Spirit of the Forest
October 24-26, 2025
Idyllwild, California
Intention
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.
Schedule
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Friday
3:00 PM Arrivals
4:00 PM Intro & Intentions
6:30 PM Welcome Dinner
8:30 PM Candlelit Yoga Nidra
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Saturday
6:30 AM Guided nature walk
8:30 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Yoga (90 min)
12:30 PM Lunch & Reflections
(2-5 pm - free time)
5:00 PM Sunset Yoga (75 min)
7:30 PM Dinner & Reflections
8:45 PM Kirtan (Music)
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Sunday
7:30 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Yoga (90m)
11 AM Checkout of rooms
11:30 AM Closing Ceremony (90m)
Accommodations
Our lodging in the Silver Pines Village boasts individual private cabins and a main lodge with shared accommodations. Whether you are flying solo, partnered or visiting with a few close friends, we can find you the best cabin or shared option.
King Cabin Suite $1500 (1/4 avail) - *Can be shared by 2 guests $750 pp
Cozy Cabin Suite $1300 1-2 guests (3/3 avail) *Can be shared by 2 guests $600 pp
King Private Room $1000 1-2 guests (1/1 avail)
Queen Shared Room $850 1 guests (0/2 avail) - SOLD OUT
Twin Shared Room $750 1 guest (0/4 avail) - SOLD OUT
Deposit: $250 to hold your room (Venmo: @SaraRuffin)
Final balance: due by October 1st
Meet The Team
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Sara Ruffin
FOUNDER, CO-HOST
Sara Ruffin (RYT-500) is a Tantra Hatha teacher with over ten years of teaching experience. She loves to explore liberation through her teachings, with a focus on somatic movement, meditation, mantra, and 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.
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Beth Imai
FOUNDER, CO-HOST
Beth Imai 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.
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Jamie Lauren
CHEF
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, to name a few.
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.
