Mind & Body
We set aside three time slots a year (one each in the spring, summer, and fall) for small and large groups of like-minded indiduals to come to Cedarmere to enjoy a getaway while learning ways to live mindfully. We work with you to personalize your schedule. A typical two-day schedule would include a wine-tasting trip to a local vineyard, a dinner in downtown Charlottesville, a sensory nature walk in Cedarmere’s 50+ acres of wooded trails, and workshops where you will learn the art of mindful living. Retreat guests have several lodging options, including staying in the farmhouse B&B and camping in the turn-of-the century horse barn and on Cedarmere grounds. Please contact Christa for more information.
A life in equilibrium
At Cedarmere, you will be surrounded by breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the gentle rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont, and a big beautiful sky free of light pollution. You will be greeted with a colorful sunrise in the morning and graced with a spectacular display of stars at night. Simply relax in an Adirondack chair or join the workshops designed to rejuvenate your mind and body. It's your time to rest; do as much or as little as you want. Let your mind and body work together to help guide your journey while you are with us at Cedarmere.
Be mindful
Through our workshops, you will learn several different gentle mind-body movement practices, each of which will help you explore different ways to experience mindfulness through movement.
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present. It’s a mental state, achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment. As a comparison to strength training, which tones and strengthens our body, mindfulness practice promotes inner peace and improves focus, alertness, and productivity. This is important at all ages and, as with strength training, it’s never too late to begin.
Below are some workshops that you can choose to incorporate into your schedule.
Taiji Quan
Taiji Quan (also known as T’ai Chi Ch’uan or Tai Chi) is an ancient martial art characterized by soft, slow flowing movements of the torso and arms, coordinated with weight shifts and steps. This form of mindfulness meditation in motion is a gentle yet powerful way to relax.
The benefits of T’ai Chi Ch’uan include improved balance, muscle tone, stress reduction, and prevention and rehabilitation of many health conditions associated with aging. We are honored to be able to work with the Charlottesville T’ai Chi Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching and promoting health benefits and the art of T’ai Chi Ch’uan in the Charlottesville community.
Indian Club Swinging
Developed in India thousands of years ago by soldiers to improve strength, agility, and balance, this practice was first brought to Europe, and then to the US in the mid-1880s. Thanks to Dr. Ed Thomas, a renowned expert, there is a resurgence of interest amongst physical therapists, functional movement specialists, and martial artists.
The greatest benefit of this practice is improved shoulder function by strengthening muscles and ligaments, maintaining joint flexibility, and facilitating range of motion. It also strengthens your core and back and improves grace, rhythm, and hand-eye coordination.
Yoga & Pranayama
Restorative Yoga: a practice of stillness. Your body rests in postures that encourage muscles to let go and relax, allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to kick in and slow down the breath and heart rate, release tension, and relax the mind and body. Regular practice of restorative yoga can lead to better sleep and less tension.
Pranayama: Prana means "life force or breath sustaining the body”; Ayama means "to extend or draw out." Together they mean “control of life force, or breath extension or control.” Every cell in our body needs oxygen; regular practice of controlled breathing can decrease the effects of stress on the body and improve overall physical and mental health.
Meditative Photography
Our minds are capable of worrying and ruminating, but they also have the power to calm and heal. Mindfulness meditation is the practice of self-care focused on promoting tranquility, clarity, and appreciation of the moment. Photography and mindfulness meditation share a common discipline: complete focus on the present moment. Past emotions and future concerns give way to being fully in the moment, which in turn promotes tranquility and clarity.
In this workshop. you will learn to use your phone’s camera as a vehicle to practice meditation while composing and capturing your observations of the natural beauty that surrounds Cedarmere Farm.
Shinrin-yoku
If you have been among trees, intentionally listening to the sounds of rustling leaves, caressing the soft moss, and breathing in crisp clean air, you have already participated in one of the best practices for your physical and mental well-being. This form of eco-therapy, “shinrin-yoku” (“forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere”), has been widely practiced in Japan since the 1980s, It’s not exercise, hiking, or jogging; it’s a fitness-mindfulness practice of simply being in nature and connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Being at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and having access to 50+ acres of wooded trails, Cedarmere provides the ideal environment to practice shinrin-yoku.
What guests are saying
“Thank you so much for a great day. Still talking to my husband about the Indian Clubs; I think they are great! Enjoyed your teaching and being with you. The cooking lesson was fun and informative. The photography time was very special.”
Diane H. (Arlington, VA)
“The farm was absolutely stunning and the perfect setting for yoga and photography—really just about anything!”
Alison W. (Oakton, VA)
"The day was so fun, the site is breathtaking, and Christa so welcoming. Cooking lesson was excellent—just loved it. Yoga was great—I felt the level worked for everyone. We had a wonderful time start to finish!”
Sarah W. (Vienna, VA)
Schedule a quiet and restorative getaway with family and friends and experience a simple way of being.
