Nurture in Nature
October 4, 2025 8:45am - 4:00pm
A Yoga Retreat hosted by Jenni Anne Antonicic and Barb Cassidy Lunch and snacks provided by Chef Monica Hohman
Jenni and Barb invite you to a day-long retreat in nature to nourish your entire being. Discover heart-healing sanctuary as your senses harvest the beauty and grounding that nature offers. Smell the abundant earth. Be washed with glorious autumn colors. Listen to the rustle of leaves underfoot. Get fascinated with layers of textures and nuance. Breathe in peace. Experience the earth’s downward cycle as you soften to receive the present and precious moment. Mark the transition of the seasons with body, breath, heart, and soul.
What to expect:
The Nature in Nurture autumn retreat includes:
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All-levels Yoga Asana practice on your mat. We’ll get loosened up, expand our breath, and raise our vibration with possibilities and delight. Led by Jenni Antonicic, certified Yoga teacher. ALL bodies welcome
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Nature & Forest Therapy led by Barb Cassidy, certified Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. How Wonderful!
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Lunch, tea, and snacks by Chef Monica Hohman
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An afternoon gentle stretching and meditation workshop led by Jenni.
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Activities to reflect and create with nature, led by Barb.
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All materials except Yoga mats and optional props.
Nature & Forest Therapy honors the Japanese practice of Shirin-Yoku, Forest Bathing, to enhance health, happiness, and overall wellness. Participants mindfully interact with the natural world through a series of open-ended invitations to foster connection, curiosity, and creativity; leading to reciprocity - promoting the well-being of both humans and the land. The practice is a slow, contemplative walk without a fixed agenda, in a setting free of human-made stimuli, with the assistance of a guide trained to facilitate the practitioner's attention to their sensory experience (Qing Li). The practice is not a hike but an opportunity to wander, to linger, and to absorb your surroundings.
Location:
Shadow Lakes/ Braidwood area of Wilmington, IL, approx an hour SW of Chicago
What to bring:
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Filled water bottle
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Yoga mat and preferred props (blanket, cushion, eye pillow)
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Comfortable layered clothes appropriate for all-weather outside and our indoor Yoga practice.
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Sunglasses
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Sun hat
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Sunscreen
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Bug repellent.
Our day together:
We’ll begin our day with an all-levels Yoga practice indoors. After a tasty power-ball treat we’ll relocate to a nearby park. Barb will guide us through a 2 hour nature therapy session situated in prairie and an oak savannah. We’ll conclude our Shirin-Yoku session with a cup of tea and ritual to honor the earth. The trails we’ll traverse are considered 'natural surface' trails. Walking will be on grassy areas or natural surface trails. The area is relatively flat and accessible to all fitness levels.
We’ll share a delicious, healthy lunch together, tea and sweets (prepared by Chef Monica), then have free time to chat with each other or enjoy the lakeshore in solitude.
We’ll continue our reflection on nature and our interaction with it in fun, creative projects designed to keep our senses engaged and our hearts in a playful mood. There will be an opportunity for nature journaling as well.
Our afternoon session will also incorporate gentle Yoga and thoughtful movement of body and breath, as we continue to explore the themes from the morning. Breath-enhanced movements and breath-attentive practices will help us connect to our sense of vitality and our relationship to this beautiful, breathtaking world. Some comfortable seated and laying-down postures will help us relax deeply and open ourselves to insight. No previous Yoga experience is necessary.
Your teachers:
Barb is a certified Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. She is a life-long educator dedicated to helping people connect to each other, to nature, and to themselves.
Jenni has been teaching Yoga and meditation for many years, always learning, healing, and sharing. She prioritizes curiosity, kindness, playfulness, and exuberant appreciation.
Investment:
Included:
2-hour nature therapy session; 2 Yoga practices (no experience or minimum physical capacity required); nature activities (all materials provided), full-day support of two teachers; lunch, tea, and snacks provided (all dietary restrictions accommodated). Assistance arranging for carpooling or hired group transport from Chicago if necessary (costs shared).
Prefer to pay via check or Zelle instead of credit card? Contact Jenni directly to register.
Read rave reviews from past participants:
From the moment I arrived, everyone was warm and welcoming. This really felt like a safe and supportive space. At the end of the retreat, I had a positive spirit, felt empowered, and relaxed. - Gabby
Being in tune with Mother Nature really helps with mental and physical health. A highlight was being one with nature and experiencing it through a new lens. - Kayla
Jenni plays in her yoga sessions and consequently, and I get to play as well. She has a wonderful way of delivering what I need at the precise moment that I need it. Solace, comfort, peace, awareness, and loving kindness are just some of my takeaways – it all makes me feel treasured & welcomed. - Kathleen
I'm honestly grateful that I was able to attend Jenni's retreat, and I encourage anyone who needs a break or a "momentary" change of pace to commit - to simply, slow down, trust, and truly hear their own thoughts and breath. I gave myself a lot of excuses for not making the time, but looking back, I can see how obvious it was to go. - Jack
