You are invited to join Alice Dow, Founder of Hearttones Sound and Stella Badalyan, Founder of Become What You Wish on a soul-full spring retreat that will help you start fresh this spring.

This transformative weekend retreat is for women seeking to (re)awaken their connection to their mind, body & soul through sound healing, breathing exercises, meditation, art practices and sisterhood.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner peace that will help you cultivate awareness, reduce stress, and foster a deeper connection with yourself and the other women in attendance.

This carefully crafted two-night retreat will be an unforgettable opportunity to unwind, recharge, and connect with like-minded individuals all while immersing yourself in the serenity of nature.

You will have the opportunity to:

Immerse yourself in the harmonious vibrations of sound healing, fostering inner peace and relaxation.
Explore your creativity through therapeutic art sessions, unlocking new expressions of self-discovery.
Foster mindfulness through guided meditations, intuitive movement, and contemplative practices in a serene setting.
Cultivate community in a safe and intimate setting where you are encouraged to show up fully, as you are.

What to Expect:

Lodging in a beautiful private home tucked into the woods in East Hampton
An intimate group of up to 8 soulful women
Nourishing shared meals
Soulful sound baths
Therapeutic art sessions
Intuitive dance & gentle movement
Mindfulness practices, meditation & journaling
Time in nature for reflecting and dreaming
Community & connection, as well as time for personal reflection

Art-full members can book directly at a discount here.

Tentative, High-level Schedule:

(all activities are optional but it's recommended to participate in all for the best experience & maximum benefit -
if you can’t arrive in time for dinner on Friday, we can set aside food for you when you arrive)

Friday April 26th:

5 pm | Arrive & settle into our beautiful Hamptons home

6:30 pm | Welcome Dinner

8 pm | Evening session: deep intro's & intention-setting

*

Saturday April 27th:

8 am | Yoga

9 am | Breakfast

10 am | Morning session: Making peace with ourselves

12 pm | Lunch

1 pm | Nature walk

2 pm | Afternoon sound healing

6:30 pm | Dinner

8pm | Movement party

*

Sunday April 28th:

8:30 am | Morning meditation

9 am | Breakfast

10 am | Morning session: integration & goal-setting

12 pm | Lunch

1 pm | Departure

More About our Accommodation/ Location

Our hidden Hamptons hideaway house is located in a serene setting in the woods, yet near to downtown Sag Harbor. Cathedral ceilings, open floorplan and large windows make it feel light and airy yet full of country charm, including a gas-died fireplace and beautiful outdoor spaces for absorbing the serenity and beauty of nature.

Reviews call it: “a beautiful, magical and homey place that spills over with creativity,” “a hidden gem!” and “a peaceful respite. There are many separate spaces for relaxation or quiet reflection… immaculate... It was hard to leave.”

Transportation: No transportation is included in the retreat cost but ample parking is available at the house, which is located approximately 2 hours from Midtown (exact location provided to confirmed attendees only).

You can also take the Hampton Jitney to the Sag Harbor stop, which is a 5-minute cab or Uber to the house.

Recommended bus times:

Eastbound on Friday 4/26: take the bus that departs 40th & 3rd ave at 2:15pm , arriving at Sag Harbor at 4:50 pm
Westbound on Sunday 4/28: take the 2:45 pm from Sag Harbor, arriving midtown Manhattan at 5:30 pm.
$80 round-trip if booked in advance. See schedules here (only bookable up to 1 month in advance).

You can also take the LIRR to the Easthampton stop, which is a 10-minute drive from the house. See schedules here.

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Cost for Art-full members:
(All prices are per person)

As a special first-time opportunity, the retreat is currently open only to Art-full members (and guests of the facilitators) at a severely reduced price point (we won’t be offering it at this low cost ever again!).

All prices include 2 nights of accommodation in a beautiful Hamptons home, plus 6 family-style meals (2 dinners, 2 lunches & 2 breakfasts + snacks) as well as all workshops and activities. Transportation must be arranged separately.

You may submit a roommate preference for rooms shared with another person, but we can’t guarantee any specific choice of roommates.

PREMIER members save an additional 10%

*

King bed in Master bedroom with en suite bath (single occupancy):
$1050 early bird through 3/23; $1150 thereafter

Full bed in private room with shared bathroom (single occupancy):
$750 early bird through 3/23; $800 thereafter

Private room with 2 twin beds & private 1/2 bath (single occupancy):
$1100 early bird through 3/23; $1200 thereafter

Twin bed in shared room with shared bathroom (2 ppl per room):
$650 early bird through 3/23; $750 thereafter

Full bed in shared room with shared bathroom (2 ppl per room):
$650 early bird through 3/23; $750 thereafter

*
Commuter price:
(incl. all meals & activities, but no lodging)
$400 for members; $500 for non-members

Price for full day on Saturday with 3 meals:
(no lodging or transport)
$300 for Art-full members; $400 for non-members

Art-full members can book directly at a discount here.

