Yoga Retreats
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2026 October 16–19・JAPAN
4 days, 3 nights All inclusive package
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Rest, Stretch and experience traditional Japan. Join Shizen founder Rowie Geraerts for a Yoga Retreat in Nozawa onsen.
Koyo (autumn foliage) season · 8 rooms only · Maximum 14 guests
Stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan family-run for over 18 generations, complete with private indoor and outdoor onsen, sauna, and cold plunge.
Daily Yoga, hot-spring bathing, quite village life, Shinrin-Yoku (Japanese forest bathing guided nature walks).
Daily breakfasts at Shizen and Farm to table dinner degustations.Six and a half years ago I came to this village for a ski holiday and never left. This October, as the mountains turn gold around us, I'm inviting you to join me here — in the ryokan I love, the yoga studio and cafe I built, and the village rhythms that have shaped my life here.
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✨ Welcome pack — tote bag, journal with reflection prompts, local stamp collection guide booklet, and snacks to help you settle in
✨ Traditional ryokan accommodation — centrally located in the heart of the village, family-run for over 18 generations, featuring traditional architecture and private indoor and outdoor onsen, sauna, and cold plunge
✨ 3 x daily brunch
✨ 2 x dinner degustations featuring farm-to-table cuisine from Nozawa's best chefs
✨ Daily yoga and meditation with Rowie Geraerts at Shizen Yoga Studio, overlooking the mountains (morning vinyasa flow, evening yin yoga)
✨ Premium natural rubber yoga mats and props, provided free of charge
✨ Round-trip gondola ticket and picnic pack
✨ Onsite hosting and support throughout your stay
✨ Hand-selected local experiences
✨ Guided Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) forest bathing walk with Rowie (easy–moderate)
✨ Free use of Nozawa's community hot spring baths
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Final timings and inclusions may shift slightly based on group needs and season.
Day 1 — Friday
2:00–4:00pm — Arrive & check-in
Free time to settle in: enjoy an onsen, book a massage, or simply rest
4:00pm — Welcome & chat with Rowie at hotel reception
4:30–5:45pm — Grounding yin yoga at Shizen Yoga Studio
6:00pm — Degustation dinner with local sake
Day 2 — Saturday
7:30–9:00am — Flow yoga & meditation with Rowie
9:15–10:30am — Nourishing group brunch at Shizen Cafe
11:00am–12:30pm — Guided nature walk
12:30–4:30pm — Leisure time: onsen, massage, gondola ride, or rest
5:00–6:00pm — Restorative yin yoga
6:30pm — Free evening: solo dinner, or join Rowie at her favourite local Izakaya for a casual dinner (not included in retreat price)
Day 3 — Sunday
6:00–7:30am — Self-led morning market experience on Nozawa's main street (optional)
7:30–9:00am — Flow yoga & meditation with Rowie
9:15–10:30am — Nourishing group brunch at Shizen Cafe
12:30–4:30pm — Leisure time: onsen, massage, gondola ride, or rest
5:00–6:00pm — Restorative yin yoga
6:30pm — Group dinner with local chef
Day 4 — Monday
7:30–9:00am — Final flow yoga & meditation
9:15–10:30am — Farewell brunch at Shizen Cafe
11:00am — Check-out (luggage storage available); optional onsen, massage, or local exploring
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Six and a half years ago I came to this village for a ski holiday and never left. This October, as the mountains turn gold around us, I'm inviting you to join me here — in the ryokan I love, the yoga studio and cafe I built, and the village rhythms that have shaped my life here.
Easily accessible from Tokyo via shinkansen.
A weekend retreat in the mountains of Japan. A place and a practice for you to rediscover yourself and explore the potential of your yoga practice.
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INVESTMENT ($ USD) Special last-minute rate:
Private room (1 person) $1,300
Standard twin or king bed (2 people sharing a room) $1,050 per person
A non-refundable deposit of $700 USD secures your spot. Full payment is due 2 weeks prior to the retreat start date.
