Big raven farm aug. 13-16, 2026
Grounding in the golden hours of summer
Before the calendar fills and the air turns crisp, give yourself permission to slow down. Join us for a 4-day, 3-night immersion into the rolling hills, valleys, and woods of southeast Minnesota’s Driftless Region (about 2.5 hour drive from the metro). This retreat is designed to help you harvest the vibrant energy of summer and cultivate a deep sense of connection—to nature, to community, and to yourself.
Our home for the weekend is a soulful, historic farmstead where rustic charm meets modern comfort. Think wide-open skies, weathered wood, and the quiet hum of the countryside. Big Raven Farm comes complete with chickens (fresh eggs!) and a friendly farm dog named Auggie.
Each day includes grounding movement - from invigorating morning flows to restorative sunset practices, including a full sound bath on the last evening. Between sessions, wander the trails for birdwatching, curl up on the cozy porch or in a hammock with a book, grab a friend for yard games, or join us for a social excursion to a local craft brewery or distillery (sorry, no alcohol at the farm itself). As the sun dips, the magic shifts. Experience the brilliance of a starlit sky unpolluted by city lights and share stories, laughter, and s'mores around the campfire under the late summer moon.
Included in your stay are three daily gourmet, homemade meals. Every dish is crafted using seasonal ingredients and caters to all dietary preferences and requirements, with a focus on wholesome, nourishing cuisine. You may choose to enhance your stay with an optional add-on massage or take home a piece of the retreat with a custom-designed yoga mat.
This isn't just a getaway; it's a transition. It’s about soaking up those final golden hours of summer so you can head into the fullness of fall feeling rooted, replenished, and realigned.
RETREAT LEADER & BIO
ABBY HAMMES
Abby's love affair with yoga began in 2015 when she began to see it not just as an approach to physical health, but as an invaluable tool for her mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. She realized she always left class feeling stronger, lighter, more connected, more forgiving, and more capable. Amidst some deeply challenging and transformational life events, she attended a yoga retreat in Scotland in 2018 - a trip that changed her life forever. Upon returning from that trip, she doubled down on her obsession with yoga and travel with what she calls her own “Eat, Pray, Love” moment - she quit her job as a paralegal and journeyed to India for yoga teacher training! These immersive experiences with yoga in other countries and within other cultures makes leading retreats one of her greatest passions.
LOCATION
big raven farm, spring grove MN
From the moment you walk in the door, you will be swept away by the classic charm of the Italian marble floors, open staircase and remarkable hand-built craftsmanship throughout! There is an on-site yoga studio, office, gift shop and an incredible dining hall with 13-foot ceilings and an abundance of natural light.
They have free-range chickens, a family dog (Auggie), and breathtaking views. You will most likely see deer, turkeys, pheasants, bald eagles, and lots of squirrels, rabbits, woodchucks, and the occasional fox.
They have a 2+ mile hiking trail that surrounds the property and have great patios and porches, and best of all they claim to have no mosquitoes — you can hang out on the porch all night and never see or hear or feel a single mosquito. (This is in the Driftless area, which is defined by steep valleys, rivers, and running water. There’s almost no standing water in which mosquitoes can breed.)
Guests are invited to explore all parts of the property, aside from the host’s private bedroom and the workshop below the yoga studio where they print custom yoga mats through their Big Raven Yoga site. In particular, guests are welcome to use the great room (living room), music room, kitchen, kitchen annex, dining hall, game room, and all outdoor seating areas.