Flourishing as We Age: A Writing Retreat for Women

Cultivating Resilience, Navigating Change, and Embracing Life

Monday, May 5 - Saturday, May 10, 2025
Santa Cruz, California

If you’d like to strengthen your resilience as you navigate the uncertainties of age, this six-day writing workshop, at a beautiful retreat center on the beach in Santa Cruz, will provide the opportunity to reconcile with your past, embrace the woman you are becoming, and meet the future with flexibility, wisdom, and joy.

Is This Retreat for Me?

As we age, we are given the profound opportunity to reshape our lives—embracing new roles, possibilities, and ways of being in the world. Aging is not just about getting older—it’s about evolving, adapting, and stepping into our power in new ways. In a world full of uncertainty, the ability to stay grounded, resilient, and resourceful is essential.

Flourishing as We Age is a transformative six-day retreat designed to help you navigate this stage of life with clarity, courage, and connection.

This life-changing retreat is appropriate to writers at all levels. You do not need to consider yourself a writer to attend. If you are willing to use words as a tool for healing, connecting and community building, you are welcome to join us.

Women Playing in Surf
Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CA
Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CA

Held at a peaceful oceanfront retreat center in Santa Cruz, California, this intimate gathering will bring together a community of juicy, wise women who are learning to cultivate resilience, embrace change, and find joy in our evolving lives.

During six powerful, intimate days together, we will use writing and sacred ritual to explore:

  • How to live a deeper, more authentic life as we age
  • How to find joy and purpose when our primary roles have changed
  • How to cultivate greater resilience navigating life’s challenges
  • How to embrace both grief and gratitude

And we will delve into these questions:

  • What is it like to live in my body now?
  • What do I need to make peace with?
  • What’s my growing edge?
  • What do I want my legacy to be?
  • What matters now?

Guided by master teachers Laura DavisEvelyn Hall, Gail Warner, and Karyn Bristol, this retreat invites you to access your inner wisdom through writing, ritual, and shared community. You’ll be supported to reflect on your life’s journey, explore what’s next, and learn strategies to successfully navigate the inevitable changes and challenges that accompany getting older.

Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CA
Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CA

“Aging is not a time to retreat but a time to step boldly
into the unknown.”
–Mary Pipher, Women Rowing North

Daily Rhythm

Our retreat will include ample time for creativity, connection, solitude, rest, and rejuvenation.

Each day, there will early morning yoga, two writing sessions with the whole community, time to write in small groups, and if you so desire, on your own.

There will also be time to simply relax. You can nap, wander down to the garden to be mesmerized by endless waves, walk the beach, or share your writing with a new friend.

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Our six days together in Santa Cruz will provide a sacred, creative sanctuary. You will leave with a renewed sense of possibility, a richer understanding of your life’s path now, and the tools to navigate what comes next with grace, humor and strength.

This extraordinary, life-changing retreat will last for six days and five nights.

Ocean View from Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CA
Ocean View from Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CA

Flourishing as We Age:
A Writing Retreat for Women
Cultivating Resilience, Navigating Change,
and Embracing Life

Monday, May 5 - Saturday, May 10, 2025
Santa Cruz, California

Location

Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CA

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Nature is a powerful teacher and a calming presence. Set against the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz, California coastline, Villa Maria del Mar provides offers a restful sanctuary.

Perched directly on the Pacific, Villa Maria Del Mar retreat center is owned and operated by the Sisters of the Holy Names. A place of serenity and renewal, the center was designed to foster introspection. Spacious grounds, comfortable accommodations, and quiet nooks offer the opportunity to unplug, recharge, and realign with what matters.

Housing: One of the reasons we chose Villa Maria Del Mar is the abundance of single rooms, most with private bathrooms—we’ve found at our retreats that as women get older, they really like their own space! If you prefer shared accommodations or would like to bring a family member or a friend, there are also doubles available.

And if you’d like to stay in a double, but don’t have a roommate in mind, we’ll do our best to pair you with a compatible roommate.

Arrival and Departure: We will convene at 5:00 P.M. on Monday May 5th for dinner. You can arrive to register as early as 3:00 PM. We will end after lunch on Saturday, May 10th.

