Earth, Body, Spirit:
Embodying the Elements
SEPTEMBER 17-21, 2025
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA
Earth. Water. Fire. Air. Ether.
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Earth. Water. Fire. Air. Ether. △
Step into a living experience of the elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether—as they move through your body and spirit. This retreat is an invitation to deepen your connection with the natural world and yourself, weaving elemental wisdom into embodied practice.
Through movement, class time, and sensory exploration, you’ll cultivate a personal toolkit for self-empowerment and holistic well-being guided by the intelligence of our living planet.
In a time when life feels chaotic and disconnected, it’s essential to root into practices that nourish your spirit and ground your being—all while building genuine, supportive community with like-minded women.
Imagine immersing yourself in earth wisdom and embodied practices that honor your body’s needs, guided by experienced facilitators who understand the importance of staying rooted, connected, and vibrant.
This retreat is a space to:
Rediscover your connection to nature and feel at home in your body
Learn practical tools and practices to sustain your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being
Understand the elemental energies and how they show up in your relationships, body, and personality
Experience nourishing, home-cooked meals inspired by the elements
Move, breathe, and feel fully alive through embodied movement classes
Share in grounded, down-to-earth sisterhood with women who get it
Play, create, and be held in a safe, welcoming space
If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you—while finding a community that feels like home—this retreat is for you.
“My intentions going into Earth, Body, Spirit were to keep an open heart, to learn, and be in community with women. This retreat exceeded all expectations. My body, soul, mind, and spirit feel so nourished. It is such a blessing to be in community with women and share these lessons. I connected to a deeper part of myself, and my eyes feel wider + clear…These tools will help me come back down to earth and connect to my purpose.”
— Sydney, 2024 Participant
Meet the Water element.
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Wrightsville Beach, located near Wilmington, NC, is known for its sparkling blue waters, small-town feel, and active outdoor scene. A popular destination for surfers, boaters, and beach enthusiasts, it offers a mix of laid-back beach town charm and upscale amenities.
Retreat guests will be staying in one of two private residential homes on Wrightsville beach, both located on the water for stunning sunset views, refreshing salty breezes, and comfortable accommodations.
Classes, meals, and movement sessions will take place at a stunning 3-story, 6-bedroom home on the water—fondly known as the “Boat House”— with panoramic views, an 8-person sauna, hot tub, and large sunny yoga deck overlooking the marsh and marina.
Daily Flow
Experience a holistic and transformative journey as we move through the elements over four and half days of guided practices, teachings, and embodiment. Each day is dedicated to a specific element, inviting you to connect with your body, mind, and spirit in a safe, playful, and supportive community.
Elemental
Classtime
We’ll gather to explore the energy of the day's element through reflection, storytelling, and real-life examples. Learn how each element shows up in your thoughts, emotions, body, and interactions—both when balanced and out of balance. Share personal experiences and insights, and listen as others reflect on how the element's energy plays out in their own lives. Leave with a clear sense of how to integrate elemental wisdom into your daily relationships and self-care practices.
Afternoon Embodiment
Deepen your connection to the element with experiential activities that bring its energy to life. Sip on herbal infusions, immerse yourself in beachside free play, or practice lymphatic self-care with an Ayurvedic practitioner. These sessions encourage sensory awareness, playfulness, and embodied learning, allowing you to fully integrate the day’s teachings.
Evening Activity
Wind down each evening in a casual, welcoming space designed to deepen connections and nurture your creativity. Dive into a vision boarding session to channel your insights and dreams, or simply relax with fellow participants, sharing stories and reflections. Whether you’re soaking in the hot tub, indulging in the sauna, or creating art by candlelight, the evenings are all about rejuvenation and heartfelt connection.
Morning Movement
Start your day with facilitated movement practices led by certified instructors, designed to embody the day’s element. Ground into stability with Earth-inspired yoga, flow with Water Qi Gong, or Air-invigorating breathwork. These practices help awaken the body, attune to the element, and set a mindful tone for the day.
What Past Participants are Saying
“I’m always surprised by how powerful being witnessed can be for self and collective healing…regular immersion in feminine, nature-focused, heart-sharing spaces feels vital for self balance. I’m always grateful to broaden the way I can connect with nature, self, loved ones, and patients. Thank you Integra for this work you are doing to help us feel seen, included, integrated, and shining our brightest!”
