Spring Yoga & Yarn Retreat 2026
A rejuvenating retreat in the Shenandoah Valley
April 24-26, 2026
Harrisonburg, VA
Yoga for Knitters
Relax and restore this spring with mindful fiber work, yoga, meditation, and good company! Soak in the natural beauty of the countryside at Simple Hill Farm and meet our flock of sheep and lambs! Enjoy a fiber felting project and dye your own skein of yarn using botanical dyes. Knit and enjoy good conversation and the assistance of an experienced knitting instructor.
Gentle Hatha yoga is tailored to the needs of fiber artists: strengthen hands, open stiff hips and release tension in the shoulders and forearms. Find support for the core through breathwork and postural tips and learn self massage to reduce tension around the eyes. Further nourish your body with wholesome home cooked meals and snacks. All levels of yogis and knitters welcome!
Spring Yoga & Yarn Retreat 2026
FRIDAY 4/24
4:00 PM Sip & Stitch - @ Simple Hill Farm
5:30 PM Dinner - Simple Hill Farm
7:00 PM Intro to the Weekend and One Another - @ Yoga Zaria
7:30 PM Evening Yoga and Meditation
8:30 PM Return to Lodgings (Time to Stitch!)
SATURDAY 4/25
8:45-9:00 AM Arrive at Yoga Zaria
9:00 AM Morning Yoga
10:30 AM Visit Harrisonburg Farmers' Market &/or Explore Downtown
12:00 PM Lunch - Bella Luna w/ group, or on your own
2:00 PM Leave for Simple Hill Farm
2:15 PM Visit the Sheep & Farm Tour - Simple Hill Farm
3:15 PM Workshop I: Felted Sheep
4:30 - 6:30 PM Stitch Time
Snacks & Tea Mid-Afternoon
6:30 PM Dinner
7:00-8:30 PM Stitch Time
SUNDAY 4/26
8:45-9:00 AM Arrive at Yoga Zaria
9:00 AM Yoga, Meditation, and Breathwork - Yoga Zaria
10:30 AM Workshop II: Botanical Dye
12:00 PM Lunch - on your own or with group
1:30 PM Leave for Simple Hill Farm
2:00 PM Farm Tour (if desired) or Free Time
3:00 PM Workshop III: Weaving
4:30 - 6:00 PM Stitch Time
Snacks & Tea Mid-Afternoon
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00-8:30 PM Stitch Time & Closing Circle
Limited to 15 participants
Cost $405, lodging not included
Once sold out, please Contact Us to get on the wait list
Testimonials from Fall Yoga & Yarn Retreat 2025
"This retreat was a wonderful break from daily life! I learned a lot about yoga and dyeing yarn, and I loved being able to spend time with kind and interesting people I'd never met before. I'd go again in a heartbeat!"
- H.S.
"I loved this retreat! It combined two of my favorite activities- knitting/yarn and yoga. It
was a wonderful weekend of self care for me... I really needed this type of weekend. It was just right!"
- M.B.T.
"I enjoyed a mini vacation, explored a new town, met amazing like-minded women, and learned much more about the fiber arts. The yoga sessions were tailored in a way that allowed beginners to feel confident and
comfortable, and the sense of community I discovered there was incredible. By the end, I didn’t want to leave!" - R.F.
We invite individuals from all backgrounds, perspectives, races, and gender expressions to join our events and become part of our community. We believe that a multitude of
perspectives fosters creativity and generates innovative ideas, and we encourage an open-minded and respectful environment where everyone can feel safe together.
Lisen Reichenbach
Lisen, RYT 500, is a somatics practitioner, holistic health educator, and Mind Body Coach who loves exploring new modalities. She has been leading yoga and meditation retreats for the past seven years and teaches numerous classes in her hometown of Harrisonburg, Va. Lisen also works with churches and nonprofits to provide mindfulness retreats and wellness education. Having grown up with a fiber artist mom, Lisen has enjoyed weaving, dyeing, and batik from an early age. Her passions include reading, travel, time in nature, and ampletime spent with family and friends.
Heidi Lantz-Trissel
Heidi launched her boutique yarn company Simple Hill Farm Yarn in 2019 after
25 years in various roles in the fiber industry, including owning and operating a local yarn store; working for a yarn dyeing company and apprenticing with a fiber farmer. Throughout that time Heidi was teaching people to knit and problem solving knitting projects. Simple Hill Farm is not only a yarn company but also an integrated fiber and dye farm with a flock of merino sheep, a dye garden, and on-farm classes and community events. Outside of her love of all things fiber, Heidi enjoys cooking for family and friends, gardening, reading and running.
Frequently asked questions
I haven't done yoga in awhile/ever. Is this still something that would work for me?
Yes, all yoga classes are created to be accessible: modifications are offered and highly encouraged. These classes are specifically tailored to knitters and fiber workers and you’re only invited/asked to do movements you are comfortable with.
What kind of yoga are we going to be doing?
Primarily Hatha yoga, with an emphasis on yoga specifically for fiber workers: loosening up tight hips, shoulders, and upper backs; learning postural tricks for greater ease and core strength; exercises for the hands; along with mindful breathwork and guided meditation for relaxation.
I don’t have much experience knitting. Is this the right retreat for me?
All levels of knitters are welcome. We will not be teaching you how to knit but Heidi will be available during knitting sessions to problem solve, correct mistakes, or help with a new technique you need for your current WIP (work in progress). The workshops are based on plant dyeing and wool felting and require no previous experience. Material costs are included in the cost of the retreat.
What do I need to bring/wear?
You'll get a detailed packing list before you come. Briefly, nothing fancy: you’ll want a mat for yoga, your knitting supplies, and the WIP you’d like to focus on. You don't even need a 'yoga outfit'--just comfortable clothing that you can move in. Harrisonburg is a casual town.
I'm an introvert and I'm not sure a retreat is the right setting for me?
At least one of your facilitators is a “highly social introvert”. We believe in the importance of safe space!. There's no obligation to share or to take part in every activity. The whole retreat is planned as a cozy, low-key chance to unwind and do the things you love to do.
I've never been to Harrisonburg, VA before. What can I expect?
Harrisonburg is a university town set in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. It calls itself “The Friendly City” and we think this is true! Neither Simple Hill Farm nor the yoga studio are luxury destinations. Their beauty is partly in their simplicity and authenticity. Meals offered are home cooked, healthy, and delicious, with one (optional) meal out together at a local eatery. You'll be on the farm most of the time, so expect a few signs of the natural world to greet you (a pill bug or two, along with sheep!).
What food is included in the cost of the retreat & what about special dietary restrictions?
Tea and snacks Friday afternoon (gluten free options available); Friday and Saturday dinners and Sunday lunch; snacks and drinks throughout the weekend. Saturday lunch will be held in a private room at a local eatery and any who want to join can, each participant responsible for their own bill. Most dietary needs can be accommodated (gluten free and alcohol free options available). Breakfasts not included.
What about lodging and transportation during the retreat?
Participants are responsible for arranging their own lodging and transportation. Retreat activities will be located at our yoga studio in downtown Harrisonburg and at Simple Hill Farm. Simple Hill Farm is located 5.5 miles north of downtown. Transportation between the two locations is not provided but carpooling is encouraged when possible. Lodging options will be provided upon registration.