KINDLE THE SPARK

Cozy Up With Your Unique Brilliance

women's wellness retreat

October 23–25, 2026 | Lake Anna, Virginia

What could grow if

you gave it a little more room?

If you’ve been craving space to slow down, follow your curiosity, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that can get crowded out by everyday life, Kindle the Spark: Cozy Up With Your Unique Brilliance was created for you.

This 3-day, 2-night fall retreat in Lake Anna, Virginia blends thoughtful conversation, guided reflective journaling, creative experiences, gentle movement, good food, time outdoors, and plenty of breathing room. Together, we’ll explore creativity not as something reserved for artists, but as something we all carry — in our ideas, imagination, problem-solving, self-expression, and the possibilities we haven’t had time to follow.

You don’t need to arrive with a project, a plan, or even think of yourself as “creative.” Maybe there’s an idea you’ve been carrying. Maybe something in you has gotten a little quiet. Maybe you’re simply ready for a weekend of connection, inspiration, rest, laughter, and enough space to hear yourself think.

Come as you are. Bring your curiosity. We’ll make room for the spark.

JOIN US

Come As You Are

Our retreats bring together women across different ages and stages of life — and we genuinely value that mix.

Past participants have ranged in age from their early 30s to early 60s, bringing different perspectives shaped by work, family, caregiving, relationships, transitions, and whatever season of life they happen to be in.

There is a lot to learn from women whose lives may look very different from our own.

If you’re craving connection, inspiration, rest, laughter, and enough breathing room to hear yourself think, you’ll fit right in.

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The Weekend

We intentionally balance meaningful group experiences with time to rest, wander, talk, journal, sit by the lake, take a nap, or simply have nowhere else you need to be.

Dates: Check-in on Friday, October 23, 2026, between 6 and 8 PM; check-out on Sunday, October 25th at 2 PM

Friday

Arrive. Exhale. Settle in.

Arrive between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. We’ll have a generous appetizer and charcuterie-style dinner waiting, followed by an opening gathering to connect, reflect, and ease into the weekend.

Saturday

Explore. Connect. Create.

We’ll start with optional gentle movement and breakfast, then spend the day moving between facilitated conversations, reflective journaling, creative experiences, meals, connection, and unstructured time.

There will be things to do — and permission not to do all the things.

Sunday

Gather. Reflect. Carry it forward.

We’ll share breakfast, enjoy a group experience, and close our weekend together before lunch and departure by 2:00 PM.

Your Retreat Includes

Two nights at a private Lake Anna retreat home
All meals from Friday evening through Sunday lunch
Snacks, coffee, tea, water, and nonalcoholic beverages
Thoughtful, coaching-informed facilitation throughout the weekend
Guided reflection and creative experiences
All creative supplies
Saturday morning yoga
Plenty of unscheduled time to rest and recharge
Optional add-on Massage
A welcome gift
Access to a reduced-rate three-session coaching package with Laura B., Jessamyn, or Laura W. within six months following the retreat

Invest in your Brilliance!

Every option includes the same full Kindle the Spark retreat experience. Pricing varies based on sleeping accommodations.

Private King Suite

$1,400

Your own king bedroom and private ensuite bathroom for the weekend.

Shared King Suite

$900 per person

Share a king bedroom and private ensuite bathroom with a friend. This option is for two women registering together who are comfortable sharing a king bed.

Cozy Bunk Room

Four individual beds with a private ensuite bathroom. The bunk room itself is small and cozy, so guests staying here will also have use of the adjoining lounge for luggage and personal belongings.

Lower Bunk — $700
Upper Bunk — $650

A great option for women who are comfortable with a more communal retreat experience and want our most affordable rate.

Space is intentionally limited, and accommodations are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

Payment Plans Available - You may pay in full or request a short payment plan. Let us know when you register and we’ll provide available options.
All balances are due by October 18, 2026.
Registration closes October 16, 2026, or when the retreat reaches capacity.

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Hosted With Intention

A Nurturing Pause is hosted by Laura Bowles, Jessamyn Ayers, and Laura Woody — three experienced coaches and facilitators who believe women need spaces where they can step outside the demands of everyday life, reconnect with themselves, and grow and have fun alongside one another.

