Sedona Plant-Based Farm-to-Table Food Art Cooking & Self Care Retreats

Coming in Fall 2022!

You’ll experience a beautiful, memorable, life-changing weekend with a group of incredible new friends.

• The Retreat is a wonderful time for self-care, relaxation, enjoying hands-on interactive Plant-Based Food Art culinary with Arizona farmers produce in magical Sedona.
• Enjoy our eco-retreat house with its amazing kitchen, outdoor dining area with Cathedral Rock in the distance, and incredible, peaceful, natural environment.
• Enjoy the beauty and vortex energy of Sedona, Arizona.

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A Few Highlights of Retreats

• Welcome Dinner. Evening welcome dinner in the serene local Sedona Organic Restaurant, ChocolaTree.
• Hands-on Plant-Based Food Art Culinary. Lots of intuitive plant-based cooking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring local Arizona farmers freshly harvested produce. Learn how to create simple, beautiful plant-based meals.
• Special Sedona Ceremonial Experiences. Join authentic Sedona masters, with memorable Blessings, Feng Shui Readings, and Kiva Ceremony.
• Hiking & Yoga in the Sedona Vortex Energy. Explore the magic of Sedona led by local guides.
• Self Care. Enjoy the magical beauty of Sedona, relax at our retreat house, and enjoy your massage.

If you are interested in our Fall 2022 retreat or a custom retreat for your organization or group of friends, please send me an e-mail (Mel@MelanieAlbert.com) or call (602.615.2486). I’d love to get to know you, to answer your questions, and to share more about the Sedona Plant-Based Retreats. –Melanie Albert

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Take a look…the first day I saw the retreat house in 2017. One of my very favorite places on the Earth.

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Day-by-Day Itinerary: Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Retreats

Our retreat days focus on hands-on plant-based farm-to-table cooking, along with self-care, hiking, yoga, massage, and special Sedona experiences. We all invite you to enjoy your time during the retreat. Note that the itinerary may change slightly.

Friday

• By 1:00 pm Arrive in Phoenix Arizona (Fly into Sky Harbor International Airport); flight not included in retreat price; Shuttle from Phoenix to Sedona not included in retreat price)
• 5:00-5:30pm       Arrive at Sedona Retreat House
• 6:00-7:30pm       Dinner at Plant-Based Sedona Restaurant, ChocolaTree
• 8:30-9:30pm       Welcome Ceremony with June Rettinger de Arballo of MeaningfulThings.net

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Saturday

• 8:00-8:30am       Good Morning Reflections
• 8:30-10:00am     Breakfast Plant-Based Cooking Experience
• 10:00-Noon        Massage with Muzique Broadnax, Feng Shui Reading with Gary Hendrickson of Feng Shui Design International, Spiritual Reading with June Rettinger de Arballo, or Relax at Retreat House
• Noon-2:30pm    Lunch Plant-Based Raw Culinary Experience with Food Art
• 3:00-5:00pm       Hike and Yoga: Sedona Vortex adventure with Daniel Posney of Shamystic
• 6:00-8:30pm       Dinner Plant-Based Cooking Experience
• 8:30-9:30pm       Massage, Feng Shui Reading, or Relax at Retreat House
• 9:30-10:00pm     Good Night Reflections

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Sunday

• 8:00-8:30am Good Morning Ceremony with June Rettinger de Arballo of MeaningfulThings.net
• 8:30-9:30am Breakfast Plant-Based Cooking Experience with Melanie Albert
• 10:00am-noon   Massage with Muzique Broadnax, Feng Shui Reading with Gary Hendrickson, Spiritual Reading with June Rettinger de Arballo, or Relax at Retreat House
• Noon-2:30pm    Lunch Plant-Based Raw Culinary Experience
• 2:30-4:30pm       Hike and Yoga at Cathedral Rock Vortex with Patricia Fonseca of Back to Earth Sedona Tours
• 5:00-7:00pm       Dinner Plant-Based Cooking Experience
• 7:00-9:00pm       Kiva Ceremony with Daniel Posey of Shamystic
• 9:00-10:00pm     Enjoy Mindful Dinner

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Monday

• 8:00-8:30am Good Morning Reflections
• 8:30-10:00am Breakfast Plant-Based Cooking Experience
• 10:00am-noon Sedona Vortex Meditation Hike at Kachina Woman with Gary Hendrickson
• Noon-3:00pm Shuttle or drive from Sedona to Phoenix

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Meet the Sedona Retreat Team

Click here to learn more about all of our Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Retreat Team.

