Retreat at Forested: Meditation, Qigong, Nature walk, and the Flavors of the Earth
Description
A One-Day Wellness Retreat at Food Forest
Escape the screen. Reset your nervous system. Reconnect with nature.
Our modern, high-stress lives leave us physically exhausted and mentally scattered. Join us for an immersive wellness retreat designed to restore your energy and calm your mind.
Set inside a thriving 10-acre food forest, you will experience professional medical care, mindfulness practices, and deep ecology.
🎟️ Early Bird Pricing Ends September 1st. Space is strictly limited to ensure an intimate community experience.
🌟 What is Included in Your Ticket
• Expert-Led Qigong: Two distinct movement and energy sessions designed to release physical tension (no experience necessary).
• Community Acupuncture & Bodywork: A restorative, personalized session featuring acupuncture, acupressure, and somatic modalities (needles are completely optional).
• Farm-to-Table Lunch: A nourishing, mindful communal meal freshly prepared by a professional foodscaper.
• Ecosystem Immersion Walk: A guided tour to explore and connect with a mature, self-restoring forest ecosystem.
• Live Community Music & Journaling: Space to reflect, integrate, and share informal musical moments under the trees.
Register before September 1st for early bird pricing.
Clinging to our preferences,
we separate ourselves from life
and suffer exhaustion.
Sitting still and following our breath,
we find renewal.
—Tao Te Ching,A Path and a Practice translation by William Martin
What to Expect
• 10:00 AM – Guided Meditation & Intention Setting
• 10:30 AM – Flowing Qigong & Gentle Movement
• 11:30 AM – Community Acupuncture & Restorative Bodywork
• 12:30 PM – Communal Lunch & Mindful Eating
• 1:00 PM – Informal Live Music Sharing (during lunch)
• 1:30 PM – Tree-Connection Qigong Session
• 2:00 PM – Food Forest Ecosystem Immersion Walk
• 3:30 PM – Closing Qigong, Meditation, and Journaling
🎫 Choosing Your Sliding Scale Ticket
We offer a sliding scale to make care accessible while supporting our space. All ticket tiers include the exact same full-day experience. Please choose the tier that honestly aligns with your financial situation, keeping in mind that 30% of proceeds support the 10-acre ecological restoration efforts at Forested:
• $75 Tier (Supported): For students, elders, or anyone currently budgeting tightly.
• $100 Tier (Standard)
• $125 Tier (Sustainer): For those with financial ease who wish to directly fund our 10-acre ecological restoration efforts.
We use Humanitix for ticketing—where 100% of booking fee profits are donated to children's charities instead of corporate shareholders.
About the Space
Forested is a 10-acre, 14-year-old food forest that has been restoring ecosystem health while producing an abundance of resources for the surrounding community. It's a living classroom and a peaceful sanctuary — the perfect setting for a day of renewal.
Getting Here
The address alone won't get you here! Please review directions carefully before you arrive: https://www.forested.us/contact
Interested?
This is a one-day retreat with limited space. Register before September 1st for early bird pricing.
Lineup
Yousef Zarbalian, MD
Founder of East-West Rheumatology and Integrative Medicine, based in Vienna, VA. Board-Certified Physician specializing in holistic wellness and integrative care. Qigong enthusiast and musician.
Nevin Turk, LAc
Licensed Acupuncturist, experienced Qigong instructor. Founder of Back to balance acupuncture and wellness in Herndon, VA.
Arman Milanian
Founder of Dandelion Foodscapes and expert ecosystem designer
FAQs
- What to bring?
1- Refillable Water container : Good idea to keep well-hydrated during the day and to reduce our waste.
2- Yoga mat or meditation cushion : Now required especially during the acupuncture and acupressure session.
Qigong poses are all standing but you may want to do them without shoes in which case, having a yoga mat under your feet is ideal.
Also we may do some seated meditation, journaling, etc.
3- Journal and pen/pencil : we will have some time to write reflections early in the day and later on.
4 - Loose fitting clothes and Comfortable footwear for walking in nature (no difficult terrain) but it may be somewhat wet depending on if it rains a day prior.
- Where is parking at Forested in Bowie, MD?
Parking for Forested, LLC is located directly inside the open field next to the nearby gas station at 3507 Enterprise Road, Bowie, MD 20721.
Look for a yellow gate located about 100 feet south of the gas station on the same side of the road, and park to the left after driving through.
Walk around the big field clockwise to come into the fenced forest garden area. We gather at the canopy.
- What is for lunch?
A fresh, seasonal, farm-to-table lunch is included. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. Please note any dietary restrictions when purchasing your ticket.
- What if it rains?
In the event of expected severe weather 24 hours prior , we will contact you directly with a rain date or refund options : likely to be one week or 2 weeks after the currently planned event.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
