The Ancient Yoga Center
Texas Hill Country just outside Austin
October 9-11, 2026
Registration now open
Creative Soul
Hill Country Retreat
Reconnect with yourself, your creativity, and a circle of inspiring women
Led by Carolyn Scarborough
With guest teacher Julie Wylie
It's easy to lose touch with ourselves.
Sometimes it's because life becomes full of responsibilities and distractions. Other times, we've simply fallen into familiar routines and forgotten what brings us alive. The days are full, we're getting things done, but somewhere along the way we've stopped paying attention to the things that spark wonder, inspiration, and joy.
This retreat is an invitation to pause.
For one nourishing weekend in the Texas Hill Country, you'll step away from the demands of everyday life and into a welcoming circle of creative women. Through writing, reflection, gentle movement, time in nature, and meaningful conversation, you'll have space to listen inward, reconnect with yourself, and remember what matters most.
And from that place, something begins to open.
Slowly, almost without effort, the inner spark begins to return. Words come more easily. Beauty becomes easier to notice. Possibilities that once felt distant begin to feel within reach.
Whether you're a writer longing for uninterrupted time and fresh inspiration, a creative spirit seeking renewal, or simply a woman who wants to feel more present and alive, this retreat offers the space to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover the parts of yourself that may have quietly slipped into the background.
Sometimes all we need is a little room to breathe, a little silence, and a community of kindred women to help us remember.
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is for women who are longing for a pause from the noise and a return to themselves.
You may be a writer seeking uninterrupted time and fresh inspiration. You may be a creative spirit who feels disconnected from what once brought you alive. Or perhaps you're craving more presence, beauty, wonder, and meaningful connection in your life.
Whatever brings you here, you'll find a welcoming community of thoughtful women, a spacious rhythm, and room to listen for what wants to emerge.
What is included?
Creative & Reflective Experiences
Guided writing
Creative exploration and exercises
Mindfulness practices
Mindful photography
Spacious free time
Accommodations & Meals
3 days, 2 nights at the Ancient Yoga Center
Single rooms with private bathrooms
All meals included
Delicious, nourishing vegetarian meals
Coffee, chai tea and snacks
Welcoming Community
• Meet and connect with women from the Austin-based Creative Soul Community
• Connect with kindred spirits who understand the creative and writing life
• Warm, supportive community
• Plenty of laughter and meaningful conversation
Movement & Embodiment
Tai chi
Guided breathing and grounding practices
Nature walks and creekside reflections
230-acre property for exploring
Memories from past retreats.
A Sanctuary in the Texas Hill Country
Nestled in the rolling hills southwest of Austin, the Ancient Yoga Center sits on 230 acres of peaceful Hill Country landscape. Wander past dramatic temple architecture, follow winding paths beneath live oaks, sit beside the creek with your journal, watch peacocks roam the grounds, or simply find a quiet corner to take in the changing light across the hills.
The spacious grounds invite the very thing many of us are missing: time to slow down, pay attention, and breathe.
Here, beauty is not something you seek. It is all around you.
AGENDA
Our Daily Rhythm
You may arrive any time between 2–3 p.m. on Friday, October 9. The opening ceremony begins promptly at 4 p.m., and we will gather for dinner at 6 p.m. The retreat concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 11.
While a detailed agenda will be provided at the retreat, a typical day might look something like this:
Breakfast8:00 – 9:00 am
Tai Chi9:30 – 9:50 am
Morning Session10:00 – 12:00 pm
Lunch12:30 – 1:30 pm
Free Time1:30 – 3:30 pm
Afternoon Session3:30 – 5:30 pm
Dinner6:00 – 7:00 pm
Guided Wind-Down Breathing7:30 – 8 pm
Fresh, wholesome food
Gather in the cozy dining room or at outdoor tables for fresh, wholesome vegetarian meals prepared with care. Meals include mildly spiced Indian dishes, Tex-Mex, Italian favorites, and other flavorful cuisine featuring vegetables, grains, and legumes.
And yes, there will be dessert.
Chai tea and snacks are available throughout the day, and gluten-free and vegan options are happily accommodated.
BOOK
Ready to join us?
For one restorative weekend, you'll step away from daily responsibilities and into a beautiful Hill Country setting designed for reflection, creativity, connection, and renewal.
Everything is taken care of for you—from your private room and delicious meals to thoughtful retreat programming and plenty of space to rest, wander, write, and reconnect with yourself.
All you need to do is arrive.
Early Bird Registration: $995 through August 27, 2026
Pay $1,095 after August 27, 2026
Reserve your space at the Hill Country Retreat. A $295 deposit secures your spot and will be applied toward your total balance, with final payment due August 27, 2026.
A non-refundable deposit policy applies.
A non-refundable $295 deposit reserves your space. Final payment is due August 27, 2026.
Meet your retreat leaders.
About Carolyn
Retreat Leader, Creative Exploration & Reflective Writing
Carolyn Scarborough is a creativity guide, writer, and founder of the Creative Soul Community, where women gather to reconnect with their creativity and create lives of greater purpose, vitality, and expression.
An award-winning author, creativity and writing coach, and retreat facilitator, Carolyn is known for creating grounded, welcoming spaces where women can slow down, soften what feels tight, and rediscover a more authentic and playful relationship with themselves and their creative lives.
She leads retreats, writing circles, and workshops both in person and online, and offers private coaching. Carolyn is the author of Backyard Pearls: Cultivating Wisdom and Joy in Everyday Life and has written more than 500 articles for national and international publications. She has studied a wide range of creative and spiritual practices for over 30 years and has presented at venues including Esalen Institute, the International Coach Federation, and the Story Circle Women’s Writing Conference.
At the heart of her work is a deep belief that creativity is not something we strive for, but something we return to.
About Julie
Movement Experience
Guest teacher Julie Wylie, a spirited, down to earth facilitator by nature, has over 35 years of movement experience. She has a passion for somatic story telling & fostering communities of ‘women lifting women higher,’ including volunteering with Truth Be Told (a creative program supporting women behind and beyond bars). She has also taught at Isadora Duncan International Symposiums, Gene Keys StarDreaming Retreats in New Mexico, Unity Church and Seton Cove in Austin, Texas. Although she has a Nia black belt, Julie loves gently guiding non-movers to move in simple ways that increase joy and body pleasure.
Questions?
If you have any questions, or would like to sign up for our waitlist, I’d be happy to connect with you. Just fill out this form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

