Monthly candlelight Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra held around the full moon at Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove. A quiet evening of deep rest and renewal.
An Evening of Poetry & Reflection at Yoga Among Friends
Thursday, October 22, 2026
6:30-8:30 PM · Free · Yoga Among Friends, Downers Grove, IL
with author, Nancy Hill
A chance to pause, listen, and connect
Join author Nancy J. Hill for an intimate evening of poetry, reflection, and quiet connection.
Drawing from her new collection, Soul Echoes: Poems on Being and Belonging, Nancy will share poems that explore what it means to be seen, held, and to come home to ourselves—both alone and among others.
Come as you are for a gentle evening to pause, breathe, listen within, and remember the places and people with whom you truly belong.
What to expect
This gathering will include poetry readings, moments for quiet reflection, and space to simply be in community. Please bring a journal and pen for personal reflection and writing. No writing experience is needed, and sharing is always optional.
Books Available
Signed copies of Soul Echoes: Poems on Being and Belonging will be available for purchase after the program for $20, including tax. Cash, check, card, Venmo, and Zelle are accepted.
“You soften into
what holds you,
like moonlight resting on water.”
— from “Redbud,” Soul Echoes
About Nancy J. Hill
Nancy J. Hill is a poet, author, and clinical social worker whose work explores creativity, connection, and the sacred moments of everyday life. She is the author of Soul Echoes: Poems on Being and Belonging, a collection that welcomes both the broken and the beautiful—where the soul finds rest. A longtime Yoga Among Friends student, Nancy creates reflective spaces where participants can slow down, listen within, and discover belonging.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. This gathering is open to anyone who would like an evening of poetry, reflection, and connection.
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Please bring a journal and pen for personal reflection and writing.
No writing experience is needed, and sharing is always optional.
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Yes. Signed copies of Soul Echoes: Poems on Being and Belonging will be available for purchase after the program for $20, including tax. Cash, check, card, Venmo, and Zelle are accepted.
A 90-Minute Journey into Harmony
Led by Marian Kraus
$40 prepaid online | $45 cash at the door, if space is available
Harmony
There are times when we simply need space to return to ourselves—to settle, listen, and reconnect with a steadier rhythm within.
Join Marian Kraus for a 90-minute Sound Bath Meditation Journey centered on Harmony. The evening begins with a softly guided meditation, followed by an immersive live soundscape created with large titanium and bronze gongs, didgeridoo, drums, handpan, Himalayan singing bowls, vocals, and more.
Through layers of sound and stillness, you are invited to rest deeply, soften what feels unsettled, and reconnect with a sense of balance and ease.
No previous meditation or sound bath experience is needed. Simply come as you are.
What to Expect
This 90-minute experience includes:
A brief introduction to the theme of Harmony
A guided meditation to help you settle inward
An immersive multi-instrument sound bath
Time for deep rest, reflection, and quiet
You’ll rest comfortably while Marian creates the sound journey around you.
Mats, bolsters, and blankets are provided. You are welcome to bring a pillow, an extra blanket, or additional layers so you can be as comfortable as possible.
Event Details
Saturday, October 24, 2026
5:30–7:00 PM
Yoga Among Friends
4949 Forest Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515
$40 prepaid online
$45 cash at the door, space permitting
You will receive an email confirmation after registering, along with reminder emails before the event.
About Marian Kraus
Marian Kraus is a certified Gong Master and Level 2 Spring Forest Qigong practitioner whose work brings together guided meditation, sound, stillness, and deep listening.
Born in Bratislava and shaped by life across three countries, Marian brings an artist’s sensitivity to each sound journey. Drawing from ancient sound traditions and his background in fine-art photography, he creates layered soundscapes designed to support rest, reflection, and inner clarity.
His intention is to create a welcoming space where you can slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with a greater sense of calm and possibility.
Learn more about Marian and Higher Frequency Living.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. No previous meditation, yoga, or sound bath experience is needed. Marian will guide you through the experience from the beginning.
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The evening begins with a brief introduction and a guided meditation centered on the theme of Harmony. You’ll then rest while Marian creates an immersive live soundscape using gongs, singing bowls, didgeridoo, handpan, drums, vocals, and other instruments.