•  Melanie Albert, Retreat Host, Plant-Based Culinary
• Muzique Broadnax, Massage Therapy
• Gary Henderickson, Feng Shui
• June Rettinger de Arballo, Ceremony and Hand Readings
• Daniel Posney, Kiva Ceremony and Ceremonial Vortex Hike
• Patricia Fonseca, Ayurvedic Yoga Hike

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Enjoy a glimpse of our Sedona Plant-Based Cooking & Self-Care Retreat held September 2019.

Thanks so much to my Brazilian photographer friend, Nathalia Rocha for her dedication to capture the beauty of our retreat with her heart-felt photography.

Getting Started: ChocolaTree Cafe Dinner

Beautiful, tasty dinner and conversations at the ChocolaTree Organic Cafe in Sedona. We enjoyed a range of delicious appetizers including a fresh green salad, two of my favorite entree dishes (Sweet Potato Pizza and the Veggie Burger), plus the outstanding Chocolate Dessert. Yumm…More to come about our meal in a separate Experience Nutrition blog.

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Sedona Moonlight & Intentions

Of course, as with all retreats, we gathered together to set our intentions, with the Full Moon!

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Good Morning Sedona!

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Oh…what a beautiful morning….oh…what a beautiful day…

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Our Morning Sacred Blessing.  Thanks to Native American / Mexican Spiritual Intuitive, June Rettinger de Arballo of Meaningfulthings.net

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Plant-Based Breakfast with Energy Connecting and lots of Nut Milks, Smoothies, and Whole Grains.

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Hiking to the Seven Sacred Pools…

 

Soaking in the feminine vortex energy at the Seven Sacred Pools.

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Time for our Plant-Based Lunch Cooking Experience: Fresh Tomato Gazpacho. Avocado Veggie Tartare.

Thanks so much to our incredible passionate Arizona farmers for supplying the incredibly beautiful, tasty, fresh produce to our retreat.

Thanks to Shanti Rade of Whipstone Farm in Paulen, Arizona for the Fall bounty grown in northern Arizona.

And, thanks so much to my farmer friend, Billy Anthony of the Soil & Seed Garden at The Farm at South Mountain, less than a mile from my home for your specialty summer crops, such as the fresh herbs, zucchini, cucumber blossoms, and white pomegranate.

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I’ll be posting additional photos, experiences, and recipes from our September 2019 Sedona Plant-Based Cooking & Self Care Retreat. Meanwhile, please reach out to me if you’re interested in our 2020 retreats or a custom retreat for your organization or group of friends in 2020. – Melanie Albert

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If you’re ready to reserve your spot for the November 2020 Retreat, click here for the $500 initial deposit.

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Yoga, Hiking, and Meditation in the Beauty of Sedona

In addition to lots of hands-on plant-based intuitive cooking at our Sedona retreats, we enjoy hiking, yoga, meditation, and self-care in the beauty of the Sedona red rocks and vortex energy.

During our September 2019 retreat, we explored three different magical areas in Sedona.

• Cathedral Rock. One of my very favorite places in the world.
• Seven Sacred Pools. Quiet magical, feminine energy.
• Medicine Wheel and the Amitabha Stupa at Peace Park. Spiritual energy.

During our September 2019, we enjoyed hiking at the Seven Sacred Pools, Ayurvedic yoga and meditation with Back to Earth Sedona Tours at one of my very favorite places in the world, Cathedral Rock. Finally, to close out our retreat, during a beautiful hail storm, Wendi and I enjoyed an incredible ceremony at the Medicine Wheel at Peace Park and the Amitabha Stupa.

Enjoy a few favorite photos by my Brazilian photographer friend, Nathalia Rocha, and a few of my personal out-takes during the beautiful hail storm at the Medicine Wheel.

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Seven Sacred Pools

The hike to the Seven Sacred Pools takes us through a beautiful, quiet winding path and the deep Devil’s Sinkhole. During the hike, we enjoy the beauty of nature and the feminine energy of the sacred pools, and simple quiet time with the red rocks.

