RETREATS | ellenlivingston

Living Heart Retreats

FLORIDA Retreats

Our Florida Retreats are highly customizable, and can be a private individual guided retreat, or a totally independent vacation stay, with an apartment-style accommodation for 1-3 people.

Reach out to me and let's co-create what you need and desire!

I have moved to SW Florida! And I am excited to announce uniquely customized individual and small-group retreats, offered right in my home, to support you on your healing journey, or provide healthy vacation accommodations.

I have a beautiful and convenient location to share with you, on a peaceful 1/3-acre near parks, town, bay, and gorgeous ocean beaches. The Sanctuary Apartment is a self-sufficient unit in my comfortable eco-vegan home. with bedroom (king bed or 2 twins), bathroom, sitting room with full-size futon bed, kitchenette, and private exterior entrance. This provides comfortable accommodations for up to 3 people.

All of my experiences and learnings through more than a decade of designing and offering raw vegan wellness retreats, in a variety of locations in North America and Costa Rica, has brought me to a very sweet spot in SW Florida and the unique retreat vision I present to you now: I do not offer full-service retreats here, but rather an opportunity to co-design with me a week or two that meets you at the level of independence you desire, with a selection of optional specific support services with Ellen (and sometimes other local practitioners), available at extra cost by appointment.

The Concept

To provide an intimate and customized experience of relaxation, rejuvenation, reconnection, education, and whole-person healing.
To encourage and facilitate a slower pace and a deeper practice of physical and mental mindfulness and intention which can be sustainably applied in ‘real life.'
To offer a basic daily rate for private accommodations, with personalized extra support if desired, to be arranged and confirmed with Ellen: such as hands-on raw vegan meal-prep; movement and meditation sessions; and/or mentoring/coaching sessions.
To ignite a whole-person cleansing and detoxifying experience.
To invite deeper self-awareness, and to build trust in the inner voice and empowered, inspired self-guidance
To allow maximum flexibility to choose how much and what kinds of support you wish to arrange.

The Container

Living Heart Sanctuary is a genuine, comfortable healing space on 1/3-acre of private well-treed land, tucked into the heart of the ‘Olde Englewood Village’ in the small coastal town of Englewood. We are located in SW Florida, on the Gulf Coast.

The accommodations are a beautiful, spacious private living quarters with kitchenette (with Vitamix!), private bathroom with tub/shower, and private entrance. As your host, I inhabit the other side of the sanctuary; the open-style kitchen/great-room, an additional sunrise yoga/meditation room, and a screened-in dining porch become our common spaces during scheduled add-on session with me, along with the land with its happy combination of shady and sunny spaces, hammocks and gardens for your rest and relaxation.

The main kitchen is equipped with the tools of a modern raw-vegan lifestyle, including Vitamix, Nama juicer, Excalibur dehydrator, veggie spiralizer, and more.

In our peaceful yoga room are many useful healing tools and mindfully selected exercise and therapeutic wellness equipment, for use by appointment in a movement session with Ellen or another local practitioner.

Additionally, bicycles and lightweight kayaks are available for use at no extra cost.

The Community

Engaging, accessible community is a big plus in Englewood, We are located in the ‘Olde Village,' a walkable district with eclectic neighborhoods and a lively downtown strip on Dearborn Street, with a weekly farmer's market and frequent live outdoor music.

Just behind us, neighbors Matt and Dena are developing a 1-acre food forest with garden tours and art gallery. A short block away, ‘The Open Studio’ welcomes you. This is a unique consortium of grass-roots business, community and residential spaces that include ‘The One Stop Co-op’ featuring local organic vegan food and crafts, artist studios, a park-like community garden space filled with fruit trees and including a performance stage which hosts a well-attended weekly "Open-Mic" event.

Several wonderful parks along the shores of beautiful Lemon Bay are within easy walking or biking distance, and our gorgeous natural Gulf of Mexico beaches are 5 miles away on the Manasota Key.

There is plenty to enjoy within this easy 5-mile radius, and of course much more for any guest with a car and a spirit for wider adventures in the surrounding areas. If you are planning a healing retreat for yourself, you will enjoy keeping your days simple and local, allowing for a deliciously slower pace of life.

The Collaboration

The true bedrock of Living Heart Sanctuary Retreats is the customized co-creation with you, whether you just want to book the apartment and do your own thing, or design-in some personalized guided support and instructional times with Ellen, by appointment.

Bring your own group of 2 - 3 people, decide the focus your group desires, and receive significant referral discounts!