A half-day yoga and contemplation retreat exploring the sacred role of women as witnesses and storytellers— to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and to the living presence of Christ unfolding in our own lives today.
Women as Witness
🌿 What if the story of resurrection began not with proclamation—but with presence?
🌿 What if the first invitation of Easter was simply this: to see, to listen, and to bear witness?
In the early light of resurrection morning, it was women who arrived at the tomb first. Women who lingered in grief, who searched in love, who remained present when hope felt uncertain. And there, in the quiet of the garden, Mary Magdalene encountered the risen Christ—first mistaking him for the gardener, until he spoke a single word that changed everything: Her name.
In that moment, Mary became the first witness of the resurrection— the first to see, the first to hear, the first sent to share the good news.
Throughout Jesus’s life, women were present as witnesses: at his birth, in his ministry, at the cross, and at the empty tomb. Their presence reminds us that witnessing is not about authority or certainty, but about attention, devotion, and the courage to stay close to the story unfolding.
Women have long carried the sacred work of storytelling. Around tables, beside beds, in whispered prayers and shared memories, women have remembered what matters and passed it on. Stories are how faith travels— how hope survives— how love moves from one generation to the next.
The resurrection itself enters the world this way: through the voice of a woman who saw, who heard her name spoken in the garden, and who went to tell the others, “I have seen the Lord.”
To witness is not only to observe. It is to notice, remember, and share the sacred stories entrusted to us. And the story does not end there.
We, too, are invited into this sacred rhythm of witnessing— through scripture, through the patterns of Christ’s life, and through the quiet ways resurrection continues to unfold in our own daily lives. Birth, life, loss, renewal, death and rising again. The rhythms of Christ reflected in the rhythms of our own becoming.
In this half-day retreat, we will gather as women to explore what it means to bear witness: to the story of Jesus, to the movement of God in our own lives, and to one another. Through embodied practice, contemplative prayer, nature reflection, and shared presence, we will step into the garden story ourselves—listening for the voice that still calls us by name.
Come and make space this Easter season to listen for your name spoken in love— and to remember that you, too, are part of the story of resurrection.
What You’ll Experience
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Contemplation
Engage in prayerful practices that open your heart to the sacred rhythms of Christ’s life and resurrection. Through imaginative prayer, silence, and reflective moments, you will enter the story of Mary in the garden and listen for the voice that calls your name.
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Creation
Create a Resurrection Garden: Collect and craft stones from the shoreline as tangible reminders of the stories you carry and the places where you long to hear God speak. These sacred objects honor the rhythm of witnessing—notice, remember, and hold the stories entrusted to you—and offer a symbol of resurrection life to take home.
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Yoga
Experience Christ-centered yoga designed to awaken presence and embodiment. Gentle sequences will invite you to inhabit the role of a witness—staying present, noticing what is sacred, and opening to the courage to carry your story into the world. Sessions are led by experienced yoga teachers rooted in the Christian faith.
“Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out… “Rabboni!” Jesus said, “Go to my brothers and tell them…” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord.”
— John 20:16–18
This Retreat is for You
This retreat is for you if:
🌿 You feel drawn to the stories of women in scripture and long to explore them more deeply.
🌿 You want to experience the Easter story in a contemplative and embodied way.
🌿 You are curious about the integration of yoga, Christian spirituality, and imaginative prayer.
🌿 You long to hear your own life story held within the larger story of Christ.
🌿 You feel the quiet call to notice and remember the ways God is moving in your life.
🌿 You desire sacred space with other women to reflect, listen, and share what you are witnessing.
🌿 You want to step into the Easter season with openness, wonder, and renewed hope.
Whether you come seeking quiet reflection, deeper connection with scripture, or meaningful community with other women, you’ll find a sanctuary here to explore what it means to witness resurrection—both in the ancient story and in your own life today.
The Benefits of Attending
By the end of our time together, you will have had the opportunity to…
🌿 Experience gentle, embodied practices that open the body and heart to contemplation.
🌿 Encounter the resurrection story through imaginative prayer and sacred reflection.
🌿 Explore the sacred role of women as witnesses throughout the life of Jesus.
🌿 Engage with nature as a contemplative companion, noticing the quiet rhythms of renewal and life.
🌿 Reflect on the ways Christ continues to speak your name and invite your response.
🌿 Practice the sacred rhythm of witnessing—learning to notice, remember, and honor the stories unfolding in your life with God.
🌿 Share sacred space and connection with a community of women who are learning to hold and share the stories entrusted to them
Retreat Itinerary
This half-day retreat unfolds as a gentle pilgrimage—through embodied practice, imaginative prayer, nature, silence, and shared reflection—as we step into the resurrection story and explore what it means to be women who witness and carry the sacred stories entrusted to us.
