Women’s Summer Retreat to Renew, Reset and Rise
August 4-6 (Friday 5 pm – Sunday 1 pm)
With Marie McKay, Rachel Soffer, Jody Polson, and Dawn Brunn
With Marie McKay, Rachel Soffer, Jody Polson, and Dawn Brunn
This joyful women’s retreat offers time and space to engage in mindful movement, dance, yoga, restorative Pilates, meditation and other mindful practices to empower you to reset and rise with a renewed enthusiasm for you life.
Curate your own blend of retreat experiences – participate in as many of our offerings as you desire, in balance with the relaxation and downtime that feels right for you. Return home rejuvenated and ready to integrate mindful, healthy practices into your everyday life.
Women of all ages and stages are welcome – no dance or other experience necessary.
OUR OFFERINGS: Nia, world dance, yoga, restorative Pilates, meditation and other mindful practices, as described below:
Nia, joyful movement classes, with Marie McKay
Nia is a “feel good” holistic fitness practice that helps you discover and experience more of who you are and what you love. Nia is for everybody and EVERY BODY! Set to a variety of inspirational musical styles and rhythms, Nia classes are whole-body experiences blending structured and free movement inspired by dance, martial arts and healing arts. Nia offers physical, mental, and emotional conditioning. In Marie’s classes you can expect to experience bliss, serenity, laughter, empowerment, grace, sensuality, playfulness, and sweat all within a one-hour class.
Mindful World Dance, Yoga and Meditation with Rachel Soffer
Mindful World Dance is a joyful blend of dance, yoga-inspired movements and uplifting music from around the world. This energizing, multi-level cardio workout welcomes all ages and fitness levels. Enjoy this full-body conditioning practice to enhance flexibility and strength and engage body, mind and spirit. Rise and shine with morning yoga to increase flexibility, strength, and balance set intention and kindle your soul. Guided meditation and breathwork with themes to develop and support your practice, including gratitude, peace in the present moment, resilience, and joy as a daily ritual.
Restorative Pilates with Jody Polson
Restorative Pilates is another invitation to tune into your body’s voice. Jody’s unique mastery of a variety of mindful movement techniques beautifully elevates her Pilates teachings with even more knowledge and wisdom. Her cornerstone philosophy is encouraging her students to listen to their bodies. This class is also a barefoot movement practice using a yoga mat, as Jody guides you through deeply restorative movements and breathing techniques to align your body, mind, and spirit.
Chakra Healing Meditation with Dawn Brunn
Chakras are the bodies energy centers, and when they are aligned you feel vibrant and energetic. Yet, the “potholes” of everyday life can cause your chakras to shift out of alignment. Just as a car needs routine tune-ups to keep it running optimally, so do your chakras. In this practice you will learn self-care techniques like acupressure and tapping to help bring your chakras into alignment. Once your chakras are balanced, you will be guided into deeply restorative meditation set to sound healing instruments. Feel deeply relaxed and supported by bolsters and blankets as you melt into your healing session.
Other retreat offerings:
Explore the outdoors in the Christine Center’s natural woodland sanctuary.
Tap into your creative expression in the Art Studio.
Experience the sacred spaces throughout the Christine Center.
Enjoy fresh, delicious meals prepared on-site that can be enjoyed in a group setting in the dining room, outdoor patio, or solo in one of the atriums.
Savor the restful bliss of an uninterrupted nap or your favorite book.
All Inclusive Retreat Pricing Options
Listed pricing includes all housing, meals, and program fee
Lodging Options:
Single Modern Hermitage: $665
Single Room in Main Building: $603
Single Cabin Bedroom: $603
Single Rustic Hermitage: $509
Shared Modern Hermitage: $581.00
Shared Guest Room in Main Building: $551.00
Shared Rustic Hermitage: $479.00
Please contact our main office to make your reservation for any of the following (715-267-7507 or welcome@christinecenter.org):
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- Shared lodging options
- Camping
- To reduce the number of meals you would like
- If you need to make special arrangements
- If you would like to reserve pet friendly accommodations
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Modern Hermitage: One room cottage with anywhere from 1 to 3 beds; living area; kitchenette; bathroom and shower.
Cabin Bedroom: A private bedroom with 1 to 2 beds located on the property in a shared cabin; shared kitchenette; shared bathroom and shower.
Guest Room-Main Building: A private bedroom with 2 beds and private bathroom located in the main building.
Rustic Hermitage: One room cottage with anywhere from 1 to 2 beds; living area. No bathroom or kitchenette. Modern bath and shower facilities are located on the property.
Your Guides for the Journey
Marie McKay
Marie McKay is a Minneapolis based Black Belt Certified Nia instructor. In 1999 she stepped into a Nia class while living in Boulder, CO and knew in an instant she had found the missing piece to her purpose. Nia magically shifted her mindset from the perspective that exercise needed to “hurt” to be effective to the feeling of pure joy through movement. Marie is a dynamic, seasoned instructor who shares her love for holistic fitness through classes, workshops and retreats to help people connect to joy, awareness and ease in their body through movement, breath, and stillness. Her unique gift is creating emotional connections and experiences that transform and inspire.
Rachel Soffer
Rachel Soffer is an energetic health and fitness leader who loves inspiring people to enjoy exercising body, mind and spirit.
Rachel has over 25 years of experience teaching mindful dance fitness and yoga-inspired classes in numerous Twin Cities locations including The Marsh, LifeTime Fitness, YWCA-Uptown, Saint Catherine University, and a variety of retreat centers.
Rachel’s classes are infused with a rich variety of music and moves from around the world that uplifts body, mind and spirit. She is passionate about sharing the joy and healing power of dance and exercise to support health and wellness.
Jody Polson
Jody Polson is a classically trained Pilates teacher who brings a holistic approach to her practice. Currently she is guiding her classes online, and by appointment, in her in home studio located in Lakeville, MN. When you take a class with Jody you can expect her to intuitively create a grounding and energizing movement experience.
Jody has built a loyal following as her students love her warm-spirit and natural ability to connect with them in the present moment. For over 15 years, Jody has been facilitating various mindfulness and movement modalities in addition to Pilates, including goddess dance and the Nia technique.
All three of her children (and husband) enjoy mindful movement and from time-to-time you may find them taking a Nia class with Jody!
Dawn Brunn, MEd.
Dawn Brunn, MEd. is Certified Professional Coach through Center for Coaching Certification.
In 2009, Dawn attended her first Nia class, with Marie McKay. Marie’s Nia invitation to “move your body’s way,” was Dawn’s first introduction to healing through movement.
Though she’d been teaching Group Fitness classes, like Jazzercise and Step Aerobics (since 1996) this newfound “moving with intention” was improving every aspect of her life. She wanted to bring this gift out to the world, and in 2011 she began her quest to learn how to lead mindful movement and meditation classes.
From there, she pursued her certifications in Chakra Clearing and Chakra Dance from the Choquette Institute. She is also a Nia White Belt, Emotional Freedom Technique/Tapping Facilitator, and Human Design Coach. She uses these modalities to assist her clients clear roadblocks, so they can “tap” into a life they look forward to waking up to everyday.
Her favorite quote is “dancing, singing, storytelling, and silence are the four universal healing salves” by Gabrielle Roth