Breathe

by the Bay

your permission slip to pause

A yoga and meditation retreat - all inclusive - where women who care for everyone else finally get cared for with nourishing meals, soulful connection, and space to reclaim their energy without decisions or demands.

July 25-27, 2025 • Albany, CA

(Yep, that close! No flights, no long drives, just... relief)

Are you pushing through life on one wheel?

You know the feeling when you're pushing a broken-ass shopping cart through Target, with one wheel stuck facing the wrong direction, so you're basically leaning full-tilt into this thing, sweat dripping down your back, muttering expletives to yourself while trying to look like you have your sh*t together and you meant to grab this broken cart for the extra cardio…

That's your life right now, right? It feels like a struggle bus 24/7.

You're not doing the things you wanna do, and the things you do wanna do, you're too tired for.

You feel like your brain has 37 open web browser tabs running at once (okay, maybe 47 on a Tuesday), and every single one of them is someone else's need, someone else's crisis, someone else's "quick favor."

Meanwhile, that voice in your head keeps whispering: "It’d be sooooo selfish to focus on yourself right now, there are dishes to do and the laundry is not going to start itself."

You’ve probably heard from some self-help guru that taking care of yourself first isn't selfish—but your brain rejected the thought on impact because there’s no way that’s true for you. 

I used to think that too, but then a wise person in my life helped me see a new perspective, that the only way to keep showing up for everyone else without completely losing myself (and my mind) was to take care of me FIRST!

That was a revelation.

The hidden cost of always saying yes…

Here's what no one
talks about when they
tell you to
"just set boundaries"
(as if it's that simple,
right?)...

Every time you say yes when you mean no, you're not just giving away your time—you're giving away pieces of yourself.

Maybe it started small. A few extra tasks here and there. Staying late to help someone else meet their deadline. Saying "sure, no problem!" when someone adds another item to your already impossible weekend to-do list.

But now? Now you're carrying this invisible weight everywhere you go.

Even your downtime feels like just... time between things that need to get done.

Does this sound like you?

"A sense of happiness and self was starting to feel a little bit more distant. I was in my head 95% of the time rather than in the present moment. Even the downtime seems like it's just downtime between things that need to get done."

You've become an expert at pushing through. At sucking it up. At being "fine" when you're definitely not fine.

And the worst part? You're starting to forget what it feels like to just... be.

Without demands. Without decisions. Without that mental hamster wheel of "I should've, I would've, I could've..."

What if you could hit pause on all of it?

Not forever. Not in some fantasy "run away to Bali" kind of way. But for one weekend. One glorious, completely doable weekend where:

  • Someone else makes every single meal decision

  • Nobody asks you to do "just one quick thing"

  • Your biggest choice is whether to join the morning yoga or sleep in

  • You remember what your own thoughts sound like without everyone else's noise

  • You get to be completely, authentically yourself—no masking, no people-pleasing, no pretending to be "less excited" or "less sensitive" than you actually are

This isn't about adding another "should" to your endless to-do list.

This is about giving yourself permission to pause.

To breathe deeply.

To remember that taking care of yourself isn't a luxury you have to earn—it's a necessity that makes everything else possible.

Here's what makes this retreat different:

It's actually all-inclusive. Every meal, every snack, your cozy place to sleep, every yoga class, every meditation, even your journal to take home—it's all handled. The only thing you need to bring is yourself (and maybe some comfy clothes).

It's small and intimate. Just 8 women plus 2 facilitators. No overwhelming crowds, no fighting for attention, no feeling lost in a sea of strangers. Everyone gets seen, everyone gets heard.

It's designed for real women with real lives. You know how some retreats make you feel like you need to already have your life together to attend? Yeah, we're the opposite of that. Come as you are—tired, overwhelmed, running on fumes. That's exactly who this is for.

First off, it's only 20 minutes from your house.

No flights to book.

No long drives to psyche yourself up for.

No complicated logistics to figure out.

Because let's be honest—if getting there requires waking up at 4am to make a flight and navigating Uber at a random airport, you're already exhausted before you leave.

Breathe by the Bay

isn't your typical retreat

Everything you need (and nothing you don't)

Because decision fatigue is real, and you've made enough choices for one lifetime.

