The past month flew by with excitement, and it’s now time to reflect with gratitude. This October, we were fortunate enough to have the support to create our first ever Wellness Day Retreat, a day spent focusing on education, empowerment, and relaxation, followed by an extended version of our highly-anticipated annual Ocean Wellness Retreat in Encinitas, California.

Led by B4BC’s Wellness Director, Megan Pischke, and due to great success in the past and high demand for the future, this year’s Ocean Wellness Retreat added an extra day to it’s duration. Attendees used the time to settle into a new environment while immersing themselves in meaningful conversation, delicious food, and therapeutic restoration.

Ten women joined us for the full retreat, traveling from all over North America, and we continue to see more and more applicants from our friends’ north of the border. (Keep ‘em coming, Canada!)

Three different types of therapists came along to share wisdom, in addition to our familiar yoga therapy meet-ups and some epic surf sessions at Ponto State Beach with Surfin Fire, a local Encinitas surf camp. We were able to invite three local thrivers to join us for surfing, and for several women, it was their first time. Hats off to you ladies! Yew!

One particular attendee, Sharon, had never been in the ocean. No big deal, right? Just dip your toes in… but she had lost her leg to cancer as a child, on top of recently battling breast cancer. She wanted this monumental moment to happen on a Chasing Sunshine Retreat. She was nervous, but by no means discouraged. Thanks to our long-time partnership with and the helpful assistance of JP and the Surfin Fire crew, Sharon was able to get into the water and onto a surfboard. She played in the waves and body boarded on her surfboard, got rolled up a bit, and we were all in tears laughing along with her!

Yoga is an integral part of these special weekends. After surgeries, side effects from medication and scar tissue, and all of the discomfort and unfamiliarity that cancer brings, it takes time to get to know your body again.

Local yoga therapist, Tracy Lynn, was available to lead twice daily yoga sessions, yin restorative yoga sessions, active release techniques, and she finished each class with beautiful and transformative sound bath healing to help each one of us feel a sense of overall well-being again. Heaven on earth!

One of our core beliefs around these Wellness Retreats is education; you cannot make the best choices for yourself without the right information! To make sure this knowledge was communicated accurately and effectively, we brought in certified specialists who share not only a vision on general healing and wellness, but ideas around supporting your own personal health. Everyone in attendance had access to private healing sessions with Chinese doctors, craniosacral therapists, integrative doctors and more, all of whom could answer questions or direct you to the best information.

Dr. Kendra Starr and Dr. Amber Kirk shared their knowledge of chiropractic/craniosacral practices and traditional Chinese medicine, as well as how to tap into our autonomic nervous system to work through grief and anxiety. Special Brazilian guest Nadiya came from New York City to create an inclusive, open conversation around sexual health.

How can you make a meal that not only tastes good but makes you shine from the inside out?! We have the answer: with love, the right ingredients, and the BEST chefs! Thrive Market is a regular supporter of our Wellness Retreats. All of our movement and discussion results in hungry tummies, and they provide the best ingredients. We bring in some awesome kitchen-savvy folks to throw it onto a beautiful plate, and voilà, bon appétit! Big thank you to Chef Lance for always bringing top notch nutrition and insights.

This year, we had another special culinary visitor. Compliments of our friends at Traeger Grills, (and her open schedule!) Chef Amanda Haas flew in to prepare a clean, whole-food, organic meal for our group that was damn delicious. With assistance from her cookbook The Vibrant Life and a whole bunch of sharp knives, she hustled the grill like the master she is.

Every single one of these retreat experiences is unique, and every single one is beautiful. With a unified energy towards loving kindness, new friendships, and memorable outdoor experiences, there is one thing that remains the same throughout every retreat: women who come with stories of survival and fear leave with feelings of thriving and gratitude.

We couldn’t be more honored to hold space for so many stories that inspire us to new heights.

So grateful for Ali Hartwig and Tahnei Roy who captured so many incredible images!

A HUGE HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS AND PARTNERS that provided funding, gift bags, and a big, warm, omnipresent hug felt by all of our attendees.