Preparing for Your Hocking Hills Integration Retreat
What to expect from the Hocking Hills retreat
Our Location
There are places that seem to hold a deeper presence, and the Hocking Hills is one of them. For countless generations, Indigenous peoples found meaning, beauty, and sacred connection in this landscape of ancient stone, flowing water, and quiet forests.
This is the land of skinwalkers, creatures who could shapeshift into any being in their role as guardians of the land. The Hocking Hills sits in a region where oral tradition, Indigenous presence, pioneer folklore, and modern cryptid (Bigfoot) mythology all overlap.
The waterfalls restore the spirit and the body back into balance. The Shawnee and Wyandotte believe spirits dwell within the caves in this area, so it's a land of spiritual significance.
As we gather among these hills, we step into a place that invites reflection, renewal, and remembrance—a place where the natural world gently teaches us how to live with greater awareness, balance, and belonging.
Our Home Away From Home
We will be staying in a private home. This is a deliberate choice that affords us privacy, but also gives us "family style" living vibe that allows us to "practice" living in healthy, connected community.
We have the option to use the hot tub, fire pit, fishing pond (bring your own gear), and to cook, and eat together.
You have a choice of a double room (as a couple ($2034 per person) or a single $2189) or staying in a bunk room ($1964) with six bunk beds.
This is an intimate, curated experience that is limited to no more than 10 people, including facilitators.
Our Purpose
Every retreat has a focus our purpose. Ours is Integration.
We meet during this time to experience what it's like to live a healthy, wholesome lifestyle so that we know what that is, and can replicate it in our every day lives.
When you grow up without healthy role models, or experience something that gets you off track, you need a road map to show you the way. This is that road map.
If you already have that groundedness inside you, this retreat is a place to share it with others who appreciation the luxury of good company.
Getting There
The closest airport is CMH, John Glenn Columbus International Airport, which is about 1 hour and fifteen minutes away.
If you are flying, you will need to rent a car from there or hire a shuttle. Let me know. If there are others, I can see about arranging a shared shuttle.
Plan to arrive between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. so that you can be settled before dinner at 6:30 p.m. However, if this doesn't work for your schedule, come when you come.
Registered participants will be given the exact address once the full payment is received and registration is confirmed.
Our Itinerary
The itinerary is planned to give you an idea of what healthy self-care looks like. So, we start every day with a detoxifying drink followed by gentle wake up yoga before breakfast. Not into mornings? No worries. Everything is optional.
Every day we are outside doing a short hike in the Hocking Hills area. (3 miles max) You don't have to be training for Everest to enjoy this, but you do have to be reasonably fit.
Like exercise? We also have a day for riding e-bikes to take in the Adena Trail, which runs between Nelsonville and Athens, Ohio. It's 21 miles of scenic, flat natural beauty. But don't worry, you don't have to go the whole way. There are lots of places to stop, grab a bite or chill.
One day we will go to the Mound City Group and the Hopewell Mound Group, a significant archaeological site reflecting the ceremonial practices of the Hopewell culture, which thrived from about 200 BC to 500 AD.
Into history? What about knowing the land where we're visiting? If any of those apply, our visit to the outdoor drama, Tecumseh!, is sure to fascinate. Shawnee chief Tecumseh formed a Native American confederation that resisted European invaders.
Are you into spooky places? We will hike to a Moonville, the haunted ghost town.
We will experience short daily, optional "workshops" to help you learn to reset your nervous system and maintain wellness. It will seemlessly flow into the days' activities so it will feel more like playing than learning.
The schedule will be given to you upon arrival so you can plan ahead.
We also have plenty of downtime to socialize, sit in the hot tub, journal, nap, or do as you wish.
Who Are Your Facilitators?
Laura Giles is a licensed clinical social worker and certified integrative mental health coach who specializes in helping trauma survivors return to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. She's been facilitating sacred travel tours and retreats around the world since 1999.
Angela Mayle is a yoga instructor who owns a yoga retreat in Ohio.
Any other questions, please reach out.
Or, click here to register now.
This is Shawnee Land!
Get to know the history and people of this place.
What To Pack?
A sun hat
Natural tick and mosquito repellant
Water bottle
Camera
Comfortable, broken in, sturdy shoes, no hiking in open toed sandals!
Let me know about your special diet (diabetic, gluten free, FODMAP, Keto, etc.) , but plan for providing for yourself. With a group this small, it's hard to make accommodations. I tried this before and it didn't turn out so well. Sorry.
Swim suit