She Bravely Returns is an immersive women's wellness and writing experience. Why? Because caring for yourself isn't selfish—it's where everything else begins.

This experience's theme is nourishing yourself from the inside out.

What is this experience really about?

In a world that constantly asks women to give more, do more, and carry more, She Bravely Returns offers an afternoon to turn some of that care back toward yourself.

This intimate, immersive women's wellness experience brings together four local facilitators to explore different pathways to wellbeing—from listening to your own inner voice and understanding what your body is communicating to reconsidering how you nourish and care for yourself.

This gathering is intentionally limited to 20 women to preserve the intimate, experiential nature of the afternoon.

A minimum of 12 participants is required for the event to run.

What do I receive from the experience?

Rather than sitting through a series of presentations, you'll move through intimate, hands-on experiences designed to offer personalized attention, practical tools, and new ways of thinking about your own care.

Throughout the afternoon, you'll be invited to:

• Understand what your body may be communicating through personalized pulse reading and Chinese medicine with Arden Yingling of Songbird Acupuncture.
• Care for yourself through a hands-on Gua Sha ritual with licensed aesthetician Corey Camerlengo of Bud & Bloom Aesthetics.
• Nourish yourself by exploring food, mindset, and the changing needs of women in midlife with Liza Baker of Simply Health Coaching.
• Listen to yourself through guided reflective writing with Ally Berthiaume, The Memoir Coach with The Write Place, Right Time.

You'll begin and end the afternoon together through reflection and writing, while the heart of the experience unfolds through small-group sessions with our wellness practitioners.

What else should I know?

You'll also have time to enjoy tea and light refreshments, connect naturally with other women, and leave with a small bag of thoughtfully curated goodies to continue the care at home.

Is this for me?

Whether you're navigating midlife, feeling stretched thin, curious about new ways to support your wellbeing, or simply craving a few uninterrupted hours devoted to yourself, She Bravely Returns is an invitation to pause, pay attention, and reconnect with the woman at the center of it all: you.

There is nothing to prepare, prove, or perform. Come exactly as you are.

Why is this important?
Because caring for yourself isn't an indulgence—it's where everything else begins.

MEET YOUR FACILITATORS 

Arden Yingling | Songbird Acupuncture
Session: Your Pulse Tells a Story

Arden is a licensed and board-certified Chinese medicine practitioner who supports women navigating midlife hormonal changes, mood swings, and chronic stress or burnout. She owns Songbird Acupuncture on the South Burlington/Shelburne border.

Did you know your pulse can tell a story about your health? During this intimate session, Arden will offer personalized pulse readings and introduce you to how Chinese medicine uses the pulse to understand what's happening with digestion, energy, sleep, mood, and overall well-being.

Corey Camerlengo | Bud & Bloom Aesthetics
Session: Gua Sha: A Ritual

Corey is a licensed aesthetician and owner of Bud & Bloom Aesthetics in Winooski where she provides decadent facials and eyelash treatments. She is a believer in using plant medicine as well as clinical-grade skincare. Yes! You can have both, as skincare is not one size fits all!

Have you heard of Gua Sha but aren't quite sure what it actually does—or own a tool that's been quietly judging you from your bathroom drawer? Corey will guide you through a hands-on Gua Sha ritual while helping you understand how this practice can support your skin, facial lymphatic system, and everyday self-care.

Liza Baker | Simply: Health Coaching
Session: Ask a Better Question, Get a Better Answer

Liza (pronounced Leeza) is a certified Integrative Nutrition® Health Coach, author, and passionate advocate for women’s wellness in perimenopause and beyond. Using her somewhat eclectic background in foreign languages, culinary arts, nutrition, and holistic health, she invites overwhelmed midlife women to stop fixing their broken and start gently unfurling their perfect.

Ever wondered, "What's the best way to eat?" or "Why aren't the food choices that used to work for me working anymore?" Liza invites you to consider that perhaps we need better questions. Together, you'll explore new ways of thinking about nourishment that better serve the woman you are now.

Ally Berthiaume | The Memoir Coach & Founder of The Write Place, Right Time

Ally Berthiaume is an award-winning author, memoir coach, developmental editor, and founder of The Write Place, Right Time. She creates experiences that use creativity, storytelling, and reflection to help people reconnect with themselves, make meaning of their experiences, and uncover the wisdom hidden within their own lives. 

Ally will hold the container for the afternoon and guide the opening and closing reflective writing experiences. Through private, guided reflection—no sharing required—you'll have space to listen inward, integrate what you've discovered, and consider how you want to carry that care forward.

About The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary for Healing & Liberation is located in Burlington's historic Chace Mill and offers a warm, welcoming collection of spaces intentionally created for healing, connection, and community.