Heart-Based Yoga, Nature, Creativity Retreat in Colorado
Express Your Inner Nature
The HeART of Autumn
Sep 30th - Oct 4th, 2026
5 Days / 4 Nights
Fall Into Release and Renewal
We are delighted to announce the next edition of Express Your Inner Nature – The HeART of Autumn – a nature, creativity, and heart-centered yoga retreat in the Colorado Rocky Mountains this October 2026. For five days and four nights we will gather at Freebird Valley Collective, held by five acres of secluded mountain land, the blazing gold of the changing aspen groves and the quiet, unhurried wisdom that only this season carries.
No Creative Experience Necessary. All Levels Are Welcome.
We gather at this retreat to harvest the gifts, lessons and beauty of the year. To feel what is ready to be expressed and what is ready to be released. To sense the elements, the changing season and the wisdom of nature that lives within and around us. To move, sing, create and celebrate all that has grown while making space for what comes next. To free our hearts, trust the rhythm of life’s unfolding and listen deeply to what truly matters. To remember who we truly are and what we came here for.
Embody
NATURE
Listen
HEART
Create
RELEASE
Harvest
WISDOM
What We'll Explore Together
Throughout the retreat, we will explore practices that help us slow down, listen deeply and connect with the wisdom of the heart. Daily yoga (hatha, kundalini, and yin), meditation and pranayama will support us in cultivating presence, balance and inner awareness as we align with the rhythms of the season.
We will gather for morning yoga/pages, afternoon playshops and evening experiences to explore creative expression, reflective writing, embodied movement, vocal opening/song circles, cacao, fire circles and rituals that help us honor what has grown, express what is ready to be released and create space for what is yet to emerge. Throughout our time together, we will deepen our relationship with nature through practices of reciprocity, gratitude and connection to the living world and our inner nature.
A highlight of the retreat will be a half-day hike into the vibrant aspen groves near Kenosha Pass, where we can witness the season’s sacred act of letting go and harvest the quiet wisdom it offers.
What the Season
Already Knows
Going on retreat is an opportunity to step back and temporarily withdraw from our daily routines, commitments and obligations. As autumn invites the natural world to slow down and turn inward, we invite you to do the same by observing silent mornings and a digital detox. This retreat is an opportunity to reflect on the lessons, growth and gifts of the past season while reconnecting with the nature within and around you before reentering daily life with renewed clarity, perspective and inspiration. When we recognize that we are nature and that the sacred elements live within us, it becomes instinctive to treat ourselves, the Earth and all around us as sacred.
Presence
SILENCE
Reciprocity
OFFERING
Rest
RENEWAL
Ritual
REVERENCE
The Alchemy of Autumn
Freebird Valley Collective
Nestled in a quiet mountain valley surrounded by the beauty of the Colorado Rockies, Freebird Valley Collective is a beautiful retreat house set among the changing Aspen trees. Located 20 minutes from Kenosha Pass in Fairplay Colorado the property features expansive views of the Mosquito range. Surrounded by five acres the land has been embedded with 44 crystals with the intention is to hold safe space for surrender, reconnection, healing and growth. The house features mountain views, a large deck, outdoor fire pit and dedicated yoga space designed for you to slow down, listen deeply, and align with the rhythms of the natural world.
Choose Your Nest
EARLY BIRD PRICING UNTIL JULY 30TH - SAVE $222 to $555
Happy Camper
Camping (Bring Your Own Tent)
EARLY BIRD $222 OFF
$1444
$1222
Per Person Total
Bring your own tent
and camp in the Aspens
Trundle Bundle
Twin Trundle Bed
EARLY BIRD $333 OFF
$1777
$1444
Per Person Total
Trundle bed with
shared bathroom
The Bunkhouse
Twin Bunk Bed
EARLY BIRD $333 OFF
$1888
$1555
Per Person Total
Dorm bed with
shared bathroom
The Roost
Shared Loft with Full Beds
EARLY BIRD $444 OFF
$2222
$1888
Per Person Total
Double room with
shared bathroom
Peaceful Private
Private Room with Queen Bed
EARLY BIRD $555 OFF
$2999 / $4222
$2444 / $3666
Single / Double Total
Private room with
shared bathroom
Solo Sanctuary
Private Room with Queen Bed
EARLY BIRD $555 OFF
$2999 / $4222
$2444 / $3666
Single / Double Total
Private room with
shared bathroom
Questions About The Retreat?
