The Journey Home – A Spring Retreat with Sandra Vanatko

Who This Is For

This retreat is for you if you…

• Feel overextended by the pace of life, caregiving, or ongoing responsibilities
• Sense that your body is asking for slower, more supportive practices
• Are feeling tired, disconnected, or out of sync with yourself
• Want space to release tension—physical or emotional—and reconnect with how you actually feel
• Long for meaningful time in community with others who value presence and growth
• Are curious about somatic practices and want to learn simple tools to feel more grounded and embodied
• Are a yoga teacher, therapist, or healing professional who holds space for others and could use space held for you

Whether you’re brand new to this work or have years of experience, this retreat is designed to meet you where you are. You don’t need to have a strong movement practice or any background in meditation—just a willingness to slow down and be with yourself in a new way.

What You’ll Experience

Each day unfolds with rhythm and spaciousness—structured yet deeply nourishing:

Friday & Saturday
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Morning Practice & Meditation
🕛 12:00 – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
🕐 1:30 – 4:30 PM | Afternoon Practice, Inquiry & Integration

Sunday
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Morning Practice & Reflection
🕛 12:00 – 1:30 PM | Lunch
🕐 1:30 – 3:30 PM | Integration, Closing Circle & Meditation

Each session weaves together:

• Somatic movement & yoga to release tension and reconnect with your body’s natural intelligence.
• Guided meditations to help you feel grounded, present, and more aware of what’s happening inside.
• Mindful inquiry & reflection to meet yourself with curiosity and care.
• Rest & nature time—because slowing down is part of the practice.
• Community connection, reminding us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation.  It happens in relationship.

This retreat isn’t about doing more.
It’s about coming back to what’s already here—your breath, your body, your presence.

Why This Setting Matters

Nestled among ancient oaks and winding trails, The Grapevine Botanical Gardens at the Bessie Mitchell House is one of North Texas’s most enchanting sanctuaries. In April, the gardens burst into bloom—vibrant dogwoods, tulips, and azaleas fill the air with color and scent.

Each day, you’ll enjoy time to explore the gardens between sessions:

• Relax with lunch on the lawn or patio overlooking the koi pond.
• Journal under the shade of oak trees on a picnic blanket on breaks.
• Wander among the flowers or simply sit and breathe in the quiet beauty.

The natural setting supports the work—offering space to slow down, breathe, and connect more deeply with yourself.

Attendance Options & Local Lodging

You can attend this retreat as a day participant (commuting home each evening) or choose to stay locally and turn it into a weekend retreat experience.

Staying overnight is highly recommended.
Changing pace for three full days allows the retreat to continue even in your off hours—time to rest, journal, reflect, or enjoy meals and conversation with new friends.

Evenings in Historic Downtown Grapevine offer charming patios, restaurants, and boutique shops, while Southlake Town Square (just 8–10 minutes away) features elegant dining and modern comfort.

A GroupMe chat will be available for guests to coordinate local lodging, ride-sharing, and connection before and during the retreat.

Sandra Vanatko is a certified yoga therapist, somatic meditation teacher, and founder of Indra’s Grace Yoga & Meditation. For nearly two decades, Sandra has guided students through trauma-informed and body-based awareness practices that help bridge the gap between spirituality and the nervous system. Her teaching blends depth with accessibility—offering a grounded path to awakening through the body, heart, and everyday life.

More about Sandra here.

• What is included
  • All retreat sessions, including 17 hours of expert guidance in somatic movement, mindful inquiry, and embodied meditation
  • Somatic movement & yoga to unwind deep holding and reconnect with your body’s intelligence.
  • Guided meditations to ground, open, and deepen awareness.
  • Mindful inquiry & reflection to meet what’s been left behind with compassion.
  • Rest & nature time to slow down and integrate.
  • Community connection to remember that healing happens in relationship.
• Tea and light refreshments throughout the weekend.
• Access to GroupMe community for connection and coordination

(Lodging not included. A separate Stay & Explore Guide will be provided with nearby lodging and restaurant suggestions.)

Stay and Explore Guide