Retreat Description

Join Me for a Weekend of Wellness & Empowerment in the Blue Ridge Mountains

This retreat is held in beautiful Valle Crucis, NC. Join Dr. Ginger Garner for a transformative women's wellness retreat rooted in compassion, empowerment, and science-based healing. 

This immersive experience integrates trauma-informed care with Medical Therapeutic Yoga, Pilates, Mindfulness, and Meditation to nurture body,  mind, and spirit. 

With a special emphasis on self-compassion and reclaiming your time and energy, Dr. Ginger will use her expertise in pelvic health and orthopedics, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. Her holistic approach will leave you feeling rejuvenated, informed, and equipped to thrive in every aspect of your life.

Retreat includes lodging, all meals, use of the conference center facilities, and all workshop time with Ginger. 

During this retreat we are going to: 

  • Celebrate imperfection, reject productivity as a measure of our worth, and get off the “self-care” bandwagon to embrace the beauty of living in our own skin, building strength & flexibility both mentally and physically on our own terms, and adopt practices that increase longevity. Our goal?  To be strong, not skinny.
  • Focus on Healing the Healers and Caregivers who do so much for others. 
  • Practice Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine for Women, whether you are navigating Postpartum or Postmenopause.
  • Find Community in Women Supporting Women.
  • Focus on a transformative women's wellness experience rooted in self-compassion, empowerment, and science-based healing. You can be in any age and stage of your journey. Dr. G’s practices are designed to meet you where you are. They are trauma-informed, somatically safe, and nurture body, mind, and spirit. 

All women are welcome, especially if you have experienced medical gaslighting or felt dismissed trying to seek care for women’s health conditions (pelvic pain, painful periods, perimenopause, menopause, pregnancy, postpartum, endometriosis, etc). You have a safe space here. 

No yoga experience is necessary.

Retreat Schedule

  • Friday - Check in 4 pm; 6:30 Dinner and 8-9 PM Evening Restorative Practice for Sleep Session 
  • Saturday - Breakfast 8 am; 9-11:30 AM Session; 12 lunch; 2-5 PM Session; 6 PM Dinner; 8 PM Optional Drum Circle and Bonfire 
  • Sunday - Breakfast 8 am; Please check out prior to coming to class (check out is at 10 am); 9-11:30 AM Session; 12 lunch and end of retreat

2025 Women's Wellness Retreat

Retreat Details

  • Your Retreat will begin with an evening class after dinner, and a welcome from Dr. Ginger. This Women's Wellness Retreat will be designed based on YOUR needs, so get ready for a unique experience. 

  • Friday - The first evening, Dr. Ginger will take you through a practice designed to identify and begin to address those needs. 

  • Saturday will start with a morning meditation session, followed by breakfast, the AM Medical Therapeutic Yoga (MTY) Session, and an afternoon of wellness practices designed to help you transition into autumn with the best fit practices on Lifestyle Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Ayurvedic Medicine. 

  • Saturday evening, weather pending, there will be an optional drum circle and bonfire. Bring your drums if you have one, but one is not needed to participate.

  • Sunday the retreat continues with morning meditation followed by breakfast and an AM MTY session.

  • The Retreat closes Sunday after lunch.

FAQ

  • How many women will be there?

    This retreat is designed to be small and personal, and is limited to 14 women. Spaces are expected to fill quickly so please sign up early.

  • What is included in the retreat?

    Two nights lodging with meals included. Meals begin with dinner on Friday and end with lunch on Sunday. Please use the form in the next section to let us know about any food allergies or sensitivities.

  • What is lodging like?

    The lodging is spread across two homes that are on the National Historic Register. Each home has a lovely front porch that looks over the "Valley of the Heart" (Valle Crucis) and is within walking distances of the retreat center, amenities, and hiking trails. (Waterfall included!). NC has thousands of waterfalls throughout the mountains and I have yet to see even a fraction of them!  All rooms are arranged as private bedrooms. Bathrooms are shared.

  • Tell me about Valle Crucis Conference Center!

    The Valle Crucis Conference Center is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, part of the Episcopal Church. Located on over 450 acres of mountain woodland and verdant farming valley, the Valle Crucis Conference Center is truly one of the more beautiful places on Earth. With its beauty comes a sense of timeless spiritual grace that transcends denomination or faith tradition. The Valle Crucis Conference Center is located in the historic Mission School, featuring buildings dating from the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, nearly all of which are on the National Historic Register. The Conference Center is open year-round to accommodate groups of 5 to 150. Rates include three hearty, nutritious meals a day and arguably the best towels in Western North Carolina lodgings. Most recently - with its rich history of service, including serving as a school and disaster resource center during the recent devastating Hurricane Helene, we are grateful the Center and all its historic 19th century era homes not only survived but were able to serve others. 

