A half-day Advent retreat to rediscover the deep joy of Jesus—not the fleeting sparkle of the Christmas season, but the lasting joy of knowing that God is with us, for us, and has come near.
Joy to the World
💝 What if joy was more than the fleeting excitement of the Christmas season?
💝 What if the deepest joy of Christmas isn’t something we have to manufacture, purchase, or create—but something we are invited to receive?
The Christmas season can be full of sparks of joy: twinkling lights, favorite songs, festive gatherings, and beautifully wrapped gifts. While there is goodness in all of it, those sparks can fade quickly…
The angel’s announcement to the shepherds was good news: Jesus has come! God is with us and for us! This is the joy at the heart of Christmas—not something we have to create or earn, but something we are invited to receive.
This year, we’ll let the beloved Christmas carol “Joy to the World” guide our time together:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.
Through restorative and flow yoga, silence, contemplation, creativity, and community, we’ll slow down and wonder at these familiar words in a new way. We’ll explore what it means to receive the joy of Jesus, make room for His presence, and join the blissful song of heaven and nature.
Come and prepare your heart this Advent to receive the deep and lasting joy of Chris: joy that is given, joy that is embodied, and joy that spills over into the world around you.
What You’ll Experience
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Contemplation
Engage in prayerful practices that open your awareness to God’s joy—through silence, reflection, and the simple delight of making room to be with God.
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Yoga
Experience Christ-centered yoga to open the heart, awaken the body, and embody the joy of Christ’s presence. Sessions are led by experienced yoga teachers rooted in the Christian faith.
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Creation
Create a joyful tea blend as a tangible reminder of God’s presence, making one for yourself and one to share as a gift of joy this Advent.
“The celestial messenger immediately calmed them and said, You have no reason to fear! Listen! I have the most wonderful announcement to make—this will lead to the great encounter of the most joyful bliss for every single person on the planet!”
— Luke 2:10
This Retreat is for You
This retreat is for you if:
💝 You find yourself craving something more lasting than the fleeting sparks of manufactured or consumer-driven joy.
💝 You want to remember that God has always been with you and for you, and that Jesus is the joyful announcement at the heart of Advent.
💝 You desire to explore what it means to receive God’s love rather than striving to earn, create, or manufacture joy.
💝 You want to explore the integration of yoga, Christian spirituality, contemplation, and embodied practice.
💝 You want to remember that joy can be an embodied practice and even an act of resistance in a culture that so often tells us what we need to buy, achieve, or accomplish in order to be happy.
Whether longing to reconnect with the heart of Christmas, or simply ready to make a little more room for joy, you’ll find a sanctuary here.
The Benefits of Attending
By the end of our time together, you will have had the opportunity to…
💝 Reflect on the good news of Luke 2:10 and the joy of the incarnation: God is with us.
💝 Explore what it means to receive joy rather than constantly striving to create it.
💝 Create a seasonal tea blend for yourself and another person—a small, tangible way to remember and share the joy of presence throughout the season.
💝 Reconnect with the joy of Jesus and the goodness of being held in relationship with God.
💝 Remember your connection to the wider creation and the invitation for heaven and nature to sing together.
💝 Be joined with a joy-filled community of sisters who are making room for Christ and practicing joy together
Retreat Itinerary
A glimpse of the nourishing retreat planned for you.
*Itinerary subject to change.
Joy to the World
8:30 AM | Guest Arrival | Arrive, connect, and settle in
9:00 AM | We Gather |Welcome and Prayerful Preparation
9:30 AM | Let Earth Receive Her King | Restorative Yoga with Kimee
Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King! Spend time opening the heart and learning to receive the joy of the incarnation. We’ll explore the goodness of receiving God’s presence and our connection with the earth and all creation
10:15 AM | Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room | Silence + Contemplation
10:45 AM | Break | Enjoy festive snacks and beverages, and connect with new friends.
10:55 AM | And Heaven and Nature Sing | Create your own seasonal tea blend as a tangible reminder of the joy of presence.
11:45 AM | Joy! Joy! Joy! | Flow Yoga with Aelea
A lighthearted, joy-filled practice designed to help you experience joy in your body. We’ll move, breathe, play, and celebrate the good news that Jesus has come. A chance to remember that joy doesn’t always have to be serious or solemn—it can be embodied, expansive, playful, and fun.
12:30 PM | Closing Circle | Closing sharing, blessing, and vow of joy.
This Advent, come and discover joy as more: as receiving and presence, as Jesus who is already with us, and as a holy, embodied joy that the world desperately needs.
Details and Registration
RETREAT DATE & TIME | Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 8:30am - 1pm
RETREAT LOCATION | St John's Lutheran Church. 3259 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214
WHAT’S INCLUDED | Yoga and contemplation sessions guided by 500+ hour certified yoga instructors, including all session materials, supplies for the creating of your tea blend, festive 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 October 18th - $65.00
REGULAR REGISTRATION | Begins October 19th - $75.00
REGISTRATION CLOSES | Sunday, November 15th.
🌟 Gather your friends—this retreat runs with 12 or more participants!
Register by filling out the form below 👇
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 November 15th, 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!