Join Us For An Autumn Overnight Yoga & Contemplation Retreat
Wild Sanctuary
An overnight retreat to rest, reconnect, and remember the wild sanctuary of God in your everyday life.
Embrace the Wild Sanctuary…
In the wilderness, we meet God in ways both untamed and tender…The rustle of wind through trees, the flicker of firelight, the quiet spaces within our own souls—these are all sanctuaries.
We often imagine sanctuary as a place of stillness, peace, and safety.
But what if the wild itself is sanctuary?
What if God meets us in the unexpected, the untamed, the vibrant beauty that refuses to be contained?
Welcome to Wild Sanctuary, an overnight Yoga and Contemplation retreat.
During this retreat, we’ll explore this sacred paradox:
The wildness of Spirit—uncontainable, curious, alive, free
The sanctuary of sacred space—safe, reverent, tender, true.
Here, we will embrace “wild” as full of life, beauty, and authenticity, and “sanctuary” as a place of belonging, rest, and presence. Together, they form the soul-space we’ll inhabit during this retreat.
Through Christ-centered yoga, contemplative prayer, nature, and ceremony, we will open ourselves to encounter God in both the stillness and the stirring. Together, we’ll root into the belief that the wild and the sanctuary are not opposites, but companions in the life of faith.
Wild Sanctuary is an invitation to step away from the rush of life and enter a slower, more intentional rhythm.
Over the course of one evening and a full day, you’ll be guided through practices that invite you to discover the wild sanctuary of God in your own daily life.
This first-ever Wild Sanctuary Retreat is our signature offering. It’s a space where beauty, stillness, and community intertwine. Set in the breathtaking landscape of St. Mary’s in Sewanee, we’ll gather under wide skies, walk wooded trails, and share in sacred moments of prayer, rest, and celebration.
What You’ll Experience
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Contemplation
Engage in guided practices that open your awareness to God’s presence in all things. Through prayer, Visio Divina, silence, and reflection, you’ll be invited to simply be with God—no striving, no earning—just delighting in the Holy.
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Restoration
Breathe in the mountain air, soak in the sunset, share stories by the fire, and find joy in playful moments. From creative expression to quiet reflection, you’ll discover new ways to carry sanctuary into your daily rhythms.
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Yoga
Experience Christ-centered yoga to awaken the body and restorative sequences to rest deeply. All sessions are invitational and adaptable for any level, led by experienced yoga teachers rooted in the Christian faith.
This Retreat is for You
This retreat is for you if you are:
🍂 Longing for space to breathe, rest, and simply be
🍂 Drawn to exploring the intersection of your faith, body, and soul
🍂 Curious about how God’s wildness and God’s sanctuary meet in your own life
🍂 Craving beauty, sacred community, and time in nature
🍂 Ready to step away from daily noise and reconnect with what matters most
No prior yoga experience is necessary! Every practice will be gentle, invitational, and adaptable to your needs.
The Benefits of Attending
You’ll leave the retreat with…
🍂 A deeper trust that the wild spaces in your life are sacred meeting places with God
🍂 Tools and practices for carrying a sense of sanctuary into your daily rhythms
🍂 A renewed body and mind through restorative and soulful yoga
🍂 A heart anchored in presence through prayer, meditation, and reflection
🍂 Meaningful connections with kindred spirits who value both depth and delight
Retreat Itinerary
A glimpse of the nourishing retreat planned for you.
*Itinerary subject to change.
Friday, October 10th
4:00 PM | Guest Arrival | Settle In at St.Mary’s
5:00 PM | We Gather |Welcome Circle
5:45 PM | Sunset & Charcuterie | Community Connection
7:00 PM | Yoga Under the Stars + Visio Divina with Kimee & Aelea | Explore the wild, holy sanctuary of God in creation
8:30 PM | Bonfire & Free Time | Late night chats, early rest, or connecting with new friends, it’s your night.
Saturday, October 11th
6:30 AM | Sunrise Yoga with Kimee | optional
7:00 AM | Sunrise Meditation with Aelea | optional
8:00 AM | Breakfast
9:30 AM | Soul Care Yoga with Aelea | Explore the wild sanctuary of God within
11:00 AM | Silence | Guided Prayer Options with Kimee & Aelea
12:00 PM | Lunch
12:45 PM | Free Time to Explore | Walk the labyrinth, go for a hike, take a nap, join the dance party
2:00 PM | Chair Yoga with Kimee | Explore the wild sanctuary of God in your every day living
3:30 PM | Tea Ceremony | A rooted ritual
4:00 PM | Prayer of Examen | Reflecting with God
4:45 PM | Closing Circle | Ending with Gratitude
Retreat and Rejuvenate
If you are seeking a sacred pause—space to rest, move, pray, and connect with God—this overnight retreat is for you.
Step into an intentional rhythm, explore the wild sanctuary within and around you, and return home carrying practices that root you in peace, joy, and the presence of God.
About St.Mary’s
Genius loci is the spirit of a place. It’s the intangible quality that makes a location feel sacred—the way the sun filters through the trees, the scent of the earth, the hush of the breeze.
At St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development, the genius loci is irresistible. Located on Monteagle Mountain, about an hour and a half south of Nashville, this retreat center is a haven for rest, renewal, and reconnection. Its walking trails, labyrinth, open-air views, and cozy gathering spaces invite deep peace.
During your time here, you can wander the grounds, sit in stillness with a cup of tea, or gather with friends on the porch as the day fades into night.
We acknowledge that Sewanee, Tennessee, and the surrounding areas are the original lands and waters of the Cherokee, Shawnee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek peoples.
Details
RETREAT DATE | Friday, October 10 – Saturday, October 11, 2025
RETREAT LOCATION | St. Mary’s Sewanee, 770 St. Mary’s Lane, Sewanee, TN 37375
WHAT’S INCLUDED | Lodging, all meals, snacks, beverages, all sessions guided by 500+ hour certified yoga instructors, including all session materials. All you need to bring is a workout mat, journal, pen, and your overnight essentials.
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.
Registration
Early Bird Registration on NOW until September 7th.
Single Occupancy Room $300.00
Double Occupancy $250.00 per person
Regular Registration Begins September 8th.
Single Occupancy $330.00
Double Occupancy $280.00 per person
Registration Closes on September 30th.
CAPACITY | Limited to 15 participants.
The wildness of Spirit—uncontainable, curious, alive, free.
The sanctuary of sacred space—safe, reverent, tender, true.
You were made for both.
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, with options for chair yoga if needed. 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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Yes—your registration covers your overnight stay at St. Mary’s, along with all meals and retreat programming
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Yes! Please let us know any allergies or dietary restrictions when you register, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you. In our experience, the food at St.Mary’s is absolutely incredible and can accommodate allergies and dietary preferences!
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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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No—both shared and private rooms are available. If you register for a shared room, we’ll thoughtfully pair you with another participant, or, on your registration form, you can list the name of the participant you’d like to share a room with.
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We keep our retreats intentionally small so the experience feels spacious, intimate, and connected.
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We know life happens, and sometimes plans need to change. Because space is limited, all registrations become non-refundable after September 30th, 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.
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Yes! We want this retreat to be accessible. You can pay 50% of the registration fee to reserve your spot, then the remaining 50% is to be paid by September 30th.
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Have questions? We’d LOVE to answer them! Join us for an thirty-minute info session on Tuesday, September 16th from 7-7:30pm.
Click HERE to register so we can send you a reminder email on Tuesday, the 16th! The link also has the Zoom info so you can just show up, too!
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!