Retreat: Revitalize Your Radiance & Joy!

The Venue

Cactus Blossom Retreat Center is a breathtaking 4.5 acre property high on a hilltop with forever views. It is surrounded by mountains, blooming cacti, soaring hawks, and avocado groves.

Only 40 minutes from San Diego airport, this is the ideal environment for embarking on your transformative journey towards radiant health and wellbeing.

The property boasts 360-degree mountain views, botanical garden-worthy specimen plantings, a 30 foot heated pool and spa, a well-stocked garden and fruit trees.

The Cuisine

Two continental breakfasts, two gourmet lunches, and two delectable dinners will be prepared by our talented chefs.

Farm fresh organic produce, wild-caught fish, organic chicken, and lovingly home made breads and desserts  are some of the culinary offerings.

The Art Workshop

When was the last time you felt that time stood still while you were immersed in a creative project? Creativity has so many powerful benefits such as raising your vibration and releasing stagnant energy.

You will have an opportunity to experience the healing and soul-nourishing power of creativity in our art workshop – “Create A Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece.” Take home a gorgeous succulent pumpkin centerpiece that you created yourself!

As your beautiful creation graces your Thanksgiving table, it will be a sweet reminder of the gift of self-care and rejuvenation that you gave yourself this weekend.

Bring a pumpkin to the retreat for your project. All other materials will be provided.

Hi, I’m Carol Cretella, Yoga instructor and licensed Art of Feminine Presence teacher. I am always amazed at the transformational power of gathering like-minded women together with the purpose of enlightenment, healing and growth.

My spiritual path began with the exhaustion and overwhelm that accompanied my frenzy to “do it all” as a career woman, wife and mother. A car accident, the resulting chronic pain, and burn-out amplified my inner voice that was screaming for change.

Trusting my intuition, I left my six-figure job and enrolled in the Yoga teacher training program at the New York Integral Yoga Institute. Soon after, my family and I relocated to San Diego where I’ve taught thousands of students the restorative, therapeutic, and spiritually uplifting benefits of Yoga.

A decade later, my heart and spirit said, “I want to make a bigger impact!” Once again, purely on intuition, I attended a teacher training of “The Art of Feminine Presence”. I learned powerful practices to reconnect with my feminine wisdom and to stand in my power. That connection gave me an ability to listen inwardly for the personal truth that leads to peaceful decision-making and the well-being that flows from that.

I envision a world where all women are strongly connected to both the softness and the power of their Feminine Essence. I am committed to helping women grow to their higher potential so they can be seen, heard and play a role in making the world a more loving, peaceful and empowered place.

Lena Staton embraces cooking as a journey of discovery as well as a love language. She gifts her homemade kombucha, pesto, cashew cream cheese, tea, home baked artisan bread and countless other creations, to anyone lucky enough to be in her circle. Here is Lena’s story:

“I was born in 1954 in a sugar plantation town on Maui, Hawaii. Homes were tiny, streets were narrow, and communities were close-knit. Backyards had chickens, fruit trees, and vegetable gardens. Neighbors were close friends who loved to share their bounty from the earth.

Besides the native Hawaiians, there were Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Puerto Ricans, Filipinos, Koreans and African-Americans. Each culture brought the cuisine of their ancestors to Hawaii. All influenced the local “Hawaiian” kau kau (food) we enjoy eating today and inspires my every day cooking.

I was deeply influenced by my Dad who cooked using vegetables that he grew in our large backyard garden. My dad was also a fisherman. Fish, crab, and sometimes lobsters graced our dinner table. Like my dad, I collect, open, and grate coconuts to make milk. I use coconut milk in the delectable Filipino desserts my Dad taught me to make, as well as in my own edible creations.

I enjoy being creative in the kitchen with produce from my garden. I’ll sometimes do a quick stir fry of my veggies as the Chinese did. Other times I’ll use my home grown taro leaves to make Hawaiian luau stew, a modern variation of the Hawaiian Lau Lau. When my Japanese friend gives me frozen grated green bananas, instead of making Puerto Rican Pasteles the traditional way, I choose to make a Pasteles stew.

My culinary training has been my lifelong love of food, the rich diversity of Hawaii’s cultural cuisine, the abundance of home-grown produce, and the experimental laboratory that is my kitchen. I believe our culinary creations start with the experiences that shape who we are, and continue to a higher, unique expression as we fearlessly experiment with different food resources, spices and techniques. I’ve been creating good, healthy dishes as far back as I can remember. So, can you. Be fearless, use wholesome fresh foods to create a healthier you.”

Lauren Sitzmann

While other young girls begged for toys or dolls for presents, Lauren delighted in receiving cookbooks and kitchen essentials from her Grandma who recognized and nurtured her granddaughter’s early passion for food and love of the kitchen. Lauren grew up watching countless hours of the Food Network, recreating recipes for her appreciative family members. For her, cooking became an expression of love, a way of caring for others.

Lauren has turned her childhood passion for wellness into a successful career over the last nine years. She started as a certified health coach, helping people to reach their wellness goals. Along the way, Lauren deepened her knowledge of the science behind the nutrition by earning her Master’s Degree in Nutritional Sciences and becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

These days, Lauren can be found in her kitchen experimenting with and comparing different foods, always willing to explore hot new trends. Currently she is having fun experimenting with mushrooms. As Lauren explains, mushrooms are anti-inflammatory, packed full of adaptogens, high in fiber, and can be used to mimic the texture and chewiness of meat. She loves King Trumpet and in particular, Lion’s Mane mushrooms which have amazing health benefits of improving focus and memory.

Lauren is all about making nutrition personal and practical. She believes it should be based on solid science but also fit into our everyday lives. Her holistic approach emphasizes whole foods, mindful eating, and finding balance. Lauren loves empowering people to make smart lasting changes that nurture both their bodies and their minds, encouraging them to see wellness as a lifestyle rather than just a one-time goal.