alcohol-free retreats
Mia Mancuso, creator of the sober glow and Guide for alcohol-free adventure retreats.
I quit drinking alcohol in 2015 and started sharing about my experience in 2016 via social media. I enjoyed sharing my quit story from the perspective of the quintessential NYC party girl who got her sh*t together and decided to start taking her life seriously.
Writing on IG was medicinal, and I quickly created a large community of like-minded women, but I soon found I wanted more. I wanted real-life connections with other women who were also choosing to live life without alcohol.
I’ve always loved adventures and wanted to continue traveling, but I knew that travel and drinking culture go hand in hand. I looked for an AF retreat I could join that wasn’t based on a recovery program, but I had no luck.
And that’s how the first Alcohol-Free Adventure Retreat was born. These retreats are adventurous, fun, sexy, and at times a bit dangerous, all without a drop of alcohol ~ I created exactly what I was looking for!
for the women who want to be part of a community in real life
this is your invitation to get offline and have an adventure
where we’ve gathered
the art of the Alcohol-free lifestyle
While each retreat is different in its level of adventure, it will always incorporate the primary modalities I started using to help navigate this lifestyle nearly ten years ago. These offerings invite the retreater to turn inward and to find space for themselves while on a retreat with others. I continue to integrate these into the retreats because they have proven to work over and over.
movement
Each retreat offers movement in some form and typically outside in nature. Some activities have included paddleboarding, snowshoeing, yoga, hiking, snowmobiling, and fat tire biking across frozen lakes. This invites the guests to enjoy the environment while reaping the physical and mental benefits of sweat.
writing
Creative self-expression via the pen. We explore our emotional landscape through therapeutic writing practices, from the simplicity of morning pages to mapping out our futures. There is something for everyone on the open page.
You will be encouraged to write on your own and in the workshops. You do not need any writing experience and sharing is always optional.
calming rituals
Breathwork, yoga nidra, meditation, and visualization help us to turn inwards and ground.
Each modality has an energy behind it that offers something unique. Some may find that all of these modalities take them on a wild journey, while others are called to just one—retreaters choice. We get to play with and explore all of them.
Circling & workshops
The Art of the Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
circles
It happened by chance on the first night of the very first retreat. The group organically gathered into a circle on the beach and started sharing their stories. This physical gathering allowed for the most effortless connection between the women. From then on, the sharing circles would become the heart of every future retreat and are often mentioned as the attendee’s favorite part.
workshops
The Art of the Alcohol-Free Lifestyle Workshops:
From intentional bonfire burns to learning how to incorporate a variety of rituals and routines to designing your AF lifestyle to be supportive and nourishing. Each retreat will include a variety of workshops catering to the energy of the group and the environmental setting.
our community
who is this for
WomXn
Sober or actively sober curious
Adventure lovers and seekers
Big life enthusiasts
Brave souls
Lovers of the elements
Open minded
Women who are not afraid to step out of their comfort zones
Interested in meeting other like-minded women
Brave women looking for the “what else” in your chosen sobriety
Women in the BIPOC & LGBTQ+ communities and those who stand in solidarity with these communities
who is this not for
If you are looking for a spring break-ish vacation
If you want or need a retreat based on a recovery or step program
Anyone looking for a fancy or all-inclusive travel style
Children
Your sister, mother, co-worker, cousin, or friend who drinks but wants to join you. Nope, sorry. We enforce this to protect the uniqueness of these retreats.
Anyone actively drinking or using drugs and thinks this may be the way to stop - this is not the trip to take. Please contact me privately if you need clarification or are seeking help, and I will get you in touch with the appropriate people.
"ichi-go ichi-e"
Ichigo-Ichie (a Japanese idiom): WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN
That is the reason why and how we gather in these retreats.
This is where it gets real. I offer these adventurous settings not only to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience but to get women out of their comfort zones. I have witnessed life-changing breakthroughs. I have seen women fully commit to an alcohol-free lifestyle after spending time with other women who are already doing it. I have seen women leave situations that are no longer serving them and release years of shame they’ve been carrying around. And I am honored every damn time I witness a woman grow her confidence and faith in herself and her choices. There is so much power when women get a chance to gather without the usual societal masks and share themselves on a deeper and more meaningful level. The magic is indescribable.
But don’t just take my word for it……