Experience the transformative power of water and fire during this three night, four-day winter water immersion hosted by Patricia Garcia-Gomez and Kayla Sibilia. The Befriending Winter Water™ retreat will ignite your ancestral cells and re-introduce your body to the profound benefits of nature as you are invited to explore the depths of ritual, self, and the untamed presence that exists within us all. Immerse yourself in the beauty of water, the ceremony of sound, and the purifying warmth of fire for a nourishing and restorative experience.
This intimate program invites you to embrace the elements with a cycle of guided contrast therapy rituals, leading with a cold plunge immersion into winter water, followed by restoration in a seaside, cedar wood sauna. This sensory-rich experience of transitioning from one extreme temperature to another is an invigorating practice for the mind and body, and one that gently extends an invitation towards self-discovery and connection with the elements.
In addition to the daily water immersions and sauna rituals, you will enjoy all-inclusive access to group wellness activities, a Spa and Wellness credit to be used towards a signature treatment of your choice, meals from the acclaimed plant-forward culinary program, morning and evening movement classes, communal hydrotherapy and thermal suite use, and access to all of the property’s world class amenities.
Patricia is a renowned Water Practitioner, Intuitive, and Sensory Immersion Artist. She is also a year-long swimmer, including in temperatures as low as 33 degrees. As the creator of RewildRestore TM , a water-centric retreat dedicated to the transformative power of ritual, she holds space for people to explore a meaningful, magical re-orientation to how they relate to water.
The inspiration for RewildRestore began when Patricia was in creative residency on the island of Naxos, Greece, immersing herself in the soul and culture of the land. While living in a monastery and creating site-specific, multi-sensory installations, she began swimming in the ocean daily and the practice began to change her life. Her photography and writing are multi-award winning and featured in the permanent collections of Tate Modern, The Museum of Arts & Design, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, The Harwood Museum of Art, and The Buhl Collection.
Kayla is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist, Energy and Sound Facilitator, HeartMath Mentor, and Founder of ALTÆR Sauna. With a focus on promoting the body’s health and equilibrium, Kayla specializes in relieving tension in the central nervous system, which in turn enhances overall health and immunity. Her specialties include healing chronic fatigue, stress, anxiety, COVID-19-related symptoms, back pain, headaches, and other challenges stemming from the cranium and spine.
Kayla became intrigued with the realm of quantum physics and the unified energy field which is what propelled her to begin studying and practicing, beginning with Energy and Sound Medicine with Lisa Ishwari Murphy, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy with Dr. Kate Klemer, Heart Focused Breathing at the HeartMath Institute, Deepak Chopra’s Brainwave Entrainment device, Quantum Physics with the Resonance Science Foundation and Nassim Haramein, and Psychedelic Integration with Dr. Elizabeth Nielson and Dr. Ingmar Gorman. Now, Kayla is the founder and mother of ALTÆR Sauna, a mobile, cedar wood sauna that allows her to bring healing rituals on the road to her clients, and communities around the Northeast.
- Three Winter Water Immersions and two Sauna Rituals designed and led by Patricia Garcia-Gomez and Kayla Sibilia
- A multi-sensory Sacred Sound Journey led by Kayla Sibilia
- Daily signature wellness activities led by the Shou Sugi Ban House team including Deep Release Yin Yoga, Align and Shine Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Breathwork Release, Tea Meditation, and Strength & Balance
- Accommodations in one of the 13 private guest studios for one to two people, featuring a king or queen bed, luxurious soaking tub, modern gas fireplace, organic Japanese amenities, signature herbal teas, and nightly seasonal bath soak
- All-inclusive culinary program beginning with dinner on arrival day through breakfast on departure day; all menus feature plant-forward cuisine and are designed in collaboration with Michelin-starred Chef Mads Refslund, a co-founder of Noma and ILIS, and the Culinary Creative Director of Shou Sugi Ban House
- $275 credit towards a spa or healing arts treatment of your choice in the award-winning spa at Shou Sugi Ban House; click here to view the full Spa & Wellness Menu
- Communal Hydrotherapy & Thermal Suite Access featuring three outdoor contrasting plunge pools, a warm infrared sauna, dry sauna, eucalyptus steam room, experience shower, and ice fountain
