Wild Rise: Rituals of Renewal
Upcoming Retreat
Sauna, cold immersion, and a softening. This retreat is a sacred space to learn about the practices, culture, and research related to sauna and cold immersion experiences and draw from this to create your own rituals, renewal, and meaning. By women. For women.
What Sets Rituals of Renewal Retreat Apart
01 / Premium Lodging and Sauna Guided Experiences
Wild Rice Retreat, in Bayfield, WI, on the shores of Lake Superior, is a sacred space for nourishment, intentional healing, and growth. Join in sauna and cold immersion experiences delivered through the Revivery method, a bio-psycho-social approach to hot and cold contrast therapy that honors the whole person: physical, emotional, and relational.
02 / Nonalcoholic Excellence and Nourishment
The environment at Wild Rice Retreat is supportive of holistic care for your body, mind, and spirit. Off the sauna bench, the retreat celebrates a new kind of toast. Elevated nonalcoholic beverages will be featured throughout the entire weekend, and will deepen guests' appreciation for the craft, complexity, and culture of alcohol-free sipping. This is a space where not drinking is the norm — and where it feels extraordinary.
03 / Sauna and Cold Immersion Rituals
Learn about and explore centuries old to modern sauna rituals and healing practices and the benefits of sauna with retreat host Jen Veralle and co-host Sierra Blake. Jen, a certified Revivery sauna practioner, will guide through several sessions over the weekend, and Sierra, a researcher and the founder of Saint Lucie sauna serum, will share insights on the science and mental health benefits.
Twice over the course of the retreat, Belén Fleming, certified Revivery sauna practioner and retreat co-host, will guide us through cold immersion experiences in Lake Superior. When supported in this venture, all of us can rise to this challenge and truly understand the hot and cold contrast therapy dynamics and feel of this holistic practice.
Rituals of Renewal: sauna, cold immersion, and a softening
Led by Jen Veralle — founder of Sauna and Sobriety and the Mindful Drinking Movement — Wild Rise: Rituals of Renewal is a full-sensory experience rooted in community, ritual, a softening and deep restoration. Jen is trained in the Revivery method, a bio-psycho-social approach to hot and cold contrast therapy that honors the whole person: physical, emotional, and relational.
Throughout the weekend, guests will be guided through intentional sauna rituals, learning about the culture of sauna, immersion in cold plunge practices, and the science and history behind why heat and cold therapy transform us from the inside out, specifically for women. Jen will also share cultural insights from her travels to Oslo for the International Sauna Congress in September 2026.
Off the sauna bench, the retreat celebrates a new kind of toast. Elevated nonalcoholic beverages will be featured throughout the entire weekend, creating an environment where alcohol-free sipping is the norm. The weekend is intentionally unhurried. Unstructured time, forest hikes, yoga round out a retreat designed to restore and reconnect.
Rituals of Renewal is open to anyone ready to feel deeply well — no experience necessary, just a willingness to show up, slow down, soften, and rise.
Programming
Rituals of Renewal is partnering with co-hosts to deliver an experience that awakens all the senses and brings in expertise and knowledge.
Oct 16, Friday:
+ Welcome and guided sauna ritual by Jen Veralle, certified Revivery guide
Oct 17, Saturday:
+ Cold Immersion in Lake Superior: guided by Belén Fleming, certified Revivery guide
+ A Culture of Sauna: sauna and cold immersion cultural lens, ritual, and a recap of Norway experiences, by Jen Veralle
+ Sauna for Women: research through the female lens, by Sierra Blake
+ Optional activities
+ Art Immersion: by Kada Goalen, mural artist
+ Evening sauna session guided by Jen Veralle
Oct 18, Sunday:
+ Cold Immersion in Lake Superior: guided by Belén Fleming, certified Revivery guide
+ Open sauna
+ Closing session: Integration of ritual and owning it