We create retreats that are thoughtful without being heavy, meaningful without being overly structured, and nurturing without asking you to become anyone other than who you already are.

MEET YOUR FACILITATORS

What Past Participants Say

“All the prompts for guided reflection were incredibly helpful. The balance between personal and group time was nice.”

“The food was amazing! Accommodations were great!”

Ready to kindle your spark?

Maybe there’s an idea you’ve been carrying.

Maybe something in you has gotten a little quiet.

Maybe you have absolutely no idea what needs more room — you just know you could use some.

Come spend a fall weekend with us at Lake Anna.

October 23–25, 2026

We’ll bring the food, the questions, the creative supplies, and the cozy space.

You bring YOU.

Still have questions?

Can I come by myself? Absolutely. Many women attend without knowing anyone else. Our retreats are intentionally designed to make connection easier without forcing it. There will be structured opportunities to get to know one another, plenty of informal time together, and space to step away when you need it. You do not need to bring a friend to belong here.

Do I need to be creative? Not at all. Kindle the Spark isn’t an art retreat, and no artistic experience or talent is required. We’re thinking about creativity much more broadly — curiosity, imagination, ideas, possibility, problem-solving, expression, and the things that make you feel interested, energized, or a little more alive. We’ll use some creative activities during the weekend, but there is no right way to do them and nothing you need to be “good at.”

What are the accommodations like? We’ll be staying together in a beautiful private home overlooking Lake Anna in Mineral, Virginia. Participant accommodations include private king suites, shared king suites, and a four-person bunk room. Each bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom. The home also has spacious gathering areas, outdoor spaces, a private sandy beach, a fire pit, and access to lake activities including kayaking and paddleboarding. The bunk room is our smallest sleeping space. Because floor space is limited, guests staying there will also have use of the adjoining lounge for luggage and personal belongings.

How do you handle dietary restrictions? We take dietary needs seriously and will make every reasonable effort to help you feel comfortable and well cared for. You’ll have an opportunity to share allergies, dietary restrictions, and other food-related needs when you register. If we need clarification, we’ll follow up with you directly.

What should I bring? Think comfortable. Bring clothes you can relax and move in, layers for changing fall temperatures, a reusable water bottle, notebook and pen, personal medications, and anything else that helps you feel at home. There may be opportunities for outdoor movement and lake activities, including kayaking, depending on the weather. All movement and outdoor activities are optional. We’ll send registered participants a complete packing list and final details before the retreat.

Will I have cell service and Wi-Fi? Yes, Wi-Fi is available. You can stay connected when you need to, but we also encourage you to give yourself as much distance from everyday demands, email, social media, and notifications as feels good to you. Consider it an invitation to unplug.

Where is the retreat? The retreat is held at a private home on Lake Anna in Mineral, Virginia. The exact address, directions, parking information, and arrival details will be provided to registered participants before the retreat.

Are payment plans available? Yes. If you’d like to use a payment plan, simply indicate that when you register and we’ll send you the available options. All retreat balances must be paid in full by October 18, 2026. If you plan to use professional development or wellness funds through your employer, let us know. We’re happy to provide an invoice or other documentation that may be helpful.

What is the cancellation and refund policy? We understand that plans can change. Because we make significant financial commitments in advance based on retreat enrollment, the following cancellation policy applies: On or before September 25, 2026 You will receive a full refund. September 26–October 9, 2026 You will receive a 50% refund of the total retreat cost. October 10, 2026 and after Retreat payments are nonrefundable. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your fully paid registration to another participant through October 16, 2026 for a $50 transfer fee. All cancellations and transfer requests must be submitted in writing to anurturingpause@gmail.com. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. No refunds are available for early departure or partial attendance. Special circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis. If A Nurturing Pause cancels the retreat, participants will receive a full refund. Circumstances outside our control, including severe weather or other force majeure events, will be addressed based on the circumstances at that time.

Will massage be available? We hope so! We may offer the option to schedule an onsite massage during the retreat for an additional fee. If massage is available for this retreat, registered participants will receive details about scheduling and pricing.

Need More info?

Please ask.

We want you to have the information you need to decide whether this weekend is a good fit for you.

Email us anytime at anurturingpause@gmail.com.