Only 8 rooms available — maximum 14 guests.
✨Returning Pretzels (repeat retreaters with Rowie) receive a special discount. Please get in touch.
RYOKAN RETREAT
A Yoga Retreat in Nozawa onsen
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50 Hours In Person Immersion Japan- December 1-7, 2026
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Elevate your teaching and practice through this 50 hour Yin and Myofascial Release course.
Daily rhythm
Our days begin around 7:30am and conclude around 6pm. Each day includes a generous 2-hour lunch break, plenty of time to wander, savour the local food, or soak in the onsens. Plus shorter breaks are woven throughout the day to give you time to reset and refuel.
On Day 5 there is an optional Snow Monkey Tour, where you can watch wild macaques bathing in the hot springs nearby.
We cannot wait to welcome you to the calm of Shizen Yoga Studio for a week of deep learning. -
- This module includes an introduction to anatomy with lessons on Joint Layers, Discs, Healthy Range of Motion, Joint Movements.
- You will also dive deep into 58 Muscles including location, anatomical action, and how to stretch.
- Finally, learn all about fascia - cutting edge science on fascia structure and function and fascial lines. -
This module includes: origin of yin, components of a yin practice & what makes for a great yin class. You'll also receive the Yin Yoga Posture Library with breakdowns of 44 yin postures including how to use props, variations for increasing & decreasing intensity, target muscles, fascial lines & meridians, contraindications. This module concludes with our Sequencing Methodology plus a reusable template worksheet.
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This module includes the principles, theory and teaching guidelines of myofascial release. Get access to our library of 37 myofascial release (MFR) techniques with methodology, trigger point locations, key points and timings.
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Everything you need to target the nervous system and bring it all together. You'll have lectures on the nervous system, respiratory system, and breath mechanics. You get access to our library of techniques including 11 Breathwork Techniques and 7 Mindfulness & Meditation Techniques plus teaching guidelines and best practices. Finally, dive into an introduction to Chinese Medicine with topics including Daoism, Yin & Yang Theory, Five Elements & Meridians.
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Easily accessible from Tokyo via shinkansen.
A weekend retreat in the mountains of Japan. A place and a practice for you to rediscover yourself and explore the potential of your yoga practice.
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50 Hours in-person training
Welcome Dinner
Hard copy, detailed manual to keep as an excellent resource
141-page, printed detailed manual to keep as an excellent resource
Certificate upon completion
Not included:
Flights, accommodation, meals (except Welcome Dinner on the first evening)
Upon registration, you will receive our recommended options for accommodation.
Optional Snow Monkey Tour on Day 5
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Investment
Early Early Bird - sign up by 30 August 2026
Pay In Full: $1695
3x Monthly payments of $585
Early Bird - sign up by 30 September 2026
Pay In Full: $1895
2x Monthly payments of $650
From 1 October
Pay In Full $2095
2x Weekly Payments of $1050
50 hour Yin & Myofascial Release Teacher Training
Dokohō Retreat
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独歩 (Dokuhō) Retreat
A quiet reset. A solo retreat. A path of your own.
"独歩" (Dokuhō) means “walking one’s own path.”
This is a self-paced, autonomous retreat — perfect for those seeking time and space to move at their own pace, to recharge alone, without a fixed schedule, You’ll have support when you need it and solitude when you want it.
Simple and spacious.
Quiet and restorative.
This is a retreat for those walking their own path.Stay in the traditional mountain village of Nozawa Onsen and create your own retreat rhythm. Whether you’re living in Japan and need a break, or you're travelling through and want a slower, more grounded experience — this is space held for you.
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Accomodation (simple/middle/luxury/self contained apartment)
1–2 yoga classes per day with Shizen founder Rowie Geraerts @spiritualpretzel
Daily breakfast
A retreat welcome pack including:
• A self-guided retreat booklet with meditations, contemplative practices & journalling prompts
• A guide to local walks, hot springs, cultural experiences & quiet corners in the villageOptional add-ons: guided hikes, bike tours, massage, cultural workshops
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Design Your Own Itinerary
This retreat is yours to shape. Each day can be as minimal or as experiential as you like.
