Yoga + Ayurveda + Natural Dye

Retreat into the Ritual of Creative Living

Journey to the Yuba River in the heart of Northern California for a 4-day yoga, wellness, and creativity retreat. Discover the art of creative living. Reconnect to body and soul through daily yoga practices rooted in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. Discover self-care rituals that align with the rhythms of the Earth. Nourish your creative potential with a workshop series on the art of natural dyeing. Join us for our seventh annual Alchemy of Earth Retreat for an intimate gathering of connection, intuition and inspiration.

4 days + 3 Nights

May 22 - 25, 2025

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NEVADA CITY, CALIFORNIA

Journey to the Yuba River

Explore the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the sacred Yuba River. If you ask any local, they’ll tell you the Yuba is a place like no other. Come to be cleansed, inspired, or simply soak the crystal clear waters for rejuvenation. We believe Nature is medicine and beneath all our conditioning, it’s our inherent state of being. A return to nature is a way home to ourselves.

  • Discover the 5,000 year-old ancient wisdom of Ayurveda “the science of life” + rituals for self-care
  • Guided Yuba River Trip
  • Two Creative Workshops on Natural Dyeing using plants such as indigo, madder, and osage

Photo by Eileen Roche

Explore creativity through nature

Natural Dye Workshops

Enjoy two thorough and fun natural dye workshop days! We will go in-depth with natural indigo dyeing and resist techniques and immersion dyeing mordant dyes. Using only organic plant matter, you will gain knowledge and experiment with the art of natural dyeing. You will take home samples in a variety of colors and fibers.  Our first workshop day will be totally focused on natural indigo dyeing, and our second workshop day will dive into mordant dyes, allowing us to create a full rainbow of color using plants.

Two Yoga Classes a Day

Element-Inspired Movement

Enjoy two yoga classes daily, intended to inspire embodied awareness and personal expression.

Each class is guided with mindfulness, alignment focus, and Ayurvedic principles to integrate body, mind and heart. Morning Asana is inspired by solar energy, a Vinyasa class unfolding consciousness through the dance of breath with movement. In the afternoon, we wind down the day with a lunar-inspired practice such as Restorative, Aromatherapy Grounding Flow, or Yoga Nidra. One can expect meditation, pranayama, breath awareness, mudra and mantra.

Whether an seasoned practitioner or new yogi, instruction and modifications are given for each individual explore one’s potential.

Photo by Eileen Roche

What's Included

4 Days + 3 Nights

  • Welcome Circle Ritual
  • 2 Natural Dye Workshops
  • Open dyeing hours with guidance by yours truly
  • 8 Nourishing Plant Based Meals
  • 1 Ayurvedic Workshop
  • All workshop materials included
  • 5 Element-inspired Yoga Classes: Solar + Lunar Movement {vinyasa, yin, restorative and yoga nidra}
  • Guided Hike + River Cleanse  
  • Sound Bath Meditation
  • Sunshine medicine, golden milk tonics, but most importantly good company + a slice of Nature’s serenity
  • Yoga Alliance continuing education hours available for registered yoga teachers {See FAQs below for details}
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Accommodation + Pricing

We offer tiered pricing options so you can modify your retreat experience to your personal needs. A non-refundable $350 deposit reserves your spot and flexible payment plans are available. Below is the cost per a person:

Camp Out $975

Sold Out - Queen Bed Private Room with Shared Bath - Single $1400 / Shared with partner or friend $1200 each

King Bed Private Room with Shared Bath- Single $1550 / Shared with partner or friend $1275 each

King Bed Private Room with Private Bath & Tub - Single $1600 / Shared with partner or friend $1350 each

Private River Cabin {Queen Bed} with Shared Bathroom - $1450 / Shared with partner or friend $1250 each

$100 off with the code YUBALOVE thru Dec 31, 2024

Cost includes all workshop materials, organic meals, accommodation, and activities. Transportation to and from retreat location is not included but we will gladly organize carpools from the Bay Area. Deposits are non-refundable. Please read terms and conditions for full details here.

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Retreat FAQS

How do I get to the retreat?

The Forest Homestead is located a 10 minute drive from Nevada City, 15 minutes to Grass Valley, 20 minutes to Scott’s Flat Lake, 1 ½ hours to Lake Tahoe, Reno and Sacramento and 2 ½ hours to San Francisco and Oakland. The easiest way to get here is by car. If you’re based out of the San Francisco Bay Area, we are happy to coordinate shared rides + carpools. If you are flying in to join us, the 3 closest airports are Sacramento - SMF, Oakland - OAK, and San Francisco International - SFO. Road-tripping out to our gathering? We’ll send you a list of some of our favorite spots to check out in the area.

Is there cell reception or WiFi at the Retreat?

There is no cell reception at the retreat grounds. Consider this a wonderful opportunity for a digital detox! If you need to make any last calls or texts, do so in Nevada City as service becomes limited the closer to the retreat space you get.

There is WiFi available in the Homestead should you need to connect - this is our main retreat space where all meals are served, workshops are held, and most yoga practices.

Can you tell me more about the camping logistics?

Camping at the retreat is nestled amongst the trees on beautiful flattened sites, a short walk from the main retreat house. Bring your own camping gear or rent gear for $30 USD.

- Campsites are first come first served.

- Parking for campers is approximately 300 feet from campsites (a short walk).

- Campers have an easy access bathroom equipped with a toilet, shower, and two vanity sinks inside the Homestead house.

- Campers also have access to all other bathrooms and showers on the premise.

- Gear rental is $30 USD and includes: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, solar light and tent.

I am a yoga teacher. Can I receive Yoga Alliance CE Hours?

Yes! In the Alchemy of Earth Yoga & Ayurveda Immersion students will gain a knowledge of how to apply Ayurvedic principles to daily life and yoga. Through embodied practices, students will experience the energetics of the 5 elements, 3 doshas, and how to live in alignment with the seasons. All teachings will dive into the Ayurvedic understanding of health or "Svastha".

Hours are accrued through:

- 3 vinyasa practices incorporating a blend asana, pranayama, mudra and mantra to explore the elemental energies within and how balance excess in mind and body

- 1 Yin practice exploring gentle lunar movement for stress resilience, release and relaxation

- 1 Yoga Nidra & Sound meditation practice exploring sound as medicine and conscious integration

- 1 Ayurvedic Wellness workshop exploring wise energy management, seasonal wellness

- Food, Diet and Lifestyle teachings throughout the retreat

This course is eligible for 10 continuing education contact hours for Yoga Alliance teachers. 1:1 questions, dialogue and feedback. There is also an opportunity to accuse an additional 5 non-contact hours through a 1:1 mentoring call and an integration assignment contingent on the individual’s teaching goals.

What is your COVID-19 Protocol?

We ask that you prioritize self-care and health in the time leading up. We recommend to all participants to minimize potential exposure to COVID, especially within the 2 weeks prior to arrival. All yoga practices and natural dye workshops are held outdoors during the day. Meals will be served indoors with varied seating both inside and outside. Our intimate gathering limited to 16 participants maximum.

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