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Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona

One of my very favorite places on our Earth. Cathedral Rock is my go-to visit, even when I take a day trip from Phoenix to Sedona.

In awe. Stunning beauty. Majestic.

Calming and energizing. Grounding and uplifting.  Simply Beautiful.

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Medicine Wheel and so much more at the Amitahba Stupa and Peace Park in Sedona, Arizona.

The final morning of our retreat, Wendi and I enjoyed a magical experience at the Medicine Wheel at the Amitahba Stupa and Peace Park. The 14-acre Peace Park is juxtaposed between Chimney Rock and one of Sedona’s most massive mountains, Thunder Mountain.

Thanks to the beautiful experience, guided by Patricia Fonseca and Sharon Day of Back to Earth Sedona Tours. Photos from Melanie’s Cell phone.

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Prayer Flags. Upon our first glimpse of the Stupa, we are greeted by prayer flags that hang from trees and are strung from the top of the Stupa, fluttering out in every direction.

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Meditative Walk. The Stupa architecture is filled with hundreds of millions of prayers for peace, sacred relics, and ritual objects. Upon arrival, we experienced a beautiful meditative, grounding walk around the sacred Stupa three times offering our intentions for ourselves and others around the world.

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Then, we offered our prayers to the beautiful Buddha.

 

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Time for Cleansing. As soon as we arrived at the Medicine Wheel, we experienced magnificent cleansing (literally) with a hail and rainstorm. Wendi and I huddled under a Jupiter tree and Wendi’s wide rim hat in an attempt to stay dry. Enjoy the video…

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The Medicine Wheel. After the beautiful hail and rain storm, it was our time to walk the Medicine Wheel with indigenous teachings from each direction (North, East, South, West) and life in four segments of 25 years, while Patricia guided us with the beat of Sharon’s drumming. What fun!

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East & West. During the ceremony, I intuitively gravitated to the East, symbolizing for me, New Beginnings and Growth. Wendi gravitated to the West energy. Definitely looking forward to learning more wisdom from the Medicine Wheel.

 

Tara Stupa. So much to experience at the Stupa including the first Stupa build in Arizona, a smaller one, dedicated to Tara, the mother of all Buddhas.

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Spin the Prayer Wheels. As you leave Peace Park spin the prayer wheels that are filled with thousands of mantras, to amplify your experience at the Park.

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When you visit Sedona, or come to one of our Plant-Based Cooking Retreats, be sure to spend time at the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park.

Please reach out to me if you’re interested in our 2020 retreat (November 13-16, 2020) or a custom retreat for your organization or group of friends in 2020. – Melanie Albert

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If you’re ready to reserve your spot for the November 2020 Retreat, click here for the $500 initial deposit.

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Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Retreat Philosophies

• Learn simple, easy plant-based cooking techniques.
• View food differently with mindful cooking and eating.
• Experience self-care with hiking and yoga.
• Take home retreat experiences to be healthier & make positive long-term lifestyle changes.

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During our Sedona Plant-Based Cooking 2020 Retreats, you’ll experience several days of hands-on, simple plant-based cooking with organic food, mindfulness in the kitchen and eating. We’ll enjoy a farm-to-table cooking experience at a local urban farm. You’ll experience self-care with hiking and yoga in the beauty of Sedona.

In the memorable life-changing retreat, our intention is for you to enjoy the cooking and self-care experiences during the retreat and then most importantly take home the experiences and plant-based cooking learning from the retreat to make positive lifestyle changes in your lives.

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Learn Simple Ways to Cook Healthy Plant-Based Organic Food

During the Sedona retreats, our key focus is simple, beautiful, healthy plant-based cooking. We’ll enjoy cooking and eating beautiful, fresh, delicious farm-to-table plant-based meals. Alongside award-winning cookbook author, Melanie Albert from Phoenix, Arizona, you’ll learn simple culinary skills for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

With interactive, hands-on cooking with local Arizona farmers organic produce, you’ll learn simple plant-based culinary techniques. We’ll focus on learning the cooking methods and guiding you to be intuitive with your cooking so you will be able to cook intuitively at home with seasonal produce grown by your local farmers.

