EMERGENCE is a two-night women’s retreat held in the North Georgia mountains during a season of return, when the landscape begins to open, and life becomes visible again in subtle, natural ways.
Held at the Thanksgiving House at Elohee, surrounded by forest, mountain air, a 100-foot waterfall, and quiet walking trails, the setting offers a fully immersive experience in nature, where the pace of the environment itself invites spaciousness and presence.
Why EMERGENCE?
EMERGENCE describes the natural return of life after stillness. In nature, this return is not sudden but gradual and layered. What has been quiet begins to reappear in its own time. The ground softens, the air shifts, and growth becomes visible through steady, natural movement. Leaves do not rush, and flowers do not force. Life reenters the landscape at its own pace, in its own rhythm.
This seasonal rhythm shapes this retreat. It is designed for women seeking time away from routine, constant input, and daily responsibilities, and a weekend held in nature with space for simplicity, rest, and a slower pace of attention.
EMERGENCE offers the opportunity to step out of familiar environments and experience a different relationship to time and space for a few days. The experience includes gentle yoga, breathwork, meditation, creative expression, shared meals, and time outdoors.
Here you get to:
→ Step away from daily responsibilities for a short period of time
→ Spend time in a quiet natural setting
→ Move through guided practices without expectation
→ Share space and conversation with other women
→ Rest, walk, sit outside, and move through the weekend at ease
→ Experience a slower and simpler rhythm
What to Expect
Across the weekend, you will experience daily yoga, meditation, breathwork, women’s circles, creative expression, journaling, time in nature, and unstructured time woven throughout.
Meals are shared and prepared on-site. Accommodations are located within the Thanksgiving House and surrounded by nature.
The schedule includes both guided experiences and open time, so the weekend feels structured but not full.
Guests arrive Friday, April 23, 2027, at 2 pm. We begin at 4 pm with a welcome circle, introductions, and orientation to the weekend.
The retreat concludes Sunday, April 25, 2027, at 2 pm.
NO yoga or meditation experience is required in this weekend of spaciousness, nature, and emerging with the season of spring. All are welcome.
EMERGENCE
From within the stillness, something stirs.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
This is more than a retreat.
It is a return to a slower rhythm.
A soft recalibration into presence.
A quiet unfolding in step with the season, as life begins to open again.
EMERGENCE is an invitation to receive—fully, simply, and with ease.
Wondering what a retreat with Melba is like? Here is what participants are saying:
Melba’s retreat was simply amazing. The location in the Georgia mountains was beautiful. Melba’s thoughtful preparation wove a relaxing schedule of yoga, group discussion and activities, self-reflection, and self-care opportunities. I was exhausted when I got there from being a caregiver to an aging parent and wasn’t sure what I would feel like at the end. Melba’s guidance led me to renewed belief in myself with new confidence and courage to prioritize taking care of myself through physical, mental, and spiritual practices.
—2024 attendee
I didn’t know what to expect walking into my first yoga retreat. I craved time to reconnect with myself, but leaving my family and responsibilities behind felt a little selfish. Still, I listened to my gut—and I’m so glad I did.
From the first circle, something shifted. What began as a room full of strangers quickly became a space of trust, vulnerability, and connection. I felt seen, supported, and surrounded by genuine love.
Between grounding yoga flows, delicious meals, quiet moments, and deep conversations, I found exactly what I didn’t know I needed: peace, clarity, and a new soul family.
When the weekend ended, I wasn’t ready to leave—but I left with a full heart and lasting connections. Take the “selfish.” We all deserve time to fill our own cups—and mine was overflowing.
—2024 Attendee
The Serenity Retreat was exactly what I needed—time to slow down, reconnect with nature, and find my inner peace. Melba did an incredible job leading the retreat and creating meaningful experiences that truly helped me discover a sense of serenity. I’m so grateful for the time, the connections, and the practices I’ll carry with me moving forward
—2026 Attendee
The retreat was one of the best experiences I've ever had as a person. It helped me understand and forgive myself. It was a much-needed healing. It was a very good experience, and I would do it again a thousand times.
—2025 Attendee
The Yoga Retreat was one of the highs of the year!
—2024 Attendee
Melba's wellness retreat was mentally, spiritually, and physically rejuvenating. She intricately creates each aspect of the retreat. The meditations and yoga sessions are thoughtful. The sound bath is beautiful, the yoga includes many different styles, and the space to be mindful, heal, and reset is top notch. I'm forever grateful for this experience! Thank you, Melba, Elohee, and Bloom!
