Seven Springs Retreat Details

This page serves as a home base for the Seven Springs Retreat and will be updated with everything you need to know between now and the first day of the training retreat. If you have questions at any time between now and the retreat, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Regan and Julie.

10/15/24 Update on Weather: Hey everyone! It’s forecasted to be a bit chilly here at night this week. Please bring warm clothes, hats, and jackets! Sleeping bags are not a bad idea if you can bring one.

Virtual Meet & Greet

Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm ET

You are invited to join Regan and Julie for a 30-minute gathering on Zoom to say hello and get your questions answered. A Zoom link will be emailed to you prior to the gathering. A Zoom link will be emailed to you prior to the gathering.

Watch the call recording here.

Action Required!

1. Please email your dietary restrictions to hello@theforesttherapyschool.com by Thursday, September 26.

2. Please complete Seven Springs Retreat Center’s Waiver Form by Monday, October 7.

3. If you are interested in booking a traditional table massage or Thai Yoga massage on Saturday before dinner, please email Lindsay at info@sevenspringsretreats.com by October 4. Sessions are $105 for 60 minutes or $145 for 90 minutes.

4. Mark your calendar! Following the retreat, you will enter into a 6-week practicum period. During this time, we will have weekly meetup calls on Zoom on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM ET, beginning October 22nd through November 26th. Please mark your calendars. The calls will be recorded so if you need to miss a call, you will be able to watch the recording.

5. As mentioned in the Meet & Greet, you will receive an email giving you access to our online course platform called Kajabi. Use your email and the password you create to log-in and make sure you have access. Note: You are welcome to log-in to the course platform through our website. Click on the ‘Log In’ button on the navigation menu at the top of the website.

6. Once inside the course platform, please review the program syllabus in the Orientation module and sign the form:

   Program Agreement

7. Prior to arriving at the retreat, please log-in to Kajabi and read Modules 1 and 2. This information will set the foundation to what you will be learning during our days together. Upon arrival at the retreat, you'll be given a printed version of the curriculum—a guidebook containing Modules 1 -10.

8. Arrive at Seven Springs between 3:00 pm ET and 4:00 pm ET. Please no early arrivals. We'll meet you in front of the dining hall area.

Your Instructors:

Regan Stacey | regan@theforesttherapyschool.com |(860) 227-9627

Julie Sczerbinski | julie@theforesttherapyschool.com | (704) 439-6971

Tuition Payment Schedule:

• A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due upon registration

• 50% of the remaining tuition will be due on August 1, 2024. You will receive an invoice via email.

• Final tuition balance will be due on September 15, 2024. You will receive an invoice via email.

When:

Arrive: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm EST

Depart: Sunday, October 20, 2024 by 10:00am EST

Where:

Seven Springs Yoga & Holistic Retreat Center

125 Sweet Hollow Way

Maryville, TN 37803

Very Important Note! Use ONLY Google Maps or Waze for directions.

Getting Here:

Driving Directions:

We recommend coming in via Montvale Road, State Route 336. From Maryville, travel 6.5 miles south on Montvale Road, turn left on Old Piney Road (there is a ProSign shop on your right). Travel 1.1 mile and take your second left onto Galyon Rd. Travel 4/10 of a mile and you will see a large blue mailbox with 120 Sweet Hollow Way sign on top (this is next to 1344 Galyon Rd address and mailbox). Turn left immediately after the blue mailbox onto the gravel driveway and follow the signs to the YURTS. You may drive to your yurt or camping space to unload, and you will then return to park your vehicle in the parking area.

If you get lost, please call (865) 221-3841 OR (865) 268-3913. Verizon Wireless has the best, and may be the only service in this area.

Flying In? Here’s what you should know…

The nearest airport is the Knoxville International Airport. The airport is actually located in Alcoa and only about 25 minutes from Seven Springs. There are taxis at the airport you can hire to drive you to Seven Springs or some students have opted for Uber. You may also look into flying into the Atlanta International Airport and taking the bus or renting a car to drive to Seven Springs. The Atlanta airport is about a 4-hour drive. Nashville offers additional airlines and the airport is about a 3-hour drive (and in central time zone).

Carpool:

If you are interested in arranging a carpool, please email us at hello@theforesttherapyschool.com and we will do our best to connect you to others who are interested as well.

Respect for Wildlife

As we are sharing this home with the wildlife, we ask that you tread softly on the earth. There are bears in the area, along with other animals, so please give them their space. Thank you for following our rule of NO food allowed in yurts or tents. All food MUST be properly stored in the kitchen area. You may bring your own snacks but be aware that storage space in our critter-proof storage areas is limited. Please mark all of your snacks with your name and date. (Any food without a label will be used or composted after a few days.) This is for bears, raccoons, skunks, and any other little critter who might smell it.