All of the cooking is based on the anti-inflammatory way of eating, Mediterranean way of eating, and inspired by the Blue Zones, where people live the longest and healthiest lives. Learn during the retreat and feel confident to prepare the foods when you return home.

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Key Plant-Based Foods

During the retreat, you’ll learn simple plant-based culinary methods to cook key healthy plant-based foods. Our organic retreat meals feature as much local Arizona farmers food, as possible.

• Roots & Greens
• Whole Grains
• Beans
• Nuts & Seeds
• Superfoods

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Plant-Based Culinary Techniques

During all of the meals, you’ll learn a variety of cooking techniques to use when you return home. The culinary techniques during the retreat:

• Proper steps to sauté veggies with flavor layering.
• Steps to roast veggies for crispiness on the outside and a soft inside.
• The process to cook flavorful veggie soups.
• Simple steps to prepare whole grains perfectly every time.
• Steps to create a 3-ingredient salad dressing.
• Ways to create beautiful raw salads with what your local farmers are growing in season.
• Steps to make raw dehydrated crackers.
• Techniques to create simple raw sauces.
• Plant-based dessert techniques with nuts, fruit, raw cacao, and superfoods.

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To learn more about the retreats and to chat with retreat host, Melanie Albert, please fill out the form, or give me a call at 602.615.2486 or e-mail: Mel@MelanieAlbert.com

I look forward to connecting for both of us to get to know each other and to answer any questions about the retreat. — Melanie

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ABOUT OUR LIGHT HOUSE Retreat House

Eco-Home. We are thrilled to hold our retreat at the Light House in Sedona, a truly eco-home with a collection of indoor and outdoor spaces created with a complimentary merging of Indonesian, Japanese, Moroccan and East Indian cultures. The Light House offers a full natural sensory environment with comforting courtyards, peaceful meditation gardens, hanging lounges, tranquil pools, and restful waterfalls.

Feng Shui. The Light House incorporates the principles of Feng Shui to create an environment that is energetically aligned promoting harmony, serenity, creativity, and vitality. An impressive cleansing crystal is strategically placed in the center of the house to ensure a healthy environment and numerous Feng Shui essentials are found throughout this landmark home. The Light House is the perfect environment to relax, reduce stress, and rejuvenate.

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Salt-water Pool.  Light House features a beautiful salt-water pool and Jacuzzi to unwind.

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Sedona Beauty. The natural outdoor beauty of Sedona is just out the back door with the beautiful Oak Creek and a glimpse of Cathedral Rock.

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Our Retreat Bedrooms

The Light House Retreat features 6 unique bedrooms, with a variety of beds and accommodates couples or singles. We welcome a group of friends or couples to attend the retreat

• ONE: Downstairs Master with King and sitting room. Unique custom ‘pebble’ master bathtub and large glass steam shower.
• TWO: Downstairs Off-Master with Queen. Private bedroom off Master.  Shares master bathroom with ‘pebble’ bathtub and large glass steam shower.

• THREE: Downstairs Asia Room with King. Outdoor hallway to room with lounging sofa, desk and glass window views.

• FOUR: Downstairs Bali Room with 2 Queens. Screen door access to outside lounging and garden areas.

• FIVE: Upstairs Private King. Private outdoor patio with view of pool and Cathedral Rock. Shares bathroom with Sunrise Room.

• SIX: Sunrise Room Upstairs Loft with Queen and Double. Fun loft. Shares bathroom with Private King.

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ABOUT SEDONA

Beautiful, magical Sedona is a true oasis, a paradise in the middle of the northern Arizona desert. In Sedona, enjoy canyons, green forest, azure skies, and the dramatic red rock formations that glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. Sedona offers adventures including red rock jeep tours, hiking, Slide Rock, and Oak Creek Canyon, as well spiritual healing, psychic readings, and energy vortexes. Sedona will have your senses buzzing for days! Sedona offers a unique, one-of-a- kind culture and is an experience of a lifetime.

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To learn more about the retreat and to chat with retreat host, Melanie Albert, please fill out the form, or give me a call at 602.615.2486 or e-mail: Mel@MelanieAlbert.com

I look forward to connecting for both of us to get to know each other and to answer any questions about the retreat. — Melanie