Return to stillness

yoga, Meditation &Retreat for fall Equinox

Joshua Tree, CA

Journey to the sacred red rocks of Sedona for a 4-day yoga and wellness retreat to renew and restore your being. As the Earth tilts toward equal parts light and dark, we gather in the threshold space of the equinox—a potent time to recalibrate, ground down, and return home to our center.

Through daily yoga practices rooted in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, restorative rest practices, and the healing embrace of the natural world, we'll align with the seasonal rhythms and discover what it means to live in balance. Expect soulful Vinyasa classes that honor both form and freedom, deep Yin and restorative sessions to settle the nervous system, sound healing to restore harmony within, and meditations that invite you back to the altar of yourself.

September 11-14, 2026

Soak in the quiet power of Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree and the surrounding Mojave hold a different kind of sacredness than red-rock canyons—an austere, spacious beauty that strips away the unnecessary and leaves you with presence. In spring the desert softens: light lengthens, wildflowers begin to appear, and the land itself seems to exhale. Here the desert asks you to arrive fully, to shed what no longer serves, and to remember the wild, grounded wisdom already living in your bones.

We gather at Wonder Valley Hot Springs, a restorative sanctuary on expansive desert land. We will be housed in the Tamarisk and Creosote Houses—beautifully renovated homes with private outdoor geothermal mineral soaking tubs, open views, and the kind of privacy that lets the nervous system truly settle.

The Healing Power of Hot Springs

The mineral waters at Wonder Valley rise from deep geothermal springs rich in silica, calcium, lithium, and magnesium. Soaking in these waters supports the body in profound ways: easing muscle tension and joint discomfort, improving circulation, calming the nervous system, supporting deeper sleep, elevating mood, and gently detoxifying the skin.

The combination of warm mineral immersion, desert silence, and open sky creates a natural container for release and renewal—especially potent as we emerge from winter’s stillness into the awakening energy of spring.

Throughout the retreat we will weave intentional time in the springs—quiet soaks, guided water meditations, and simply floating beneath the stars—as living medicine for body and spirit.

Daily yoga to cultivate embodied balance

Each day will move you through a full spectrum of practice—from dynamic, breath-centered Vinyasa flows that awaken stability and strength, to slow Yin and restorative sessions that invite deep release and integration. Rooted in the wisdom of Ayurveda and aligned with the rhythms of the fall season, these practices are designed to balance your energy, calm your nervous system, and return you to a state of harmony. 

Expect intelligent sequencing, refined alignment, playful exploration, and the weaving of ancient tools like pranayama, meditation, mantra, and sound. Whether you're new to yoga or have been practicing for years, all classes are accessible and adaptable to meet you exactly where you are. This is yoga as returning to your ground of being - present, embodied, and fully alive.

Yoga practices are taught by Michael and Gaby (alternating).

Nourishing food as medicine

Food is medicine, art, and life force. Our plant-based menu is thoughtfully crafted with Ayurvedic wisdom, featuring bright, nourishing, nutrient-dense dishes that support the body’s natural emergence from winter. Seasonal ingredients are prepared with care to kindle digestion, stabilize energy, and nourish the nervous system as we move into greater light and activity.

We happily accommodate dietary needs or restrictions.

what’s included

  • Daily yoga & meditation

  • Private geothermal mineral hot spring soaks

  • Water based meditation & rituals

  • Ayurvedic Wellness Workshop

  • Heart activation Meditation & Guided Cacao Ceremony 

  • Organic, plant based meals that align with Spring

  • Sound Bath Meditation and Yoga Nidra

  • 3 Night & 4 Day Accommodations

  • Sun-filled pool hangs & starry night hot tub soaks

  • Optional: Guided time in Joshua Tree National Park

  • Yoga Alliance CE available.

Sample Schedule

7:00 AM Coffee, Tea, Warm Lemon Water

8:30 - 10:00 AM Asana, Pranayama + Meditation

10:00 - 11:00 AM Nourishing Breakfast + Free Time

11:00 - 1:00 PM Wellness Workshop

1:00 - 2:00 PM PM Nourishing Lunch

2:00 - 5:00 PM Optional Hike / Free Time / Rest

5:00 - 6:00 PM Yin / Restorative Yoga

6:00 - 7:00 PM Light Dinner + Sunset

Check-in: 1:00 PM Friday // Checkout 11:00 AM Monday

The Lodging

Wonder Valley Hot Springs

Hot Springs retreat to Joshua Tree

About your retreat guides

  • Gaby Colletta

    YOGA INSTRUCTOR | SOMATIC THERAPIST | AYURVEDIC HEALTH COUNSELOR

    Gaby is a Yoga, Ayurveda and Meditation Teacher with over 15 years of practice in integrative wellness and healing arts. She facilitates nature-based retreats, guides mind-body courses and coaches individuals on how to create an ecosystem of internal resources that increase resilience and unveil intrinsic potential. Her teachings weave together the Ancient traditions of Ayurveda, Buddhism and Tantra, alongside modern-day neuroscience, somatic psychology and Earth wisdom. Through the tapestry of mind-body practices, Gaby shares tools for deeper intimacy and understanding one’s intuitive abilities, mental powers and pathways to freedom. 

  • Michael Peterson

    YOGA INSTRUCTOR | MEDITATION GUIDE

    Michael Peterson is a Tucson based yoga instructor with over a decade of teaching experience since 2014. Accumulating more than 1,000 hours in Vinyasa and Yin yoga, his classes are crafted to inspire, uplift, and leave every student feeling more connected to themselves.

    Learn more: www.yogawithmichael.com