Escape For The Day Retreat at Cedarwood Farm
October 19, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
$199 Early Bird (before September 19) $249 (after September 19)
with Julie Helmes, Kristan Mardan and Holly Shuman
Join us for a transformative day of wellness and restoration at the serene Cedarwood Farm in Ipswich, Massachusetts. This carefully curated retreat offers a perfect blend of ancient healing practices designed to help you reconnect with yourself and find balance in your daily life.
» Your journey begins with a rejuvenating 90-minute yoga practice led by experienced instructor Kristan Marden, designed to ground you in the present moment while building strength and flexibility. This practice is open to all levels connecting movement, breath and intention. Practice will finish with a long savasana.
» Following your practice, dive into the wisdom of Ayurveda with an enlightening introduction to this healing system, where you'll learn foundational principles for optimal health and wellbeing. You will learn your Ayurvedic dosha and how to implement some Ayurvedic practices into your daily life. Nourish your body with a thoughtfully prepared Ayurvedic lunch crafted by Julie Helmes, featuring seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients selected to balance your doshas and support your individual constitution.
» The day concludes with an acupuncture session designed to support nervous system regulation and deep relaxation with skilled practitioner Holly Shuman, allowing you to experience the profound healing benefits of this time-honored therapeutic art.
Throughout the day, you'll have ample time for rest, peaceful walks around the farm grounds, quiet reading, and reflective journaling—creating space for deeper introspection and integration of your experiences.
Set against the peaceful backdrop of Cedarwood Farm's natural beauty, this retreat provides the perfect sanctuary to step away from daily stresses and invest in your holistic wellbeing. Whether you're new to these practices or looking to deepen your existing knowledge, this day offers something meaningful for everyone.
Space is limited to ensure an intimate, personalized experience. Come as you are and leave feeling refreshed, centered, and equipped with tools for ongoing wellness.
About Julie Helmes:
Julie grew up in Marblehead and in 2018 returned to her roots as the owner of The Yoga Loft Marblehead. She earned her 200-hour certification from Marianne Wells Yoga School in Costa Rica and returned to Boston to teach. It was during her teacher training that she was first introduced to Ayurveda; the ancient Indian health science and sister science to yoga. Through her own health journey, she chose to study deeper and become an Ayurveda Wellness Counselor with Kerala Ayurveda Academy. Julie practices an Ayurvedic lifestyle and shares it with The Yoga Loft teacher training and through 1:1 consultations.
About Kristan Marden:
Kristan grew up in Marblehead and lives there now with her husband and three children. After graduating college with a degree in exercise science and then working in the fitness industry as a Wellness Specialist, she was naturally drawn to yoga. Kristan is a Yoga Alliance 500 ERYT, YACEP. In 2018, she completed her 300 hour teacher certification at Down Under School of Yoga in Brookline, MA with Natasha Rizopoulos. In 2012, she completed her 200 hour teacher certification at Empower Yoga in Beverly, MA. Kristan also completed Jason Crandall’s Essentials of Yoga Anatomy and The Art of Yoga Sequencing courses. In 2015, Kristan participated in Judith Lasater’s Experiential Yoga Anatomy course.
About Holly Shuman:
Holly became fascinated by the power of acupuncture after seeking treatment for her miserable allergies. The benefits of the treatments were spilling over into other aspects of her life. She was sleeping better and felt less reactive. Her quality of life generally improved with more energy and less irritability. With no downtime, side effects or prescriptions, acupuncture had changed her life.
“I love what I do!” Holly says. “Everyday I have the opportunity to bring relief, hope and connection to my patients. Healing often starts with just being heard, acknowledged or truly cared for. It's an honor to be a part of someone else's healing journey.”
Workshop Refund Policy:
Full payment is required to reserve a space in workshops. All workshops are non-refundable. Due to limited space and high demand for some workshops we have a 24 hour cancelation policy. Cancelations made more than 24 hours in advance will be issued studio credit. No credit will be given for cancelations made less than 24 hours.