When Women Choose Themselves: Reflections on A Day Away with The Unbroken Woman
There are days that change you quietly: like a river wearing down stone, and then there are days that feel seismic. Transformative. A soul-level exhale. A Day Away with The Unbroken Woman was the latter.
Seventeen women gathered in a small space carved out intentionally from the noise of their everyday lives - not because they didn’t feel fear, but because they refused to let that fear be louder than the call toward healing, rest, and connection. They came with trembling hands and open hearts, many unsure of what exactly they were walking into. Many left their families, children, jobs, and homes. Many knew no one. And still, they came.
Over the course of one weekend, I witnessed the kind of vulnerability that both humbles and electrifies even seasoned clinicians. We cracked jokes and cracked open. From the very first icebreaker to the final morning reflection, something unspoken tethered them all: a deep knowing that they are allowed (even destined) to live lives that feel whole and joyful.
One of the most unexpectedly hilarious moments came during our “Bad Advice Hotline” activity, where participants dished out the worst guidance they could think of, with a partner they didn’t know. The laughter was uncontainable, cathartic, and so necessary for these incredible women; it was a release valve for the tension many women carry in silence. Because healing isn’t only about digging deep; sometimes it’s about laughing so hard your ribs hurt, alongside women who just get it.
And then, the tears. Not performative or pressured, just present. There is something beautiful and holy about sitting in a circle where honesty is met not with discomfort, but with welcome. Where women say, “This is my biggest dream” and the room holds it. Where someone admits, “This is my deepest fear” and no one flinches. That kind of witnessing is sacred and rare, and I got to witness all of it.
The moment that absolutely undid me, the one that cracked me all the way open, was during Korinna’s sound bath. As I looked around the room, I saw seventeen women lying down in stillness, breath moving in synchrony, nervous systems softening with every chime and vibration. Something in that moment pierced straight through me. I cried, not out of sadness, but from the sheer awe of it: of what happens when women allow themselves to rest, to breathe, to be together in healing. It was an extraordinary full-body reminder that we are not meant to do this life alone.
Throughout the day, you could feel the collective shift… Shoulders dropped, breath deepened, hearts opened, women recognized that they could be safe. Wholly and completely. It was like the space itself sighed with relief. For many, it was the first time in a long time they had let themselves simply relax, and be held by others.
And I can’t forget Jamie: our resident healer with hands that knew exactly where we’d been holding things for far too long. Her massages aren’t just relaxing, they’re restorative. The kind of touch that says, “You don’t have to carry that anymore.” Every woman who stepped out of her space walked lighter, softer, and visibly more rooted. Jamie, thank you for offering your gift so generously. You made a real difference in every body and every heart that passed through your care.
How could I forget the food? My dear friend Chinnu doesn’t just cook. Girl, she nurtures. Each dish was an offering of joy and generosity… Which was also evident by the tons of leftovers we had - not because no one ate but because she made more after we were done, simply saying “I like to feed people and I wanted you to eat tonight”. There was no scarcity here, not in flavor, not in portions, and definitely not in love. You could taste her spirit in the food: bright, grounding, abundant.
This experience reminded me of something I often tell others but forget to fully absorb myself: Women are not broken. They are carrying too much with too little rest and too few spaces that say, “You don’t have to hold it all here.” That’s what this weekend was, a space that whispered, “Set it down, love. Just for now”.
To every woman who showed up and allowed herself to be seen: You are the reason this work matters. Your presence, your stories, your joy and your grief, they are all welcome here. And you’ve reminded me, yet again, why I believe in this work with every fiber of my being.
This is just the beginning.
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Want to be part of this movement?
The Unbroken Woman: October 2025 is now open for sign-up’s, and there are only 6 spots left! This multi-day retreat is where we go even deeper: into restoration, reconnection, and radical wholeness. Space is limited and always fills fast, so save your spot early and start saying “yes” to the version of you that’s been waiting to exhale.
Click here to sign up or learn more about the October retreat.
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Together, we rise.
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Until next time,