You will need to arrange your travel so you can be at the retreat for the entire time. (If you are flying into San Jose airport, that means your plane should arrive no later than 1:30 Monday afternoon and leave no earlier than 5:00 on Saturday afternoon.)

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FAQs

In May, daily high temperatures for Santa Cruz are around 66°F, rarely falling below 59°F or exceeding 74°F. It is likely to be sunny with a slight chance of rain. It’s great beach-walking weather.

Villa Maria del Mar features locally grown, healthy, fresh food, and a salad bar at lunch and dinner. There is always a vegetarian option. Snacks, including whole fruit and beverages, are available at any time. A refrigerator and microwave are available in the dining room for personal use.

Iyengar yoga teacher, Karyn Bristol, will offer a morning yoga class from 7:00 to 7:45 every morning. Our practice will focus on maintaining flexibility, building strength, and enhancing balance. We’ll stretch, nourish our spines and joints, and learn to meet our changing bodies from a place of appreciation and empowerment. Karyn says, “It’s possible to become more vibrant and healthy as we age, and yoga offers that possibility.” No previous yoga experience required.

One reason we’ve chosen this site is that there are many single rooms, most with their own private bathroom.

It is also possible to book a double with a friend or family member. We have eight spots available for doubles; the rest of the rooms at the retreat will be singles.

If you don’t have a roommate in mind, we will try to match you with a compatible roommate. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be placed in a single and will need to pay the single supplement.

Yes, there are two ADA rooms. Please let us know on your registration form if you need one.

To create the focused, intimate container essential to a transformative writing retreat, we’re asking everyone to stay on site. 

Click here for a Google map to our location.

Yes, there is free parking on site.

Yes! Click here to learn about the Santa Cruz Metro.

The closest airport is Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). Monterey, Oakland, and San Francisco airports are also viable options.

Early Bird Airport Shuttle
Phone: (831) 462-3933
info@earlybirdshuttle.com
www.earlybirdairportshuttle.com

Santa Cruz Airport Flyer
Phone: (831) 423-5937
info@santacruzflyer.com

Airport Passenger Express
Phone: (831) 818-0558
airportpassengerexpress@gmail.com

We strongly recommend travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage to protect your investment in this retreat. You can purchase travel insurance whether you drive or fly to the retreat. Once the dates of our graduated refund policy have passed, travel insurance will be your only option for a refund.

To cover preexisting conditions, insurance must be purchased within two weeks after you pay your initial deposit. We will send information about purchasing insurance after you register. Our travel agent can also assist you in finding and purchasing a travel insurance policy that meets your particular needs.

If you are buying your own insurance, be sure to read the fine print as policies can differ greatly. Confirm with your insurance provider what Covid-19-related issues are covered. Check your policy carefully and ensure you understand who will pay for additional costs if incurred.

You can also have our recommended travel agent find a policy for you. Linda can be contacted using the information below.

Linda Schwedock, CTC
Pacific Harbor Travel, Inc.
519 Seabright Ave., Suite 201
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831.427.5000
Linda@PacificHarborTravel.com
https://pacificharbortravel.com/

Linda is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 am until 3 pm Pacific Time. If she is not in the office, one of her colleagues may be able to help you.

Yes, there is Wi-Fi throughout the facility.

Bring a hairdryer and any toiletries that you need. The Villa supplies bed linens and towels.

Covid remains a virus with potentially life-threatening consequences for some people, particularly those who are older or have pre-existing conditions. Women attending our retreat will fit one or both categories. Long Covid is also a possibility for anyone who gets Covid, even a mild infection. So, our Covid policy begins with the assumption that attendees would prefer to avoid a Covid exposure. Yet contracting Covid or another communicable disease is an inherent risk of social exposure, group retreats, and travel.

To support the health of all participants, we are asking participants to read and agree to this policy.

