Rest & Relaxation Weekend: A Self-Guided Invitation

The Rest & Relaxation Weekend: A Self-Guided Invitation is a wellness retreat at Elohee in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, hosted by Eve Cook and Michael Cook. Nothing on the weekend is scheduled. It is for anyone who has wanted to experience Elohee at their own pace, and who needs permission more than a program.

What to Expect

There are no classes, sessions or set activities. The weekend is a self-guided invitation to simply be. You are welcome to rest deeply, wander slowly, and follow your own rhythm from one hour to the next. If you want to sleep, sit quietly, walk the grounds, or do very little, that is the whole offering.

This is a different kind of retreat from the teacher-led yoga and meditation weekends held at Elohee through the year. Here, the structure is the absence of structure. Eve Cook and Michael Cook welcome you to the place and leave the days open.

People who tend to be drawn to a weekend like this are often those who spend most of their time giving: to work, family, and community. A weekend with nothing to attend and nothing to accomplish can be its own kind of restoration. It also suits anyone who has been curious about Elohee and would like to get to know it without a schedule pulling them along.

The Setting

The weekend is based in Mandala Hall at Elohee, a retreat center in Sautee Nacoochee, in the North Georgia mountains. December brings the quiet of winter to the property, a season well suited to slowing down and staying close to a single place. Wandering slowly is part of the invitation, so bring shoes and layers you are comfortable walking in.

Hosts

Eve Cook and Michael Cook host the weekend. They are also the hosts behind the other Rest & Relaxation Weekends at Elohee, which pair the same open spirit with a particular focus, such as silence, yoga, or creative practice. This self-guided weekend is the plainest version of the idea: a place to rest, with nothing added.

Before You Go

No experience or prior practice is needed, since there is nothing to learn or keep up with. Come as you are, with whatever kind of rest you are missing. Bring comfortable clothing for staying in and for time outdoors, along with anything that helps you settle, such as a book, a journal, or a favorite blanket.