Join the waitlist and we will let you know as soon as tickets open up for the next retreat! We have reserved the retreat center for August 4-8, 2021 and are keeping fingers crossed that it is safe to gather then. Drop your email here to get updates!
You’re invited to a 5-day, 4-night retreat packed with yoga, joyful exploration of nature, my favorite swimming holes, camaraderie, relaxation, rejuvenation, laughter, body-positive discussion, and self-care in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Buena Vista, Virginia
July 29- August 2, 2020
You’ll join Amber and a group of 20 other women in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The retreat center is a one-of-a-kind setting with gorgeous views, handmade details and art, delicious food, and a beautiful yoga room set in the second floor of a renovated 100-year old dairy barn.
This summer camp themed retreat is balanced as we juggle days of adventure with country-farm-chillaxing. Expect workshops on self-acceptance and sustainable self-care, delicious home-cooked meals, plus plenty of time to swim in the Maury river, hike in the gorgeous scenery, or just enjoy a book in a hammock. For the more adventurous among us, there will be chances to jump off rocks into the river or hike a hill to a 360-degree view of the mountains. Or you can take a luxurious nap and get a massage.
Morning and evening yoga sessions keep you grounded while you have a chance to escape the grind and find gratitude in a laid-back slice of country mountain paradise.
Schedules will vary slightly and final itineraries will go out about a month prior to departure. The schedule below gives you an overall picture of what your yoga retreat week will look like.
We will eat our meals and practice yoga together in a renovated 100-year old dairy barn. Chill time will happen under a peaceful pergola with a fire pit and the sounds of a fountain nearby. Many secluded outdoor nooks exist from walkable meditation gardens to benches and hammocks in the sunshine.
Our mission is to encourage you to experience a slower, quieter, more connected time with nature, away from the hectic pace of the modern day world.
Swipe through this photo gallery to view photos of the cabins, rooms, retreat center, and surrounding areas.
Lodging is booked separately with South River Highlands and is in addition to the retreat tuition. Prices vary from $45 for a bed in our loft shared space to $185/night for a cabin with multiple bedrooms (you can share with friends or other retreat participants if you wish).
Click to see full details on these accommodations. An overview is below. Applicable taxes and fees are in addition to prices shown.
Note: when you view the lodging here, it will appear as if all rooms are sold out. That’s because Body Positive Yoga is reserving the whole retreat center! You’ll need to call for availability and to book your room.
$45/night. Tucked away on the 3rd floor of the barn (where we’ll practice yoga and eat meals) is a loft space with 6 5 single beds. Each bed is surrounded by 3 walls of wood, has a reading light/electric outlet, quality bedding, towels, and, spa robes. Each cubicle has a couple of clothes hooks and a dresser drawer is available for each guest. Shared bathrooms & showers are located one flight down on the 2nd floor.
$125/night. Poplar Studio is a large private room steps from the main building (the “Yoga barn”) where we will have our workshops, classes, and meals, and adjacent to the owners’ farm home. It has a separated entrance with a private deck and two Adirondack chairs. Custom made sliding barn doors over double prairie style doors invite you inside. A very comfortable queen bed, linens, 4 sleeping pillows and an extra blanket; 3 cushioned sofa, a single sofa-chair pullout; a circular eating table for 4 with dishes, silverware, glasses, mini-refrigerator, microwave; full bathroom with large shower, family style toiletries, plush towels, hair dryer; full closet. Coffee pot/’starter’ coffee, teas. The hardwood floor is locally sourced hickory. An abundance of natural light fills this studio. Original art. No internet. Good cell reception.
$130/night. This large 2nd floor king bedroom for 2 has high quality linens & 4 sleeping pillows to spoil you, a mixture of antique & country furniture, original art, lots of space & natural light. En-suite you will find a very nice bathroom with large shower, quality family style toiletries, plush towels, spa robes & a basket of extras. This suite is located inside the main building (the “Yoga barn”) where we will have our workshops, classes, and meals.
$115/night. This 2nd floor queen bed suite for 2 is very comfortable. You will find top quality bedding to pamper you, a tasteful mixture of traditional & country antiques, lots of natural daylight & original art. The en-suite bathroom with large shower is well supplied with quality family style toiletries, plush towels, spa robes & a basket of extras. This suite is located inside the main building (the “Yoga barn”) where we will have our workshops, classes, and meals.
Our hand-hewn log cabins are situated on 250 acres of rolling Shenandoah farmland and nature preserve. Each cabin was discovered in various parts of Virginia & West Virginia, dismantled, then reassembled on the farm with loving care and attention over a period of 30 years. The cabins, dating from c1775 to early 1900’s, are unique with a variety of add-ons: sitting porches, back decks, upstairs loft bedrooms, heating/AC and perhaps a screened-in porch.
These cabins are a short (less than 1 mile) drive from our main “Yoga barn” building.
Important Note: If you love the smell of woodsmoke, a cozy cabin, privacy, peace and quiet, and a dark country night where you can see all the stars, away from city lights, you’ll love these cabins and find them quite charming! However, if being alone in a cabin on a dark night sounds a little scary, and you’d rather be around more people and ambient light, we recommend booking one of the dorm beds or suites.
$160/night. Homesteader’s Cabin sits at the top of the main entry road, several hundred yards from another cabin. Three small cabins are creatively combined to make one terrific cabin.
The center cabin was actually found on the ‘back forty’ and brought to this current location. For 14 years this cabin was home to a Washington & Lee University professor who was/is a well known and respected nature writer.
