Retreats

Salamander Camp is a simple and lovely little retreat center on expansive wild land in the Santa Cruz Mountains (on the outskirts of Los Gatos and only 15 minutes from San Jose). I’ve been a part of bringing people to this special place for over 20 years, and am deeply grateful for the quiet beauty and privacy it offers.

Our sessions are about 3 hours long, and occur twice a day. We gather inside a large movement yurt, with a sprung hardwood floor, for inwardly focused movement explorations. At times we migrate outdoors to the creek-side redwood grove or large meadow, to continue communing with ourselves and each other while finding inspiration and belonging with the larger earth body.

In between sessions there’s ample free time for resting, journaling, drawing, hiking through the redwoods, walking the labyrinth, soaking in the hot tub and dips into the cold plunge. Group meals and open evenings allow for social sharing and warm camaraderie. Some of our time in-between sessions is designated as silent (non-talking), to further support rest, reflection and integration. This rhythm enables deep exploration and rejuvenation, which fosters new perspectives and energy for our everyday lives.

Food & Accommodations: Participants bring their own breakfasts and lunches, and contribute to organized healthy and delicious pot-luck dinners, prepared together in the fully equipped kitchen yurt. Sleeping accommodations are in the shared sleeping yurt or creek-side campsites (one private indoor space is sometimes available). There are several miles of hiking trails, woodstoves in all the yurts, a bath house with hot showers, and a large sunny deck with a cedar hot tub and a small swimming pool.

“The retreat was utterly wonderful for me. I so appreciate your ability to pay meticulous attention to the details and structure, which helps me feel like the holding environment is secure and solid. At the same time the atmosphere of the retreat was so spacious and encouraging of each of us to follow our own knowing – as it emerges moment to moment.”
— Retreat Participant, Nonprofit Communications Professional