Join us for an intimate weekend retreat of nurturing your creative soul while soaking up autumn beauty in these Tennessee Smoky Mountains. Our feminine spirit thrives on creative expression, yet we rarely give ourselves the time and space to simply be still and listen — and to follow the invitation of our heart.

During this weekend retreat, we’ll loosen resistance, expand awareness and experience the lightness of spontaneous soul play. We’ll practice meditation and yoga, express through writing and visual art, and dare to move and dance! No experience is required and all levels are welcome.

Together we’ll re-ignite and embolden the creative spirit that lives within each of us - giving us renewed clarity, connection, and vitality to bring back into our daily lives.  

Amidst the Smoky Mountains

In the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and amidst one of the world's most ecologically diverse regions, Seven Springs retreats center boasts seven natural springs on 126 acres of private land, providing the spaciousness to reconnect with nature. 

Seven Springs offers charming shared yurts with comfortable beds, inspiring mountain views, nature walks and delicious Ayurvedic vegetarian meals amidst soul-nourishing landscapes.

RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS

• Inspiring location with panoramic Smoky Mountains views
• Daily meditation & yoga practice
• Visual art, writing, and movement self-expression circles 
• Co-facilitated by Marianne Richmond, best-selling children’s book author/artist
• Scenic outdoor yoga pavilion  
• Delicious organic vegetarian meals
• 2 nights stay in shared, charming yurts or furnished glamping
• Break for relaxing, reflection or wandering
• Very Intimate: Only 10 participants max!

awaken your creative soul

How often have we blocked our own expression? Held our tongue? Hushed the muse? How many times have we dismissed ourselves as “not creative”? Or been too intimidated by a creative project to start? 

We can easily make — and often do —everything more important than allowing creativity. But our creative soul still yearns, beckoning our awareness to be heard, nourished and expressed. When we mute or dismiss our creative longing, we block divine life energy - feeling closed, dull and contracted. When we embrace it, we become more open, bright and curious.​

In this retreat, you will: 

• Gather with a beautiful circle of inspiring women who value truth, vulnerability, laughter and connection.
• Explore the blocks that have separated you from your creative flow. Invite back the joy of creativity.
• Reconnect with your intuition through presence and play.
• Open your energetic channels to insight, inspiration and freedom through meditation, writing and art.
• Discover how to “move with the muse,” as you animate your body through yoga and dance. 
• Return to your life inspired by your self-discovery, creative expansiveness and in awe of the magic that unfolds when women circle together.

Smoky Mountains As Our Muse  

In the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and amidst one of the world's most ecologically diverse regions, Seven Springs Holistic Retreat Center boasts seven natural springs on 126 acres of private land, providing spaciousness and inspiration. 

Seven Springs offers charming shared yurts & furnished glamping with comfortable beds, panoramic mountain views, nature walks and delicious Ayurvedic vegetarian meals amidst soul-nourishing landscapes.

Guests arrive to Seven Springs on Friday afternoon, September 20th between 10:30am-12:30pm. We’ll serve lunch before opening our circle at 1:00pm to begin our weekend together. 

Friday, Sept 20th: 
10:30 am - 12:30 pm Check in & Relax (Lunch Available)
1:00 - 2:30 pm Opening Circle

2:30 - 4:30 pm Introductory Art Circle

(4:30 - 5:30 pm Break)
5:30 - 6:30 pm Yin Yoga
6:30 - 7:30 pm Dinner
7:30 - 10:00 pm Candlelit Writing Circle & Night Activity

Saturday, Sept 21st:

7:30 am: Wake-up

8:00 - 9:30 am: Medi & Yoga

9:30 -10:30 am: Breakfast

10:30 am - 1:00 pm: Writing Circle 

(1:00 - 3:00 pm: Lunch & Break)
3:00 - 4:30 pm: Embodied Expression/Dance

4:30 - 6:30 pm: Art Circle 

6:30 - 7:30 pm: Dinner

7:45 - 10:00 pm Evening Wine, Art, & Writing Circle

10:00 pm Campfire

Sunday, Sept 22nd:

7:30 am - Wake-up

8:00 - 9:30 am: Medi & Yoga

9:30 - 10:30 am: Breakfast
11:00am - 1:30 pm: Final Writing & Art Circle

1:30 - 2:00 pm: Closing Circle

2:00 pm: Lunch & Departure

Meditation and yoga will be held in the outdoor yoga pavilion, and we also have an indoor space available. Our self-expression circles will rotate between outdoor and indoor spaces, as we feel called.

Delicious ayurvedic meals will be served in the outdoor kitchen area. 

Breathe the fresh mountain air

Seven Springs is located near Maryville, Tennessee. The Smoky Mountains are the world's oldest mountains and one of the world's most ecologically diverse regions, featuring temperate rain forest climate with over 17,000 species of plants and animals. This amazing biodiversity is the backdrop for the abundant richness of Seven Springs and the rejuvenating spirit of this land.

Take in Nature

Seven Springs features an open air yoga pavilion built with local forest cedar that offers panoramic morning views of the Chillhowee mountains. The ground offer stunning hill perches, creekside spots, and gorgeous nature walks, with a resident master naturalist/ ecologist. The center is close to many natural attractions to further explore before or after the retreat.

