Custom Experiential Retreats at Arcadia Villa
Private, guided somatic and equine-assisted retreats for individuals, couples, and small groups seeking meaningful insight, connection, and transformation.
What This Is
A fully customized, private retreat designed for people seeking intentional time, guided experiential work, and space for meaningful personal and relational exploration in a quiet, supportive setting. Retreats are facilitated using trauma-informed principles that emphasize choice, pacing, consent, and participant agency.
These retreats blend Equine Gestalt®, somatic awareness practices, HeartMath® self-regulation techniques, and integrative embodiment experiences. Together, they invite deeper insight into patterns, transitions, relationships, stress responses, and life themes—supporting clarity, connection, and perspective at your own pace.
Retreats are facilitated by Erika Lehmann, PhD, an experienced equine-assisted and somatic retreat facilitator, with optional co-facilitators matched to your group’s size, intentions, and preferred frameworks.
Core Experiential Modalities
Equine Gestalt® Experiential Sessions
Ground-based, horse-facilitated experiences with rescued mustangs.
No riding—just presence, awareness, and guided reflection.
Horses offer immediate, nonverbal feedback that often brings patterns, emotions, and relational dynamics into awareness in a grounded, embodied way. These sessions are frequently chosen for personal insight, relational exploration, and life transition work.
Gestalt-Informed Somatic Sessions (without Horses)
Facilitated dialogue, somatic awareness, parts exploration, and values-centered inquiry. Ideal when weather limits outdoor work or for indoor afternoon sessions that support integration and reflection.
Integration + Embodiment Experiences
HeartMath® Nervous-System Regulation
Evidence-based self-regulation techniques and optional biofeedback practices that support physiological coherence, emotional balance, and stress resilience. Participants learn tools they can continue using independently.
Sound Bath / Vibrational Integration
Crystal bowls and gong experiences designed to support relaxation, grounding, and integration following more intensive experiential sessions.
Restorative or Gentle Yoga
Slow, accessible movement and breath-based practices that support body awareness, ease, and embodied presence.
Pilates Mat (Somatic + Alignment Focused)
Breath-led, gentle core and alignment work to support grounding and physical integration.
Guided Sensory Immersion Hike
A meditative walk through mountain terrain, culminating at a stone labyrinth for reflection.
How We Design a Custom Retreat
1. Initial Conversation
We discuss your goals, intentions, group dynamics, and any considerations that help us design an experience aligned with trauma-informed facilitation principles.
2. Choose Your Modalities
Select 1–2 primary experiential modalities plus 1 integration or embodiment experience per day.
3. Location Planning
Equine sessions may take place at Arcadia Villa or at our Florissant sanctuary
Gestalt-informed sessions, HeartMath, sound bath, yoga, and Pilates can be held onsite at Arcadia Villa
Guided sensory immersion hikes are offered as an add-on at the Florissant sanctuary
4. Retreat Schedule Proposal
You receive a thoughtfully paced schedule based on duration, group size, and selected experiences.
5. Pricing Proposal
A transparent quote combining session fees + travel fees + any co-facilitator options.
A Typical Retreat Day Might Look Like
Morning
Equine Gestalt® experiential session
Afternoon
Gestalt-informed somatic session (without horses)
Evening
Sound bath, HeartMath, restorative yoga, or meditative Pilates
This sequencing supports integration, pacing, and individualized attention throughout the day.
Who This Is For
These retreats are intentionally intimate, reflective, and experiential.
They are appropriate for:
✔ Individuals navigating life transitions, stress patterns, identity shifts, or seeking focused personal insight.
✔ Couples interested in deepening connection, understanding relational dynamics, and reconnecting with intention.
✔ Small Groups (2–12 participants) intentionally gathering for a shared, immersive retreat experience.
Who This Is Not For
These retreats are not recreational, entertainment-based, or agenda-driven.
They are designed for guests who are intentionally seeking a quieter, more reflective experience, rather than social events or team-building activities. For this reason, they are not a fit for corporate groups, wedding parties, bachelor/ette groups, or celebratory gatherings.
