Tucked between Cody and Powell, the quiet town of Ralston might be easy to pass by — unless you know where to look. Just beyond Main Street, a red picket fence and evergreen-lined gate open to a gravel drive that leads into the serene Barrows Z3 Retreat Center. What looks modest from the highway unfolds into a beautifully restored collection of rustic buildings and gardens, perfect for intimate gatherings. On Nov. 15, 2025, more than 20 women arrived here for a day devoted to unwinding, reconnecting, and preparing mind and body for the busy holiday season.

The Holiday Harmony Women’s Renewal Retreat was hosted by Age of Aquarius Cody (AoA), a collaborative wellness space founded by Niina Barrows in June 2025. AoA brings together practitioners who support whole-body well-being through yoga, fascia maneuvers, meditation, sound baths, sauna sessions and locally crafted herbal products. More information can be found at ageofaquariuscody.com and on Facebook.

The day began with a choice of chair or mat yoga led by Martine Grant of Earthseed Yoga. With 20 years of teaching experience, Martine offers an inclusive approach that welcomes every body and every level of practice.

“During a particularly difficult patch of life, yoga chose me,” she shared. “It was lifesaving — it reduced stress and anxiety, built resilience, and regulated my emotions and sleep.”

Martine holds a 200-hour Yoga Certification along with specialties in Yoga for Kids and Trauma-Informed Yoga. She also holds an MBA from the Wharton School and an M.Ed. from Montclair State University. She teaches at AoA, Club Dauntless and Indigo Thrive and can be found at wyearthseedyoga.com or on Facebook at Earthseed Yoga LLC.

Following yoga, participants moved into a session of fascia maneuvers guided by Heather Wagner of Fascial Harmony. These gentle, restorative movements blend breath, stretch, and release to calm the nervous system, ease tension, reduce pain, and support natural alignment. Heather began sharing this work after her own significant healing from a serious back injury and the exhaustion of prolonged motherhood burnout. The fascia maneuvers, developed by Human Garage, brought her both physical relief and emotional regulation. She now teaches at the Z3 Retreat Center and in Burlington. Her class listings are available on the AoA website and on her Fascial Harmony Facebook page.

After a nourishing lunch, the group gathered for a presentation by Heather Jones — herbalist, medical intuitive, and owner of Enchantment Creek Apothecary. For 20 years, Heather has practiced herbalism, meditation and energy work. Her Farmacy Gardens cultivate over 70 medicinal plant species, and her tinctures and salves are made entirely from fresh, locally grown or wild-foraged materials. She discovered herbalism while searching for healing options when conventional medicine had no solutions left to offer.

“Within six months of creating my own protocol, I was symptom-free,” she said. Her work can be explored at enchantmentcreek.com.

The afternoon concluded with a deeply restorative sound bath led by Niina Barrows. Participants settled into mats and blankets as waves of sound washed over the room — a practice used for centuries to reduce pain, calm the mind, and support deep rest. Afterward, some guests lingered to visit the pop-up holiday bazaar, chat with fellow participants, or relax in the hot tub before heading home grounded and renewed.

The retreat drew a diverse and dynamic group: executives, teachers, grandmothers, health care professionals, young adults, and seasoned wellness seekers and practitioners. Many shared glowing reflections. Mary McFarlane of Cody described it as “a relaxing day bringing harmony to the body, mind, and spirit.” Virginia Schmidt, also from Cody, said, “It was one of the best-executed, highest-quality holistic events I’ve ever attended. A beautifully orchestrated balance of movement, nourishment, education, and healing. A perfect example of world-class quality in rural Wyoming.”

For those who attended, the day offered exactly what they hoped for — and for anyone who missed it, this retreat is one to mark on the calendar next time.

For more information, please email Niina Barrows, owner of Barrows Z3 Retreat Center and Age of Aquarius Cody, at aoacody@gmail.com.