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SOUTH PORTLAND

hold nothing

A Monthly Women's Retreat Inspired by the Work of Elena Brower

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"Stillness is not the absence of life. It is the presence of everything."

Hold Nothing is a monthly retreat for women who are ready to slow down, come home to their senses, and discover what becomes possible when they stop holding so tightly.

Drawing from Elena Brower's book Hold Nothing, this retreat weaves together mindfulness, somatic yoga, breathwork, and honest conversation — creating a sanctuary for presence, connection, and the quiet art of letting go.

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You are welcome here.

Each gathering is an invitation to turn inward — to notice what your body knows, to be witnessed by other women, and to practice the kind of stillness that doesn't ask you to have it all figured out. This is not a workshop where you take notes. It's a place where you breathe, feel, and belong.

A room set up for a small group meeting with green chairs arranged in a circle on a white and green patterned rug. A round table in the center holds tissues, sanitizer, lotion, and a deck of cards. The room has beige curtains, a window, white walls with a whiteboard and large sheets of paper with notes, string lights along the ceiling, and a wooden shelving unit with colorful blankets and yoga mats. There is also a pile of cushions and pillows on the floor near the window.

Next Hold Nothing begins May 17th, 2026

Sundays, Once Monthly | 10:00am – 1pm

Heart Stone Counseling ~ Carriage House

967 Broadway South Portland, ME

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what we’ll explore

Book cover titled 'Hold Nothing' by Elena Brower, with subtitle 'An invitation to let go and come home to yourself,' featuring a watercolor background with soft pastel colors and a white circle.

Each session is guided by a chapter from Hold Nothing, alongside somatic yoga, breathwork, meditation, and sensory grounding practices.

The eight-session arc includes:

  • Opening into Your True Self

  • Being Empty and Still

  • Bearing Witness

  • Taking Action

  • Grandmother's Heart

  • Opening to Stability

  • Safety — Trusting Your Wisdom

  • Actualizing Acceptance

What to expect

Each three-hour retreat includes a 10-minute break and is held in a warm, retreat-like environment in our Carriage House meeting room. Coffee, tea, and a light breakfast are provided. Come as you are.

Quote from Elena Brower on a soft pastel watercolor background: "What is being asked of me? How can I come to know myself more intimately? And with that knowledge, what can I do to serve my community, our humanity?"; titled "Hold Nothing" with a subtitle "An invitation to let go and come home to yourself."

  • Hold Nothing meets once a month on Sunday mornings. Each session runs three hours with a short break.

  • Sarah Burrows LCSW-cc

  • This group is open to women (cis, trans, and queer) who are curious about mindfulness, sensory grounding, and exploring their relationship with stillness. No prior experience with yoga or meditation is required.

  • Each session draws from Hold Nothing by Elena Brower. Participants are encouraged to have your own journal and water bottle.

  • Each participant receives a copy of Hold Nothing and a deluxe mini sample from May Lindstrom's core facial collection — an invitation to bring the sensory experience home.

$85 per session

no commitment | Open enrollment

spots are limited

♥

spots are limited ♥

Learn More about HSC Group Discounts
A woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair, smiling, wearing a black sweater with button details on the shoulder, against a plain white background.

Hold Nothing is led by Sarah Burrows, LCSW-cc, a therapist at Heart Stone Counseling whose work is grounded in strength-based, trauma-informed care and a deep belief in the power of presence and connection. Sarah brings warmth, curiosity, and a love of poetry and beauty to everything she does — and to this retreat in particular. She is passionate about helping women slow down, understand themselves more deeply, and discover what becomes available when they turn toward their own inner lives. Sarah works with adults navigating anxiety, life transitions, trauma, and the everyday work of building a meaningful life.

Get Started

  • Inquire

    Click on the link below to fill the Interest Form. You can also email Sarah if you have questions: sarah@heartstonecounseling.com

  • Acceptance

    Sarah will review your interest form and reach out to you if she has any questions. If you are new to us, she may schedule a brief call.

  • Register

    Sarah will send you a welcome letter and a brief consent form. HSC will reach out to arrange payment.

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Begin Here

Interest Form

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We can accept HSA/ FSA, debit, credit and checks. We are not using insurance for groups.

  • Depending on where you are in your healing process, this group might not be a good fit for you if you are inclined towards certain types of self-harm or suicidal ideation when feeling emotionally activated. If you experience internal stimuli such as voices or hallucinations, this group won’t be a good fit. If you struggle to notice others’ emotional experience or group dynamics, individual therapy might be a better fit.

  • The minimum number of participants is four and the maximum number is ten.