Start your morning with yoga, linger over breakfast, then follow whatever calls — a walk through cedar forests, a soak in a quiet onsen, or simply resting with a book and a view.
Your retreat guidebook includes journalling prompts, meditation practices, and ideas for how to spend your time with intention — but how you move through each day is entirely up to you — spacious, slow, and self-chosen..
Optional add-on experiences include:
E-bike tours through quiet mountain roads & countryside villages
Forest bathing (self-guided or with a local guide)
Traditional Japanese dining experiences
Scenic gondola ride to panoramic alpine views
Mountain hikes to suit all energy levels
Massage & bodywork sessions with trusted local therapists
Cultural workshops (such as soba making, basket weaving or tea ceremony)
Whether your days are filled with movement and adventure, or quiet stillness and reflection, this retreat gives you the space to tune in — and choose what feels right, moment by moment.
Sample Itineraries
Each day of your 独歩 (Dokuhō) retreat is entirely your own. Here are two examples to inspire how you might shape your time:
Minimalist Day — Quiet & Restorative
A slow, spacious day to settle the nervous system and reconnect with simplicity.
7:30am – Morning tea or coffee
8:00–9:00am – Morning yoga and breath work with Rowie
9:30am – Nourishing breakfast
10:30am–1:00pm – Journalling, reading, or resting in your room or a quiet local café
1:00–2:00pm – Light lunch (at a local eatery or picnic-style)
2:00–4:30pm – Onsen soak and quiet forest walk
5:00–6:00pm – Optional evening yoga or self-guided meditation from your retreat booklet
6:30pm – Solo dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant or simple home-cooked meal
Evening – Reflective journalling or early rest
Experiential Day — Active & Immersive
A day filled with movement, exploration, and connection to the land and culture.
7:30am – Morning coffee and light fruit
8:00–9:15am – Energising yoga and meditation class
9:30am – Healthy seasonal breakfast
10:30am–1:30pm – Guided e-bike tour through nearby villages and mountain roads
1:30pm – Lunch at a local Soba resturant
3:00–4:30pm – Visit a traditional bathhouse
5:00–6:00pm – Evening Yin yoga or restorative movement
6:30pm – Multi-course kaiseki dinner or farm-table experience
Evening – Stargazing walk or journalling with herbal tea
You are welcome to mix and match these rhythms day by day, tuning into what you most need — stillness, movement, solitude, or connection.
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Retreat Pricing – 独歩 (Dokuhō) Solo Retreat
Choose your own dates | Self-guided, self-paced | Held in Nozawa Onsen
Simple Stay(from) Luxury or Apartment Stay(from)
2-Night Retreat
Simple from ¥57,000
Luxury from ¥93,000
3-Night Retreat
Simple from ¥85,000
Luxury from ¥140,000
5-Night Retreat
Simple from ¥139,000
Luxury from ¥229,000
Note: Final price depends on room type and availability. Custom packages and extended stays also available.
All packages include accommodation, daily breakfast, 1–2 yoga classes per day, and a retreat welcome guide with meditations, journalling prompts, and self-guided practices.
Optional Add-Ons Available:
Curate your experience with guided e-bike tours, forest bathing, traditional dining, cultural workshops, massage therapy, or scenic gondola rides. Activities can be arranged in advance or during your stay — we’ll help you shape your ideal rhythm.
To check availability, customise your retreat, or ask a question:
📧 spiritualpretzel@gmail.com
📱 WhatsApp or LINE: +81 90 7162 5816
Private Tailor-made group retreats
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Gather your people. Create a meaningful trip to remember.
Designed for small private groups (3-20 guests), these custom retreats offer the simplicity and spaciousness of our 独歩 (Dokuhō) solo experience, with the added joy of shared connection.