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Yoga Among Friends provides mats, bolsters, and blankets. We encourage you to bring your own mat if you have one, though you’re always welcome to use ours. You may also want to bring a pillow, an extra blanket, or additional layers for comfort. Wear comfortable clothing, as you’ll be resting on your mat for much of the experience.
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No yoga practice or yoga experience is required. We will not be practicing yoga. This is a guided meditation and sound experience designed for rest and reflection.
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The Sound Bath Meditation Journey will be held in person at Yoga Among Friends, 4949 Forest Avenue in Downers Grove, Illinois.
Ready to Join Us?
Give yourself this time to rest, listen, and return to a little more harmony within.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
6:30–8 PM • $40 • In-Studio Workshop
With Kylie Grogan
There is a special kind of sweetness that comes with fall: the warmth of a cup held between your hands, the scent of cinnamon and apples, crisp air, changing leaves, cozy blankets, and evenings that invite us to slow down.
Finding the Sweetness is a 90-minute restorative fall experience designed to help you step away from the busyness of everyday life and settle into the warmth and comfort of the season.
What You’ll Experience
Your evening begins with a mindful apple cinnamon tea ritual—a simple opportunity to pause and enjoy the warmth, aroma, and sweetness of the season.
Kylie will then guide you through gentle yoga therapy practices, mindful movement, breathing, and restorative postures designed to ease areas of holding, support body awareness, and encourage nervous system balance.
Warm, seasonal aromatherapy will be woven throughout the experience. As movement comes to a close, you’ll settle into restorative rest and an autumn-inspired guided visualization, allowing the sights, sounds, and feelings of fall to carry you toward stillness.
The evening concludes with an immersive sound healing journey using soothing instruments and gentle vibrations to encourage deep relaxation and quiet.
You’ll Leave With
• A softer, more settled body
• Simple practices for returning to the present moment
• A renewed sense of warmth, ease, and seasonal grounding
• Space to notice the small moments of sweetness that are already here
Who This is For
This gentle, beginner-friendly workshop is for anyone who would welcome an evening to slow down, get cozy, and reconnect with themselves as the seasons change.
No previous yoga experience is needed. Come as you are.
What to Bring
Please wear comfortable layers and bring your yoga mat. All other props are provided.
Come as you are, settle in, and give yourself an evening to find the sweetness already here.
About Kylie Grogan
Kylie Grogan is a Yoga Among Friends teacher who brings a gentle, supportive approach to yoga therapy, restorative practice, and mindful relaxation. Her workshops create space to slow down, reconnect with the body, and cultivate greater ease.
Learn more about Kylie →
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. This workshop is gentle, accessible, and welcoming to beginners.
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Bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable layers.
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Yes, a ceremonial apple cinnamon tea ritual is included. [Confirm ingredient/allergy details.]
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Please let Kylie know before the workshop. Gentle options and supportive props will be offered where appropriate.
A 4-Hour Workshop with Jana Sutherland
Saturday, November 7, 2026 · 3-7 PM
$60 · In Studio · Limited to 20 Participants
Yoga can support us through every stage of life—and our practice can continue to evolve right along with us.
Join Jana Sutherland for an afternoon exploring how yoga can support balance, strength, mobility, joint and bone health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being as we age.
Through movement, breath, reflection, restorative practice, and meditation, you’ll explore practical ways to support your well-being now and in the years ahead.
All levels are welcome, including beginners.
What We'll Explore
During this four-hour workshop, Jana will guide you through:
An accessible look at current research on yoga and healthy aging
Yoga practices that support balance, strength, joint mobility, and bone health
Breathing and mindfulness practices for emotional well-being
Reflection and connection around the experience of aging
Restorative yoga and a guided meditation to close the afternoon
This isn’t about resisting age or asking your body to perform as it once did. It’s an invitation to explore how movement, breath, awareness, and everyday choices can help you continue to meet life with strength, resilience, and possibility.
What You'll Take With You
You’ll leave with a greater understanding of the practices and daily habits that can support you as you age, along with movements and breathing techniques you can continue to explore at home.
