Destin, Florida

Close your eyes and think for a moment about how you are feeling - in your body: where are your aches and pains? in your mind: what are your dominant thoughts? and in your spirit: what is God speaking to you these days?

Now imagine unpacking these deep feelings, thoughts and whispers, along with your favorite sandals, bathing suit and yoga clothes, in a luxurious house on the beach in Florida. This October we'll be heading south for warmer weather, gentle sea breezes and learning how to rest and refresh with the sun on our faces and the sand between our toes. Come with us and let us treat you to gentle yoga practices, fresh, whole foods, spiritual exercises, essential oil experiences and teachings on rhythm of life. 

Here's something I've been going over in my mind: I was deeply moved upon my first reading of Sarah Young's Jesus Calling about 12 years ago. The Holy Spirit made a profound distinction through her writing between walking along life's path versus following the Path of Life. Life's path can be overwhelming at times, leaving us worn out and weary. But in the Bible, Jesus offers us life to the full and an invitation to live freely and lightly. I think this describes the Path of Life well. It's the sweet balance of purpose and ease. It's the Path we want to be on in order to grow and thrive. But how do we find it?

It's often said that life is about the journey, not the destination. I'd like to suggest as well that there are significant stops along the journey that are in and of themselves destinations of a lifetime. These are the stops where we feel noticeable shifts, where we advance in our doing, thinking, and being in such a way that we know life will never be the same. We think this retreat, a sacred space for rest, discovery and healing, surrounded by luxuries including Destin's unique and world-renowned white sand beaches and the crystal waters of the Emerald Coast may just very well be one of them.

It's time to Taste and Sea for yourself.

The name of our retreat home is the White Whale of Destin. Herman Melville, author of the American classic novel, Moby Dick, gives us the perspective of Captain Ahab's obsession with the elusive white whale who bit off his leg at the knee. Maybe we don't identify with an extreme case like this entirely, but have you ever found yourself like me, limping along life's path in search of the true health and vitality that always seems to be just out of reach? Maybe it's the right balance of work and rest or the key to finally reaching your ideal weight. It could be the answer to calm your restless thoughts and soothe your soul. Then we pray this retreat is an epic adventure for you, ending with real treasures to experience in your body, mind and spirit for the rest of your days.

If the dolphin is your spirit animal, then you already know that it represents harmony and balance. The dolphin is a complex animal and has had many different meanings attached to it throughout history including peace and harmony, balance, protection, playfulness and joy, resurrection, inner strength, cooperation and connection - all beautiful and positive attributes! Whether seeing one in a dream or at the beach, it always feels like a God wink to me, a symbol of his presence and blessing. So let's not leave Destin without experiencing these joyful creatures up close, courtesy of a private sunset cruise. Your ticket is included in your retreat pricing. 

8:30am - gentle yoga practice

9:30am - breakfast

10:30am - morning session

Noon - lunch

1-5pm - contemplative free time

5:30pm - dinner

6:30pm - evening session

8:30pm - tea, dessert and guided meditation

Location: The White Whale, Destin, Florida

Dates: October 15-18, 2019

Arrival: 4pm Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Departure: 1pm Friday, October 18, 2019

Accommodations and Pricing: The pricing covers everything from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave: accommodations for three nights including linens, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, all yoga practices, all morning and evening sessions, and your ticket for our private dolphin sunset cruise. Price per person is $1,995. A $400 deposit reserves your spot. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the start of the retreat. (Shared master suites feature King beds, Queen beds, Bunk beds and Trundle beds.)

Christy and Greg bring their years of experience in wellness, hospitality and ministry together to serve you on this retreat. You can read Christy's story here. From a young age, Greg has loved others with a servant's heart. As a Boy Scout, he easily made friends with elderly neighbors and helped them in myriad ways. As a handyman and home remodeler, he learned to fix almost anything and fell in love with the process of transforming brokenness and expiration into wholeness and restoration. From waiting tables to managing hospitality staffs to serving up his own culinary creations, he knows his way around the kitchen and the way to your healthy heart. Greg is also a certified yoga and Holy Yoga instructor. In short, he's the kind of guy you like to have around. Together, Christy and Greg are Wellness Advocates with doTERRA Essential Oils, natural health educators through Cynthia Sumner's Whole Healing program, spiritual formation leaders at their church and frequent short-term missionaries to Haiti and Zambia. They love spending time together, traveling and teaching others all they learn about body-mind-spirit wellness and living life to the full.

Are you wondering what it's like to go on a retreat with Christy and Greg? ​Read testimonials here.​​​

Ready to go? Submit your retreat interest form here!