- Open use of the hybrid indoor-outdoor Movement Pavilion featuring infrared heaters and an array of personal fitness training equipment
- Access to all of the property amenities during your free time including the Main Barn Lounge with gas fireplace, reading library, and curated retail shop; Demonstration Kitchen offering daily meals and à la carte food & beverage options; Meditation Hall for daily movement classes; and Outdoor Fire Circle
- Complimentary arrival and departure transportation in a House Tesla, within a five-mile radius of the property; complimentary on-site parking and use of EV chargers for personal vehicles
MONDAY
3:00 – 5:00pm Arrival and Check-in
5:00 – 6:00pm Evening Movement: Deep Release Yin Yoga or Communal Hydrotherapy Access
6:30 – 7:30pm Seasonal Dinner around the Communal Table
8:00pm FIRESIDE MEDITATION & WELCOME GATHERING
TUESDAY
8:00 – 9:00am Morning Movement: Align & Shine Yoga
8:00 – 10:00 am Signature Breakfast Buffet Available
10:00am – 12:45pm WINTER WATER IMMERSION & SAUNA RITUAL [Group A]
10:00am – 12:45pm Personal Reflection Time [Group B]: Private Spa or Healing Arts Sessions, Breathwork Release
1:00 – 2:00pm Multi-course Seasonal Lunch
2:00 – 4:45pm WINTER WATER IMMERSION & SAUNA RITUAL [Group B]
2:00 – 4:45pm Personal Reflection Time [Group A]: Private Spa or Healing Arts Sessions, Breathwork Release
5:00 – 6:00pm Evening Movement: Ashtanga Yoga or Communal Hydrotherapy Access
6:30 – 7:30pm Multi-course Seasonal Dinner
8:00 – 9:00pm SACRED SOUND JOURNEY WITH KAYLA SIBILIA
WEDNESDAY
8:00 – 9:00am Morning Movement: Align & Shine Yoga
8:00 – 10:00 am Signature Breakfast Buffet Available
10:00am – 12:45pm WINTER WATER IMMERSION & SAUNA RITUAL [Group B]
10:00am – 12:45pm Personal Reflection Time [Group A]: Private Spa or Healing Arts Sessions, Breathwork Release
1:00 – 2:00pm Multi-course Seasonal Lunch
2:00 – 4:45pm WINTER WATER IMMERSION & SAUNA RITUAL [Group A]
2:00 – 4:45pm Personal Reflection Time [Group B]: Private Spa or Healing Arts Sessions, Breathwork Release
5:00 – 6:00pm Evening Movement: Ashtanga Yoga or Communal Hydrotherapy Access
6:30 – 7:30pm Multi-course Seasonal Dinner
THURSDAY
7:30 – 9:00am WINTER WATER IMMERSION [Optional for Both Groups]
8:00 – 9:00am Morning Movement: Strength & Balance
8:00 – 10:00am Signature Breakfast Buffet Available
8:30 – 9:30am Communal Hydrotherapy Access
10:00 – 11:00am CLOSING CEREMONY WITH PATRICIA GARCIA-GOMEZ
12:00pm Check-out and Departure
WINTER WATER IMMERSION
In a small group setting, share the rituals that have become the cornerstone of Patricia’s water immersion practice. The experience begins with meditation and tea at Shou Sugi Ban House, followed by a short journey to the ocean where you’ll immerse yourself into winter water in ceremony. This is a practice of listening, sensing, connecting, and befriending, not just to the water and the elements, but to all the beautiful untamed aspects of Self.
SAUNA RITUAL
This sauna ritual will hold space for you to alchemize your biochemistry through the act of sacred, intentional sweating. The concept of Kayla’s mobile ALTÆR Sauna combines the desire to be connected with nature, along with the desire to come back to Self. Heat opens the body to a deep calming resonance, and in the sauna you’ll be surrounded by aromas of cedar wood, eucalyptus, and rose hydrosol. These elements alchemize internal energies, making space for expansive ease.
FIRESIDE MEDITATION & WELCOME GATHERING
Come together with your fellow retreat guests and step into a collective space of introspection.
SACRED SOUND JOURNEY
An immersive experience, weaving together a combination of tuning forks, gongs, and Himalayan and crystal bowls to create a vibrational frequency that heals the body, clears blockages, and restores balance within.
COMMUNAL HYDROTHERAPY ACCESS
A ritual that has long been used for its therapeutic benefits. Facilities at Shou Sugi Ban Spa include an indoor thermal suite with infrared sauna, dry sauna, aromatic steam room, experience shower and ice fountain, as well as three outdoor, contrasting saltwater plunge pools.
TEA MEDITATION
A sensory meditation which encourages you to foster mindfulness as a daily practice.
BREATHWORK RELEASE
Increase the flow of energy throughout your body and release emotional blockages with intentional breathing techniques.
CUSTOM YOGA AND MOVEMENT
Daily wellness activities led by the Shou Sugi Ban House team, include offerings focused on postural alignment, breathwork techniques, and mindful movement to suit all levels of practice. Classes include Deep Release Yin Yoga, Align & Shine Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Breathwork Release, Tea Meditation, and Strength & Balance.
CLOSING CEREMONY
Meditate on a final moment of gratitude that will move you beyond the retreat and ground you back into your daily life.