Every participant will receive a booklet with information and exercises from the workshop to support continued practice.
Who Is This Workshop For?
Aging Well is for anyone curious about how yoga can support health and well-being throughout the aging process.
No previous yoga experience is necessary. Experienced students and those completely new to yoga are equally welcome.
✨ Continue the Practice on Sunday
Workshop participants are also invited to Jana’s Aging Well yoga class on Sunday, November 8 at 11:00 AM, at no additional charge.
The class will build on Saturday’s workshop and offer another opportunity to explore the movements, breathing practices, and ideas introduced during the afternoon.
Advance registration is required for the Sunday class. After registering for Saturday’s workshop, you’ll receive a registration code to use when signing up for Sunday’s class. Enter the code at checkout and the $20 class fee will be reduced to $0.
For those who do not attend Saturday’s workshop, the Sunday class is $20 with regular registration.
About Jana Sutherland
Jana Sutherland is a teacher at Yoga Among Friends whose thoughtful classes center on essential, foundational movement. Her teaching blends gentle guidance with purposeful practice, helping students cultivate both inner calm and lasting physical vitality.
In Aging Well, Jana brings that same approach to an exploration of how yoga can help us navigate the aging process with greater awareness, resilience, and joy.
Want to learn more about Jana’s approach to yoga? Read her reflection, Yoga in My Life: Finding Calm, Community & Connection, where she shares how her own practice has evolved over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. The workshop is designed for all levels, including people who are new to yoga.
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No. Aging Well is for anyone interested in learning how yoga and everyday practices can support strength, mobility, balance, and well-being throughout the aging process.
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Registration includes the four-hour Saturday workshop, a take-home booklet with information and exercises, and the Sunday, November 8 Aging Well yoga class at 11:00 AM.
Part of Veterans Yoga Project Gratitude Week
Thursday, November 12, 2026 · 6:30–7:30 PM
$20 suggested donation · Collected at the event
All levels · Beginners welcome
Join Nadine Bahaveolos for an accessible, all-levels chair yoga fundraiser during Veterans Yoga Project Gratitude Week. Through mindful movement and breath, we’ll come together in gratitude for veterans, military families and our community.
Beginners are warmly welcome.
A $20 donation is suggested and will be collected at the event; 100% of donations benefit Veterans Yoga Project.
What to Expect
Nadine will guide a one-hour chair yoga practice designed to be accessible to all levels of experience. Beginners are warmly welcome.
Through mindful movement and breath, the practice reflects the principles of Mindful Resilience Yoga and offers space to reconnect with steadiness, presence and community.
No previous yoga experience is needed.
Supporting Veterans Yoga Project
Veterans Yoga Project brings yoga and mindful resilience practices to veterans, military families and communities.
During Gratitude Week, participants across the country come together through yoga to honor those who have served and help support Veterans Yoga Project's work.
Your donation at this class will go directly to Veterans Yoga Project.
About Nadine Bahaveolos
Nadine Bahaveolos, RYT-500 and Yoga & Mindful Resilience Instructor, is a longtime yoga practitioner and educator who believes in the healing and restorative possibilities of breath and mindful movement.
Her teaching brings a warm, nurturing and grounded perspective to the practice. In December 2024, Nadine completed Mindful Resilience Training through Veterans Yoga Project and now serves the organization as a volunteer instructor. Her connection to this work is also personal: she is the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and granddaughter of World War II veterans.
Join Us
Come as you are for an hour of movement, breath and connection—and an opportunity to express gratitude through practice.
Chair Yoga Fundraiser for Veterans Yoga Project
Thursday, November 12 · 6:30–7:30 PM
Yoga Among Friends
4949 Forest Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Suggested donation: $20
100% of the donations collected at the event will go to the Veterans Yoga Project.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. This chair yoga class is open to all levels, and beginners are welcome.
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A $20 donation is suggested and will be collected at the event rather than through Yoga Among Friends. 100% of donations benefit Veterans Yoga Project.
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The flyer says the class is open to all, which suggests the event is not limited to veterans. I’d still confirm that wording with Nadine before publishing this particular FAQ.
