Unleash your

Feminine Force

A retreat for women
in the Blue Ridge Mountains

September 19 - 22, 2024

ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR A SPACE TO:

Build your confidence and bloom without inhibition
Move towards the transformations you've been yearning for, but haven't had the time or courage to pursue
Reconnect with the resilient spirit that has carried you through life's challenges, and nurture it into a source of enduring power
Forge bonds with women who, like you, are seeking deeper connections, mutual support, and shared growth
Step away from the roles that define you, and rediscover the joy and necessity of caring for your own well-being
Let the tranquility of nature soothe your soul and remind you of life's simple pleasures
Engage in practices that honor your body's wisdom, allowing you to inhabit your physical self with newfound appreciation and joy
Identify and release the invisible chains that restrict your potential, freeing yourself to explore new possibilities
Temporarily escape the demands of everyday life to rejuvenate your spirit, returning with renewed vigor and clarity

Then join us for an intentional journey in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains!

Have FUN &
Find Support

  • ignite your power with movement

  • Move and expand in the temple of the awakening Heart

  • Reconnect with yourself

  • Walk the trails and replenish your spirit

  • Feed your body and soul

  • Feel Supported and Relax

  • Connect and grow with your retreat mates

  • Reset Your Nervous System

  • Focus on the meditation island

Location & accommodations

Join us just outside of Asheville, NC, at Compassionate Expressions Mountain Inn & Healing Sanctuary, a private 40 acre retreat property. The property is a scenic 30 minute drive from Asheville. You will marvel at the landscape of historical farmlands, mountain vistas and a night sky of brilliantly lit stars! Each retreat participant will have her own bed. The location offers simple and inviting accommodations where you will connect with nature and animal friends over the three night experience.

What’s Included: 

  • 3 nights lodging 
  • All meals 
  • Retreat content including coaching, yoga and movement practices  
  • Hot tub soaking 
  • Natural walks
  • Good vibes
  • Meditation Island

Experience the magic of the land

Why you may need this retreat now more than ever

In addition to the general grind of daily life, the news we consume and the injustices we are experiencing for ourselves or are witnessing happen to others has a profound ability to drain our energy and sense of vitality. Look at the list below and ask yourself how many of these ring true in your life. Do you:
  • Feel like there are certain expectations or norms you're supposed to live up to in terms of career, relationships, appearance, or behavior
  • Compare yourself to others, feeling like you should measure up to a certain standard set by society or by those around you

  • Feel unseen or unrecognized for who you truly are
  • Feel constrained or boxed in by societal roles or stereotypes
  • Feel pressure to achieve specific milestones or levels of success, often defined by external standards rather than personal fulfillment
  • Question your abilities, decisions, and worthiness, even in situations where you objectively perform well
  • Engage in harsh self-criticism or negative internal dialogue
  • Avoid new challenges or opportunities 
  • Depend heavily on others' validation or approval to feel worthy or accepted
  • Feel uncomfortable or dismissing compliments
  • Neglect  your own needs, whether physical, emotional, or mental
  • Rely heavily on others for reassurance or guidance, rather than trusting your own judgment or abilities
  • Experience physical manifestations of anxiety or stress, such as racing heartbeat, sweating, or tension, especially in situations that require assertiveness or performance
  • Feel emotionally drained, irritable, or numb
  • Pull back from social interactions or avoiding commitments, as it feels too overwhelming to engage with others or maintain connections
  • Find it hard to unwind or experience moments of peace, as thoughts of responsibilities or unresolved issues continue to occupy your mind
When these feelings and experiences are persistent in our lives it impacts how we function and influences our personal and professional relationships. It may keep you from reaching your career ambitions, establishing healthy relationships, engaging in fulfilling community, experiencing good health and wellness and stepping into an empowered reality. 

We live in a world that often undermines our self-worth. 
Now more than ever is the time to reclaim our confidence and resilience.

During the retreat we will create a safe and supportive environment to

  • Learn about our own assumptions
  • Explore larger cultural narratives that may keep us from feeling like the powerful women we are
  • Practice moving stagnant energy to feel more energized, at peace and confident
  • Share tools for engaging in self discovery and building self confidence
  • Reconnect with ourselves
    This three night journey will support you to see through the clutter of your mind, imagine how things can be different and begin forming habits for staying resilient. 

