I admit I do a terrible job at making time for myself. Between my family and work obligations, I have very little time for regular chores, let alone a whole day for uninterrupted “me” time. For this very reason, I was excited to attend the Valley Wellness Collective’s inaugural retreat in Santa Ynez. Sure, I was eager to have an afternoon away from my laptop, but I was also hopeful I’d leave feeling refreshed and maybe more grounded. Turns out it was just the non-wine-related day in Wine Country I needed!
Courtesy of Lindsey Drewes
The retreat I attended was held at the beautiful Sogno del Fiore estate in Santa Ynez. While it did take place in Wine Country amongst the vines, the day wasn’t about wine (though you could enjoy a glass of wine at the end if you so desired). So, if it’s not about wine, why am I sharing this on my blog you may wonder? Well, for a couple of reasons. First, these events would make a nice alternative retreat in Wine Country if you’re looking for something besides wine tasting. Second, even if you don’t live in the area, maybe you’ll be inspired to put down the laptop (after you read this, of course) and take a little time for yourself!
If you do live in the Santa Barbara area, though, The Valley Wellness Collective will be part of the inaugural Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, coming up this October 17 – 20, 2019. As part of the weekend, The Valley Wellness Collective will be hosting several morning wellness workshops, all designed to help you experience a different side of the Santa Ynez Valley than food and wine — think a spa day, yoga on the lawn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos and an essential oils workshop, to name a few. It should be fun! Read on for more about The Valley Wellness Collective and my experience at their first retreat.
About The Valley Wellness Collective
Founded by Kelly Fiore, the Valley Wellness Collective is a wellness retreat and event company focused on helping women find balance through mindfulness and healthy habits. The whole concept came about through Kelly’s own personal journey to find wellness. Turns out that after moving to Santa Ynez to raise her three boys, Kelly found herself turning to an unhealthy way of living in an effort to cope with big life changes. Compelled to break her habits, she set out to better her lifestyle by making healthier choices and met many inspiring people along the way. Wanting to find a way to capture the skills and knowledge of those she encountered, Kelly decided to launch a business dedicated to helping other women find ways to cultivate more happiness in life. And such, the Valley Wellness Collective was born.
The Valley Wellness Collective produces retreats and custom events focused on five basic pillars: movement, creativity, nourishment, relaxation and mindfulness. Events can be catered to a variety of interests, but each always incorporates these five areas of wellness.
Cultivating Harmony and Happiness Retreat
Our ‘Cultivating Harmony and Happiness’ retreat kicked off around noon with a guided meditation on the lawn by one of our retreat leaders, Staci Curry, a professional henna artist. It wasn’t a hippy-dippy meditation whatsoever, but simple, inspiring words to help us all find a moment of calm and awareness. Next, we gathered on our yoga mats for yoga with Emma Davis of Yoga Dance Magic. This was a unique spin on yoga while wearing headphones, starting with a traditional yoga flow practice before embracing more movement and dancing. There’s no better way to break the ice than by dancing around haphazardly with others to the music in your headphones! Pretty fun.
Next, our retreat moved to a shady area under a tree for a guided lesson on acupressure by Jennifer Lindley of Heaven On Earth Health Spa. She taught us acupressure techniques we could actually practice at home, to treat things like headaches, insomnia and back pain, before we had a break to enjoy a super healthy lunch from All Purpose Flower Catering.
For the creativity portion of the day, Staci taught us the art of henna. We practiced on ourselves and our neighbors using lotion “henna.” It was a fun way to get us out of our comfort zones and try something new. Later in the afternoon, we learned about the benefits of juicing from Kimberly Zimmerman, owner of The Juicy Life Yoga. She brought a variety of fresh juices so we could mix our own blends to take home with us. The last session of the day found us gathered in a circle to hear from life coach Brandi Davis (Back Pocket Life Coach), who challenged us to live more authentic lives by thinking positively about ourselves and being open with those around us.
Closing
It was fun to spend the day with a group of interesting, inspiring ladies, while hearing different perspectives on how to live more fully. While I won’t be able to incorporate everything I learned into my day-to-day life, I am finding myself seeking out little ways to cultivate more happiness in my daily life. I’d say it was a success.
The half-day retreat included five one-hour sessions, lunch and beverages throughout the day, as well as notebooks and water bottles for $315 per person. A portion of the proceeds from each retreat benefits local Santa Ynez Valley charities focused on health and wellness. You can visit their website to learn more!
All photos courtesy of Lindsey Drewes Photography
