Wonder in the Woods

May 15-17, 2026

Idyllwild, California

Intention

Established in 2017, the Wonder in the Woods retreat is a seasonal women’s therapeutic retreat held every spring and fall in the mountains of Idyllwild, California. The intention of this retreat is to provide a safe place for women to heal, unwind from daily life, and experience deep connection to mother nature.

During our weekend together, we will explore Somatic Experiencing, yoga, meditation, and eco-psychology to deepen our connection to self and find beauty in the world around us.

Schedule

  • Friday

    3:00 PM Arrivals & Check-in at Silver Pines

    5:00 PM Opening Circle

    6:30 PM Welcome Dinner

    8:00 PM Candlelit Yoga Nidra

  • Saturday

    8:00 AM Breakfast

    8:30 AM Vinyasa yoga (75 min)

    10:00 AM Guided Nature Walk

    12:00 PM Lunch and Reflections

    1:00 PM Creative Expression (2 hours)

    - Free time to explore Idyllwild -

    5:30 PM Gentle Sunset Yoga

    6:30 PM Dinner and Reflections

  • Sunday

    8:00 AM Breakfast

    8:30 AM Yoga & Meditation on Strawberry Creek (75 min)

    10:00 AM Checkout

    10:30 AM Closing Ceremony (90 min)

Accommodations

Our lodging in Silver Pines Lodge 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.

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

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

  • Enjoy your own spacious room with a king bed and private bathroom. Rooms are equipped with kitchen and private deck.

    Cost is $1,750 (+$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 $1,500 (+$250 if shared). Includes meals, yoga and lodging.

  • A private room with a king bed and a shared bathroom. Room has direct access to deck.

    Cost is $1250. Includes meals, yoga and lodging.

  • Twin bed in the main shared cabin. Shared cabin contains loft with 2 twin beds and a downstairs area with one twin. Both have a shared bathroom.

    Cost is $850. Includes meals, yoga and lodging.

Rooming Options

Non-refundable deposit of 50% to hold your room. Remaining 50% due May 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.

FAQ

  • 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 two private rooming options and two 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.

  • 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.

  • Yes, Idyllwild is a very dog friendly town (the Mayor is a dog). Friendly dogs are welcome in private cabins with advanced approval.

Food as Medicine.

We are so thrilled to have Katya Zahara joining us again for the fifth year to nourish our bodies with healthy, seasonal food, sourced locally and thoughtfully curated.

Food will aid in our healing, and we can accomodate any unique allergies and dietary restrictions (survey will be sent prior to retreat).

Meet Your Hosts

Cindy Brooks (LMFT, SEP, CATC, IV)

Cindy Brooks (She/Her) is the Creator and Founder of the Wonder in the Woods Retreat. She currently resides in Idyllwild, and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Somatic Experience Practitioner. Cindy aims to help each individual find the beauty and grace in life. Her hope is to help you find your true self through a variety of therapeutic techniques.

To heal the wounds of trauma, Cindy is trained in Somatic Experiencing and utilizes this approach to channel one's innate system for growth and change. Cindy also specializes in working with clients suffering from the disease of addiction and its many forms, including the family systems affected. With compassion and understanding she loves to help her her clients develop the necessary tools to grow in life.

Lastly, as a trained facilitator of Expressive Arts, Equine Assisted Therapy and a Certified Eco-Therapist, she will weave these various forms of healing into our time together. Cindy is excited to explore your needs and help you achieve a blessed life. Read more on her website.

Sara Ruffin (RYT-500)

Sara Ruffin (She/Her) is the co-founder of the Wonder in the Woods Retreat and currently teaches Tantra Hatha yoga in Los Angeles. With more than a decade of teaching experience and a lifetime of yoga practice, Sara loves to explore liberation through her teachings, with a focus on embodied movement, meditation, mantra, and celebration of the divine feminine. She believes that yoga is for every race, gender, body, and age.

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.

Beth Imai (RYT-500)

Beth Imai (She/Her) is a Certified Massage Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher, currently practicing both modalities in Los Angeles, California. She also co-facilitates various retreats and specialty classes several times a year.

In her yoga classes, Beth 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. Read more on her website.

Come as you are

This is a space where you can arrive exactly as you are, and know that you belong. Every age, every body, every story. We welcome them all. There are no prerequisites and no experience needed to join this therapeutic retreat, only an open heart.

Learn more.

If you want to book a room or learn more about our retreats, fill out the form and we will get back to you within a day or two.

Rooms are booked based on first come first serve basis. Zelle, Venmo and PayPal are accepted. We will provide payment options to you directly upon contact.

If this is in regards to shared accomodations, please indicate your roommate preference, if any.