Enjoy 7 nights at Good Hope, an 18th-century Georgian estate in the Jamaican countryside.
Join Laura Jane Mellencamp and a community of like-minded friends for a weeklong yoga retreat at Good Hope in Trelawny, Jamaica. Set within lush green hills and peaceful tropical surroundings, Good Hope offers a beautiful place to rest, practice, connect, and experience the warmth of island life.
The private beach, scenic views, nourishing meals, and open-air spaces create the perfect environment for slowing down and deepening your yoga and meditation practice.
An Unforgettable Yoga, Meditation & Travel Experience
Laura Jane has designed this week to support stillness, self-inquiry, and the joy of practice in community. Classes will blend Hatha yoga, mindfulness meditation, sutra study, chanting, and therapeutic principles that can be carried into your daily life.
This week offers a balance of rest and play, with time for practice, beach visits, shared meals, quiet reflection, and connection. Whether you are newer to yoga or have practiced for years, this retreat is open to all levels and life experiences.
This yoga retreat is for all ages and all life experiences — perfect for all levels of practitioners, yoga teachers, and bodywork therapists.
Private yoga sessions will also be available.
Sample Daily Schedule*
(Optional to meet each student’s needs)
• Early morning hike and meditation
• Breakfast
• In-depth yoga practice with Laura Jane
• Lunch
• Free time to explore this beautiful and healing environment
• Late practice includes asana, chanting, sutra study and meditation
• Dinner
• Evening shared sangha
*Schedule is subject to change.
We will be going down to the private beach most days (15 min from the Coach House). Price includes daily transportation to the beach.
Accommodations
The Coach House
Good Hope is about forty minutes from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Our group will have the entire retreat property at Good Hope, including the Country House (also known as the Great House), the Coach House, and a few detached cottages.
The Country House and Coach House are two beautiful cut-stone buildings with sweeping views of the valley. Each has seven bedrooms and a multi-level, open floor plan that offers a lovely balance of spaciousness and intimacy — ideal for a yoga retreat where there is time to gather, rest, and retreat inward.
Each bedroom includes air conditioning, ceiling fans, and an en-suite bathroom. Recently renovated, the property also features a 50-foot infinity edge pool, open-air dining terrace, tropical gardens, and access to Good Hope’s private beach house, located about 15 minutes away.
Meals are served family-style, and the pace is slow, relaxed, and deeply welcoming.
Retreat Pricing
Double Occupancy
Shared room · Per person
Full Rate
$3,518 cash/check
$3,623 credit card
Ready to reserve your space?
Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of $700 is required to reserve your space.
Balance Due: Remaining balance is due by January 2, 2027.
Payment Note: Credit card pricing includes processing fees.
If you have any questions or concerns about sharing a room, please email Laura Jane about a possible single room. We are here to help!
The cost of the retreat includes:
Roundtrip airport transportation to & from the resort
Deluxe accommodations for 7 nights. All bedrooms have bathrooms, A/C, and ceiling fans
3 gourmet, mostly vegetarian meals daily with some seafood meals during the week. Gluten/dairy-free options are available upon request
Water, teas, & juices
Daily yoga classes & sutra studies—Private yoga sessions are available
Full use of all resort amenities - including pool, beach, boogie boards, paddle boards, kayaks, river swimming, hiking trails, movie night, yoga room, pool table, ping pong table, and ADSL internet access.
Daily transportation to and from the private beach
Sales & hospitality taxes
The retreat cost does not include:
Airfare to Sangster Intl Airport in Montego Bay
Spa treatments (massage, mani/pedis, reflexology, etc.)
Alcoholic beverages & personal purchases
Optional excursions such as golf, dining in local restaurants, pottery classes, painting classes, horseback riding, rafting, snorkeling, fishing, Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios, Chukka Adventures (zip lines, river tubing, horse and buggy rides, dune buggy rides, ATVs, and history talk of local area)
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Gratuities
Registration
To reserve your space, a non-refundable $700 deposit is due at the time of registration. The remaining balance is due by January 2, 2027.
Reserve Online
Pay by credit card
- Complete your registration online.