Modern gas fireplace
Private garden patio
Custom-built furniture by local artisan, All Things Dirt
King or queen organic mattress
Traditional Japanese hinoki ofuro or BainUltra modern air massage soaking tub
Walk-in shower with Graff rainhead
Radiant heated bathroom floors
Organic bed linens, and towels
Pure flax linen robes
Organic Sasawashi slippers (take-home amenity)
Organic Japanese Kotoshina bath products
Nightly in-room SSBH signature herbal bath soak
SSBH signature soaps
Sustainable bamboo toothbrushes
Hair dryer
Electric tea kettle
SSBH signature teas
Climate control
Structured water system
In-room safe
Complimentary WiFi
Main Barn
Lounge with gas fireplace, reading library, and curated retail shop
Demonstration kitchen offering daily meals and à la carte food & beverage options
Meditation Hall for daily movement classes
Saltwater Swimming Pool
Featuring chaise lounges, complimentary natural sunscreen, and poolside food and beverage service
Movement Pavilion
Open access use of the indoor-outdoor fitness center
Outdoor Fire Circle
Outdoor Rooftop Solarium Deck
Cherry Orchard
Transporation & Parking
We offer complimentary arrival and departure transportation in a House Tesla, within a five-mile radius of the property. In addition, we have complimentary on-site parking and use of EV chargers for personal vehicles.
Local transportation in a House Tesla is subject to availability and fee. See all local destinations by clicking here.
OVERNIGHT GUEST: PRICING & DETAILS
THREE-NIGHT, FOUR-DAY PROGRAM:
Reserve before February 15th to enjoy a special reduced rate of $2,900 single occupancy; inquire directly for double occupancy rates
Reserve after February 15th at a set rate of $3,900 single occupancy; inquire directly for double occupancy rates
Taxes and gratuities are not reflected in the package price and will be applied at the time of check out. Food & beverage options not noted on the list of inclusions, such as wine and à la carte food items are not included in the package price and may be added at a supplemental cost. Any additional items, including spa & healing arts services not covered by the package credit, will be added and applied at the time of check out.
DETAILS:
During your three-night, four-day stay, you will have access to Shou Sugi Ban House’s world class facilities, communal spaces, wellness amenities, and culinary offerings. Each of our guest studios accommodate one to two people and feature a king or queen bed, luxurious soaking tub, modern gas fireplace, and private entrance, as well as organic Japanese amenities, signature herbal teas, and nightly seasonal bath soak.
All meals from our acclaimed, plant-forward culinary program designed in collaboration with Michelin-starred Chef Mads Refslund are included, beginning with dinner upon arrival, through breakfast prior to departure. À la carte food and beverage options, as well as organic, biodynamic, or sustainably sourced wines are available at an additional cost.
This special retreat includes up to three Winter Water Immersions & two Sauna Rituals, and a $275 Spa and Wellness credit to be used towards a spa or healing arts treatment of your choice – including facials, massage and bodywork, body treatments and wraps, sound baths, and more – to be scheduled during your daily open reflection time in our award-winning spa. Additional services may be scheduled, subject to availability and additional cost.
DAY GUEST: PRICING & DETAILS
Two-day program cost (Tuesday & Wednesday):
$1,725 per person
DETAILS:
As a day guest you will have access to the custom programs, all daily wellness activities included on the retreat itinerary, and all culinary experiences. You will have access to Shou Sugi Ban House’s world class facilities, communal spaces, wellness amenities, and culinary offerings.
All meals from our acclaimed, plant-forward culinary program designed in collaboration with Michelin-starred Chef Mads Refslund are included, beginning with lunch upon arrival, through breakfast prior to departure. À la carte food and beverage options, as well as organic, biodynamic, or sustainably sourced wines are available at an additional cost.
As a day guest, a Spa and Wellness credit is not included in the program fee, but any spa, wellness, or healing arts experiences may be added to your itinerary at an additional cost,
subject to availability.
All retreat reservations require a 50% deposit at the time of booking, with the remaining balance payable by credit card 30 days prior to the event start date. Deposits are fully refundable if cancellation is made before 60 days of the event start date. Deposits are partially refundable (25% of the total program fee) if cancellation is made before 30 days of the event start date. All bookings made within 30 days of arrival will be charged 100% deposit upon booking.
Taxes and gratuities are not reflected in the package price and will be applied at the time of check out. Food & beverage options not noted on the list of inclusions, such as wine and à la carte food items are not included in the package price and may be added at a supplemental cost. Any additional items, including spa & healing arts services not covered by the package credit, will be added and applied at the time of check out.
Please note that the Spa and Wellness credit may only be used towards spa or healing arts services, cannot be applied to other associated costs of the retreat, and if not used will be forfeited. Preferred spa and healing arts services are subject to availability at time of booking.
Shou Sugi Ban House reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.