Absolutely! We love hearing from potential participants and answering any questions you might have. Feel free to contact us using the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Teachers and Guides

Laura-Davis-headshot-1000pxw

Laura Davis

Laura Davis is the author of seven non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and I Thought We'd Never Speak Again. Laura's groundbreaking books have sold more than 1.8 million copies around the world. Laura has also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker.

She is a cancer survivor, the mother of three, the grandmother of three, and has buried both her parents. In other words, she is a well-seasoned human being.

Words have always been at the core of her work and her self-expression.

Laura has been mentoring and supporting writers for the past 20 years. It is truly the work of her heart:

"I love teaching. I love watching my students find their natural voice and their rhythm. I love it when they find their true stories and discover the courage to put them on the page. I feel like a midwife as my students birth their stories, and I feel honored to witness their bursts of creativity and pure life energy pouring out on the page. Our writing circles are safe places where skills are honed, tears and laughter are welcome, and each writer is seen, heard and deeply known."

Laura leads weekly online writing groups and in-person retreats in California, as well as retreats internationally. She has taken writers to Bali and Scotland, Tuscany, Greece, Vietnam, hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and to Laos and Cambodia. She documents these trips to the delight of many readers in her intermittent travel blog, The Virtual Vacation.

Laura's book, The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story, winner of the BookLife Prize for best memoir/autobiography of 2021, tells the story of her dramatic and tumultuous relationship with her mother from the time of Laura's birth until her mother's death. You will receive a copy of The Burning Light of Two Stars as a bonus gift as part of your registration.

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Evelyn Hall

Evelyn Hall is a social worker, master hypnotherapist, and minister. For the past 35 years, Evelyn has been guiding individuals and leading groups, helping people find healing in body, mind, and spirit. Evelyn specializes in transformative healing practices including somatic awareness, movement, meditation, healing through nature, and leading sacred ceremonies. She brings a depth to workshops by teaching clients to allow natural healing processes to occur: addressing and transforming feelings and thoughts through body, mind and spirit.

Praise for Evelyn

"Evelyn brought mysticism, magic, creativity and a romantic spirit to the retreat."

—Julie Sheehan, Livermore, CA

"Evelyn is a comforting presence. She is a healer and very real. She truly helped me. I love her."

—Bonnie Kirchbaum, Oceanside, CA

"Evelyn played a beautiful supportive and sensitive role to all of us in the group."

—Linda Comin, Oceanside, CA

"Evelyn's presence was a gift. Her calming presence, her blessing and the altar she tended. I appreciated everything she brought to the retreat. I wouldn't have had the same powerful experience without her."

—Margo Fowkes, Loomis, CA

"Evelyn was the keeper of the altar. She invited us into a larger holding of spirit, of presence of stillness."

—Gail Warner, southern California

"Evelyn is a joy to behold. The treasures and symbols she brought to the workshop added color and dimensions and depths to our days and nights."

—Diane Schwedner, Santa Cruz, CA

"Evelyn was very motherly and calming, truly understanding of my spiritual experience without judgement."

—Dwi Prasetyowati, San Francisco

"Evelyn's role in the retreat was essential. The place of ritual gave a container for the work of the writing and the journey of the feelings. Her care and warmth made her approachable and supportive."

—Martha Fauteux, Ontario, Canada

"Evelyn provided a sprinkling of fairy dust that lightened the hard work we did."

Carolyn Lehman, Arcata, CA

"Evelyn was our support and spiritual guide."

—Chris, Ithaca, New York

"I love how Evelyn's perspective guided the group. Her gentle effortless way of being with us was wonderful. She was there for me in my moments of need."

Lynne Benatovich, Sonoma, CA

"Evelyn was the wind beneath my wings. She always appeared by peoples' sides when she was most needed."

Denise Carter, Aptos, CA

"Evelyn is pure joy and positive energy."

Kendra Dorfman, Santa Cruz, CA

"What an incredible gift Evelyn's uplifting energy was throughout this retreat. Her zest for life was contagious."

Sandra, Pacific Grove, CA

"Evelyn is a beautiful soul. She provided the 'heart,' the compassionate soul of the retreat."