Weather

Fall weather in Tennessee typically varies. Nights can be quite cool with temperatures in the 40s. Days can get as high as low-70s. You may wish to dress in layers to adjust your comfort level. Please note, the yurts are not heated. Extra blankets and heated bed warmers are provided. We recommend bringing a sleeping bag, warm clothes and winter hat.

What to Bring:

The most important thing you can bring is a flexible attitude, ready to accept and adjust cheerfully to the surprises that weather and circumstances may present. It helps a lot, too, if your clothing and equipment are suitable. We recommend packing layers for shifts in temperature. If you are unsure what to take with you, ask us.

Please bring:

• Bath towel

• Water bottle

• Unscented sunscreen 

• Natural insect repellent

• All natural personal products (toothpaste, shampoo, soap etc.) at the request of Seven Springs.

• Headlamp or flashlight (plus batteries) 

• Close toe shoes for forest walks

• Long pants for forest walks

• Jacket and hat for cooler temperatures. (Mornings and evenings will be cold!)

• Rain gear (jacket, pants, umbrella) 

• Notebook and pen

• Camping gear and bedding (if camping) 

Optional Items:

• Sleeping bag for extra warmth at night (Yurts are not heated.)

• Hat (wide brim, for the sun) 

• Slip-on shoes

• Sunglasses 

• Musical instruments

• Yoga clothes for optional yoga sessions 

• Yoga mat (if you prefer your own)

• Allergy medication

The Forest Therapy School Intoxicant Policy: Most of our retreat venue partners are intoxicant-free facilities, so for that reason (and for the safety and well-being of others), we ask that you don't bring drugs and alcohol to in-person training retreats.

Life at Seven Springs Retreat Center

More information can be found in the Seven Springs’ welcome packet here.

Leave No Trace: We live close to the land at Seven Springs, so please act accordingly. Be sure to dispose of waste in the appropriate recycling or compost bin. In general, please be aware of what you are consuming to limit the waste it produces!

Land: Please stay on the paths, we are battling fire ants so stay away from the flags or if you see small piles of fine dirt. We live close to the land at Seven Springs, so please act accordingly. Be sure to dispose of waste in the appropriate recycling or compost bin. In general, please be aware of what you are consuming to limit the waste it produces!

Poison/Sister Ivy: Leaves of three, let it be! We suggest that when you shower, scrub all exposed areas well. You have up to two hours to remove the oils before they cause the itchy reaction on your skin. If you’re particularly allergic, consider using a Jewel Weed salve. We have some for emergencies in our first aid kit. Jewel Weed oil is a natural counter to sister ivy. In nature they grow next to each other representing a beautiful symbiotic relationship.

How to Use the Kitchen: For most events the kitchen will be run by our team who will prepare the meals for everyone. You can bring your own snacks or food but be aware: storage space in our critter-proof storage areas is limited and there is no food allowed in yurts. Please mark all food with your name and date. Any food without a label will be used or composted after a few days.

Hot water will be available all day to make tea, cold spring water from our Springs in the dispensers. Napkins are made by a women's cooperative in Guatemala. Choose a napkin and place it in the napkin house for the next meal that is above the sink.

Yurts: Please take off your shoes when entering the yurts. We do have critters (mostly raccoons and field mice) so it’s essential to put any food in the fridge and/or cabinets. There are extra blankets in each yurt if you need. Please turn off your lights when you leave your yurt.

Dishes: At meal time, please clean your own bowl and eating items at our washing station. There are five steps in this system: First scrape off the food particles in the compost bin, Second scrub with natural soap, Third dip in water to rinse, Fourth soak for a few seconds in vinegar to sterilize. Finally, place your items on the drying rack.

Laundry: We provide towels and linens for those staying in yurts. For longer stays, personal loads of laundry may be requested for a $10 fee.

Karma: We like to practice small offerings of karma (selfless service) during your experience at Seven Springs. Please treat the space as if it were your own. This is a family-style retreat center, and we hope that each person that comes leaves their positive energy and a clean space!

Schedule:

You will receive a detailed schedule upon arrival at Seven Springs. In general, you can expect our days to start immediately after breakfast (9:30 am-ish) and ending around 4:30 pm in the afternoon.

Practicum:

Following the retreat, you will enter into a 6-week practicum period. During this time, we will have weekly meetup calls on Zoom on Tuesday evenings at 7:00pm ET, beginning October 22nd through November 26th. Graduation will be held on Tuesday, November 26th at 7:00pm—7:45pm ET. Please mark your calendars. The calls will be recorded. If you need to miss a call, you will be able to watch the recording. 

The Land and Caretakers:

Frequently Asked Questions: