Autumn Day Retreat
Saturday May 2nd | 9am - 5pm
At Harmony Village, Southern Highlands NSW
Guided by Ruth Pirie & Maria Whiteacre
A nourishing day retreat of yoga, creativity, sound healing
and seasonal reflection
As autumn invites the world to slow down, give yourself a day to do the same.
As the season shifts into autumn, nature begins to soften and turn inward.
The light changes, the air cools, and everything seems to move at a gentler pace.
Often our own inner world longs for the same rhythm. A moment to pause, reflect and reconnect with ourselves.
This retreat offers a day to step into that slower, more nourishing rhythm.
Through yoga, time in nature, creative expression and sound healing, we will explore simple practices that support reflection, connection and inner balance.
Together we will gather in a peaceful natural setting, sharing moments of movement, creativity, stillness and conversation.
A day to slow down.
To listen inwardly.
To reconnect with yourself and the quiet wisdom of the season.
What makes this day unique
This retreat gently weaves together three simple but powerful pathways for restoration and reflection:
Movement • Creativity • Sound
Through yoga we reconnect with the body.
Through creative practice we explore intuition and expression.
Through sound we allow the nervous system to soften and settle.
You’ll also spend time outdoors in quiet reflection, noticing the subtle beauty of the land — the colours of autumn, the quality of light, the soundscape of the natural world.
Throughout the day we will explore practices that bring together body, hands, heart and voice — movement, creativity, reflection and sound — inviting us back into deeper connection with ourselves and the rhythms of the season.
This retreat is for you if...
• You’ve been feeling the pace of life speeding up and would love a day to slow down
• You value meaningful connection and community
• You feel drawn to the wisdom of nature and seasonal cycles
• You enjoy simple, grounding practices that nourish body and mind
• You’re curious about creative expression as a form of reflection or meditation
• You would love a day where you can move, create, rest and simply be
No previous experience with yoga, meditation or art is required.
You are welcome exactly as you are.
Flow of the Day...
This retreat is designed to unfold slowly and organically, allowing space for both connection and quiet reflection.
Arrival & Welcome
You’ll arrive gently into the space with tea or cacao.
As you enter the yoga room you’ll be welcomed with a simple cleansing ritual and invited to place something onto a co-created mandala altar, symbolising the shared intention for the day.
Yoga Practice
We begin with a nourishing and accessible yoga practice to awaken the body and settle the mind.
Through conscious breath and mindful movement we reconnect with the natural intelligence of the body.
Mindfulness Walk & Journaling
You’ll be invited to wander the grounds of Harmony Village in quiet reflection.
This is time to notice the colours of autumn, the shifting light, the sounds of the land. You may journal, sit quietly, or simply walk and observe.
Shared Lunch
We pause to enjoy a wholesome lunch together.
Simple, nourishing food prepared to support the gentle rhythm of the day.
Meditative Art Practice
In the afternoon we move into a creative exploration using watercolour painting.
This is not about artistic skill or producing a finished artwork.
Instead, it’s an invitation to slow down and allow the creative process itself to become a form of meditation — exploring colour, intuition and personal expression.
Vocal Toning & Sound Healing
Together we explore the gentle power of sound through simple vocal toning practices.
Using the natural resonance of the voice alongside sound healing instruments, we create soothing vibrations that support deep relaxation and nervous system regulation.
Yin Yoga & Soundscape
The day concludes with a deeply restorative yin yoga practice accompanied by a meditative soundscape of instruments and voice.
A space to soften, rest and integrate the experiences of the day.
What is Meditative Art
Meditative art blends mindfulness with creative expression.
It is not art therapy, and no artistic experience is required.
Instead, it offers a gentle space to explore creativity as a pathway for self-reflection, mental clarity and wellbeing.
Through simple watercolour processes and guided prompts, you are invited to slow down and enter a creative flow state.
This process can help cultivate calm, open intuition and reconnect you with your inner world.
The focus is not the finished artwork — but the experience of creating.
What is Sound Healing
Sound healing uses resonant vibration and frequency — through instruments such as crystal bowls, chimes and voice — to support balance within the physical, emotional and energetic bodies.
These vibrations gently stimulate the body’s natural healing responses and can help shift brainwaves into meditative states.
As the nervous system settles, the body moves toward a state of restoration and balance.
Each tone becomes a bridge back to stillness — inviting the mind and body to return to their natural harmony.
The Venue
This retreat takes place at Harmony Village, a peaceful orchard sanctuary in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
Harmony Village supports personal development through anthroposophically inspired arts, therapies and education, with a strong focus on community and social connection.
Surrounded by nature, the space offers a beautiful environment to experience the tone of the season and reflect on our own inner life processes.
Meet Ruth...
Ruth Pirie is a yoga teacher, sound practitioner, energy healing facilitator and space-holder devoted to the path of sacred sound and embodied wisdom.
She guides others into deeper self-inquiry through nourishing movement, breathwork and meditation.
Ruth came to yoga while navigating post-natal depression and grief in the early years of motherhood. Yoga, mindfulness and breath practices soon became a steady anchor in her life.
Her journey eventually led her into Marma Therapy, Sound Healing and Nāda Yoga — the yoga of sound.
Today she shares these practices to help others reconnect with stillness, restore balance within the nervous system and access the deeper wisdom of the body and soul.
Through conscious sound and presence, Ruth creates spaces where people can soften, listen inwardly and return to a sense of wholeness.
Meet Maria...
Maria’s journey into yoga and creativity has been shaped by her lifelong relationship with art, nature and neurodivergence.
Without initially knowing she was neurodivergent (later diagnosed at 43), creativity and time in nature became important ways for her to process the world.
Her passion for creativity led her to become an Art teacher, supporting young people through artistic exploration.
After experiencing burnout and major surgery, Maria returned to a committed yoga practice which helped her reconnect with her breath, body and nervous system.
Through this process she rediscovered clarity, balance and connection with the natural world.
Today Maria feels deeply called to share the therapeutic and healing potential of both yoga and creative expression, supporting others to explore their own pathways toward wellbeing.
Learn more about Maria and her offerings here:
Handwork Connections - Maria Whiteacre
Investment
$299 per person
or
$249 for Studio Unlimited Membership holders
Secure your place with:
$100 non-refundable deposit (with the balance due April 13th)
or
Pay in full
Spaces are limited to 15 participants.
Bank Transfer payments can be sent to:
Account name: My Yoga Space
BSB: 802-388
Account Number: 100078245
Macarthur Credit union
*Please use your name as reference for the payment.
What's Included
• Full day retreat experience
• Yoga practices
• Sound healing & vocal toning
• Meditative art workshop
• All art materials
• Nourishing lunch
• Tea & refreshments
Details
Date: Saturday 2 May 2026
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: Harmony Village, Mittagong NSW
Cancellation Policy
Please Note: Due to the nature of the offering we are unable to provide refunds or rain-checks - all purchases are final. Alternatively your ticket can be passed on to a friend/family member for them to take your place.
Sat May 2nd | 9am - 5pm | Join us for an immersive day retreat to soften, unwind and ground.
Loading days...
5 hr
From 100 Australian dollars