The Fall Equinox marks the time of year when the day is equal in length to the night. It is a time to recalibrate and come back into balance with yourself. This weekend retreat, September 20-22, is an opportunity to recoil from a loud and busy life to the quiet and tranquil space of nature. You will be introduced to dying techniques that create an opportunity to look closely at nature and reconnect with the earth. The processes we will use are truly beautiful, meditative and calming - from making bundles to painting with earth pigments, interspersed with yoga and meditation. You will walk away from the weekend refreshed and reconnected with yourself and with nature, and just in time to welcome Autumn.
Description
Participants in this retreat will gain hands-on experience in dying and painting fabrics with natural dyes, plants foraged from nature and earth pigments. Alongside these technical skills, students will also be invited to practice gentle yoga and mantra meditation to balance the subtle energies of the body. Participants will also have time to enjoy nature walks and a swim in the local stream. This workshop is appropriate for all levels. The price includes all meals, accommodation, materials and printed educational resources. Space is limited to nine participants and we must have at least six to run the retreat. So don't wait to sign up! Deadline for enrollment is August 9.
A full refund minus a $50 admin fee will be given if you cancel by August 20. No refunds after this date. Email Amanda@flowylife.com with any questions.
Accommodations
The retreat will take place in and around a private home in Woodstock, NY with over 24 acres of woodland to explore. Participants will stay in large bell tents (as pictured) with either 1 or 2 tent mates. Each participant will have a comfy single blow-up mattress with fresh linens and down pillow (we promise this will be a luxe camping experience!) The tents, located only steps from a full bathroom for easy use, will be connected to electricity with lamps for evening lighting. In addition to the tents, there is a private guest room available inside the house with a queen sized bed and full bath just across the hall. This room is available first come first serve, and can be shared with a friend or reserved as a single.
Email maryevelynpritchard@gmail.com with questions related to accommodations.
Meals
Delicious meals will be included and prepared in house with love. The food will be inspired by The New Ayurvedic Kitchen “What to eat for how you feel” cookbook and will be plant based and vegan. 2 Dinners, 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches included.
Pricing
Tent Accommodation: $450 per participant
Queen guest room: $450 per participant, if shared with a friend or $600 if reserved for single participant. (available first come, first serve)
To reserve your spot, go to my store and purchase workshop based on your desired accommodation.
Supplies List
Apron
Gloves – (Optional) light weight to protect hands from pigments
Clothes suitable for dyeing, comfortable shoes
1” - 2” foam brushes
Any preferred paint brushes (I will also provide some)
Surface design tools you may own – such as stamps, stencils, wood blocks, screen printing tools (I will bring an assortment to share- so no need to go out and purchase anything)
Fabrics will be provided for the experiments and participants are welcome to bring fabric or garments they might want to dye. Be sure they are natural fibers (protein or cellulose). All types of silk produce beautiful results. Please NO WOOL.
Yoga Mat
Meditation Pillow (optional)
Schedule
Friday:
4-6 Check-in
6:30 - 7:30 Dinner
7:30 - 9:30 Introduction to each other, introduction to natural dying, and preparing materials, mordanting with Alum and Soy milk
9:30 - 10 Yoga Nidra
Saturday:
8 - 9 Breakfast
9 - 10:30 Yoga and Mindful Foraging Walk
10:30 - 11 Create Dye Baths
11 - 12 Bundle and Dye
12 - 1 Lunch
1 - 2 Mix pigments
2 - 2:30 Meditation
2:30 - 4 Painting and Printing with Earth Pigments
4 - 7 Free time (Swim, Hike, or Continue Dying/Painting)
7 - 8 Dinner
8:30 - 10 Optional Moon Yoga or Free Time
Sunday:
8 - 9 Breakfast
9 - 11 Continue Dying and/or Printing
11 - 12 Cleanup, reveal bundles, share
12 - 1 Lunch
2 pm Checkout
Travel:
In terms of air travel, Albany and Stewart International (Newburgh, NYC) Airports are the best choices:
Albany International Airport: Medium sized airport with more flight options (51 miles from the house~ 1 hour 5minute drive. Rent a car, book a driver ahead of time*, or make plans according to bus schedule to Woodstock https://trailwaysny.com/webstore/purchase/schedules *we can pick you up from the bus drop off in Woodstock upon arrival
Stewart International Airport: Smaller airport with less choices, but closest to the house (45 miles from the house ~ 55 minute drive. Rent a car, book a driver ahead of time*.
You can also fly into NYC area airports -Newark International Aiport: (110 miles from house ~ 1 hour 45 minute drive) -
LaGuardia Airport: (104 miles from house ~ 1 hour 55 minute drive)-
JFK Airport: (121 miles from house ~ 2 hours 10 minute drive) You would need to rent a car or arrange for a driver ahead of time*.
There is bus service from Manhattan to Woodstock https://trailwaysny.com/webstore/purchase/schedules but it would make for a very long day of traveling, so we would recommend choosing this route only if you plan to be in NYC ahead of time and/or afterwards *we might be able to help with driver arrangements so let us know if thats what you’ll be needing
About Amanda:
Amanda Agricola became a 200 Hour RYT Certified Hatha Yoga instructor in 2015, after receiving her MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art in interdisciplinary arts. Her experience with yoga has been a long evolving journey from the time when she was in high school, practicing in the afternoons with her World History teacher who also taught her The Bhagavad Gita, to current day when she continuously returns to original yogic texts to guide her understanding of the body, mind, and spirit. A regular yoga practice has brought her physical relief from slight scoliosis of the spine and mental relief from everyday stressors and general anxiety.
The only thing that was missing from this balance she was beginning to strike was a connection to the Earth. So in 2017, fatigued from the amount of time she was spending at the computer for work, she began a project dying with earth pigments collected from her home state of Alabama. This project offered her a deepened connection with personal history, cultural heritage, and nature. It was also her gateway to exploring the many secrets and colors held in the natural world.
“Dying with natural dyes opens me to the secret wonders hidden beneath the surface of plants, the earth, and fungi. It is not unlike yoga, which is my constant link back to my inner world through conscious breath and motion. Both practices spark in me reverence for the world around me, in me, and all of life.” -Amanda