- Pay your $700 deposit by credit card.
- Pay your remaining balance by January 2, 2027.
Register by Cash or Check
Submit your form, then mail or drop off your deposit.
- Complete the registration form.
- Mail or drop off your $700 deposit by cash or check.
- Pay your remaining balance by January 2, 2027.
Cash/check payment details:
Make checks payable to Yoga Among Friends.
Mail or drop off payment to 4949 Forest Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515.
Refund/Cancellation
A $700 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space. If you need to cancel before November 1, 2026, payments made beyond the deposit may be refunded, less any non-refundable costs already paid by Yoga Among Friends. Cancellations on or after November 1, 2026 are non-refundable unless your space can be filled by another participant.
All cancellation requests must be made in writing. Travel insurance is strongly recommended to protect your investment in the event of illness, travel delays, emergencies, or other unexpected circumstances.
Interested, but have a few questions before you commit?
with Laura Jane Mellencamp, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, MA
Step away from the familiar and into the spacious beauty of Scotland.
Join Laura Jane Mellencamp and the Yoga Among Friends community for six nights of yoga, meditation, friendship, exploration and renewal in the peaceful countryside of Perthshire, where the Scottish Lowlands meet the Highlands.
Surrounded by rolling green hills, ancient woodland and wide-open skies, we’ll have room to move, breathe, wander, rest and remember something we often lose in the pace of everyday life:
the simple joy of being fully present.
Laura Jane is bringing the spirit of Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove, Illinois, to Scotland for a retreat designed around meaningful practice, spacious days, beautiful surroundings and the kind of community that has brought retreat participants back year after year.
All levels of yoga experience are welcome.
Retreat arrangements and registration are coordinated in partnership with True Nature Travels.
A Retreat for Practice, Presence & a Little Awe
There is something about leaving our usual surroundings that helps us see more clearly.
On retreat, there is nowhere else we need to be.
We can begin the morning in practice. Eat together. Walk. Explore. Take a nap. Read a book. Sit quietly. Laugh around a fire. Let the landscape surprise us.
Laura Jane has shaped this week to create room for stillness, self-inquiry, meaningful practice, and the joy of being in community. Our time together will weave Hatha yoga, mindfulness meditation, sutra study, chanting, and therapeutic principles into practices that are both grounding in the moment and useful when you return home.
There will be a natural rhythm of practice and rest, reflection and exploration, quiet time and shared experience. Some days may invite you inward; others may open into a walk through the countryside, a shared meal, laughter, or simply time to sit and take in where you are.
This retreat is open to all ages, all life experiences, and all levels of practice. Whether you are newer to yoga, have practiced for years, teach yoga, or work in the healing and bodywork professions, you are welcome here.
Come as you are, with a willingness to participate, explore, and listen.
Sometimes we need to leave the familiar long enough to remember what has been waiting quietly within us.
What Your Week in Scotland Includes
The retreat package currently includes:
6 nights of accommodations in the Perthshire countryside
3 meals each day, beginning with dinner on arrival day and ending with breakfast on departure day
Group ground transportation between Edinburgh Airport and the retreat center during True Nature’s designated transfer window
Daily yoga practices with Laura Jane
Meditation, breathing practices and opportunities for quiet reflection
Personal retreat time to rest, walk, read, explore or simply do nothing for a while
The property includes beautifully restored accommodations, contemporary lodges, gardens, walking paths, outdoor gathering spaces and private hot tubs. A spacious, fully equipped yoga studio provides mats, bolsters, blocks, straps, blankets, meditation cushions and weighted eye pillows
Space to Explore Scotland
Practice is part of retreat.
So is adventure.
During free time, possible activities may include:
countryside walks and nature hikes
Scottish ceilidh dancing
sound bath sessions
massage
evenings around the firepit
whisky tasting
excursions to places such as Edinburgh, Stirling, St Andrews or Perth
Optional activities are subject to availability and are not included unless True Nature specifically lists them as part of the retreat package.
And there is no requirement to fill every open hour.
A quiet afternoon with a book may be every bit as important as an excursion.
