WHEN
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OCTOBER 2-4, 2026
WHAT
Participants will practice a holistic approach to working with anxious and depressed states – combining time-honored mind-body practices, evidence-based therapy, and the healing arts, all in the context of supportive community.
Ariana Wakeman, LMSW, somatic psychotherapy and yoga teacher, together with Emily Adama, MSW and mindfulness meditation teacher, create a welcoming environment to explore deep practices designed to strengthen our resilience in moving through anxious and depressed states.
The weekend includes “restorative practices” aimed to calm the nervous system. These include guided sensory walk, body scan, sound bath, gentle yoga, breathing techniques, and optional massage. Restorative offerings allow opportunities for participants to practice the art of presence, even in the midst of challenging emotions, and strengthen pathways in the body and mind that feel safe, supported and stable.
The weekend also includes “inquiry practices” drawing from evidence-based tools including Internal Family-Systems, Mindfulness-based Cognitive therapy, and Mindfulness-based self-compassion. These accessible inquiry tools offer specific ways we can relate to anxious and depressed thoughts, body sensations and emotions with greater skill, moving us toward states of greater curiosity, non-judgement and self-kindness.
Finally, Emily and Ari will guide optional group discussions where participants can share reflections on practices, learn from each other, and build community.
Participants will leave with a wide set of practical tools that can be integrated into their everyday lives
FOR WHO
Anxiety and depression exist on a spectrum and can often ebb and flow throughout life. Most of us, to some degree or another must learn to manage anxious or depressed tendencies. For those of us who have a history of clinical depression or anxiety, learning to manage symptoms is often a lifelong journey.
This weekend is designed for those who wish to deepen their toolkit for encountering anxiety and/or depression symptoms with more confidence, skill and ease. In addition, participants will have opportunities to embody the tools we explore, which allows these skills to be more accessible and usable in the future.
This retreat may be a good fit for you if you are struggling with low energy, motivation, spiraling thought patterns, disconnection from self, or feeling just “off”.
Please not: This weekend is NOT best for those currently experiencing acute (intense) anxiety and/or depression symptoms. If you are unsure if this retreat is right for you, please contact Emily Adama at hello@earthwellretreat.com or Ariana Wakeman
All Welcome
Please note: This is not a replacement for individual therapy. This is not group therapy. This retreat is not appropriate for those experiencing a current mental health crisis.
Highlights
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Intimate setting limited to 12 participants
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10+ hours of carefully curated wellness sessions led by seasoned mental health facilitators
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Several different lodging/pricing options to fit your budget
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All-inclusive price at checkout includes lodging, meals and programming
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5 meals - Friday Dinner through Sunday Breakfast
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Opening and Closing circles to deepen intention and reflection
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Freetime to nap, hike, read, journal, swim, rest, Be.
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Optional 30-60 minute massage (add-on)
Widen your capacity to be with the full spectrum
of your life experiences
Offerings
SEEING THOUGHTS AS THOUGHTS
Awareness of thought meditation is a simple way to notice what’s happening in your mind without getting pulled into it. Instead of trying to stop your thoughts, we can notice their changing, impermanent nature, and begin to relate to thoughts with more curiosity and less automatic belief.
We’ll look at where thoughts seem to arise from, how to work with them in meditation, and how patterns of thinking connect to experiences like anxiety and depression. The session includes a brief introduction, a guided practice, and time for reflection and discussion.
Loving Kindness/Self-Compassion Meditation
Loving-kindness meditation, also known as Metta meditation, is a practice of intentionally cultivating feelings of compassion, warmth, and goodwill toward oneself and others. It typically involves silently repeating phrases like “may I be happy, may I be safe,” and gradually extending those wishes to loved ones, strangers, and even difficult people. Over time, it can help soften negative emotions and strengthen a sense of connection and empathy.
BODY SCAN + SOUND BATH
This practice begins with a guided body scan, inviting attention to move slowly through the body and notice areas of tension, sensation, or ease without judgment. By building awareness of physical experience, participants can support nervous system regulation and develop a steadier connection to the present moment. The session then transitions into a sound bath, where sustained tones and vibrations provide a consistent sensory anchor, helping to quiet mental activity, deepen relaxation, and support overall emotional and physiological well-being.
ATTENTIONAL CHOICE
When we recognize the choice we have in our moment to moment experiences, we feel more empowered. This practice guides us to experience tuning our attention into the “internal” world or the “external” environment. Folks may find one lens to bring more ease to their somatic state than another, and with this information we can make conscious choices about our attention.
IFS ART/WRITING/MOVEMENT
Internal Family Systems utilizes “parts”, which are adaptations that have formed in response to various stressors, and the concept of “Self” - the unchanging, reliable, confident core of our being. Throughout the weekend we will use multimodal experiences to begin to identify and befriend one or more “parts” - increasing awareness and loving kindness towards our whole being.
TAKEAWAY MOVEMENT PRACTICE SCRIPT
Sometimes somatic experiences can be more accessible when we return to the same routine over and over again - taking the “thinking” and concentration out of the equation and allowing us to simply “be” in the body. During our multiple movement practices throughout the weekend, we will utilize a routine that will become familiar and repeatable, even after we depart.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Enjoy a relaxing 30-60 minute massage designed to soothe your body and mind. Our skilled therapists use gentle techniques to relieve tension while you remain comfortably dressed. (Additional Cost).
OPENING & CLOSING CIRCLES
Our retreat begins and ends with intentional circles designed to ground the group, deepen personal insight, and build meaningful connection.
