Harvesting Stillness & Vitality:
A Fall Holistic Wellness Retreat in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
October 29–31, 2026 | The Welcoming Place, Akron, PA
Autumn is a season that invites slowing. Leaves loosen their grip. Light softens. The natural world turns inward to gather nourishment and prepare for what comes next.
If your life often asks you to keep pushing forward, this retreat offers a place to pause, settle, and gather yourself again.
Harvesting Stillness and Vitality is a three-day fall wellness retreat created for individuals seeking rest, connection with self and others, and renewal through somatic, mindfulness-based, and creative wellness experiences.
You are invited to step out of constant doing and into a gentler rhythm where both quiet restoration and renewed aliveness can emerge in ways that feel supportive and sustainable for you.
Set on a peaceful campus tended with native plants, meandering paths, and the steady presence of a waterfall, Harvesting Stillness & Vitality holds room for both solitude and shared presence. Over three days and two nights, you’re welcome to move at your own pace, guided by choice rather than expectation. Participation is always optional. Rest is not something to achieve, it’s something you’re welcome to lean in to.
WHO THIS RETREAT MAY SUPPORT
This retreat is thoughtfully designed for people who often hold space for others and may be longing for a season of replenishment themselves.
You may feel drawn here if you:
Spend much of your time caring for others, leading, or carrying responsibility
Notice signs of emotional or physical depletion
Feel disconnected from your body, creativity, or inner pace
Feel curious about wellness retreats that include somatic and mindfulness practices
Appreciate community experiences that allow for privacy and personal choice
You’re longing for time that feels genuinely your own
You do not need prior retreat or wellness experience and there is no right way to participate. Participation is always optional and guided by your comfort. Whether you’re drawn toward movement, sound, stillness, reflection, connection, or rest, you are welcome. Our team will be present throughout the weekend to offer care, orientation, and support as needed.
A SPACE TO SLOW AND GATHER
Just as autumn invites the land to gather nutrients beneath the surface, this retreat is designed to support participants in gathering rest, clarity, and nourishment in ways that feel steady and manageable.
The retreat structure supports comfort and flexibility through:
Optional participation in all experiences
Spacious scheduling with natural pauses
Clear and predictable flow
Opportunities for solitude and gentle community connection
Practitioners who prioritize respectful, consent-centered guidance
Choosing rest, quiet reflection, or time in nature is welcomed and valued.
THE SETTING:
AUTUMN AS A CO-FACILITATOR
Harvesting Stillness and Vitality takes place at The Welcoming Place in Akron, Pennsylvania, a small, thoughtfully designed retreat campus that supports ease, orientation, and gentle transition away from daily demands.
For many people, arriving somewhere unfamiliar can bring uncertainty. This campus is intentionally designed to feel simple to navigate and easy to settle into. The dining room, meeting spaces, guesthouses, and outdoor gathering areas are all within a short walking distance of one another, allowing the retreat to unfold without unnecessary rushing or complicated transitions.
During the fall season, the land itself becomes part of the retreat experience. Native plantings shift in color, open skies stretch above quiet walking paths, and the natural sound of moving water offers subtle cues that invite the body to slow and settle.
Throughout the day, the group lounge overlooks the campus and surrounding landscape. This space offers opportunities for quiet reflection, gentle conversation, journaling, or simply resting while watching the seasonal landscape change. As evening arrives and daylight softens, this same lounge transforms into a cozy sound meditation space, supporting deeper rest as the day gradually winds down.
Onsite parking is available, and the campus layout is intentionally designed to be welcoming, spacious, and easy to orient to, allowing you to spend less energy navigating logistics and more energy settling into the retreat experience.
WHAT THE RETREAT EXPERIENCE WILL INCLUDE
Like the varied textures of autumn, such as vibrant color, cooling air, rich soil, this retreat offers diverse wellness experiences that support regulation, creativity, and embodied awareness.
You may wish to explore:
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Gentle body-based awareness experiences that support stability, presence, and reconnection with internal rhythms.