Claudette McLean, Alberta, Canada

Karyn Bristol

Karyn Bristol has been passionate about yoga for more than thirty years. She started studying yoga in midlife and it’s been transforming her life ever since. Karyn’s practice has brought her physical well-being, a deep connection to herself, and a growing relationship to her own spirituality.

As an Iyengar yoga teacher, Karyn’s greatest joy is watching students grow through the natural evolution of yoga in their lives, seeing it transform them on so many levels: increasing flexibility, reducing pain, healing mind, body, and spirit, increasing joy, inspiring lifelong commitment to health and well-being.

Karyn says, “When new students walk into their first yoga class, they often fear that they’re not fit or flexible enough. They worry that they don’t have the right body type or that they’re too old, that injuries or physical limitations will stand in their way. But yoga has something to offer everyone. Whether you’re young or old, large, small, or in-between, flexible or stiff, athletic or just starting to know your body, yoga can help you. Let me show you how.”

Karyn Bristol

Praise for Karyn

“Karyn is fabulous: centered, thoughtful, honest, funny, and very knowledgeable.
She adds hope for the future of an easier body.”

—Toni Taylor, Santa Cruz, CA

“Karyn is a fantastic yoga teacher—the perfect teacher for this setting.”

—Dana Lerner, New York City, NY

“Karyn was able to lead and demonstrate her deep knowledge of yoga
to a group who couldn’t have been more yoga-challenged.”

—Gail Gorman, Belmont, MA

“Karyn cares deeply about sharing her knowledge and understanding of yoga and the body to help people heal from improper alignment. I love the way she customized her classes to meet everyone’s individual needs.”

—Tamara Myers, Darwin, CA

“Karyn was so careful and attentive as a yoga teacher. I felt very seen by her and came away
with important advice on both yoga postures and how I carry myself physically.”

—Barbara Crofford, Los Angeles, CA

Gail Warner

Gail Warner

Gail Warner has journeyed as therapist, retreat owner, group facilitator, and creative visionary for over 50 years.  She is dedicated to helping people understand ways of navigating feelings and learning to hold their own experiences with care and kindness. In today’s world, we need ways to both unplug and still be engaged. We need permission for vulnerability and the courage to cultivate resilience.

Gail says, “I have always been interested in hearing people’s stories and in the healing power of gathering in community to share. Life provides continued challenges and opportunities to navigate change and to learn and to grow as we face ourselves and others with less judgment and more clarity.”

Her role at this retreat will be to provide individual and group support.

Gail works with groups, does online workshops, and is developing new offerings for the coming year.

Inclusions

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What's included:

  • Room, board and three delicious meals a day.
  • All instruction for a life-changing retreat.
  • The services of your capable, compassionate leaders.
  • An amazing community that will lead to deep connections and new friends.
  • A copy of Laura's award-winning memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars

What's not included:

  • Transportation to and from Santa Cruz.
  • Personal, medical, and travel insurance to protect your investment in the retreat.
  • Tips for the kitchen and the cleaning staff.

Registration

Flourishing as We Age:
A Writing Retreat for Women
Cultivating Resilience, Navigating Change,
and Embracing Life

Monday, May 5 - Saturday, May 10, 2025

Villa Maria Garden

Your Investment

Cost: $2,850 for a spot in a double-occupancy room; $3,850 for a standard single occupancy room.

Payment Schedule: A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is due with your registration. The remaining balance will be due on March 1, 2025.

Retreat Tuition Cancellations and Refunds Policy: $1,000 of your initial payment is nonrefundable and will be forfeited in all cases. After March 1, 2025, there will be no refunds. Exceptions to this cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies. Travel protection insurance will provide your only option for recouping your full tuition investment.

Villa Maria del Mar Double Bedroom

Choose Your Rooms

1. DOUBLE ROOMS
Shared Double-Occupancy Room - $2,850 per bed
Room contains two twin beds. Pricing per person.

NOTE: If you sign up for a double occupancy room without having a roommate in mind, we will do our best to pair you with an appropriate roommate.

2. SINGLE ROOMS
Standard Single Room - $3,850
Private room. Pricing per person.

Questions about this retreat?

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