Women as Witness
8:30 AM | Guest Arrival | Arrive, Settle, and Be Welcomed
Arrive, connect, and settle into the space.
9:00 AM | We Gather | Welcome and Prayerful Preparation
We’ll ground ourselves in the Easter story and the sacred role of women as witnesses to Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. We will open ourselves to the invitation of the day: to notice, to listen, and to honor the stories entrusted to us.
9:30 AM | Faithful Presence | Embodied Flow Yoga with Kimee
Throughout Jesus’s life, women remained faithfully present— at his birth, during his ministry, at the cross, and at the empty tomb. In this gentle, flowing yoga practice, we will explore what it means to bear witness through presence: learning to stay attentive to God’s movement in our bodies, our lives, and the world around us..
10:15 AM | In the Garden | Imaginative Prayer with Aelea
Step into the resurrection story through a guided imaginative prayer centered on Mary in the garden. As we enter the quiet of that early morning, we will imagine the moment of searching, the confusion, the recognition— and the sacred moment when Jesus speaks her name.
10:30 AM | Sacred Silence | Listening for the Voice of God
This quiet space allows the story to settle gently within us as we remain attentive to what God may be stirring in our hearts.
11:00 AM | Stories in the Stones - Resurrection Garden | Nature Reflection & Contemplative Craft with Kimee
Women who witness also become storytellers. Gather stones from the shoreline as symbols of the stories we carry— places in our lives where we long to hear Christ speak our name and bring new life. Through a simple contemplative craft, you will create a tangible reminder of the sacred stories unfolding in your life.
Enjoy light snacks and warm beverages as we share this creative and reflective time together.
12:00 PM | Called by Name | Soul Care Yoga with Aelea
Through gentle, grounding movement and reflection, we will explore what it means to be known, called, and sent— carrying the stories of resurrection we have witnessed into the world.
12:45 PM | Closing Circle | Sharing, Blessing, and Sending
Share reflections from the morning, receive a blessing over the stories entrusted to us, and send one another out as women who witness and carry the good news of resurrection into our daily lives.
This Easter season, come and discover witnessing as more:
As presence and devotion.
As listening and remembering.
As the sacred courage to share the stories we carry.
Like Mary in the garden, we are invited to hear our name spoken— and to bear witness to resurrection in the world.
The Details
RETREAT DATE & TIME | Saturday, April 18th, 2026 | 8:30am - 1pm
RETREAT LOCATION | Camp Widjiwagan, 3088 Smith Springs Rd, Antioch, TN 37013
WHAT’S INCLUDED | Yoga and contemplation sessions guided by 500+ hour certified yoga instructors, including all session materials, supplies for the craft, delicious snacks. All you need to bring is a workout mat, journal, pen, and water bottle.
WELCOME STATEMENT | You are welcome here no matter where you find yourself on your faith journey. We honor and embrace the diversity of our experiences and trust that God is present with each of us.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION | On now until March 22nd - $70.00
REGULAR REGISTRATION | Begins March 27th - $80.00
REGISTRATION CLOSES | Friday, April 10th
🌟 Gather your friends—this retreat runs with 12 or more participants!
Keep scrolling to register 👇
Registration Form
Fill out the form to register for Women as Witness, Easter Half-Day Retreat on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 at Camp Widjiwagan.
Meet Your Guides
We’re Kimee and Aelea— two kindred spirits who believe that God meets us in the sacred ordinary and the wild sanctuary of right now lives. Together, we bring years of experience in yoga, spiritual formation, ministry, and soul care, along with a shared desire to create spaces of depth, gentleness, beauty and delight. Put simply, we are space holders for receiving and extending God’s love out into the world.
Our retreats are born from our friendship, our love of yoga and contemplative practices, and our desire to invite others into the kind of presence that heals and holds.
FAQs
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Our practices are rooted in the way of Jesus and shaped by the Christian calendar. All women are welcome, and you’re invited to engage with practices at your own comfort level.
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Not at all. This retreat is designed for all levels—whether you’ve been practicing for years or are stepping onto the mat for the very first time. Yoga will be gentle and accessible. Contemplation practices will be guided with clarity and ease.
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Absolutely. Many participants attend solo, and we create an atmosphere where it’s easy to connect and feel at home.
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You’re in the right place! This retreat is intentionally designed to be welcoming, gentle, and beginner-friendly.
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We know life happens, and sometimes plans need to change. Because space is limited, all registrations become non-refundable after April 4th unless we’re able to fill your spot from our waitlist.
If an unexpected personal emergency arises, we’re happy to review your situation and may be able to offer a partial refund on a case-by-case basis.
If you can’t make it, you’re also welcome to gift or transfer your registration to a friend.
Thank you for understanding and honoring the time, energy, and preparation that go into creating this retreat—we truly want this to feel fair and caring for everyone involved.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!