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Sound-based meditation offerings in the evening that support deep rest and sensory settling, similar to how autumn evenings naturally draw the body toward stillness.
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Guided journaling and contemplative experiences that encourage personal insight, seasonal reflection, and emotional integration.
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Accessible movement practices that support circulation, warmth, and sustainable energy rather than performance or intensity.
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Optional circles and shared experiences designed to foster authentic connection without expectation to share beyond personal comfort.
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Unstructured time for naps, nature walks, creative reflection, or simply being.
Participants are encouraged to follow their own pacing, much like the natural slowing rhythms of the season.
RETREAT RHYTHM
Arrival & Departure
Arrival: Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 3:00pm
Departure: Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 9:00am
Day One: Arriving and Rooting
Thursday Afternoon and Evening
Arrival offers time to settle into your space, explore the land, and transition out of daily demands. The evening includes a welcoming gathering, grounding practices, and a shared meal that allows participants to begin rooting into place and community.
Dinner provided at 5:00pm
Day Two: Gathering the Harvest Within
Friday – Full Day Retreat Experience
Friday offers a full day of optional wellness experiences that invite participants to gather rest, insight, creative expression, and embodied presence. The day balances guided offerings with spacious time for personal restoration.
Breakfast provided at 7am
Lunch provided midday
Snacks available throughout the day
Dinner at 5pm
Day Three: Integrating and Carrying Forward
Saturday Morning
The final morning creates space to gently gather reflections, close the retreat experience, and prepare to return home with tools and insights that can continue to nourish daily life.
Breakfast provided at 7:00am
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
All rooms include private ensuite bathrooms and are designed to support quiet comfort and restoration.
Shared Room Accommodation:
Two twin beds
Shared with another retreat participant
Private bathroom
Private Room Accommodation:
Queen-sized bed
Private bedroom
Private bathroom
A note about the accommodations:
Our retreat will include two guesthouses, where common areas are shared, including:
A kitchen or kitchenette (each with one refrigerator)
A sitting area for informal gathering
The photos shown above are from one of the guesthouses on campus. While all guesthouses are equipped in a similar way and offer the same level of comfort, each has its own look and feel, inspired by different continents and regions of the world. Because of this, room layouts and aesthetics may vary. We trust each space will provide a supportive place to rest and settle during the retreat.
MEALS AND NOURISHMENT
Vegetarian meals are provided to support grounding, nourishment, and steady energy throughout the retreat.
Meals Provided:
Thursday dinner at 5:00pm
Friday breakfast at 7:00am
Friday lunch at noon
Friday dinner at 5:00pm
Saturday breakfast at 7:00am
Snacks available throughout the retreat
Dietary needs may be shared during registration.
PRE-RETREAT COMMUNITY GATHERING
Attending a retreat can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. To support ease and familiarity, participants are invited to attend an optional virtual gathering at 6pm on Sunday, October 18. This gathering offers space to meet facilitators, connect with fellow participants, and begin settling into retreat energy.
RETREAT INVESTMENT
Registration includes accommodations, meals, snacks, wellness experiences, and access to the optional pre-retreat gathering.
Shared Twin Room
Early Bird (through May 31): $450
Standard (after May 31): $490
Private Queen Room
Early Bird (through May 31): $610
Standard (after May 31): $650
Secure your spot early to enjoy the best rate and guarantee your preferred room.
Payment Information
Full payment is due at time of registration and processed securely through PayPal. PayPal may offer installment payment options for some participants. Payment plans are managed directly through PayPal and subject to their terms and approval process.
Cancellation Policy
Because this retreat includes reserved accommodations, meals, and staff support, we have a cancellation policy designed to honor the space and the experience for all participants.
Cancel 45 or more days before the retreat: full refund minus a $75 administrative fee
Cancel 30–44 days before the retreat: 50% refund
Cancel less than 30 days before the retreat: no refund for any reason, including illness or travel disruptions
Participants may transfer their spot to another person with prior notice and approval.
Payments are processed electronically through PayPal. PayPal may offer payment plan or installment options to some participants; availability and approval are determined solely by PayPal and are not guaranteed or controlled by Embodied Wisdom Institute LLC.