It has 2 queen bedrooms (one on the main floor, one in the loft), 1 bathroom, the most modern and largest kitchen of all the cabins, a wood stove, front sitting porch and back deck with gas grill. And, of course, Adirondack chairs and a picnic table with umbrella.
You may share this cabin with a friend, or we can pair you up with another retreat participant as roommates. Inquire when you book!
$175/night. DeHart c.1860 is situated at the end of an internal farm road and backs onto woods on two sides. An acre of mown meadow is in front and a hayfield to its side. All is very quiet here. The closest cabin is approximately 250 yards ahead of this cabin.
The private deck off the back main bedroom offers complete privacy… a lovely place to relax, read, grill dinner or nap.
DeHart has 2.5 bedrooms with 3 beds – a queen, double and single, 1 newly remodeled bathroom with antique clawfoot tub, a kitchenette and a wood burning fireplace.
You may share this cabin with a friend, or we can pair you up with another retreat participant as roommates. Inquire when you book!
$150/night. Highlands Cabin was the first cabin brought onto the farm over 40 years ago. This cabin sits off its own private entry road. So, if it’s quiet & tranquility you desire, you have found it here!
Woods surround this cabin perched atop a knoll. Dating from 1775, it has had quite a few features added to it: large loft queen bedroom, large 1st floor bathroom with antique pedestal tub, kitchenette, front sitting porch with bent twig furniture and a screened-in back porch.
Of course, there is a wood burning fireplace, gas grill & picnic table. You won’t want to leave.
There is a queen bedroom in the loft, and a queen sofa bed on the first floor. You may share this cabin with a friend, or we can pair you up with another retreat participant as roommates. Inquire when you book!
$140/night. Writer’s Retreat is the sweetest cabin, more spacious that it would seem.
The feeling you will experience is that of a comfortable nest or cozy hideaway. This is the place to ‘recluse’ from the fast pace of your life. It is simple and charming with everything you need.
One queen bedroom upstairs, nice kitchen, modernized bathroom with antique clawfoot tub on 1st floor, living room with leather furniture, washer/dryer, front sitting porch & side deck with gas grill.
Add the Adirondack chairs, picnic table with umbrella and you are set for a few days or an extended stay.
$198/night. Stonecutter’s Cabin was remodeled as the owner’s personal retreat place.
This cabin is totally unlike the others in size and amenities. The cabin sits in its own private glen and the quiet here is palpable.
The great room addition is surrounded by glass with french doors opening to a private side deck, high wood ceiling, 2 stone fireplaces, a grand piano, modern kitchen, 1 queen bedroom upstairs, 1 large bathroom on 1st floor and dining area with antique farm table.
There are 2 verandas with Adirondack chairs, a gas grill & firewood.
Hey, I’m Amber Karnes, creator of Body Positive Yoga.
Yoga has been an integral part of my decade-long journey toward self-acceptance and body positivity: making peace with my body and helping others to do the same.
If you want to feel wonderful and free in your unique, powerful, (imperfect) human body for a whole week, this retreat is for you. You’ll join a group of likeminded, body positive folks who will accept you without judgment. Together, we’ll create a safe container to explore our feelings around yoga, body image, and radical self-acceptance.
I will lead you through low-pressure, judgment-free, beginner-friendly yoga classes. My body positive yoga style is a gentle, slow flow with plenty of strength-building opportunities as well as time for self-study.
Morning yoga and meditation classes will get you going and prepare you for the day, and in the afternoon we’ll have workshop-style classes where we learn to personalize our yoga practice to work with the body we have today.
We’ll also have plenty of adventures, good food, fun in the sun, and time to relax and have some laughs. Treat yourself to a massage to round out your time away!
Come meet your new BFFs in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains and celebrate the body you have today!
Thanks to a generous donation from a Body Positive Yoga community member, one full scholarship is available to this retreat!
We are proud to partner with Sanctuary in the City to make this scholarship spot available to black or indigenous people of color (BIPOC). Sanctuary in the City is a nonprofit based in Charlotte, NC, whose mission is to create affirming spaces for BIPOC to heal from race-based trauma.
Sanctuary in the City was founded by six women of color community leaders who saw the need for an accessible, safe, and affirming space for individuals and families of color to gather locally to promote transformation on social, community, professional and environmental levels.
"Sanctuary In The City holds abundantly grateful for the support and collaboration we have found in community with Amber Karnes. I have personally witnessed and benefited from Amber’s understanding of the need to create equitable access for BIPOC in wellness spaces. We are honored to serve our community by supporting scholarships to Amber’s retreats and trainings. We trust Amber to hold safe space and share tools and resources that create a ripple of healing." - Kelley Palmer (co-founder, Sanctuary In The City)
To apply for a scholarship, visit this link. Scholarships will be reviewed and awarded by the Sanctuary in the City board. Deadline to apply is April 15, 2020. Recipients will be notified by May 1, 2020.
Space is limited and this retreat sells out every year!
Tuition is $895 for the 5-day retreat and includes all workshops, classes, food and other activities. I’ll reserve your spot with a non-refundable deposit of $350.
You’ll book a room separately with South River Highlands. Prices vary, room sharing options are available. See lodging options here.
Please carefully read the cancellation policy below before registering.
The website will say no vacancy because Body Positive Yoga has reserved the whole retreat center for this weekend! You’ll need to call Lesley at 540-463-2593 to check availability.
The cabins are within a short drive and a car is necessary. The Poplar Suite is within steps of the retreat space, and the private rooms and shared loft dorm space are in the same building as our yoga and dining space.
If you’d like to share a room or cabin, but aren’t bringing a friend, let us know when you register, and we’ll try to find you a roommate who’s also looking!