-Sinead, 2024 Participant
“The learning of the elements was much more insightful and enriching than I thought it would be. I am coming away with not only a deeper understanding of myself but of other people and relationships. My deep feeling after this retreat is that truly, we all need to be celebrated for who we are, as we are all unique make-ups of the five elements. I feel that I’ve had true reflection and connection. I am grateful for the emotional release I have experienced, and I’m so grateful for the peace in my heart and my readiness to share some of this knowledge with others.
-Pam, 2024 Participant
“I feel the practices and meditations have helped me get clearer on my next journey as I move into retirement. In learning about the elements, I gained additional insight and understanding about my partner. I already knew we were different, but viewing him and our relationship through the lens of the elements gave me additional understanding and insight about the core of him and what he needs.
-Joan, 2024 Participant
Meet your Facilitators
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Abbey Cmiel
INTEGRA COLLECTIVE CO-FOUNDER
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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Kealy Rudersorf
DESIGN DIRECTOR
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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Bailey McNeill
INTEGRA COLLECTIVE CO-FOUNDER
Director of The Produce Box and passionate advocate for community-centered food systems, Bailey McNeill is dedicated to building sustainable, local food networks that support the Earth and nourish communities. A forever student of regenerative agriculture and herbalism, she brings hands-on experience from working on farms and gardens across the world, infusing her leadership with practical knowledge and a grounded perspective.
Bailey’s fiery passion and dynamic leadership have made her a natural facilitator of group courses and community events, as well as an effective Integrative Health Coach with a focus on women’s nutrition. Her self-awareness and deep understanding of the elements have allowed her to harness her strong fire energy as both a driving force and a gift, while learning to balance it with other elemental qualities for greater emotional, physical, and energetic harmony.
Registration + Accommodation
We welcome day students from the nearby area, as well as overnight guests who will be staying in one of the two homes.
All participants are required to checkout with the Base Registration, which includes access to:
-All classes and class materials
-Guided morning movement sessions, afternoon embodiments, and evening activities
-Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day students need only purchase a Base Registration.
Parking is limited onsite, so carpooling with fellow participants is encouraged!
Overnight retreat guests will need to additionally checkout with their room of choice.
Please note:
-You may split a Queen or King room with one friend. Both participants will need to purchase a base registration, but only one participant needs to checkout with the preferred room. The full cost of the room can be split between the two of you however you please.
-All classes, meals, and activities (aside from the beach day), will take place at the Blue House. Participants staying at the Pink House will need to carpool 1.5 miles to the Blue House, where parking will be reserved onsite. Parking is limited, which is why carpooling and coordinating rides with your fellow housemates will be important.
Once you come to see the world through the elements, your perception of reality shifts.
The elements are what existed before time. They connect us to the wisdom of our ancestors and this living planet that we call home.
Like Myers-Brigg or astrology, the elements are a lens through which to view yourself and the world around you, and their relevance is all-encompassing. They offer us timeless physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational wisdom.
The elements dance through our external environment, as well as in our bodies. As without, so within.
Why the Elements?
Why the Elements?
I am Earth.
I am Earth. I am the solid foundation upon which all is built. I am crumbly, moist soil squished between your toes. I am perseverance to completion, crystallization of energy into form. I am millenia-old rock and unmoving mountains. I am the electromagnetic pulse of a living world that thrums through your body. I am slow and steady, solid and reliable.
I am nurturing and generous. I crave community and interdependence. I offer the container in which we will gather. I am the warmth of a grandmother’s hug and the comfort of chicken soup. You know where I stand and who I am.
I am predictable. You can count on me.
I am Water.
I am Water. I am the deep, mysterious depths of the ocean and the wildly flowing river. I am the tears that come from within to express our innermost emotions and the nurturing rains that fall from the sky to give life to all things.
I am mystical, creative, and deeply intuitive. I am a healer, a nurturer, a giver of life. I am intense, unyielding, and sometimes hard to contain. I have never been good with boundaries and overflow with a wide range of all emotions.
I am fluid, intuitive, and deeply passionate. My imagination runs wild and vacillates between the worlds. I sometimes exist as a dream. I am imaginative, empathetic, and can be deeply guarded. I offer myself in service to my community, pouring myself into others. Encouraging them, as the river always meets the sea, to flow deeply back into me.