Take time to retreat with friends in Nozawa onsen. Enjoying the mountains, nourishing meals, guided yoga, onsen soaks, forest walks, cultural immersions — all arranged to suit your group’s pace and preferences.
With Rowie’s local knowledge and experience, your retreat will be curated with care — from accommodation and activities to yoga sessions and meals. Whether your group wants a weekend away for indulgence balanced with mindfullness and movement, deep rest, outdoor adventure, quiet connection, or a little of everything, this is your time.
Perfect for:
– Friends' getaways
– Small workplace groups
– Sayonara retreats
– Birthday milestones
– Women's circles
– Anyone wanting shared space with depth and easeYoga teachers/retreat Facilitators
If you're a yoga teacher or retreat leader planning a Japan experience for your community, Rowie also offers retreat consultancy services — from light-touch planning support to fully curated retreats.
✨ Learn more about our Retreat Consultancy Options here
Or get in touch directly to talk about what’s possible. -
This retreat is yours to shape. Each day can be as minimal or as experiential as you like.
Start your morning with yoga, linger over breakfast, then follow whatever calls — a walk through cedar forests, a soak in a quiet onsen, or simply resting with a book and a view.
– Accommodation (from simple and cosy to spacious and luxe)
– 1–2 yoga classes per day with Shizen founder Rowie Geraerts
– Daily breakfast
Optional add-on experiences include:E-bike tours through quiet mountain roads & countryside villages
Forest bathing (self-guided or with a local guide)
Traditional Japanese dining experiences
Scenic gondola ride to panoramic alpine views
Mountain hikes to suit all energy levels
Massage & bodywork sessions with trusted local therapists
Cultural workshops (such as soba making, basket weaving or tea ceremony)
Minimum 3 guests. Retreats available year-round* *excluding Dec15 - Mar 1
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Pricing varies depending on length, group size, and room type.
📩 Reach out to start shaping your retreat
Email: spiritualpretzel@gmail.com
WhatsApp / LINE: +81 90 7162 5816
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A weekend devoted to the practice you love
Re-invigorate & Re-inspire yourself and your yoga practice.
Facilitated by Shizen Founder and long time yogi Rowie Geraerts @spiritualpretzel
In a quiet mountain village, take time to listen, refine, and rediscover what your practice can mean — and become — for you. Reconnecting with your body, your breath, and your deeper potential, on and beyond the mat.Through intentional movement, breathwork, discussion, and reflection, you’ll gain new tools, insights, and confidence to re-inspire your yoga journey and support a more independent, holistic practice — one that continues to nourish you long after the weekend ends.
Leave with a practice that feels more like home — steady, spacious, and fully your own.
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2026/2027 DATES ANNOUNCED SOON
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Retreat Details
Morning Practice — 2-hour dynamic asana workshops
Start each day with an energising, anatomically focused yoga practice. These workshops are designed to deepen your understanding of movement, refine technique, and re-inspire how you inhabit your body on the mat.Afternoon Practice — 90-minute myofascial elasticity & Yin workshops
These slower sessions explore elasticity, release, and stillness. You’ll learn movement tools to enhance flexibility, dissolve tension, and restore energy through a blend of myofascial release and Yin yoga.Theory & Discussion — 2-hour workshop
Dive deeper into the structure and purpose behind asana. Explore how to create a home practice that suits your body, your energy, and your life. We’ll cover sequencing, self-awareness, and the roots of yoga to support a sustainable, independent practice.Daily meditation & breathwork
Each day includes guided breath and meditation sessions to help you settle, soften, and turn inward.Guided nature hike
Reconnect with the land through a meditative hike into the surrounding mountains. Let the landscape steady your mind and reawaken your senses.Onsen (natural hot spring baths)
Unwind each day in the healing waters of Nozawa Onsen. The village is rich in hot springs, offering the perfect place to soak, reset, and restore.Welcome dinner
Share a nourishing welcome meal with fellow retreaters. Enjoy seasonal, locally inspired food and the warmth of gathering as a group.Daily brunch
After morning practice, refuel with a delicious, hearty group brunch — a moment to reflect, connect, and nourish.Time to yourself
This retreat offers space as well as structure. You’ll have time to wander, rest, and reflect in the quiet beauty of this traditional Japanese village.Whether you’re a curious beginner, a seasoned practitioner, or a yoga or movement teacher, this weekend is a chance to dive deep into the practice you love — with a sense of space and deeper insight.