Food Philosophy
Food is an integral part of the retreat experience and we take great care to ensure the food we serve aligns with the values we will be embodying throughout the retreat. Our food philosophy is influenced by permaculture, regenerative agriculture and the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, a sister science of Yoga. We will be sourcing food from our regenerative farming network, highlighting a nourishing autumn harvest of local ingredients and warming seasonal recipes. We will be observing a primarily vegetarian diet with an optional meat offering at one dinner for those who are interested. Mindful eating and presence are vital aspects of connecting with the food, the farmers and the land from which it was cultivated. We will be practicing silence during breakfast as a way to nourish our bodies, cultivate gratitude and honor the gifts provided by Mother Earth.
Intentional
MEALS
Local
INGREDIENTS
Regenerative
SOURCES
Seasonal
RECIPES
What's Included
Included
- Daily Yoga / Meditation Classes
- Workshops / Activities
- 4 Nights Accommodation
- Meals - (Day 1 - Dinner Only, Day 5 - Breakfast Only)
- 1 Hour Post Retreat Integration Call
- Special Retreat Pricing for Private Sessions with Lauryn
Not Included
- Airfare to Colorado
- Transportation To and From
We will also help coordinate rideshares between participants with a carpool request/offer list.
Testimonials
Sample Retreat Schedule
*Schedule subject to change and weather conditions. All times are approximate.
ARRIVAL - DAY 1
- 2 PM - Arrival
- 3 - 4 PM - Retreat Introduction
- 4 – 5:30 PM – Afternoon Yoga/Movement/Meditation
- 6 – 7 PM – Dinner
- 7 – 9 PM – Opening Ceremony
DAY 2
- 7 AM – Rise and Shine!
- 7:30 – 9:30 AM – Morning Yoga/Movement/Meditation
- 9:30 – 10:30 AM – Silent Breakfast
- 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM – Morning Pages & Tea Ritual
- 1 – 2 PM – Lunch
- 4 – 5:30 PM – Afternoon Playshop
- 6 – 7 PM – Dinner
- 7 – 9 PM – Evening Experience
DAY 3
- 7 AM – Rise and Shine!
- 7:30 - 8 AM – Silent Breakfast
- 8 - 8:30 AM – Drive to Hike
- 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM – Nature Immersion + Morning Pages + Yoga + Hike
- 12:30 PM – 1 PM – Drive Back
- 1 – 2 PM – Lunch
- 4 – 5:30 PM – Afternoon Playshop
- 6 – 7 PM – Dinner
- 7 – 9 PM – Evening Experience
DAY 4
- 7 AM – Rise and Shine!
- 7:30 – 9:30 AM – Morning Yoga/Movement/Meditation
- 9:30 – 10:30 AM – Silent Breakfast
- 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM – Morning Pages & Tea Ritual
- 1 – 2 PM – Lunch
- 4 – 5:30 PM – Afternoon Playshop
- 6 – 7 PM – Dinner
- 7 – 9 PM – Evening Experience
DEPARTURE - DAY 5
- 7 AM – Rise and Shine!
