Nourish and Nurture Women's Retreat, Orcas Island

The Nourish and Nurture Women's Retreat is a weekend yoga retreat for women at Doe Bay Resort & Retreat on Orcas Island in Washington's San Juan Islands. Led by yoga teacher Joanna Dunn of Joanna Dunn Yoga and Yoga Retreats, it blends yoga, meditation, massage, nourishing food and time in the hot tubs and sauna beside the Salish Sea. Solo travelers, pairs and groups are welcome, and dog-friendly lodging is available for those who want to bring their companion.

What to Expect

The retreat runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning, with an optional Thursday arrival that adds a third night and two full days on retreat. Check-in is between 3 and 4 pm, followed by an opening circle and afternoon yoga, dinner, and an evening of meditation and restorative yoga. Those arriving Thursday have dinner at 6:30 pm and practice that evening, with yoga and meditation again on Friday morning.

Saturday begins with hot water and lemon and a morning meditation at 7:00 am. A movement class follows breakfast, and the group has exclusive time in the spa from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Saturday is a soup cleanse day, and the evening closes with yoga nidra or restorative yoga. On Sunday there is morning meditation and movement, breakfast, and a closing circle before checkout at 10:30 am.

The teaching is described as inspired and accessible. Massages with Kelli Riddle are scheduled in the days just before the retreat, so you may occasionally miss part of an activity.

About Joanna Dunn

Joanna Dunn leads the yoga and meditation teaching and hosts the retreat from Leavenworth, Washington, through Joanna Dunn Yoga and Yoga Retreats. She also reserves the retreat house and shapes the weekend around rest, nourishment and time in nature.

About Kelli Riddle and Sam Switzer

Kelli Riddle provides a 60-minute healing massage for each participant, with a 30-minute upgrade possible depending on availability. Sam Switzer, a personal chef and the Catering Chef of Spreading Roots, cooks the meals, known for carefully sourced, lovingly prepared food.

The Setting

Doe Bay Resort sits on 38 acres of waterfront land at the edge of the Salish Sea, with a private beach, forest trails and wide views over the water. Yoga classes look out over the sea, and the tubs and sauna share that view. Beyond the retreat schedule, Orcas Island offers hiking, kayaking and whale watching.

Lodging comes in two forms. The Retreat House has a limited number of rooms, either a double with two full-size beds or a private room with a queen bed, all with shared bathrooms. It covers Friday and Saturday nights. Alternatively, book your own lodging through Doe Bay, from cabins in the woods and waterfront yurts to tent sites and camper or RV sites, and pay a separate retreat tuition. Doe Bay requires a three-night minimum for its accommodations until one month before the retreat.

Meals run from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast. They are inspired by Rebecca Katz's anti-inflammatory cookbooks and are gluten-free and celiac-friendly. Most other dietary restrictions can be accommodated if you ask ahead.

Before You Go

The retreat price covers meals, the massage, yoga and meditation teaching, and private group time in the tubs and sauna. Retreat House guests also have their lodging included. Travel to and from Orcas Island is your own responsibility, as are separate accommodations, additional bodywork booked through Doe Bay, and extra spa time during the resort's communal soak hours. Because refunds and transfers are not offered unless the retreat is canceled, trip insurance is recommended. Space is limited, and a second weekend was added by popular demand.