Here’s how we’re taking care of you for the weekend:

Nourishment (the kind that actually nourishes)

  • Meals that you don’t have to plan, shop, or cook for

  • Delicious & healthy meals that appear like magic

  • Snacks throughout the weekend (the good kind)

Movement & stillness

  • Yoga classes designed for real bodies, not Instagram poses

  • Meditation that doesn't require you to empty your mind (spoiler alert: that's impossible)

  • Access to hiking trails if moving your body sounds good

  • Permission to rest if that's what your body needs (if you just want to lay around all weekend, totally cool)

Connection & reflection

  • Your own copy of an exclusive journal

  • Guided journaling that works with your natural thought patterns

  • Real conversations with women who get it

  • Zero awkward small talk (pinky promise)

A place to just... be

  • A cozy space to sleep and recharge

  • No agenda beyond your own wellbeing

  • Freedom to participate as much or as little as feels right

Breathe by the Bay

July 25-27, 2025 • Albany, CA • Just 8 spots available

$950

Everything included. Nothing to figure out. Just show up.

Only 8 women. When it's full, it's full.

This intimate group size isn't a marketing gimmick—it's intentional. Everyone gets the attention and space they deserve.

Questions? Email Kerstin. I'm here to help you figure out if this is right for you.

Payment plans available because self-care shouldn't stress your budget.

But what about...

(let's talk about the things you're actually thinking)

"I don't have time for this"

I hear you. You barely have time to shower without a kid pounding on the bathroom door because they’re hungry. But here's the thing—you don't have time NOT to do this. Because right now, you're running on fumes, making everything take longer than it should.

This weekend isn't taking time away from your life. It's giving you the energy to show up better for your life. Think of it as preventative maintenance for your soul.

"Isn't this kind of selfish?"

Ohhhhh (me placing my hand in the center of my chest), no, it’s not.

You know what IS selfish?

Burning yourself out so completely that you become resentful, exhausted, and unable to genuinely care for the people you love.

The humans who love you? They want you to be happy. They want you to have energy. They want the real you, not the depleted version who's running on obligation and guilt.

"I keep spending money on other things

instead of myself"

Soooooo true, right?? But think about it this way—you probably spend more than $950 per month on everyone else's needs without even thinking about it! The family grocery runs, the emergency Target runs, your kids’ music lessons, the "small" favors (like teacher appreciation gifts) that add up. 

This is an investment in the person who makes all of that possible: YOU. 

"What if it's weird or uncomfortable?"

I get it. Vulnerability feels scary when you're used to having all the answers and taking care of everyone else. That’s why we’ve crafted a space that welcomes your inner-weirdo with a ginormous hug.

Here's what you can expect in

Breathe by the Bay:

Adrienne R.

"Kerstin’s programs provided me with a safe space to practice being vulnerable. Learning how to open up has been hard, but I feel like this was created for people like me. People who need a gentle nudge in the right direction."

You don't have to bare your soul or share anything you're not ready to share.

You just have to show up as you are.

What happens when you finally give yourself permission to pause?

Cat S.

“It's possible to say no. I had the thought pattern, if you ask, I have to say yes. Just because somebody asked or wants something or might need something from you, it's not an automatic yes.”

Elena C

“I finally feel like I am able to believe in my own abilities. This taught me to have a little more compassion for myself. It's more about growth and less about fixing.”

Carolyn V.

“I appreciate having time for myself that's dedicated to introspection. I really like the journaling prompts! I'm a person that benefits from someone that's there to catch me and give me a soft place to land, to say 'hey you got this' and 'it's alright' and that supportive community.”

These aren't superhuman transformations. These are real women who were exactly where you are now—tired, overwhelmed, and running on empty. They just decided to try something different.

One more thing

I know you're probably thinking, "One day, when things settle down, when I have more time, when I get caught up..."

But what if one day is today? What if instead of waiting for permission from everyone else, you gave it to yourself?

What if three months from now, instead of feeling more burned out, more resentful, more lost in everyone else's needs, you felt... different? Clearer. More like yourself. With actual energy for the things that matter.

You deserve more than just surviving. You deserve to thrive. And sometimes, thriving starts with a single weekend where you remember that taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's essential.

I'll be here when you're ready.

With love and the deepest respect for how hard you're pushing through,
Kerstin

FAQs

  • The retreat is July 25-27, 2025 in Albany, California

    (right next to Berkeley)

  • Real women with real lives. Come as you are—tired, overwhelmed, running on fumes. That's exactly who this is for. We’ll nourish, restore, and energize you.

  • Each bedroom is double occupancy with one queen bed. We’ll mindfully pair you with a roommate, or invite a friend to join you!