If you’re ready to explore your practice more fully, to understand the body and breath more intimately, and to come home to yourself — this retreat is for you.
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RETREAT ITINERARY*
DAY 1 (FRIDAY)
1pm ~ Arrive & check in. Guest leisure time: optional onsen/optional massage/free time.
4.00pm. Welcome drink & chat with Rowie
4.30pm-6:00pm Grounding Slow Stretch Yin Yoga and meditation with Rowie @Shizen Collective
6.30pm Group Welcome dinner at local restaurant.DAY 2 (SATURDAY)
7:30am-9.30am Morning Breath work, Yoga flow w/ Twists & Hips workshop w/ Rowie.
9.30am-11.00am Group Brunch (healthy and hearty including coffee/tea.).
11.00am-1.00pm Nature walk and meditation with Rowie
11.00am-4.30pm Guest leisure time: optional onsen/optional massage/free time.
4.30pm-6:00pm Myofascial Elasticity workshop and Yin Yoga with Rowie
6.00pm Guest Free time.DAY 3 (SUNDAY)
7:30am-9.30am Morning Breath work, Yoga flow w/ Backbends workshop w/ Rowie
9.30am-11.00am Group Brunch (healthy and hearty including coffee/tea.)
11.00am-1.00pm Creating a home practice theory based workshop with Rowie
1.00pm-4.30pm Guest leisure time: optional onsen/optional massage/free time.
*2night retreat guests check out.
4:30-6.00pm Myofascial Elasticity workshop & Yin Yoga with Rowie
6.30pm Guest Free time.DAY 4 (MONDAY)
7:30am-9.30am Morning Breath work, Yoga flow w/ arm balance & inversion workshop w/ Rowie
9.30am-11.00am Farewell Brunch including coffee/tea
11.00am Room check out (option to leave luggage at Hotel)
*Please note that there may be slight changes to the itinerary. -
Join Rowie Geraerts in her adopted home Nozawaonsen, Japan.
Easily accessible from Tokyo via shinkansen.
A weekend retreat in the mountains of Japan. A place and a practice for you to rediscover yourself and explore the potential of your yoga practice.
Deepen Your Practice
Yoga Retreat
Retreat facilitator Rowie Geraerts, founder of Shizen Collective
Rowie was born and raised in Melbourne Australia before moving to Nozawa Onsen in 2019 (She came to Nozawa for a ski holiday and never left, such is the magic of Nozawa).
She has been working in the yoga industry since 2011 when she first began teaching yoga and has made a life and career out of teaching, hosting retreats and travelling around the world. She open Shizen Collective, a Yoga studio, plant-based cafe and yoga retreat business in Nozawa onsen in 2020.
With a passion for Yin Yoga, Vinyasa Flow Yoga and seeing the yoga of everyday life, Rowie lives by the mantra ‘ Everything is Yoga’
She is most known for her ability to welcome new yogis to the practice whilst bringing experienced practitioners to new depths. Her classes are modern and authentic, blending her teachings from the East with the West.
Originally trained in India back in 2011, Rowie is 500 E-RYT and has since completed over a 1000 hours in certified trainings, studying with some of the most esteemed teachers across the world. She hosts and teachers on her own 200hr, 500hr Yoga teacher training courses as well as continued education advanced courses. You can also find her collaborating with other studios and schools.
Obsessed with what it means to be hospitable, Rowie creates yoga classes, retreats and has created spaces at Shizen collective that will welcome and nourish your soul from the inside out.
Hosting a retreat?
Our studio is available for hire for instructors looking to host retreats