A day to savor - November retreat recap
On two back-to-back November days in Hudson, WI, we were able to take over the sprawling campus of YMCA Camp St. Croix.
This camp on the banks of the St. Croix River boasts beautiful water views, quiet nature nooks, and historical charming buildings.
Our staff at this retreat included Bryana Cook (yoga & hiking), Jessica Baumhofer Frank (yoga & sound bath), Cindy Geibe (reiki), and Liza Viktora (massage).
I (Bryana) was thrilled to finally visit this beautiful campus! This was our third time hosting day retreats on this beautiful campus. While I’ve always been involved in the planning and implementation, I’d never actually gotten to go and be a part of the day in real life! It was so exciting to arrive at Camp St. Croix, explore and get an in-person feel for the place. Spoiler alert: this place is phenomenal.
Each day retreat had beautiful weather, particularly for the month of November. We relished time outdoors. The temperature was just right for hiking. Which just so happened to also be a perfect temperature for cozy indoor yoga by the crackling fireplace.
Upon arrival, retreaters were in great spirits and ready for the day ahead. During our welcome circle, I challenged the group to zero in on simple pleasures for the day. This arose from our book club recommendation- The Book of (more) Delights by Ross Gay.
“There are so many simple pleasures, simple delights and maybe the goal, the practice, is to be delighted especially by them, the simplest of things.” - Ross Gay
After our welcome circle, the choice of an all-levels yoga flow with Jessica, or a more challenging hike with Bryana was on the docket.
In class with Jessica, she welcomed mindful movement in an all-levels practice. The class flowed through gentle yet energizing poses to awaken the body and build warmth, then softened into a nourishing savasana, breathwork and meditation. This class was an opportunity to sink in, savor the moment, and welcome the day with delight and presence.
On the hike, we took the very steep trail down to the beach. As we walked along the beach, we picked up nature treasures and collectively created a mandala.
“I sometimes think that one of the purposes of the beautiful, by the way, is to leave us, or rather bring us, to wordlessness. To grant us some silence.” - Ross Gay
On our back up through the ravine, we delighted in a troll statue under a foot bridge, and a recycled trash fish float sculpture named Scrappy.
The entire group met for lunch in the spacious dining hall. Many of us admired the quirky hand painted piano in the corner (delight!). We ate a delicious homemade meal, and went off for our next choices: a slow and gentle yoga session with Jessica, or a more relaxed stroll through the campus with Bryana.
In Jessica’s afternoon class, she invited everyone to pause and savor, with a slow flow with longer holds to invite presence and ease. This session included meditation and journaling- offering space to reflect, savor, and reconnect with simple joys.
On our stroll through campus, I was thoroughly delighted in the opportunity to show off a giant dried up puffball mushroom I found. It was very fun to gently poke and prod and feel out LIGHT it is. Also to observe the little puffs of smoke (spores), as they rose from the mushroom. Nature observations are the ideal way to practice mindfulness, awe, and clarity. Are you thinking of your to-do list while marveling at a gigantic mushroom? I think not!
“I do not think of this as looking on the bright side, I think of it as looking at everything. Bad french fries do not negate good ketchup. That your one friend died does not untrue the fact that your other friend survived. … And the delight of realizing that those two boys you thought were kneeling in prayer in the woods on campus were actually feeding the corpulent squirrels, which yeah, too, is a kind of prayer.” - Ross Gay, Book of More Delights
For our last session, Bryana taught an extremely gentle yoga session, accompanied by Jessica on sound bowls. We transitioned right to a yoga nidra session led by Jessica, followed by a soothing sound bowl savasana.
To close out our day, we watched the sun begin to set over the St. Croix, and reflected on practices to savor this fall day moving forward.
Needless to say… the entire day was pretty darn delightful. Thank you so much for being a part of it!
“I’m thinking today, as I admire my T-shirts and shorts and drawers and towels blowing in the wind like Tibetan flags, like a ramshackle and sometimes threadbare rainbow: that a clothesline reminds you how often we make of our simple daily labors (hanging clothes, folding clothes, washing dishes, arranging the fridge or the cupboards, chopping veggies or wrapping the bread, sweeping up, or mopping) an art.” - Ross Gay
Future retreats!
We loved spending the day with you near the metro. Keep an eye on our blog and website for future day events. We will not be having a winter day retreat in 2026.
We do hope you join us for a winter weekend up north in the new year!
