EMBODIED WISDOM INSTITUTE
Harvesting Stillness & Vitality
A FALL HOLISTIC WELLNESS RETREAT · LANCASTER COUNTY, PA
OCTOBER 29 – 31, 2026 · THE WELCOMING PLACE, AKRON, PA
Autumn asks us to slow down.
We made space for that.
Harvesting Stillness & Vitality is a three-day fall wellness retreat in Lancaster County, PA, created for people who spend much of their lives holding space for others. Over two nights and three days, you are invited to step out of constant doing and into a gentler rhythm, guided by somatic, mindfulness-based, and creative wellness practices led by experienced, trauma-informed facilitators.
You may feel ready if…
You carry a lot for others
Caregivers, leaders, helpers, and healers longing for a season of genuine replenishment and rest.
You feel the weight of the year
You notice signs of depletion and a quiet pull toward stillness, reflection, or reconnection with yourself.
You're curious, not committed
No prior retreat or wellness experience is needed. There is no right way to participate, only your way.
You want community without pressure
Connection that leaves room for solitude. All participation is optional and guided by your own comfort.
The retreat experience
Grounding Somatic Practices
Gentle body-based awareness experiences that support stability, presence, and reconnection with your internal rhythms.
Restorative Sound Meditation
Evening sound-based offerings that invite deep rest and sensory settling, supported by the natural quiet of autumn.
Reflective & Creative Rituals
Guided journaling and contemplative practices for personal insight, seasonal reflection, and gentle integration.
Gentle Movement
Accessible practices that support circulation, warmth, and sustainable energy, not performance or intensity.
Community Gathering Circles
Optional shared spaces designed to foster authentic connection, with full room for privacy and personal choice.
Spacious, Unstructured Time
Time for naps, nature walks, journaling, or simply being. Rest here is not an achievement. It is the invitation.
The Welcoming Place,
Akron, PA
A small, thoughtfully designed campus tended with native plants, meandering paths, and the steady presence of a waterfall. During fall, the land itself becomes part of the retreat experience.
Guesthouses, dining, and gathering spaces are all within a short walking distance of one another. The group lounge overlooks the campus by day and becomes a cozy sound meditation space as evening settles in. Onsite parking is available.
Three days.
Your pace.
- Check-in from 3:00pm
- Settle in, explore the land
- Welcome gathering & grounding practice
- Shared dinner at 5:00pm
- Evening sound meditation
- Breakfast at 7:00am
- Morning somatic & movement practices
- Creative rituals & reflection time
- Lunch at noon · Snacks throughout
- Spacious afternoon for rest or walks
- Dinner at 5:00pm
- Evening sound meditation
- Breakfast at 7:00am
- Closing reflection & integration circle
- Tools and practices to take home
- Departure by 9:00am
An optional pre-retreat virtual gathering is offered on Sunday, October 18 at 6:00pm — a chance to meet your facilitators and fellow participants before the weekend begins.
Accommodation options
All rooms include private ensuite bathrooms. Each guesthouse has shared common areas including a kitchen and sitting space. Room aesthetics vary by guesthouse, each inspired by a different region of the world.
Meet your hosts
Vanessa Simmons
For nearly a decade, Vanessa has guided individuals on journeys of self-connection and inner wisdom. Specializing in nervous system support, she creates retreat environments where participants feel genuinely welcomed, seen, and cared for. Her work draws from somatic practice, sound, and mindfulness to support presence and attunement with the body.
Jason Jacobs
With over a decade of experience in Qigong, meditation, and breathwork, Jason brings warmth, clarity, and skilled facilitation to every retreat. A natural guide, he helps participants move, breathe, and find balance with ease, creating spaciousness for both presence and deep inner stillness.
Together, Vanessa and Jason combine deep expertise, compassionate presence, and skilled facilitation to create retreats that are grounding, restorative, and genuinely transformative.
Simple, transparent pricing
Two Guests Per Room
- 2 nights accommodation
- All meals: Thursday dinner through Saturday breakfast
- All wellness sessions and experiences
- Optional pre-retreat virtual gathering
Your Own Space
- Private queen bed with ensuite bath
- All meals: Thursday dinner through Saturday breakfast
- All wellness sessions and experiences
- Optional pre-retreat virtual gathering
Full payment due at registration. Processed securely through Stripe. Early Bird ends May 31, 2026.
Reserve your spot
Select your preferred room type below to complete your registration. Spots are limited and secured upon payment.
Two Guests Per Room
Two twin beds with a private ensuite bathroom. A supported, community-oriented option at the best value.
Your Own Space
A private queen room with ensuite bathroom. For those seeking a fully personal space to rest and restore.
Full payment due at registration. Processed securely through Stripe.
45+ days before retreat: full refund minus a $75 administrative fee. 30–44 days: 50% refund. Under 30 days: no refund for any reason. Spot transfers to another participant are accepted with prior notice and approval. Travel insurance is encouraged.
Frequently asked
There’s a place
waiting for you here.
Spots are limited. Early Bird pricing ends May 31, 2026.
Reserve Your Spot