Important Notes:

This is an intimate retreat for up 10 women maximum. Please note the schedule is fluid and may be subject to change, but the weekend is designed to be similar to a gathering of close friends (who may not yet fully know one another - but will by the end of the trip).
Retreat is designed for those who identify as women and are interested in art, creativity and connection — no prior knowledge or experience needed.
This is a beta offering at a severely reduced price point. Subsequent retreats of this nature will be priced 30-40% higher (so make sure to take advantage and join us now!)
All attendees are expected to contribute slightly to meal prep and cleaning and are asked to leave the house as they find it.
This is a group retreat in which priority will be placed on the needs of the group, rather than that of the individual.
Please do not book if you are uncomfortable sharing space, food, time and energy with others or struggle with being flexible or making compromises in a group setting. There is magic in sharing time and space with others, but we realize that it’s not for everyone.
If you are looking for a 5-star spa weekend where all of your needs are catered to, this may not be the right retreat for you. The house is stunning and luxurious, but if you are truly open to giving — and to receiving — the experience may be transformative.

Who's Who/Bio's:

**Alice Dow,** Facilitator
Sound, Meditation & Mindfulness

As a very young child, **Alice Dow** demonstrated the ability to learn complex melodies by ear. Her parents, who were both startled and amazed, acquired a piano teacher from the Julliard School of Music when she was 4. During her childhood/youth, she played cello, guitar, harp, sang in choirs and studied classical piano for 12 years. The rich musical climate in southern New York State during those years exposed her to an innovative community of composers where her musical instincts flourished.
When she was 17, she chose the flute and began to sing, in public, while traveling around the world. She dedicated many years to serving vulnerable communities in Europe, Argentina, and Colombia with an interdenominational faith-driven community. Throughout those years, she practiced a form of Music Therapy for traumatized youth. She also performed publicly and helped to arrange unedited compositions written by her Argentinian husband. Her foundation, Healing Colombia, has served 3000 vulnerable youth and distributed $3.000.000 worth of humanitarian aid to displaced families in Colombia, SA.
In New York, Alice has been able to pursue her dreams by continuing her musical education at the Integrative Institute of Sound and Music - Open Center Manhattan, NY, where she graduated as a Sound Practitioner, and the Performance Wellness Program where she studied under the late Louise Montello, Founder of PW at the New School, Manhattan. Sound and Music Therapy have enriched the workshops Alice designed for drug and crime prevention, gender reconciliation, motivational and self-empowerment for youth, and mindfulness for all ages. She has two adult children and four wonderful granddaughters from Colombia.

2017.10.MD.B.1110.jpg — **Alexandra Harper,** Organizer

A creative entrepreneur, event planner and community builder who founded the Women of Culture community as a way to connect, empower and inspire women through meaningful engagement with the arts. Alex is a self-proclaimed 'art addict' who believes deeply in the power of the arts to heal, transform and connect us all and has created over 500 events for a community of 7,000+ women and hopes to help create a more open, empathic and equal society through her work.
Through her carefully curated cultural experiences, trips and women’s circles, she encourages women to push their boundaries, discover new perspectives and connect more deeply with themselves and those around them. She believes that, when women come together and collectively tap into their innate creativity, confidence, and one-ness, they have the power to heal the world — from the inside, out.
Her art drug of choice is dance, and when not planning and leading Women of Culture events, she can be found seeing dance at the Joyce Theater, checking out new bars and restaurants, or lounging with her two crazy cats at her apartment in Brooklyn.

FAQ's

1) What if I don’t know anyone, can I attend alone?

Yes! Most people attend alone and make new friends/connect more deeply with previous acquaintances on our trips. We provide a safe, inclusive and supportive container for you to meet new friends and find common ground with all who attend.

2) Do I need to have previous experience, be an artist or creative or have experience with meditation and mindfulness?

Definitely not! The idea is to come as you are and learn as you go. No artistic talent or skill is required and the majority of attendees do not consider themselves experienced artists or creative. And while we encourage everyone to join in all activities, everything is optional. We are all life-long students and all activities will be appropriate for both beginners as well as long-time creatives and meditators.

3) Can I stay separately/book my own lodging?

Definitely, though you will need to provide your own transportation and a car would be most practical. We encourage everyone to stay together in the house, but there are other lodging options in Sag Harbor and the surrounding areas if you prefer to stay on your own and drive (or uber) back and forth.

4) What if I have never been to an event or retreat like this before and am not sure if I will like it?

That's great, too! We applaud you for investing in yourself enough to read through to this part of the page, and we encourage you to take the next step in signing up. There is a reason you have read this far, and you owe it to yourself to try something new — who knows what it may open up in your life!

5) What will I get out of all of this?

It’s hard to describe the benefits of attending this sort of retreat, as they can be intangible and often not fully felt until some time has passed. But we can pretty much guarantee a deeper sense of calm and connection to yourself and the world around you, as well as the other women in attendance. You may learn a new art skill or meditation practice, and you will most certainly learn more about yourself and your fellow sisters, leaving with a clearer sense of purpose and joy.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to: alex@womenofculture.org

Spring Awakening:
Creative Wellness Retreat for Women