class {Slow Flow & Ayurveda Introduction}

Saturday

7 AM Morning Flow Yoga for all levels

8:30 AM Breakfast

9:30 AM-12 PM Dosha Assessing* master class {education, assessment, movement}

12:30 PM Lunch

2-4 PM Dosha Balancing* master class (Bringing your dosha into balance with nutrition, rituals, etc)

5:30 PM Dinner

7-8 PM Restorative Yoga

Sunday

7 AM Nature Meditation (weather permitting)

8:30 AM Breakfast

9:30 AM “Spring Awakening” Sound bath with meditation & energetic adjustments

11 AM Checkout

*Must attend all 3 master classes to earn the 6hr CEU certificate.

Save My Spot
Spring Retreat 2022 Info

Meet the Healers

Rebecca Benstead is returning for Rest & Retreat in February! I have personally experienced the warmth & regeneration of her incredible healing sessions.

Rebecca’s practice brings a therapeutic and individualized approach to wellness. She started her journey in 2001 studying TCM and Shiatsu Therapy and has since evolved her work to include Reiki, visualization, breathwork, Thai yoga bodywork, and Somatic Therapy. She works with each body to meet them where they are and tailors every session accordingly. She is offering 1 hour Reiki sessions for $85 and 2 hour “deep dive” healing & bodywork sessions for $165.

Signup will be available one month prior to the retreat. Rebecca accepts Cash & Venmo.

I (Amber) will also be offering 30 minute Thai Yoga Bodywork sample sessions for $30. Signup for this will also be available one month prior to the retreat. Amber accepts cash, check, Venmo, PayPal, and ApplePay.

Rest & Retreat Winter 2022

Rest & Retreat Feb 2023 Itinerary

  • We reserve the right to alter the schedule at any time without prior notice and YOU reserve the right to attend or not attend any of these offerings.

Friday

3-5 PM Arrival & Check-in

5:30 PM Welcome Dinner

7:15 PM “Release” Vin to Yin followed by burn ceremony

Saturday

7:15 AM Morning Flow with Drum Beats

8:30 AM Breakfast

10-11:15 AM Master Class (Journaling & movement for restoration & immunity)

12:30 PM Lunch

1-5:30 PM Free time to read, nap, games, explore outdoors, treatments, etc.

5:30 PM Dinner

6:45 PM “True Restoration” Luminary Walk followed by Restorative Sound Bath with Reiki

Sunday

7:15 AM Nature Meditation (weather permitting)

8:30 AM Breakfast

9:30 AM “Return” Closing Circle ~Gentle Movement with Gratitude, Tea, Meditation, & Sound Blessing

11 AM Check out

Winter Retreat 2023

Rest & Retreat

For more information on this glorious, rest-filled retreat, click here!

We are FULL at this time; but often have a cancellation closer to the retreat date. Click here to join the waitlist and be the first to jump in when there’s an opening.

Single Occupancy Lodge Room

Single occupancy room in the lodge, shared bathroom. Meals and yoga included. 4/22/22-4/24/22

$549.00

Double Occupancy Lodge Room

Double occupancy room in the lodge, shared bathroom. Meals and yoga included. 4/22/22-4/24/22

$449.00

Cottage Double Occupancy

Double Occupancy in Cottage. 1 Queen bedroom plus loft with Double bed & convertible futon. Kitchen & bathroom. All meals and yoga included. 4/22/22-4/24/22 Must register with desired roommate.

$499.00

Save My Spot

Reserve your spot at the retreat by making a deposit today. Payments may be made at your convenience. Payment in full must be made by 3/19/22 to receive the Early Bird rates.

$100.00

When Gratitude Spills Over

Two weeks later, I am still riding the “high” of the Sacred Connections retreat! I find it difficult to truly describe the weekend when others ask other than to say it was “amazing.”

Tanya Rice and JennieRuth Warren are the best team a girl could ask for. From reminding me to eat to taking care of meal prep to plopping me down on the steps and guiding me through impromptu relaxation and breath work (not to mention teaching beautiful classes!), they are true gems and I am so glad we got to bask in their light.