I am Fire.
I am Fire. I am the warmth of the hearth and the center of the circle. I am both the spark of creation and the force of destruction. I am the core of the Earth and the radiant heat of the sun.
I am the kindling that fuels the heartbeat of community, family, romance and passion. I can be subtle or strong, nurturing or rageful, easeful or impassioned. I am your greatest fear and your deepest desire.
I am the life of the party and a vibrant leader. People are drawn to me and my dazzling energy, my sensuality, and my play. But don’t get too close, or you will feel the strength of my power.
I am Air.
I am Air. I am the breath of life. I am ruled by the heart, generous and loving, always looking to build connections across the universe. I am the deep and great thoughts, the dreams that can turn into realities and change the world. I am a visionary.
I am attuned to my surroundings, intuitively knowing when to stay and when to move. I am compassionate and understanding, encouraging clear communication to the self and others. I function best when I am in service, creating the space for expression, imagination, and creativity. Come fly with me!
I am Ether.
I am Ether. I am the delicate spider’s thread that connects all of life. I am the bridge between matter and spirit. I am the everything in the nothing. At first glance, perhaps I resemble the Void… but in fact, I am the antidote to disconnection.
I long to return home—not to a house or hometown, like you might think, but that place where we all come from. I crave spiritual community. I love to sing and sound and tone, being located in the throat. I need my space—please respect this, it is sacred to me. Peace, harmony, and tranquility are in my nature. You can find me in the stillness, in those moments in between.
FAQs
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Payment for your Base Registration and, if you are staying overnight, your room of choice, is required to secure your spot in the course. Your registration includes a $200 non-refundable deposit.
If you need to cancel your participation no later than two weeks before the retreat’s start date, a refund less your $200 non-refundable deposit will be issued.
Cancellations occurring within fourteen days of the course start date will only incur a 50% refund.
In the case that the course is cancelled by the organizers, you will receive notification of cancellation at least two weeks prior to the anticipated start rate and a full refund.
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As guests register, we will be coordinating carpool options to minimize parking needs onsite. If you are flying into the area, you will fly into RDU International Airport, which is just about two hours away from Wrightsville Beach. We’ll be coordinating out of town arrivals and carpools so no one has to rent a car.
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We will be nourishing you with homemade, locally sourced meals prepared by the Integra team! We will serve both vegetarian and omnivore cuisine, though we will always have a vegan option available. Gluten free + dairy free option at every meal. Let us know in the checkout form if you have any specific dietary restrictions, and we will do our best to accommodate you!
You can bring your own shelf-stable snacks and food for us to store labeled in the communal kitchen. Unless you have extenuating circumstances, we are not able to store food in our communal refrigerator due to space.
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Arrival and check-in is from 2-6pm on Monday, April 22nd.
We will be sending you all off by 11:30am Sunday, April 28th.
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The property is lovely to explore, and you are free to wander, excluding certain private areas that we will point out upon arrival. Go for a swim in the pond, birdwatch for King Herons, and sit with herbs in the garden. Journaling, movement, and naps will be key to integrating your learning! Chat with new friends or take some time to yourself. This experience will fly by before you know it!
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Sanctuary Farm is located about 15-20 minutes away from the town of Chapel Hill, which is home to grocery stores, pharmacies, Urgent Cares and anything else you might need.
Do let your facilitators know if you have any emotional, physical, or mental health needs arise during your time at the course—we are here to support you.
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There is phone service and password-protected wifi at both retreat homes. However, we ask that participants refrain from using phones, tablets, and computers during our time together. Presence is the pathway to connection and deep learning!
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We are excited to fully embody each element during our time together—and that means costumes are welcome! We’ve created a lookbook on Pinterest to inspire your packing. Think cozy lounge wear during the day, and elementally-inspired, festive wear for evenings. This is your stage to play!
We will be sending out a more detailed packing list to registrants as we near the course.
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You can contact the Integra team at hello@integracollective.org. Please reach out, we’re happy to hear from you!
REGISTER NOW FOR EARTH, BODY, SPIRIT
September 17-21, 2025
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Hosted by The Integra Collective