- 7:30 – 9 AM – Morning Yoga/Movement/Meditation
- 9 – 10:30 AM – Breakfast & Pack Up
- 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Closing Circle
- 1 - 2 PM – Departure
Retreat Facilitators
Matt Lawley
LEAD FACILITATOR
Yoga, Meditation, Music
Matt Lawley is a yoga teacher, musician and permaculturist who believes there is an inseparable connection between healing ourselves and our ability to care for and steward the Earth. He began practicing yoga eleven years ago while healing from a life-changing car accident. Yoga helped him rehab much faster than expected and soon he was feeling better than ever before. Since then yoga, meditation and breathwork have been a driving factor in his life and led him to permaculture and regenerative work. Matt’s classes focus on alignment and release in order to activate energy centers, release stuck emotions and bring awareness back to our hearts. He incorporates guitar, singing bowls and mantras into his classes as well as themes around connection to the Earth, ecosystems, elements and the nature within us. Matt is trained in Alignment-Based Hatha (500 hours), Kundalini (200 hours) and Yin Yoga (100 hours). He has also worked at a top rated yoga retreat center in Thailand, a meditation retreat center in Mexico and a non-profit yoga festival. Yoga and meditation brought him to the path of permaculture and regenerative work. His goal is to offer these practices and tools as a way to bring more people into alignment with themselves and Mother Earth.
Lauryn Lavandula
LEAD FACILITATOR
Movement, Yoga, Embodied Art
Lauryn is a spiritual coach and somatic guide who blends practices and teachings focused on somatic embodiment and energetic alignment. She founded Arise Alchemy in 2014 and infuses deep spiritual wisdom with her background in the healing arts, somatics, psychology, Yoga and energetics into her work. She guides individuals deeply through their transformation, while creating a safe space of possibility, expansion, and inspiration!
Lauryn believes we are all inherently creative beings, and that aligning with flow, synchronicity and healing, involves engaging with the frequency of creation. She brings a sense of play into everything she does and enjoys gathering people to cultivate deep, meaningful connection. She is an herbalist, sound alchemist, song carrier, musical being, writer, dancer, and intuitive, with a deep love for nature and a strong connection to the elemental realm. In her everyday life, she embraces simplicity and can often be found enjoying life as a mama.
Jenna Moffett
CHEF
FAQs
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
- 100% Deposit Refund – 60+ days before retreat start date
- 50% Deposit Refund – 30-59 days before retreat start date
- 0% Deposit Refund – 0-29 – days before retreat start date
Remaining balance is due 30 days before the retreat start date.
- 100% Remaining Balance Refund – If paid at the time of booking, a full refund of the remaining balance is available up to 30 days before your retreat start date
- 0% Remaining Balance Refund – If you cancel 0-29 days before your retreat start date remaining balance is not refundable
What if I don't consider myself creative or artistic?
This retreat is not about creating beautiful art (though you may surprise yourself), it’s about working with creativity as a tool for reflection, expression, and connection. Practices such journaling, drawing, painting, dance and song are designed for everyone, regardless of artistic or creative experience. There is no right or wrong way to participate, and the focus is always on the process rather than the final product.
How do you get to Fairplay, Colorado?
Flying: The closest major airport is Denver International Airport (DEN). From the airport, the drive to Freebird Valley is approximately 2–2.5 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions. Most guests choose to rent a car, though we will also help coordinate rideshares between participants with a carpool request/offer list.
Driving: From Denver, take Highway 285 southwest through the foothills and over scenic Kenosha Pass before descending into South Park Valley. Freebird Valley is located near Fairplay and Alma, offering a peaceful mountain setting while remaining easily accessible from the Front Range. During autumn, this route is one of Colorado’s most beautiful drives, with golden aspen groves lining the mountainsides.
What type of movement and yoga will you be offering?
We will be offering a variety of movement including yoga, guided movement journeys & dynamic meditation. We will have yoga classes in the styles of alignment-based hatha, kundalini, vinyasa/flow and yin.
What level of yoga practice should I have?
Yoga classes will be beginner/intermediate level and may be challenging at times but accessible for all levels. Some experience with yoga is recommended.
What if I have other dietary preferences, food allergies and/or sensitivities?
Please include any other dietary preferences, food allergies and/or sensitivities in the notes section of the booking form. We will communicate these with our chef and make sure your needs are accommodated.