As women, we’ve been conditioned to push through, over-produce, out-perform, strive for ultimate productivity, constant efficiency… and in return have self-sabotaged and self-sacrificed.

In my work both as a TV health journalist and longtime yoga retreat leader, I often hear women say, “I need rest, but I feel guilty.”

We’ve reached a point where asking for rest feels radical. And I think that’s sad, unfortunate and requires a shift in mindset.

Whether juggling careers, families, or the invisibility of unmet needs—rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a radical act of self-preservation, empowerment, and true connection.

When Rest Becomes Rebellion

Women are historically and culturally trained to keep going. We soothe others, hold space, solve problems, often at the cost of our own renewal. My “Rest & Receive” retreat (October 15–19, 2025, at Montevalle Spa & Wellness Resort in Baja, Mexico) flips that script. It’s not about escaping your everyday life or learning to stand on your head in a yoga class; it’s a strategic pause that restores clarity, receptivity, and resilience.

In the embrace of lavender-fringed vineyards, gentle movement classes, intentional breathwork, guided meditations, and journaling regulate the nervous system and offer you a gift you may not have realized that you needed. The gift of calm—physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Paired with organic cuisine and science-based spa treatments, my retreats are not indulgence; they are nourishment for every cell.

Why Women Need to Receive as Much as They Give

Giving is second nature to many women. But the antidote to overwhelm isn’t doing more but allowing yourself to be and receive more. This retreat creates a rare container for that kind of internal calibration.

As a retreat leader for more than 10 years, I can’t tell you that all retreats are created equal. I cannot promise or guarantee you the same sort of experience with just any retreat leader. But, I can share with you testimonials from my regular retreat-goers, spanning the last 19 retreats I’ve led all over the world– that reveal the depth of transformation:

“I love the community… I need the rest; These retreats actually help you to have forced rest, and it’s nice.” — JoAnn H.
“It helped me to get clarity on my path… do some healing… explore that in a safe environment.” — Lori N.
“I like to go and just totally reset, unplug, get back in tune with nature…” — Leigh G.

These are more than vacation reflections—they’re revelations. When women pause, clarity sharpens. Creativity springs. Wounds soften. We return—not as depleted givers, but as whole, active participants in our work, our relationships, and our purpose.

Why This Kind of Retreat Is More Than a Getaway

A wellness retreat can too quickly become “vacation-lite”—beautiful, yes, but superficial. “Rest & Receive” is different.

It’s Rooted in Nervous-System Healing

This retreat targets the nervous system with intentional practices—from breathwork to myofascial release—so you don’t just relax, you rewire. The outcome? Not just feeling better in the moment, but training your brain to respond differently to stress when you’re home.

It Honors the Body-Soul Connection

Everything is laced with intention: the movement, the menus, the spa modalities, the healing synergy cultivated by a physician-founded sanctuary surrounded by lavender and vineyards. This is organic, holistic care that lands as radical self-love.

It Builds Community and Individuality

Some women come solo, rediscovering themselves beneath the layers of identity. Others come with friends or family members, sharing a new season of life.  Either way, the outcome is deeply personal yet powerfully connective. Most of my retreat participants are professional women, ranging in age between 32 and 77! The intergenerational connections I’ve witnessed are absolute magic! Shared wisdom between women becomes invisible inspiration and guidance.

How Rest Radiates Outward

How you do one thing is how you do everything. Choose rest, and you choose a ripple effect:

• At home: You return calmer, more present, more attuned to loved ones—not exhausted or resentful.
• At work: You lead from clarity. Solutions emerge with less force and more insight.
• In your community: You model the whole being; You learn to fill each day with more joy, meaning and fulfillment. You won’t return to staying busy for the sake of being busy—giving others permission to do the same.

One participant captured it simply:

“I spent a lot more time in introspection—and had some big aha moments about how I was living my life… that has influenced how I’ve made decisions about my career and my family.” — Mary L.

You see: investing in yourself isn’t selfish. It’s essential. It’s the seed that yields richer relationships, more purposeful work, and grounded living.

What Makes This Retreat a True Investment in Yourself

• Time and space to really rest—not a short nap between calls, but a full nervous-system reset.
• Practices that stick—tools for your tranquility toolkit in breathwork, meditation, and mindful movement that you can carry home.
• Food that heals—organic, intuitive nutrition that nourishes body and spirit.
• Environments that hold you—lavender-scented air, vineyards, and healing spa modalities that ground and uplift.
• Companionless or collectively—choose alone time for inner work, or deepen bonds through shared presence.

Ending With a Gentle Call to Pause

For women, rest can be considered rebellion. Choosing to receive may seem radical. The mindset is up to you.  The truth is simple: when you pause, you don’t fall behind—you rise higher. Rest isn’t absence; it’s presence. It’s the breath between chapters that allows your story to continue with power and clarity.

So, if you’ve been waiting for permission to stop pushing, here it is: Rest. Receive. Restore.