Investment
Final investment is customized based on modalities, group size, and facilitator availability.
Experiential Sessions
3-hour session, up to 4 participants: $1,200 3-hour session • 5–12 participants: $2,400 (Groups over 4 require two facilitators to support group flow and individualized attention. Maximum 12.)
Integration & Embodiment Experiences
HeartMath: $200/hour • Sound Bath: $500/hour • Yoga: $250/hour • Pilates: $150/hour + • Sensory Immersion Hike: $500
Travel Fees
Equine work at Arcadia Villa: $500/day • Gestalt only at Arcadia Villa: $100/day (small group) • Large group (2 facilitators): travel cost varies by co-facilitator
About Your Facilitator
Dr. Erika Lehmann, PhD
Trauma-Informed Somatic Facilitator • Equine Gestaltist® • Equine Facilitator™ • HeartMath® Coach • Gottman 7 Principles Leader
Erika is an experiential retreat facilitator with over 20 years of experience in human behavior, systems change, and group facilitation. She holds a PhD and is trained in Equine Gestalt®, somatic awareness practices, HeartMath® self-regulation, and relationship-focused experiential frameworks.
Erika has completed extensive training in trauma-informed facilitation and designs retreats with attention to pacing, choice, nervous system awareness, and participant agency.
Her work blends research-informed structure with intuitive, presence-based facilitation. Erika creates a grounded, respectful environment that invites insight, connection, and meaningful reflection—meeting individuals and couples where they are, without pressure or prescription.
Erika facilitates all retreats personally and brings in additional vetted practitioners when a broader or multi-layered experience is desired.
Mustang Wisdom retreats are experiential and educational offerings and are not psychotherapy, medical, or mental health treatment.
Optional Co-Facilitator Add-Ons
Travel fees for co-facilitators vary
Renee Metty
Equine Gestaltist® • Equine Facilitator™ • Shamanic Practitioner • Energy Medicine Practitioner
Renee bridges science and soul through her integration of Equine Gestalt, shamanic healing, energetic medicine, and the Energetic Economy operating system. Her work helps people understand their energetic patterns, supports nervous system awareness and regulation, and reconnect with deeper awareness.
Partnering with the intuitive intelligence of horses, she blends somatic processes with energy-based insight, guiding clients to discern between conditioned responses and authentic alignment. Renee holds a coherent field that feels steady, compassionate, and deeply grounding—where insight becomes clear and emotional unwinding feels safe.
Sandra Spiegelhalter
Equine Gestaltist® • Equine Facilitator™ • Christian Ministry and First Responder Support
Sandra brings a unique blend of life experience, compassion, and expertise to her work with clients. Married over 30 years as a firefighter's wife, she learned the value of resilience, adaptability, and trust in the face of uncertainty. As a mother of two, together they navigated the joys and challenges of family life. Her twelve years as a medical professional developed a deep understanding of the physical and emotional needs of individuals and with fifteen years in church ministry and leadership it has taught her the importance of a vibrant faith, integrity, and humility to serve others. Additionally, her role as a caregiver for several loved ones dealing with cancer has given her a profound appreciation for the complexities of the human journey and the need for compassionate support.
Katrina Dorow
Equine Gestaltist® • Spiritual Practitioner (RScP)
Rev. Katrina Dorow brings a spiritually grounded perspective to equine-assisted retreats, integrating meditation, reflection, and meaning-centered practices into the experiential work. Her contribution supports intention-setting and integration alongside the horse work, adding depth for individuals and groups drawn to a spiritual lens.
A mother and long-time spiritual practitioner, Rev. Katrina works comfortably with individuals, couples, and small groups across a wide range of life stages and transitions. She collaborates closely with the facilitation team to support experiences that are thoughtful, grounded, and aligned with each group’s goals.
Start Your Private Retreat Inquiry
Tell us a little about what you’re seeking so we can design a thoughtful, meaningful retreat tailored to your needs.