Meet Your Retreat Leader: Laura Jane Mellencamp
Laura Jane Mellencamp, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, MA, is the founder and director of Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove, Illinois and has spent decades studying, practicing and teaching yoga.
Her work extends well beyond physical postures. Laura Jane brings together traditional yoga teachings, meditation, breath, yoga therapy and her graduate background in clinical and counseling psychology to help students explore yoga as a practice for the whole person.
She is a certified yoga therapist and member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and has led classes, workshops, trainings and retreats in the United States and around the world.
What students often remember most, however, is not a credential.
It is the feeling of being welcomed exactly where they are.
That same philosophy has shaped Yoga Among Friends for more than 25 years: thoughtful teaching, small classes, meaningful practice and a community where people at many different ages and stages of life can practice together.
Want to experience Laura Jane’s teaching before Scotland? Explore Yoga Among Friends classes and gatherings in Downers Grove and online via Zoom.
The practice may bring us to Scotland. The friendships, discoveries and moments in between are part of the retreat too.
Your Retreat Home in Perthshire, Scotland
Our retreat will be set on a private estate in Perthshire, Scotland, surrounded by rolling hills, fields and woodland.
The property brings together restored historic buildings and contemporary lodges arranged around a central courtyard. Rooms include ensuite bathroom facilities, and each accommodation category offers its own combination of location, room size and accessibility by stairs.
Shared and single rooms are available in several categories.
Retreat Tuition
Current tuition ranges from:
Shared accommodations: $4,495–$4,645 USD per person
Single accommodations: $5,295–$5,445 USD per person
A non-refundable $50 processing fee is added at registration.
True Nature requires a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit to reserve your place.
For the most current deposit requirements, payment schedule and registration details, please refer to True Nature Travels.
Getting to Scotland
Participants will fly into Edinburgh Airport (EDI).
True Nature provides one group ground transfer between Edinburgh Airport and the retreat center in each direction. Flights need to fall within the designated arrival and departure windows to use that transportation.
Do not purchase airfare until True Nature confirms that the retreat has met its minimum registration requirement.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
For specific flight windows, travel policies, insurance information and payment questions, use the current information provided by True Nature Travels.
Scotland Yoga Retreat FAQs
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No. The retreat is intended to welcome people with different levels of yoga experience. Laura Jane's teaching emphasizes meeting each person where they are, and Yoga Among Friends is built around the same approach. You do not need an advanced physical practice to participate.
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The retreat includes daily yoga practice along with meditation and mindful breathing. Laura Jane's teaching draws from traditional yoga, meditation and therapeutic principles rather than focusing only on physical postures.
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Yes. Many people attend retreats on their own. Laura Jane's past retreat participants frequently describe the group as welcoming and community-centered, with friendships developing naturally through practice, meals and shared experiences.
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The retreat center is in the countryside of Perthshire, Scotland, in a landscape between the Lowlands and Highlands. Participants will fly into Edinburgh Airport and travel to the retreat center using True Nature's scheduled group transportation.
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The package includes six nights of accommodations, three meals daily beginning with dinner on arrival day, daily yoga practices, personal retreat time and group transportation between Edinburgh Airport and the retreat center during True Nature's designated shuttle windows. Optional excursions and activities may cost extra.
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The retreat is led by Laura Jane Mellencamp, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, MA, founder and director of Yoga Among Friends, a yoga and meditation studio in Downers Grove, Illinois. Laura Jane is an experienced yoga teacher and certified yoga therapist who has led retreats, workshops and yoga programs internationally.
Ready to Come to Scotland?
If something in you is already imagining the green hills, morning practice, shared meals and time to simply wander, listen and breathe, perhaps this is your invitation.
Join Laura Jane and the Yoga Among Friends community in Scotland, September 27–October 3, 2027.
Registration, payments, accommodations and travel arrangements are managed by True Nature Travels.
Not quite ready — or wondering whether this retreat is right for you?
Laura Jane would be happy to talk with you.
One Last Question
What would it feel like to give yourself a week with nowhere else you need to be?
Maybe the answer is not something you need to figure out just yet.
Perhaps you simply begin by making a little room for the possibility.
With love,
Laura Jane