Midsummer’s Evening Retreat Recap
Midsummer magic was in the air at North Ridge Farm on July 26!
We couldn’t have asked for more perfect summer weather for our Midsummer Evening Retreat: bright blue skies, warm summer temperatures, and a lovely breeze.
The Farm
North Ridge Farm in Vermilion is a hidden gem that boasts beautiful, lush grounds and a garden bursting with fresh organic vegetables, edible flowers, and plants. The beautiful Big Red Barn, stunning farmhouse, a pool to take a dip, and the chicken coop offer amazing amenities that feel like both a sacred space and home at the same time.
We are so grateful to Dena and Cory Fisher who have opened their home and property to us to hold retreats since the fall of 2022. The moment I met Dena many, many years ago, I felt the magnetic pull to her clear, vibrant energy and her commitment to sharing her gifts with the world. She and Cory are humans that you just want to be around and hang out with. They bring the best out of everyone that they come in contact with.
The Dream Team
I’ll never forget the moment that Dena shared the picture of the Red Barn right after they moved in and her dream of holding gatherings there for people to connect and share experiences together. I reached out to her to see if we could plan a field trip out to her property to “bliss storm” and create an offering where people could come and laugh, share a farm-to-table meal, immerse in the practices of yoga, and soak in the magic of standing on the grounds of North Ridge Farm.
From that moment, these retreats were born. Planning and creating with Dena and Cory has been such a gift to us at Inner Bliss, and we are eternally grateful to them for their generosity and kindness! When you are around dreamers and doers like them, you can’t help but lean into your dreams and be inspired, too!
So much love goes into bringing these to life, with the intention of offering soul-warming, heart-opening experiences that we can all share together. And that is exactly what we felt on July 26! We chose this date because it was a few days shy of the midpoint or cross-quarter day for the summer season, the moment in time between the summer solstice and the fall equinox. Each of the Inner Bliss and North Ridge Farm retreats has been held at an equally meaningful point in the year. Based on the seasons, we can honor nature, the earth, and each other.
Our Special Mini-Retreat Experience
~ The Midsummer retreat began with an interactive garden experience with Dena and Cory. They opened their garden that they have cared for and grown into an abundant source of nourishment for us to explore and experience. We picked and trimmed vegetables that Dena used in all of the dishes for our dinner.
~ We moved and breathed together in their giant backyard through an All Levels Vinyasa yoga practice with our feet on the ground and our hearts to the sky.
~We gathered together a the big long table under the trees in the garden for a farm-to-table family-style dinner in the garden.,
~ As the sun started to set, we all gathered in the Big Red Barn, where Anna guided us through the most amazing yoga nidra practice, which left us feeling both lit up like the stars and full of ease.
~ The entire evening was a chance for us to come together and share a meal prepared with love, to immerse ourselves in yoga practices shared from the heart, to be in relationship with nature, to try new things, to have fun, and to meet new friends.