Our trail ride held a little more excitement than some of us were hoping for (me!), but our experience ended happily with charcuterie beside the sparkling lake.

The barn at Xanadu was once again the perfect space to hold our thoughts, tears, laughter, and sweat through all the classes. One person shared how transformative it was to journal all the thoughts she’d been holding in for ages. Others enjoyed being “fallen trees” and getting the rest their bodies craved during a more active class. I loved experiencing morning classes with the sun coming up through the window, then again in the evening darkness with nothing but candlelight around us.

The food this year was one of my favorite parts. Meals handpicked and prepared with love; shared around the long table with no shortage of conversation. Friends visiting in the kitchen and throughout the house made me truly feel at home. You can find some of the recipes here!

The magic of Xanadu never fails to deliver unforgettable moments and always makes me want to stay a little longer: the clear cool water, the water toys that brought so much laughter, the epic sunrises and sunsets. I know all the retreat guests have endless lists of their own!

The absolute highlight of the whole weekend was the people! Seeing both strangers and old friends forming (or solidifying) connections and supporting one another is something I will forever hold in my heart. Borrowing the spot-on words of Sarah Strohmeyer, “The power of women united, I am again reminded, is an invincible thing.”

If you were there, I would love to hear your favorite memory in the comments!

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who supported this weekend and helped make it happen! My patient friends and family heard of practically nothing else the past month.

My cup is truly overflowing with love and gratitude. ~Amber

Retreat Recipes

I absolutely loved sharing some of my favorite recipes at the retreat! I can’t wait to hear which ones make it into rotation with your family.

BBQ Chicken with Baked Potato Bar ~ Probably the most simple meal of the week! Chicken was prepared in a slow cooker with Primal Kitchen’s Golden BBQ Sauce, and all the fixings were your choosing!

The hearty veggie-filled egg bake recipe can be found here: https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-veggie-supreme-egg-bake-242506 . To make it vegan I used oat milk and vegan cheese.

Sadly, I cannot find my recipe source for the “Sunshine Breakfast Cookies”! So here’s my interpretation~

1 banana

1 c almond butter

1/3 c honey

1 tsp vanilla

½ tsp cinnamon

1 c unsweetened shredded coconut (I use a scant 2/3 c almond flour + 1/6 coconut + 1/6 coconut flour)

1/3 c hemp seeds

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp sea salt

1/3 c raisins (optional, I used golden raisins)

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 2 cookie sheets. Mash banana, add almond butter, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon. In a small bowl combine the dry ingredients. Stir dry into wet. Fold in add-ins. Use 1/4 cup to drop dough onto cookie sheets. Use spatula dipped in water to smooth and flatten (2 3/4″ round/1/2″ thick). Bake 14-16 min. Cool completely on wire racks.

BYO Protein Bowls were fairly simple as well~ ground turkey cooked with Siete brand taco seasoning, lentils, rice, avocado, cheese, salsa, cashew queso (found at Target), GF taco shells (Siete brand), diced & roasted sweet potatoes, greens, and pumpkin seeds.

The Quinoa Vegetable Soup can be found here: https://cookieandkate.com/quinoa-vegetable-soup-recipe/. After trying it both ways, I found that I preferred the taste and heartiness with sweet potatoes. Fresh grated parm is also a nice touch!

Tanya’s Super Smoothies:

1/2 c coconut water

1 c spinach

1 banana

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/2 avocado

Pure maple syrup (optional)

Blend and top with granola, coconut chips, or whatever suits your fancy! The organic pumpkin granola we enjoyed at the retreat can be found at Costco.

My new favorite Pumpkin Overnight Oats recipe is here: https://www.wellplated.com/pumpkin-overnight-oats/. It makes AWESOME leftovers to enjoy throughout the week!

This is the healthy version of Apple Crisp we tasted: https://thecleaneatingcouple.com/healthy-apple-crisp/. Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream!

Let me know if I left anything out and I would love to hear about any new ways you try these recipes!