Surrounded by the forest and held by the unique embrace of the yurt, this retreat offers a sacred living room in nature—a place to rest, restore, and reconnect with your inner spaciousness. This day is an invitation to pause, breathe, and receive. Designed especially for community builders, caregivers, volunteers, and leaders, it is a rare chance for you as a nurturer to be nurtured.
With meditation as our primary anchor, the day will invite you into practices that cultivate stillness, presence, and inner spaciousness. Whether you are completely new to mindfulness or have decades of experience, you will be guided with care and support.
What to Expect
Our time together will include:
Intention Setting – Arriving with presence and clarity
Guided Seated Meditation – Resting the mind and tending inner stillness
Walking Nature Meditation – Listening deeply, with forest as our teacher
Gentle Yoga – Movement as meditation, designed for accessibility
Journaling – Space and prompting to reflect and capture insights
Group Reflection – Sharing wisdom in community
Nourishment — We’ll share a late-fall potluck meal during our mid-day break — think soup, bread, and warm, healthy dishes. Please bring something simple to share if you’d like; tea and snacks will be provided.
What to Bring
Comfortable clothing for gentle movement and sitting
A yoga mat (if you have one; a few extras will be available)
A cushion or blanket for seated meditation
A journal and pen for reflection
A water bottle
Warm layers and comfortable hiking shoes or boots for the walking meditation outdoors (it’s late fall in northern Minnesota)
Soup, bread, or another contribution to share for the meal if you wish
Anything else that helps you feel comfortable at rest (shawl, socks, small pillow)
The Cost
This retreat is being made possible through the generous support of Generations Health Care Initiatives, who are underwriting the majority of the cost of putting this retreat on. Your $40 registration fee helps cover a portion of the rental of the yurt (and supports Hartley Nature Center, a nonprofit organization).
The Guides
Katrina Pierson is a mother, poet, leadership consultant, and yoga & mindfulness teacher based in Duluth, MN. She works with nonprofit leaders, community builders, and organizations to cultivate alignment, connection and resilience in their work. As a meditation guide, Katrina brings a grounded, heart-centered approach to creating spaces that feel restorative and inspiring.
She is currently completing the Mindfulness Mentor program, studying under renowned teachers Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, and Sharon Shelton, deepening her practice in guiding others through meditation and mindful living. Katrina’s retreats and gatherings are designed to offer both seasoned practitioners and those completely new to mindfulness a welcoming and accessible experience.
Nicole Navratil is a composer, yoga teacher, nonprofit consultant, and spiritual director who weaves creativity, mindfulness, and care for the human spirit into all that she does. A mama and a writer, Nicole is passionate about helping people reconnect with their inner rhythm and prioritize rest in a culture that often overlooks it.
Her current work focuses on creating spaces where rest, reflection, and renewal are not luxuries but essential practices. Whether through music, yoga, or soulful conversation, Nicole guides with presence, curiosity, and compassion.
How to Register
Registration is required and we expect to fill up quickly. Please take a few moments to complete this registration to save your spot in the yurt in October!
“Around us, life bursts forth with miracles — a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere.” - Thich Nhat Hanh