Autumn Air

We will enjoy gorgeous early fall temperatures at Seven Springs during early-mid October. We recommend to bring along your comfortable fall layers to be cozy while enjoy the early mornings and later evenings. We will start yoga once the warm sun has risen up over the mountains. 

Accommodation & Facilities

Seven Springs features well-fashioned shared yurts of 2 to 4 people, or a private yurt upgrade.

Each yurt is furnished with comfortable beds and bedding, electricity and lights, tables and dressers. Yurts are the closest accommodation to the bathrooms.

Additionally, some guests will stay in private glamping tents.  Each large tent is set on a wooden platform and is furnished with comfortable beds and bedding and solar lights. The tents are located in a cool space amongst the trees. 
 

Shared bathrooms on the property offer two hot showers, two water-saving flushing toilets, and running water. 

Morning yoga will take place in the outdoor yoga shala. Women's circles will take place between the shala, outdoor classroom, and the 24 foot yurt classroom with labyrinth floor design.

Mats, props, cushions, and blankets for chilly mornings or evenings will be provided.

Delicious meals

All meals will be vegetarian, varied and generously prepared by Ayurvedic chef Wendy who lives locally. All meals are served in the outdoor kitchen, as we take in the beauty of the surroundings. 

Afternoon snacks will also be provided. The kitchen is available for any additional guest needs.

Sustainable Living

At Seven Springs, you will be woken in the morning by drum or bells as we rise to practice meditation and yoga in the shala. 

Natural washing practices contribute to sustainability, and each guest washes her individual plate and cutlery. You are asked to be respectful of local wildlife (raccoons, skunks, bears) and keep food in designated containers, while treading lightly around local flora.

This is a real chance to disconnect and allow yourself to stay in the space of the women's gathering. There is no WIFI on the property, inviting you to connect with nature and within.

What To Bring

Please bring your own natural toiletries, a towel, and layers of clothing to suit varying temperatures during the day and night.

It may be a bit fresh early in the mornings and chilly in the night, so make sure to bring a sweater, jacket, and socks etc to stay cozy.

A headlamp is a necessity, and bring a pair of light hiking shoes and slip-on shoes.

Aimee Hansen

Creator, Storyteller Within Women's Retreats

Aimee chases big questions with butterfly nets, only to set them free again. She's always had an irresistible attraction to words and metaphors as a way of playing, provoking, revealing, exploring, understanding, and connecting. Fifteen years ago she began sneaking away from the office for creative writing classes at Central Saint Martins College while living in London, writing short stories and rekindling a childhood love for all things lyrical.

On a quest for more meaningful plot in life, she left her corporate job in London years ago to travel. In 2012, her travels guided her to Guatemala and back to herself. Her intensive studies with an intuitive mentor who called her "the storyteller" and her own passion for human insight started her on an ever curious and unfolding journey into the nature of perception. Her work explores the power of the stories we tell within our lives and invites a creative and playful adventure in the yoga of perspective. 

Aimee works as a freelance writer, writes children stories, dances with the muse at poetry, and writes into tricky spaces. She holds a 200+ hr yoga teacher certification. She is inspired and humbled by witnessing how something raw and honest in the human spirit aches to open, when given the invitation. She began Storyteller Within retreats to share in the experience of exploring our humanity and stepping into our courage as women.

Aimee is most moved by living in harmony with the mysterious sway of her heart towards whatever lights her up from within.

Marianne Richmond

Co-Facilitator, Children's Book Author/Artist

The author and artist of more than 50 children's books, Marianne helps people share their heart and connect with those they love. With more than 6 million copies sold, Marianne's gift is writing for the “unique everybody,” putting into words the feelings that unite us.  

Marianne's adventure into book writing began in her mid 20's following brain surgery to remove a benign tumor, the source of numerous epileptic seizures during childhood. What started as hand-painted thank you cards for her well-wishers blossomed into a successful publishing company she co-ran for 15 years.

Today, in addition to her own creating, she loves encouraging women to embrace their own spirit, creativity and wisdom while cultivating meaningful connection with others!   "I'm delighted when my work is a bridge to the message of your own heart," says Marianne.

By Air: 

The closest airport is Knoxville International Airport (TYS). The airport is actually located in Alcoa and only 25 minutes from Seven Springs. We can arrange transportation services to pick you up from this airport, a $25 charge.

You may also consider flying into the Atlanta International Airport rent a car to drive to Seven Springs. The Atlanta airport is about a three hour drive. 

By Car:

Please see the address below for the GPS location. We will provide additional instructions to ensure you arrive at the front entrance.

Nearby Attractions

If you have time before or after the retreat, there are many beautiful opportunities to soak up more of the surroundings.

Located less than 25 miles from Seven Springs is the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited National Park in the U.S. On your way you will drive through Townsend with a wonderful Visitors Center. Cades Cove is also a beautiful 11 mile loops to drive or bike on Saturday mornings when it is closed to cars. Abrams Falls is a nice 5 mile hike from Cades Cove.