Renew, Rest, Replenish Mini-Retreat to Start the New Year

Yoga nidra, silent forest walks and intention-setting shape a contemplative start to the year at Patch of Heaven Sanctuary. The Renew, Rest, Replenish mini-retreat takes place Sunday, January 3, 2027, as a four-hour exploration of mindfulness through rest and time outdoors. Suzanne Jewell, the sanctuary’s chief experience officer, certified mindfulness meditation teacher and forest therapy guide, leads the program.

Participants will develop a sankalpa, a personal intention for the year ahead, through seated meditation, guided rest and quiet observation. Yoga nidra, practiced lying down, is followed by a silent walk through the forest. An Earth-Sky-Body Scan brings attention to bodily sensations and the surrounding environment, while individual contemplation in the gardens provides time to reflect. A planting practice offers a way to connect that intention with an action.

Cacao tea on arrival, a light buffet lunch incorporating mindful eating and shared afternoon tea are included in the program. After the guided retreat concludes, participants may remain on the sanctuary grounds until 5 p.m. for further walking and contemplation.