Not only do women learn differently from men, they see the best results in a learning environment in which they feel comfortable, supported and free from judgement, which seems to work best with all-women groups. Plus, we spend a lot of time together, and part of what helps bring everyone together is sharing their stories, triumphs and struggles in their everyday lives. And when learning new things and traveling in new places, women have to overcome certain fears and self-perceptions that men generally do not.

Since our priority is wellness over fitness, each retreat includes elements designed to infuse mindfulness throughout the retreat experience. This includes running clinics, wellness workshops and a style of leading our group runs that reinforces such mindfulness principles as: 

• Self compassion: becoming aware of and changing negative self-talk
• Find more physical relaxation and flow in the running gait
• Breathing mindfully to deactivate the stress response
• Improve running efficiency as the foundation for building strength and speed
• Cultivating self-awareness of one’s stress levels and using mindful running to mitigate its effects on the body and mind

By having an opportunity to get a “taste” of the mindful running experience at the retreat, participants can take home with them the tools they learned and continue practicing them to improve their stress management and run in a way that is sustainable over the long-term. 

Most of our retreat participants are women from the U.S. and Canada between the ages of 30 and 65. They love to run as part of their healthy, active lifestyle. Many of them participate in running races, though for most, running is a recreational and/or social activity and competition is not their primary motivator. Many come to a retreat seeking more than an active vacation, rather, they see it as an investment in themselves and their wellbeing. They are driven, hard working and very giving. A retreat is their opportunity to replenish their energy and vitality. 

The retreat leader plays a vital role throughout the retreat that is very distinct from that of the running guide. Nor is she a running coach.
While our locally based running guides are primarily responsible for clients’ safety on the trail, the retreat leader facilitates the entirety of the retreat experience. 
It’s vital that our retreat participants feel included and supported, so the retreat leader provides specific mindful running techniques and tools to help the runners feel comfortable on the trails, which for many, is a new experience. 
The retreat leader also leads a series of workshops through the retreat that suppor the runners’ transformational journey. 
The adventure of traveling in a foreign place, running in a new environment and being with strangers offers retreat participants a unique opportunity to embark on an inner exploration as well as an external one. 
For some, that may include facing certain challenges and working through them with the support of their fellow retreat participants and the retreat leader. 
lastly, the retreat leader manages all of the retreat logistics so that the runner runners can relax and fully immerse themselves in the retreat experience.