spirit of the forest

Idyllwild, California

Join Sara Ruffin and Beth Imai for a weekend in Idyllwild, California where we will enjoy daily yoga, meditation, and connection, nestled in the pines and walking distance to the quaint and artsy town of Idyllwild. We're joined by 'Top Chef' alum Jamie Lauren for a weekend of delicious, high quality meals.

The intention behind 'Spirit of the Forest' retreat is to unwind from of daily life, and rediscover your true essence, in nature. You will leave feeling re-generated and refreshed. This is an LGBTQIA friendly retreat open to all.

Intention

daily asana with beth & Sara

Kickoff your weekend dropping into yoga nidra. Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation that induces a state of deep relaxation between waking and sleeping, promoting rest and recovery. It involves lying down in a comfortable position, following a guided voice, and using techniques like breath awareness, body scans, and setting a heartfelt intention (sankalpa) to relax the body and mind. The practice helps recharge the nervous system and is beneficial for stress management and achieving a profound sense of calm.
Wake up Saturday and enjoy vinyasa flow with Beth Imai. Vinyasa is challenging and faster paced asana practice where poses are linked together with fluid movements, with a special emphasis on the breath. Vinyasa yoga is a cardiovascular practice where you will develop physical and mental endurance.
Unwind before dinner Saturday with relaxing yin yoga. In a yin yoga class, you will experience a slower paced class, more restorative in nature, where poses are held for longer periods of time to provide a deeper stretch, both muscular and to the deeper layers of connective tissue; ligaments, tendons and fascia. This is a deeply relaxing practice, no strength or stamina required.
Bhakti yogis unite for some kirtan Saturday. Kirtan is a spiritual practice involving a call-and-response style of chanting sacred mantras, originating from ancient India. It is a form of devotional yoga known as bhakti yoga and is used to help quiet the mind, foster a sense of community, and deepen spiritual connection. The practice typically involves a leader singing a line of a chant, and the group echoing it back, creating a powerful, immersive, and meditative experience.

Schedule

Friday

MARCH 27
3:00 PM Arrivals
5:00 PM Intro & Intentions
6:30 PM Welcome Dinner
8:00 PM Candlelit Yoga Nidra
Saturday

MARCH 28
6:30 AM Guided nature walk
8:30 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Vinyasa Yoga (90 min)
12 - 5 PM Free time (lunch not included)
5:00 PM Sunset Yin Yoga (75 min)
7:00 PM Dinner & Reflections
8:30 PM Kirtan (Bhakti yoga)
Sunday

MARCH 29
7:30 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Morning Yoga (90m)
10:30 AM Packup
11:00 AM Closing Ceremony (60m)

food as medicine

Good food brings people together. Jamie Lauren is sharing her incredible talent in the kitchen, bringing an explosion of flavor and years of culinary experience to every bite.

Jamie Lauren is a Los Angeles-based private chef, predominantly working for high profile clients and celebrities.

Though she is widely recognized for competing on the fifth season of Top Chef (Team Rainbow/Top Scallop) and the first season of Top Chef All Stars, she spent many more years behind the camera as the show’s Culinary Producer, stocking pantries and literally putting out contestants’ fires. Other producing credits include: Masterchef, Restaurants At The Edge of The World, and Barbecue Showdown.

Now an aspiring Ayurvedic practitioner and student of yoga, Jamie’s focus is feeding bodies healthy nutrients without compromise of flavor. That, and spending as much time with her two rescue dogs as possible.

ACCOMODATIONS

Our lodging in Silver Pines Village is located in the center of Idyllwild, walking distance from many stores, restaurants, and Strawberry Creek. The property boasts individual private cabins and group cabins with shared accommodations.

Idyllwild is very dog friend (in fact the mayor is a dog). Feel free to bring your furry friends.

