Shakti Rising: A Retreat into the Sacred Feminine for Every Woman Seeking Awakening

Shakti Rising is a yoga retreat for women at Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, set in the mountains of northern Colorado. Led by Jeanie Manchester, it explores the sacred feminine through mythic yoga, pranayama, mantra meditation and chanting in a circle of women. The lens is the Shakta-Shaiva tradition of non-dual tantra, which sees everything as one living, conscious whole and teaches that bliss is who you are at your core. Women new to these practices and women returning to them are both welcome.

What to Expect

The weekend centers on Shakti, the living energy of the feminine, explored as an archetype through the figure of Bhuvaneshvari, the goddess of the earth and star-spangled sky. Ancient goddess tales are told as a way to navigate intense times, and the practices are meant to bring that wisdom into everyday life.

Arrival is in the afternoon, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Guest Services Cabin, followed by an opening circle and orientation. Mornings bring an active, aligned mythic yoga flow with attention to alignment for health. Afternoons shift into a quieter, grounded practice with guided pranayama and mantra meditation. Evenings hold a chanting circle and teachings on the goddess archetypes. Meditation is practiced in silence, in sessions of no more than 20 minutes, while the rest of the weekend includes chanting, sharing and time with the other women.

The retreat closes with a world peace practice and a closing circle, and departure is at 12:30 PM on the final day.

About Jeanie Manchester

Jeanie Manchester is a yoga and meditation teacher with 35 years of practice and teaching in Boulder, Colorado. She is an E-RYT 500, an advanced Yoga Alliance teaching level, and is Anusara-certified, a style of yoga built on alignment. She founded Anjaneya Yoga Shala and created Sacred Flow, a style of yoga that weaves movement with mantra and storytelling. Students describe her as present and mindful, and as a teacher who brings life lessons into her classes. She also hosts the podcast Evolutionary Women.

The Setting

Drala Mountain Center sits near Red Feather Lakes, and the retreat makes use of its mountain surroundings as a source of renewal. Several kinds of lodging are available:

- Tents: Single and double tents in campgrounds across the property, each with two twin beds and a shared bathhouse.
- Dormitories: Rooms for up to seven or eight people, separated by gender, with shared bathrooms down the hall.
- Monk Rooms: Private indoor rooms with a bed, bedding, a closet and a desk, using a shared bathroom.
- Single and Double Rooms: Private rooms with an attached three-quarter bathroom.
- Junior Suites: A queen bed, a sitting area and a private bath with a tub.

All meals and drinks are provided, with omnivore, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Transportation to the center is not included.

Before You Go

This retreat suits women who are comfortable moving through yoga postures, since the mornings follow an aligned flow. No Sanskrit and no meditation background are needed. Sessions are in English.

Drala Mountain Center provides yoga props, including mats, straps, blocks, blankets and cushions, and you are welcome to bring your own favorites. Pack warm layers and something cozy for chanting and meditation. Tent guests should bring their own twin sheets, a blanket or sleeping bag, a pillow and towels.

Neelakantha Meditation Initiation is optional and offered separately for an additional fee. It can be a way to begin a mantra practice before the retreat, and it is available online or in person in Boulder.