Lynn Horton

The rushed pace of the holidays often leave us more depleted than nourished, more stressed than nurtured, and more unbalanced than ever, especially if we are caregivers  who never take a break. Why not give yourself the most precious and sustaining gift of all — the gift of health? A winter wellness retreat might be just what the (proverbial) doctor orders! 

Why a winter retreat? A winter retreat mimics nature by taking a much needed post holiday pause. By nourishing our bodies and minds, emotions and spirits, we experience the vital power of renewal and resilience. By practicing strategies of self-care, we prioritize rest and recovery, tapping into our capability to heal on a profound cellular level. Participating in a retreat is a way to renew, recharge, and align with our deepest values and intentions. The artistic exercises performed during a retreat releases our  dormant creative potential, producing new thought patterns and allowing for expansion of endless possibilities. Finally, the benefits of a winter retreat extend towards experiencing much-needed connection with others in our local community. 

The Heart of Yellowstone Ranch on Heart Mountain is offering a unique Winter Wellness Retreat, held Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17-18, 2026. The retreat is intentionally offered during the first new moon of the new year. Why a New Moon  Retreat? The New Moon is symbolic for renewal, new beginnings and fresh starts; a time of introspection and setting intentions. By creating a “clean slate” and planting the  seeds for future endeavors, the potential for personal growth is maximized. 

How is this achieved? Retreat offerings include breath work and yoga practice for all abilities and experience; journaling including new year goal-setting to facilitate releasing blockages that act as barriers to moving forward; various art exercises to foster the creative process; learning strategies to enhance listening to your body by incorporating specific, tangible tools to foster self-care and resilience; and a guided walking meditation to more deeply connect with nature (weather dependent). Peppered  throughout the two-day retreat are lectures on the medicinal benefits of food, the crucial importance of a healthy liver and gut to health, the power of intermittent fasting to reclaim health, and detoxification techniques. Healthy, delicious and nourishing food is provided. Retreat participants will take part in a symbolic letting go of the past during a Saturday evening fire. For an additional fee, there are optional opportunities that include massage therapy, dry sauna, cold plunge and overnight lodging in the stunning, 7,000-square-foot lodge at the Heart of Yellowstone Ranch, deepening your retreat experience. 

Four impassioned health care practitioners, all credentialed in their respective fields, with over 90 accumulated years of practice, provide the framework and synergistic healing, personal growth and transformation to retreat participants. Martine Grant, owner of Earthseed Yoga, believes that embarking on a yoga journey is about more than achieving the perfect pose — it’s about discovering ease, steadiness, and a sense of comfortable belonging in your own skin. Meghan Gaspers, massage therapist and nervous system practitioner at Rocky Mountain Wellness Connection in Cody, is passionate about helping her clients both listen to and act on their body’s wisdom, fostering authenticity  and resilience. Tiffani Feeley, art education coordinator at Cody Arts, is adept at using  creative practices to reduce anxiety and “rewire the brain.” Additionally, as yoga  instructor at Firefly Yoga and Wellness studio in Cody, Tiffani helps her clients feel more at ease in the yoga postures so they can feel the benefits of a yoga practice, on and  off the mat. And, Lynn Horton, MD, owner of Wisdom Health, LLC in Powell, incorporates evidence-based research into the health benefits of exercise, nutrition, the gut microbiome, stress reduction techniques, sleep optimization, and other preventive strategies to help her clients discover, address, and heal the root causes of chronic symptoms and illness. 

A vital aspect of the retreat focuses on identifying and incorporating simple, doable health habits into their lifestyle, empowering retreat participants to experience long-term success of personal transformation. Virtual follow-up within the month of the retreat fosters accountability and lasting change.  

Make a lasting commitment to your health by signing up for the Winter Wellness Retreat at the Heart of Yellowstone Ranch on Heart Mountain. Your mind, body, emotions and spirit will thank you for your decision! 

Lynn S Horton, MD, is owner of Wisdom Health, LLC: Metabolic Health & Lifestyle Medicine in Powell. In addition to personal lifestyle coaching, she teaches classes on cellular and metabolic health, empowering men and women to adopt and sustain healthy lifestyle choices to feel their best self, transform their health, and live their best lives.