—2025 Attendee
I had a wonderful experience with Melba and Elohee. Melba has a very calming and grounding presence. She held a beautiful space and container for us all to feel safe and held. I enjoyed the yoga, breathwork, meditation practices and down time. I loved it so much and would definitely like to do another retreat with her!!
—2026 Attendee
Attending the retreat for the first time was more profound than I ever expected. I arrived emotionally drained, burdened by guilt, and weighed down by a heaviness I couldn’t shake. I hoped for a shift—any shift—and I found so much more.
From the moment I arrived, the space felt grounding and safe. Nature, the sessions, the stillness, and the energy of the group began to soften something within me.
By the end, it was as if a fog had lifted. I felt lighter, clearer, and more connected to myself. The retreat reminded me of the power of stillness, presence, and being with myself without judgment. I left feeling renewed and deeply grateful.
—2025 Attendee
Embarking on my first yoga retreat was a transformative journey that awakened my inner resilience. Melba's expert guidance inspired me to reclaim my self-assurance, unlocking unprecedented confidence and courage to prioritize my holistic well-being. The majestic Georgia mountains setting was a serene sanctuary that nurtured my mental and spiritual growth. Melba's meticulous planning crafted a soothing schedule of yoga, hiking, and downtime, while the delectable cuisine brought us together, fostering profound connections and conversations in the most incredible way.
-2025 Attendee
Melba’s retreat was mentally, spiritually, and physically rejuvenating. Every detail—from the meditations and affirmations to the yoga and sound bath—was thoughtfully curated. It was a beautiful space to heal, reset, and reconnect. Forever grateful!
—2025 Attendee
Accommodations and Pricing
The Thanksgiving House was the original structure at Elohee. With six bedrooms and four bathrooms, it sleeps up to thirteen people. It offers two community rooms with fireplaces, a kitchen and dining room, as well as a meditation/yoga room. The outdoor patio has a fireplace and overlooks a 100-foot waterfall and a small pool.
The Thanksgiving House is nestled in a niche of the Rich Cove Forest, which supports a wide range of trees and plants. Red maple, oak, basswood, and poplar are only a few of the types of trees growing here. Spring wildflowers and medicinal herbs flourish here. Mosses and rotting logs make the damp forest floor suitable for a wide variety of salamanders, and it is one of the most diverse ecosystems found outside the tropics.
The Thanksgiving House is situated next to a 100-ft waterfall, and about a 10-minute walk from Bald Mountain. It has 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 indoor fireplaces, 1 outdoor fireplace, and a meeting space that comfortably fits 10-11people.
(from Elohee)
This is an All-Inclusive Retreat (see what’s included below):
Queen Suite (queen bed, private room, shared bathroom)
Single Occupancy: $1300
Double Occupancy: $975/person (must book alongside another guest, must share a bed)
Double Room (twin bed, shared room, shared bathroom)
$925/person
Triple Room (twin bed, shared room, shared bathroom)
$875/person
King Suite (king bed, private room, private bathroom)
Single Occupancy: $1500
Double Occupancy: $1175/person (must book alongside another guest, must share a bed)
What’s Included:
3 days/2 nights accommodations in the Thanksgiving House.
Twice daily yoga and meditation offerings
All meals per day made with fresh, local ingredients (most special diet requirements can be accommodated)
Tea Service throughout the day
Free Unlimited Wi-Fi Access
Guided hike and access to multiple hiking trails, including waterfalls and streams
Use of the naturally-filtered pond at the top of Bald Mountain
What’s Not Included:
Transportation to and from Elohee
Spa treatments and/or Reiki Sessions (you can book these through Elohee)
Optional Excursions
Ready to Reserve Your Spot?
A $300 deposit is required to reserve your space. This deposit is non-refundable, non-exchangeable, and non-transferable. Full cancellation details are shared at registration.
Once your deposit has been received, you will be sent a Retreat Agreement via email within seven (7) business days.
Your booking is not complete until your retreat agreement and waiver are submitted.
Full payment is due by March 5, 2027. Payment plans are available upon request. Reservations made after this date require full payment at the time of booking.
Payments via ACH (bank transfer) are free; credit card payments incur a 3% processing fee.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to me, Melba, at amalieyoga@gmail.com. This is especially helpful if you are booking alongside family or friends.
ABOUT YOUR RETREAT LEADER
Melba Payan
RYT 500, YACEP, Embodied Life Coach