As spring unfolds, we are invited to meet its fresh energy with openness, curiosity, and intention. In the spirit of the women who came before us, this retreat offers a chance to root more deeply into ourselves while stepping into new possibilities with clarity and strength. Together, we move beyond the stillness of winter and rise into a more authentic expression of who we are, creating fertile ground for what we long to bring into the world.

Rise Rooted is a path of return: to self, to memory, and to inner wholeness. It is a homecoming.

Shaped by the rhythms of Nature and the shared story of the feminine experience, this retreat invites you to explore the divine feminine within yourself, within the land, and within the archetypal patterns we all carry. Through somatic, meditative, and breath-centered practices, we will work with elemental energies and archetypal expressions that influence both our inner and outer lives.

We will gently meet both the strength and the shadow of these energies, making room for what has been forgotten, suppressed, or left behind. From that place, we can nurture, restore, and embody the parts of ourselves that help us rise with greater authenticity, power, and ease.

Held in a sacred ceremonial container, you will be supported in releasing patterns that have kept you feeling stuck, while reclaiming your center and restoring the natural flow of your energy. This is deep, intentional work—an experience of healing, celebration, and embodiment.

This carefully designed retreat weaves together yoga, therapeutic nature practices, breathwork, somatic exploration, energy medicine, and archetypal wisdom. Grounding yet expansive, it is intended to reconnect you with your body, your intuition, and the living world around you.

Throughout our time together, you will be guided through practices that nourish transformation during the retreat and offer practical ways to carry this work into daily life, allowing the experience to continue unfolding long after you leave.

The Landscape

Slow flow vinyasa and restorative yoga
Sacred therapeutic nature practices and forest bathing
Transformational breathwork and somatic embodiment
Elemental embodiment through Qigong
Acupressure to support and boost Qi, with a board-certified, licensed acupuncturist
Energy medicine practices
Ceremony for releasing and reclamation
Meditation for grounding, clarity, and connection
Exploration of seasonal energetics and elemental wisdom
Soul writing and reflective practices

Accommodations

Choose between simple, comfortable single or shared rooms, each with a private bathroom. Many accommodations offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

Location

The Mountain is a beautiful retreat center set on a mountaintop just minutes from downtown Highlands, North Carolina.

From the Dining Hall, Lodge, and many of the accommodations, you can enjoy sweeping views of the Smoky Mountains.

3872 Dillard Road (Highway 106), Highlands, NC 28741. The Mountain Retreat Center is 4 miles southwest of Highlands, NC and 10 miles east of Dillard, GA on GA Highway 246/NC Highway 106.

Food

Our time together begins with Thursday dinner and ends with Sunday lunch. All meals are included, and you can expect healthy, freshly prepared food. Dietary restrictions and sensitivities can be accommodated with advance notice.

Your Guides

Join Wendy Swanson, a yoga teacher, acupuncturist, nature lover, and travel enthusiast, and Kathleen McIntyre, a nature therapy and adventure guide, embodiment coach, forest ecologist, and educator, on this transformational journey of a lifetime.

Investment

All pricing is per person. All meals, lodging, and programming are included. Transportation to the retreat is not included. We begin at 6 pm on Thursday, April 8th, and conclude at 1 pm on Sunday, April 11th, 2027.

Shared Twin Bed Double Room with Private Bathroom $1,395

Single Twin Bed Room with Private Bathroom $1,835

Meditation retreat in Charlotte