Possibly the most important part of the retreat will be remembering that we aren't alone.

meet your hosts

Carrie and Leslie actually met on a mountain retreat and became fast friends. Even though they live in separate states, they have traveled together and developed deep respect for each others skills and abilities - including how to host a great event. They both understand how a retreat can be the launching pad for new things to unfold. You can learn more about their backgrounds below.


  • Coach

    Carrie holds an M.A. in Communications and has trained in Wayfinder, Immunity to Change and Positive Intelligence Coaching. She is also a member of the Climate Coaching Alliance. With more than two decades of experience working with narrative change she’s led clients through innovation initiatives, developed strategic plans, and built collaborations for corporations, nonprofits and public policy groups. She’s worked closely with executives, founders and boards to improve leadership in their organizations, rebrand, rethink product development, restructure their services and reframe tired political stories that served no one. Her deep passion for sustainability, social justice, and women's issues lead her work today.

    She has also worked with clients on a personal level - training them to tune into their bodies, develop precise movements and treat their whole physical systems as a pilates instructor. What she learned coaching college athletes, those recovering from surgery, dancers, and disabled clients taught her a lot about perseverance and working through challenges. She leverages all of this experience in her leadership + life coaching work.

    The big takeaways from these worlds:

    • Change is incremental

    • Community helps you achieve your goals

    • Grit and compassion are linked


  • Movement Practioner

    Leslie Chadwick is a dedicated yoga instructor and lifelong student of movement. She brings a wealth of experience and a grounded presence to her teaching.

    In 2022, Leslie completed her 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification through the ViraVinyasa School. This training deepened her understanding of the mind-body connection and ignited her passion for sharing the transformative power of yoga with others.

    Movement has been a constant thread woven throughout Leslie's life journey. From her early days as a ballet student, she developed a deep appreciation for the body's expressive capabilities. This love of movement led her to discover Nia, a fun fusion of dance, martial arts and healing arts. For five years, Leslie taught a weekly Nia class, guiding students to explore their playfulness and authenticity through joyful motion.

    Today, Leslie's all-levels Vinyasa yoga classes offer a safe and inclusive space for students to challenge themselves physically while cultivating a greater sense of presence and self-awareness. Her classes strike a balance between effort and ease, encouraging students to honor their bodies' unique rhythms and find their own paths to empowerment.

    Alongside her work in the movement realm, Leslie has built a successful career as a communications professional. She brings this gift for clear and compassionate communication to her teaching, creating an environment where students feel seen, heard, and supported on their journeys of self-discovery.

    With a humble spirit and a bold commitment to her craft, Leslie Chadwick invites women to explore the depths of their inner strength, confidence, and radiance through the transformative practices of yoga and movement in order to feel more connected.

    Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesliecolo/

Retreat Overview

Thursday, Sept 19 

  • 2 p.m - 4 p.m. - Check in  (We’d love for everyone to arrive no later 4 p.m.) 
  • Tour the property 
  • Opening ceremony
  • Introductions of our community
  • Introduction of Unleash Your Feminine Force 
  • Dinner
  • Hot tub soak/rest/relax/reflect 

Friday, Sept 20 

  • Morning vinyasa 
  • Breakfast 
  • Retreat content 
  • Lunch 
  • Retreat content
  • Movement as Medicine class 
  • Hot tub soak/rest/relax/reflect 
  • Dinner
  • Fireside chat - Reflection exercise after dinner

Saturday, Sept 21

  • Morning vinyasa 
  • Breakfast
  • Retreat content 
  • Lunch 
  • Group outdoor activity/walk
  • Retreat content 
  • Hot tub soak/rest/relax/reflect  
  • Dinner
  • Evening fire activity  (use your voice singing and dancing/content/reflection) 

Sunday, Sept 22 (Fall Equinox) 

  • Fall equinox celebration 
  • Closing ceremony
  • Breakfast
  • 11 a.m. - Check out

reserve your spot

Investment for participants - $1600

Deposit - $300 

First Payment - Aug 1 - $650 

Final payment - Sept 5 - $650 

SPOTS ARE LIMITED to 15 attendees! Don’t miss your chance to join us.


Refund Policy 

50% is available before July 31. 
No refund after Aug 1.