As the days grow short and the season turns, we gather to honor the winter solstice and this sacred pause between darkness and dawn.

Join Vrinda Priti and Emily Schmookler for a soulful weekend retreat where you'll experience nourishing practice, deep rest, and spiritual renewal. Hosted at a beautiful private home in the Berkeley hills, this intimate gathering offers a gentle rhythm of practice, stillness, and connection surrounded by nature’s beauty.

Throughout the weekend, you’ll be guided through:

🧘 Yin & Restorative yoga to unwind and soothe the nervous system
🔥 Jivamukti and Ayurveda-balancing Yoga Practice to tend your inner fire
💆‍♀️ Abhyanga self-massage to warm and detoxify your body
🌿 Seasonal vegetarian & vegan meals, lovingly prepared by Uproot Culinary to support balance and vitality

The property features an outdoor sauna, cedar hot tub, and fire pit overlooking the breathtaking Tilden Park, as well as nearby hiking trails. There will be time for silence and solitude and an optional digital detox to help you deepen your retreat experience, as well as opportunities for heart-centered connection with others in community.

Come rest by the fire, breathe in the stillness of winter, and stoke the steady glow of your own inner light.

Space is limited to 20 students, with room for 10 overnight guests.

Weekend Schedule:

Friday, December 19

4:30-5pm - Arrival Window

5-5:30pm - Opening Ceremony

5:30-7pm - Solstice Yin: to Call on the Light Within with Vrinda

7-8pm - Dinner

Saturday, December 20

8-9am - Breakfast (for overnight guests)

9-9:30am - Arrival Window

9:30-11:30am - Abhyanga Self-Massage Workshop with Emily

11:30am-4:30pm - Lunch + Free Time for sauna, hot tub, hiking and rest

4:30-6:30pm - Jivamukti XL: Incline to the Light with Vrinda

7-8pm - Dinner

8-9:30pm - Music & Connection by the Fire

Sunday, December 21

8-9am - Breakfast (for overnight guests)

9-9:30am - Arrival Window

9:30-11am - Balance Your Vata, Boost Your Sattva Flow with Emily

11-11:30am - Closing Ceremony

12-3pm - Lunch & Transition

Class Descriptions:

Solstice Yin: to Call on the Light Within with Vrinda

The Winter Solstice marks an auspicious shift in daylight, when we begin to emerge from the darkness back into the light. On the shortest, darkest day of the year, we are urged to call on the divine light from within. The long dark days of winter can lend themselves to physical stagnation, fatigue, and hibernation. In this yin yoga workshop, we honor the pause before we are called to expand once again. Expect beautiful poetic imagery, quiet deep movement & to drop not only the December stress, but to drop right into retreat mode.

Abhyanga - Self-Massage Workshop with Emily

Abhyanga balances all the winds of the body, allowing for regular elimination, stable emotions and protection for the skin. It activates the lymphatic system and promotes fluid circulation. In this workshop, we will learn more about the benefits of daily self-massage for this and all seasons, practice the technique to deeply nourish and ground you and settle into a guided meditation for deep rest.

Jivamukti XL: Incline to the Light with Vrinda

A Native American wisdom story tells of 2 dogs that live in every human heart: a bad dog & a good dog. The bad dog represents the lower tendencies of envy, anger, lust, greed, arrogance & illusion. The good dog represents the higher tendencies of compassion, integrity, generosity, humility & wisdom. These 2 dogs battle one another. Which dog will win? The one we choose to feed!

This workshop will provide the scope of challenge and insight Vrinda is known for. Expect a well rounded flowing practice that weaves dynamic movement, yogic philosophy, anatomy, chanting, meditation, and (consent-based) skillful hands-on assists with a wide range of eclectic music. The practice is designed not only to make you move, sweat, and reflect, but to also empower fearless curiosity, increase self-acceptance, reconnect you to your humanity, and inspire spiritual activation—all while keeping your sense of humor.

Balance Your Vata, Boost Your Sattva Flow with Emily

Elevate your state, achieve clarity of your mind, melt tension in your body and center your energy as you explore balance of effort and ease. This practice is designed to balance and calm the element of wind in the body and boost sattva - pure bliss, through alignment based holds, slow flows, deep stretch, and breath-work to leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and nourished.

Pricing:

$595 Standard Retreat (no overnight)

$795 Overnight Guest (10 spots available)

Cancellation:

Cancellation will be available up to two weeks prior to retreat. If you need to cancel within two weeks from the retreat, your registration will be eligible to transfer to a future retreat with Green Yogi. If you need to cancel within the week before the retreat, you can use 50% of your registration toward a fu