East Hill Wellness Retreats
Located on 400 acres of idyllic Vermont land, East Hill Wellness is run and organized by residents Jon and Laura Bliss, Liza Eaton, Owen Diamondstone-Kohout, and Emma Bliss. Based on the healing power of their home, this retreat is grounded in holistic nature wellness, and features yoga, meditation, therapeutic art, spirituality, our own home grown produce, and the tranquility of the outdoors.
2018 Programs September 7-9 $350 (Register by September 1st!) Arrive as early as 2pm on Friday! Welcome dinner begins at 6pm. Retreat programming goes through 12pm on Sunday. Take your time enjoying the grounds for as long as you like Sunday afternoon. All inclusive: Includes workshops, meals, campsites, bathroom facilities & full use of the 400 acre grounds. We have 2 alternatives to camping for an additional fee. Email [email protected] for interest in a room located in Jon & Laura's house. Or for a private airbnb rental ~ click here Over this weekend of wellness, participants will be given the chance to press pause on their busy lives and recenter in calm. Through empowering Kundalini and Hatha yoga, meditation, therapeutic art, facilitated talks, wholesome meals, and fire circles filled with music and storytelling, everyone will realign with themselves and the oneness we all share. Enjoy a meditation through our labyrinth, a walk through the wildflowers, the woods, or a moment to sit in quiet under a tree. Through its programming and the support of the land, participants will be encouraged to set intentions and let go, to move through what has been stagnant and invite in transformation. Days will include programmed workshops, as well as ample free time to explore the outdoors. Jon Bliss, Facilitator Jon grew up on East Hill Farm learning to work the fields, tend animals, build structures, and play music.His degree in Arts and Religion from Yale Divinity School has been a resource he’s used in various ways, primarily as the minister of Old Parish Church in Weston, Vermont. Jon is drawn to interdisciplinary conversation and poetry, and loves the work of carpentry, riding his bike, and a cup of coffee in the sun. Laura Bliss, Artistic Director Laura has a degree in education and spent 12 years as a teacher and co-director at East Hill Farm and School. She has spent many years in the arts as a photographer, ceramic artist and in multiple fine arts mediums. She also gardens, practices yoga and meditation and finds challenge and comfort in the relationships with non verbal creatures—in particular horses, dogs and cats. Liza Eaton, Yoga Instructor, Teacher Trainer, Retreat Coordinator Liza Eaton is a UVM graduate in cultural linguistics; she has earned her 500hr yoga teacher certification at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and a 250hr KRI Kundalini Yoga Certification through SOUL Yoga. Liza has been a practicing yoga Instructor for 8 years, and in 2017 founded her own Yoga Alliance approved school, Buddhaful Yoga. Liza specializes in Kundalini and Hatha Yoga, meditation, and the principles of Ayurveda. Emma Bliss, Holistic Health Coach, Chef, Retreat Coordinator Emma has completed programs at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Natural Gourmet Institute in holistic health coaching and culinary arts; she has gone on to practice in both fields, while earning her degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Integrative Living from Goddard College. Emma has now returned home to her native Vermont, and is the co-owner and manager of East Hill Farm CSA and Market Garden. Owen Dimondstone-Kohout, Garden Manager & Storyteller Raised in Dummerston Vermont, Owen grew up among the forests and gardens of his West River valley home. He holds a bachelor's degree in Sustainable Food Systems and Cultural Anthropology from Green Mountain College and has worked eight years as an outdoor skills instructor for Vermont Wilderness School. Today, Owen is the co-owner and garden manager of East Hill Farm CSA and Market Garden. Location: Our Address is 1460 East Hill Road, Andover, VT, 05143 Food Allergies: Our Chef is happy to accommodate your food allergies and limitations! Most of our staff are 100% gluten free, some are dairy free, soy free and sugar free. Please let us know about your food limitations so we can plan for them ahead of time! We are looking forward to this time of connection, restoration, good food & natural journeys together. Retreat Schedule FRIDAY Arrive between 2 and 4:30pm Take time to set up your tent/room & tour the farm 6:00pm Centering & Dinner After dinner clean up: Welcome Fire circle & Music SATURDAY Breakfast table will have fruit, water, and something on it for early risers 8:00-9:00am yoga and meditation 9:30am breakfast 10:30am pottery with Laura 15 minutes of “letting go” yoga & free write (Liza) 1 hour of pottery (Laura) 11:45am Jon: Guided reflection on art process, creativity, flow 12:30-1:30pm Lunch 1:30-2:30pm rest and free time 2:30 nature bathing & meditative walk through the labyrinth with Liza 4:00-5:00pm Yoga with Liza 5:15-6:15 art with Laura 6:30 dinner 8:30pm Fire Circle with Story Telling SUNDAY 6:30-8am Sunrise yoga and meditation (in dance barn) Snacks available on the breakfast table 8:30-10:15am All stations open Free time of your choice: Nature bathing/labrynth/walk Liza: Free Write Journalling at Dancing Shed (or outside weather permitting) Laura: North Room Pottery & Art (take your art outside if you like) 10:30-12:00 Brunch 12:30-1:30pm Gather for letting go of your pottery! Bring your pot to sacred place. It will slowly disintegrate in the elements. Slowly gather back to Dance barn or windmill field for closing circle 1:30pm Centering & closing circle/reflection Afterwards: enjoy the grounds for as long as you like that afternoon |