In the opening circle, participants are gently welcomed into a shared space where they can arrive fully, set heartfelt intentions, and begin to feel supported by the group energy.
The retreat concludes with a closing circle, offering time to integrate the experience, share insights, and honor the personal shifts that have taken place.
Nourishing Food
Enjoy five carefully curated deep-local meals from Kori Kanayama of Purslane Commons.
Kori is a community farm chef devoted to cooking in harmony with nature. Drawing from her Japanese heritage, her cooking reimagines traditional Japanese, American, and other culturally rooted recipes through the lens of Southeast Michigan’s four seasons.
Her meals are focused on simple, energizing dishes that honor the natural flavors and vitality of ecologically grown, local produce at peak freshness. The result is unfussy, delicious vegetarian cuisine—authentic, seasonal, and crafted with intention.
Kori gracefully accommodates guests’ dietary needs.
Learn more about Kori
www.purslanecommons.com
Sample Schedule
Friday
3pm-5pm Arrival
5pm-6pm Sensory Walk of Property with Emily
6-7pm Dinner Buffet at the Common House
7:15-8pm Opening circle & Orientation at Common House
8:15-9:15pm Restorative Guided Meditation
SATURDAY
8:30am-9:30am Breakfast Buffet
10am-11am - Walking Meditation and Seated Meditation at the Pond with Emily (depart from Common House)
11am-12:15pm12:45-1:45pm Lunch Buffet
2pm-5pm Rest, waterfront/Freetime & Optional Massage
5pm-6pm Me-Again
6:15pm-7:15pm Dinner Buffet
8pm-9pm Sound Bath
SUNDAY
8:30am-9:30am Breakfast Buffet
10am-11am Closing Circle
11am-1pm Leisurely departure (no Lunch provided)
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Canvas Cabins
BATHROOMS ARE A 1-2 MINUTE WALK FROM CABINS
The Lower Bungalow
(3-season canvas)
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2 twin mattresses
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Screened in windows/doors on all four sides for the maximal amount of airflow, and minimum amount of mosquitos!
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Linens and pillows (no towels)
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Battery-operated fans
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Located down the hill from The Upper Bungalow very close to the pond
The Upper Bungalow
(3-season canvas)
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2 twin mattresses (in a bunk bed), and a stand alone twin.
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Screened in windows/doors on all four sides for the maximal amount of airflow, and minimum amount of mosquitos!
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Linens and pillows (no towels)
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Battery-operated fans
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Located up the hill from The Lower Bungalow not far from the pond.
"Elemental" Cabins
BATHROOMS ARE A 1-2 MINUTE WALK FROM CABINS
The WATER Cabin
(1-room, insulated cabin):
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Queen Bed (with extra Twin mattress under the Queen)
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Solar-powered minimal lighting
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Bed linens and pillows (no towels)
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Battery-operated fans
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Screened in porch
The AIR Cabin
(1-room, insulated cabin)
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King Bed (with extra Twin Trundle)
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Solar-powered minimal lighting
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Bed linens and pillows (no towels)
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Battery-operated fans
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Screened in porch
The FIRE Cabin
(1-room, insulated cabin)
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Two Twin Beds & Twin Trundle
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Solar-powered minimal lighting
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Bed linens and pillows (no towels)
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Battery-operated fans
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Screened in porch
The Earth Cabin
BATHROOM ATTACHED
The EARTH Cabin ("Historic Spike Cabin")
(2-room, 3 beds, insulated cabin)
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One bedroom/one living room
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3 beds: two twin futon beds, one Queen Mattress
Air conditioning/Heat
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Electrical outlets/lighting
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Bed linens and pillows (no towels)
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“Camp kitchen” with toaster, mini-fridge and 5 gallon water dispenser.
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Direct view of the pond
This cabin is our largest, and with the most ammenities. Additionally, participants are allowed to drive their cars right up to the cabin to drop off bags.
All-inclusive pricing
LOWER YOUR COST BY BRINGING A FRIEND -
BY CHOOSING A DOUBLE OR TRIPLE OCCUPANCY OPTION
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Pricing is per person and includes lodging, programming and meals.
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Price does NOT include optional add-ons like massage or pre-and-post retreat sessions.
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Double or Triple occupancy means you are rooming with people you know and must pay for your entire group at checkout.
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One 50% off scholarship is available for each weekend-long retreat for BYO tent or tent rental/set-up lodging only. First come, first serve. For scholarship registration, email hello@earthwellretreat.com with your desired weekend.
BYO Tent Camping
$515
Same price all occupancies/per person
Tent & Sleeping Pad Rental/ Set-up
$625
Double Occupancy:
$565/per person
Upper Bungalow (Canvas Cabin)
$650
Double Occupancy:
$600/per person
Lower Bungalow (Canvas Cabin)
$650
Double Occupancy:
$600/per person
"AIR" Cabin
$700
Double Occupancy: $650/per person
Triple Occupancy: $580/per person
"WATER" Cabin
$700
Double Occupancy: $650/per person
"FIRE" Cabin
$705
Double Occupancy: $650/per person
Triple Occupancy: $580/per person
"EARTH" Cabin
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ONLY
$700
Triple Occupancy: $640/per person
Encounter land that heals
The heart of the property is a spring-fed swimming pond situated on forty acres of rolling prairie, forest and wetland, surrounded by one hundred acres of Washtenaw County Nature Preserve.
Six off-grid sleeping cabins dot the landscape, all within a short walk to our Common House (featuring a large gathering space, community kitchen/dining and bathrooms/shower).
