Wellness Retreats with
Wellness Retreat meets the Pony Positive Program
Our wellness retreats are designed specifically for cancer survivors, offering a safe, serene space for healing, reflection, and renewal. We provide two retreat options: Mini Retreats for a quick but profound reset and Destination Retreats for a fully immersive experience. Both formats include our proprietary Pony Positive program. Pony Positive is an equine-assisted learning program designed specifically to support cancer survivors. Equine-assisted therapies have been well researched over the last few years in terms of their effectiveness in treating PTSD, teaching mindfulness skills, and helping clients feel connected.
Horses provide natural opportunities for connection, mindfulness, and movement. Through their instincts as prey and herd animals, we can gain a new sense of calmness and empowerment. The horse's way of reacting to our emotions and body language is always immediate, honest, non-judgmental, and benevolent. The connection to a horse is like no other relationship, and at the same time it will reflect the patterns in your life perfectly. Horses can help us see ourselves more clearly.
Southwind Wellness Foundation is the fiscal sponsor for the Pony Positive program,
so our Mini Retreats are always free and participants of Destination Retreats are only charged for
room and board, never for the program.
Donate
The mission of Southwind Wellness Foundation is to empower cancer survivors, their families, and caregivers through strength-based wellness programs that encompass holistic health coaching and equine-assisted learning activities. We are committed to fostering resilience, enhancing emotional well-being, and promoting physical vitality by offering a range of workshops and retreats designed to address the unique challenges faced by those impacted by cancer.
Southwind Wellness Foundation is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization (EIN: 93-2993704)
Participate
During the 5-session group program, you will have the opportunity to experience the therapeutic human-animal bond in combination with psycho-education specific to managing depression, anxiety, and stress in survivors of any type of cancer. Activities include supportive talk circles, mindfulness theory and practice, horse observation, horse grooming, and other semi-structured horse interactions (no riding). All activities are goal-oriented to encourage emotion awareness and regulation while also providing the opportunity for a safe connection with the horses, nature, and other survivors.
Mini Retreats are held in one day and include the full Pony Positive program. You will be surprised how transformative just day can be when you spend it in nature with horses and fellow survivors. This option is ideal if your health or schedule don’t allow you to travel. Currently, we host Mini Retreats at sites in New York and North Carolina with plans to expand and find more locations to collaborate with us.
Mini Retreats
Destination Retreats will fully immerse you in an environment designed for healing and growth. Each retreat week is set in a beautiful exotic location and features daily dynamic meditations, skills and support groups, and equine-assisted personal development. Enjoy clean meals, time in nature, and inspiring connections.