  • How do I get to the Center?

    If you are flying, the closest hub airport is Charlotte, NC (CLT). There are also connector airports in Greensboro (GSO) and Asheville (AVL). All three are about 2.25 hours drive to Valle Crucis. If you are driving, there is plenty of parking at the center, all free

  • What is the cancellation policy?

    Cancellations received before July 15, 2025 will receive a full refund. Because we need time to fill your space, there will be no refunds for cancellations after July 15. If you have to cancel and you have a friend or colleague who can take your space, we can transfer your registration, but you will have to work out the financials with your friend/colleague.

Meet Your Instructor

Founder-Living Well Education Dr. Ginger Garner

Dr. Ginger Garner is an internationally recognized expert and sought after speaker on Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine in physical therapy practice. She has reached people across 6 continents with her teaching, books, podcast, and highly regarded continuing education. She is the author of Medical Therapeutic Yoga, Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy, and numerous book chapters and articles. She owns and practices at Garner Pelvic Health in Greensboro where she specializes in rehab ultrasound imaging and treatment for pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic and hip pain, endometriosis, prenatal/pospartum care, and menopause.

What People Are Saying

Grounded, hopeful, pain free, rested, & resilient after Dr. Garner's classes

Dr. Dina Macs, PT, DPT

You are a trusted gem in a sea of on-line unknowns, Dr. Garner, and a gift to us all. Thank you for keeping us safe, evidence-grounded, & soulfully uplifted. I have not personally experienced a more nimble biopsychosocial rehabilitation guide.

A sustainable model for healthcare delivery

Kanchan Thakar, PT

Honestly speaking, words cannot do justice to the experience of learning from Ginger. My hope is that all DPT students will avail of her teachings sooner than later and begin to practice PT with enthusiasm and compassion. Thanks to Ginger for creating a sustainable model of healthcare delivery.

Feel better than I've felt in years, AND that's during the pandemic!

Dr. Michelle Walendowski PT, DPT

I’ve been practicing everything from your weekend Level I Certification on a (mostly) daily basis, and I have to say I feel healthier and just generally better than I have in years. And that’s during a worldwide pandemic!

I'm a better therapist AND mom thanks to Ginger.

Dr. Becca Ellis PT, DPT

Ginger's knowledge and experience have completely shaped my professional career, and her guidance has truly helped me be a better mom to my sweet boys.

Life changing course

Dr. Kassandra Schuhmann, PT, DPT

The impact Ginger's program has made on my life is staggering. It has changed my perspective as a clinician completely and has allowed me to look forward to treating even the most complex patients.

Empowering for me and my patients

Dr. Sarah Talley, PT, DPT, WCS

Medical Therapeutic Yoga (MTY) has transformed my clinical practice and my own self care. MTY provides a framework for treating patients holistically while empowering them to care for themselves.

Everyone should work with Ginger as a professional and as a patient

Katie Estridge, PT, MPT

I would recommend that everyone work with Ginger Garner. She is without a doubt the best physical therapist I have ever worked with. She understands the human body like no one I have ever met.

Ginger's program has restored my love of being a PT

Dr. Katie Goroncy, PT, DPT

Ginger's program has restored my love and perspective that physical therapy is a healing ART. I had been feeling uninspired, deflated by the obstacles in the healthcare/insurance system, and was losing sight of what drew me to the healthcare field in the first place. Her program gave me a solid evidence based framework from which to integrate "whole person", yogic, lifestyle medicine into my physical therapy foundation. It has since sparked joy, creativity, and a broader perspective into my clinical practice.

I highly recommend Ginger

Dr. Maureen Mason-Cover, PT, DPT

Ginger is a wise and compassionate health care provider who blends medical yoga with rehabilitation programming, and she has an extensive background of patient care service. Her style is forward thinking towards patient education, empowerment, and optimization of function, and she works with other health care team members to provide a healing community of care. I highly recommend her.

Patients who struggle with finding relief from traditional PT will find a solution in Ginger's method

Dr. Sylvie Le, PT, DPT

The benefits of Medical Therapeutic Yoga have stretched beyond both the clinical setting and mat for my patients. Patients who may have struggled finding relief with traditional PT, battle the psychological and emotional stress of anxiety, depression, and impatience in dealing with injury and functional limitations, or find it challenging to remain motivated to move and take care of their bodies, have found a safe and healthy avenue through Ginger's method.