Whether you are flying solo, partnered or visiting with a few close friends, we can find you the best cabin or shared option.See below for various rooming options.

rooming options

Enjoy your own spacious room with a king bed and private bathroom. Rooms are equipped with kitchen and private deck.
Cost is $2,250 (+$250 if shared). Includes meals, yoga and lodging.
Smaller than a king cabin suite, yet still private and adorable. Cabin contains a queen bed, kitchen and deck.
Cost is $2000 (+$250 if shared). Includes meals, yoga and lodging.
A private room with a king bed and access to a shared bathroom. Cabin also contains kitchen and deck.
Cost is $1500. Includes meals, yoga and lodging.
King bed in a shared cabin. Shared cabin contains 2-3 beds with kitchen and bathroom for guests.
Cost is $1350. Includes meals, yoga and lodging.
Queen bed in a shared cabin. Shared cabin contains 1-2 beds with kitchen and bathroom for guests.
Cost is $1250. Includes meals, yoga and lodging.
Twin bed in a shared cabin. Shared cabin contains 2-3 beds with kitchen and bathroom for guests.
Cost is $1000. Includes meals, yoga and lodging.

Non-refundable deposit of 50% to hold your room. Remaining 50% due March 1st. Venmo, Zelle, Paypal are accepted. See FAQ for cancellation policy.

* Accommodations for shared cabins are thoughtfully arranged. If you’re booking solo and would like a shared room, we will thoughtfully place you with a roommate.

MEET YOUR HOSTS

BETH IMAI

FOUNDER & COHOST
Beth Imai (She/Her) is a Certified Massage Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher based in Los Angeles. She teaches public yoga classes at Modo Yoga LA in Echo Park and owns her own massage therapy practice (Beth Imai Bodywork) in Atwater Village.
In her yoga classes, she challenges students to explore breath and movement in a fun and safe way, with functional anatomy at the core. She aims to empower students to deepen their relationship to body, mind and spirit.
Beth studied Massage Therapy, Myofascial Release and Energy Work at IPSB (Institute of Psycho-Structural Bodywork) in Santa Monica, California. Her education at IPSB not only gifted Beth the technical skill in the art of Massage, but it brought her back home to her body in a profound way that she was eager to share with others.
SARA RUFFIN

FOUNDER & COHOST
Sara Ruffin (She/Her) is a Tantra Hatha teacher in LA. She loves to explore liberation through her teachings, with a focus on embodied movement, meditation, mantra, and celebration of the divine feminine.
Sara teaches and practices Tantra Hatha yoga in the tradition of Krishnamacharya. She first studied Jivamukti yoga before completing various advanced studies (RYT-500) in Tantra Para Yoga. Always a student, she continues education in yoga therapy, yoga nidra, and meditation, with deep reverence for the source of yoga and tradition of the practice.
Sara is a proud wife and mother of two beautiful sons. She also serves on the board of Building Trust Americas, a nonprofit focused on international philanthropic work.

FAQs

BIG YES. We encourage all levels and ages to join us. We welcome participants of all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. We are experienced in guiding individuals of varying experience levels, ensuring that everyone gets what they need.
So many options! Idyllwild, California is in the mountains above Palm Desert.
By car: It is accessible by car via various routes from LA, Orange County, San Diego, and Palm Desert. We encourage you to check the route that is the most comfortable for you.
- Please note that if you are coming from Los Angeles, the 10E via the 243 in Banning, it is a windy road and might not be suitable for those with car sickness.
By plane: If you are flying in, Palm Springs airport is within 45 min of Idyllwild. There are also nearby airports in San Diego, Orange County, Burbank, and Ontario.
All deposits are non-refundable and are used to secure your spot on the trip. The remaining balance will be refunded if we are able to fill your room.
We understand last minute cancellations do happen due to injury or illness. If you have to cancel within 7 days, we will do our best to recover funds from the property but we cannot guarantee any refunds.
We have private and shared options available. See rooming options.
If you book a shared room option, we will pair you with another retreat participant. You can note your shared gender preference upon booking.
If you would like to share accommodations with someone you know, please note the name of the other person upon booking.
Rooms are assigned based on the option you select when booking. There are three private rooming options and three shared rooming options.
If you book a shared room, we will pair you with another retreat participant. If you would like to share with someone you know, please note the name of the other person in contact form.
Yes, Idyllwild is a very dog friendly town (the Mayor is a dog). Friendly dogs are welcome in private cabins with advanced approval.
CANCELLATION BY US
In the unlikely event that WE have to cancel the trip for any reason then we will offer you a full refund.
CANCELLATION BY YOU
Deposits are non-refundable. If you cancel within 7 days, we are not able to guarantee a refund due to the cancellation policy of the property.