Returning to Your Self – Presidentʻs Day Weekend

Returning to Your Self is a Presidentʻs Day weekend wellness retreat at Ratna Ling Retreat Center in Cazadero, California, led by Dr. Amy Wolff and Kathleen Barnette. It is meant for anyone who feels the pull of a fast-moving life, with its devices, commutes, deadlines and constant demands, and wants a few days to unwind, reflect and breathe into their fullness.

What to Expect

The retreat is built around slowing down. The organizers describe it as time to unwind, to reflect, and to remember what you value most, then to return to your life with a renewed sense of ease, joy and strength. It runs over the holiday weekend, with the stay stretching across four days at the center, and the pace is meant to be unhurried and spacious rather than packed with activity.

Specific session times and a daily schedule are not set out for this retreat, so come ready to let the days unfold at the pace of the group and the setting.

Your Hosts

Dr. Amy Wolff and Kathleen Barnette lead this retreat together. They guide the weekend as a shared invitation to step away from the noise of ordinary life and reconnect with what matters most.

The Setting

Ratna Ling is a retreat center in Cazadero, in Northern California, surrounded by coastal redwoods. It is run as a community with a volunteer organization behind it, and it also supports a Tibetan Book Preservation Project and a scholarship fund that helps people attend retreats. Many of the center's gatherings are built around yoga, meditation and time in nature, and the quiet of the redwoods is a large part of why people come.

Before You Go

Nothing in the description asks for prior experience or a particular practice. The invitation is open to anyone who wants a few days to rest, reflect and come back to themselves. Check the event page for current pricing, any early-booking offers, and details on rooms and meals.