Wellness Weekend: Kundalini Yoga and River Town Retreat

The retreat takes place in The Thornton Home, a 5,000-square-foot Italian-style house in Lansing, Iowa, a town of under 1,000 people nestled between the bluffs of the Driftless Area right on the Mississippi River. The home operated as a bed and breakfast for 17 years before hosts Michelle and Curtis bought it in 2023 and turned it into their residence and retreat space. You stay in a private queen suite with your own bathroom, and the common areas include a second-floor veranda with river views, a hot tub, and a treatment room on the main floor.

Most retreats here are solo, and the schedule is built around you. Hosts Michelle Gauer and Curtis Killorn designed the weekend to include two personalized Kundalini Yoga classes, a 90-minute integrated bodywork session, an ecstatic dance class, a sacred cacao ceremony, and an evening sound immersion. Michelle is a licensed massage therapist, Master Level Reiki practitioner, certified Kundalini Yoga teacher (200-hour training in 2021), certified sound healer, psychic medium, and a stage IV cancer survivor. Curtis is a visionary artist and chef who handles the home-cooked meals.

The town of Lansing itself is part of the experience. You can walk two blocks to Mt. Hosmer Park, four blocks to the river, or spend an afternoon visiting the local shops. The Effigy Mounds National Monument is half an hour away, and the hosts can arrange a guided hike. With just one or two guests at a time, the retreat is less like a program and more like being hosted in someone's home, with all the care that implies.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation in a private queen room with private bathroom - 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals - Water, tea, and coffee served throughout the day - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - 90-minute integrated massage - Sacred cacao ceremony - Ecstatic dance class - Sound immersion - Guided hikes - Wifi connection - Hot tub access

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Meals not taken at the house (if you choose to dine out) - Visa fees - Additional spa services - Airport transfers (available for €43 per person)