Participants are encouraged to purchase travel or event insurance to protect against unexpected cancellations or interruptions.
I’m Ready to Join!
We’re so excited to welcome you to Harvesting Stillness & Vitality. To reserve your spot, please complete the two simple steps below. We can’t wait to share this experience with you.
STEP 1: Retreat Participation Agreement and Liability Waiver
Please complete the Retreat Participation Agreement and Liability Waiver. This form is best completed on a computer or tablet for readability and ease of signing and may take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Both the intake and waiver form and the payment must be completed, in order to reserve your spot, as unpaid spots will not be reserved. It may take approximately 15 minutes to complete this form.
STEP 2: Choose Your Room
Below you will find two room options: you get to choose between sharing a room with another participant or choosing to sleep solo in a room. Once you have chosen your room, complete your reservations by making your payment.
Shared Room Option
Private Room Option
WHY MANY PEOPLE SEEK FALL WELLNESS RETREATS
Autumn is often a time when individuals naturally begin noticing fatigue from the busyness of the year and feel drawn toward restoration and reflection. Fall wellness retreats can offer supportive space to step away from chronic stress, reconnect with the body, and develop sustainable wellness practices that support the transition into winter.
Individual experiences will vary, and participants are invited to approach the retreat with curiosity and self-compassion rather than expectation.
SCOPE OF RETREAT EXPERIENCE
This retreat offers educational and wellness-based experiences designed to support rest, self-reflection, and personal growth. It is not psychotherapy, medical treatment, or crisis support. Participants are encouraged to seek licensed clinical care when additional mental health or medical support is needed.
FAQs
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The retreat is at The Welcoming Place, 21 South 12th St., Akron, PA 17501.
Here are suggested directions:
From Lancaster, PA:
Take US-30 to US-222 North toward Ephrata/Reading. Exit at Brownstown/Rothsville and turn right onto Rt. 772 at the stoplight, then right again onto Oregon Pike (US-272). Follow up the hill to the next stoplight and turn right onto Main Street, Akron. Go five blocks to 12th Street and turn right. Just past the MCC office, turn left behind the office to reach the Welcoming Place sign and parking.From the Pennsylvania Turnpike (US-76):
Take Exit 286 (Reading/Lancaster). Continue straight on the Reading Interchange to US-222 South. Turn left onto US-222 just after the bridge. Travel south approximately five miles to the Ephrata exit, US-322. Turn right at the stoplight onto US-322 west, then left at the second stoplight onto Bethany Road. Continue on Bethany Road until it splits into Main Street and Farmersville Road; take Main Street to the right. Go past the park and up the hill to a stop sign. Bear right at the stop sign, then turn left at the first street, 12th Street. MCC will be on your left; turn left just past the office to drive behind to the Welcoming Place sign and parking area. -
No. Embodied Wisdom Institute offers holistic and educational wellness experiences. Harvesting Stillness and Vitality is not psychotherapy and is not a substitute for mental health treatment.
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No prior experience is needed. The retreat is designed for adult beginners and seasoned participants alike.
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Absolutely. Participation is optional. You’re welcome to join offerings or simply rest and observe.
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Bring what supports your comfort: layers, a journal, water bottle, or a favorite shawl. You may also bring vegan foods if desired.
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Not all areas are wheelchair accessible, including guesthouse bathrooms. We may not be able to accommodate sensory needs fully, but you are free to select the sessions or activities that feel right for you. You may let us know any considerations so we can be aware and support where possible.
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Yes, you have the option of sharing a room with a friend or partner.
For shared rooms with two twin beds, feel free to mention the name of your friend or partner on the Participant Intake & Waiver Form. You and your friend can individually sign up below. However, please feel free to reach out via email at contact@embodiedwisominstitute.com before signing up, if you want to make sure that we still have at least 2 spaces/2 twin beds available.
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Meals are vegetarian and provided for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Vegan meals are not provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own. Please note dietary restrictions at registration.