Register Now for Anchor to Embodiment: A Transformational Pilates Retreat
May 15–17, 2026 | Elohee Retreat Center, North Georgia Mountains
Hosted by Amanda Curd & Leslie Clayton
Leslie’s Why: The Breath That Changed Everything
It happened for me in one simple breath. At one of my first Pilates Teacher Training workshops, I rolled off the cylindrical foam roller for the first time and landed on my mat. My body melted into a relaxation unlike anything I’d ever felt before. I began to notice subtle sensations moving through me. Some felt like pulsations moving through my blood. Some were like waves of warm water washing over my body. I remember liking the feeling. Nothing else mattered in that moment. The whole world disappeared and I was the world all at the same time.
This was something very new for me, and it was my little secret at first. Not because I didn’t want to tell others about it, but rather because I didn’t know how to describe the feeling and I really didn’t know if anyone else would care. I had been teaching Pilates for about a year by that time, so I told a few clients about my secret and attempted to guide them into this mysterious yummy surrender. Sometimes it worked for them. Sometimes it didn’t. It was like an itch that I couldn’t quite scratch.
“Wow,” I thought. If everyone felt this, there would be no war. People would be laughing and smiling at each other ALL THE TIME! I found peace on earth.
I began a long search for more dependable ways to guide others through breath and movement that would leave them feeling whole.
I added the word Embodiment to Body Awareness a few years ago. For me, that word conveys a soulful experience of relaxation and awareness. It might be a bit redundant because Body Awareness and Embodiment can actually mean the same thing. It has always been kind of elusive to describe.
I actually love it when one of my clients announces to me that after a few sessions—or several sessions—they finally understand why I call my business “Body Awareness.” They found a new awareness or access to a new sensation in the body that they hadn’t felt before…
When this new sensation opens up or happens, we are actually tapping into new brain pathways for sensing. This is an essential skill—not only for recovering from injury, but also for fine-tuning your artform, whether it’s dance, athletics, or simply living in a more present, connected body.
Your Invitation to Reconnect
This retreat, co-hosted with Amanda Curd, is an invitation to reset and reconnect—to your body, your energy, and your sense of self. Over three days at the beautiful Elohee Retreat Center in the North Georgia mountains, we’ll blend Pilates, OOV work, yoga, and breathwork with nourishing meals, nature walks, and meaningful conversation.
But this isn’t about filling your schedule with “wellness.” It’s about creating space—to rest, to reflect, to move, and to rediscover what thriving feels like. For some, embodiment might mean reconnecting with physical strength. For others, it’s finding emotional balance or spiritual calm. However it looks for you, this retreat is your opportunity to remember what it feels like to be whole.
Spaces are intentionally limited to 10 participants to keep the experience intimate and personal.
Meet Your Facilitators
Leslie Clayton – Co-Facilitator
Leslie Clayton is a master teacher, movement educator, and founder of Body Awareness Studio, bringing over three decades of study in Pilates, dance, somatic healing, and the expressive and sacred arts of movement. Leslie’s work bridges the anatomical with the energetic blending Pilates, Polarity Therapy, Spinal Flow, energy medicine, and sacred geometry into a deeply integrative path of embodiment.
What makes Leslie’s teaching truly transformative is her reverence for the body as a multidimensional, bio-intelligent system. Her curiosity in fascia, sensory awareness, and spinal health has led her to explore how movement can release emotional, physical, and chemical blockages, creating space for healing on every level.
Leslie doesn’t just guide movement, she cultivates Presence. Her sessions offer more than technique; they are living meditations that restore your relationship to your nervous system, your breath, and the sacred intelligence within your body.
Leslie is a master of creating safe, soulful environments where participants can soften, expand, and reconnect to the wholeness of who they are.
Amanda Curd – Co-Facilitator
Amanda Curd is the founder of Anchor to Life Pilates & Nutrition, where science meets soul in support of women’s strength, vitality, and well-being. With a Master’s in Physical Therapy, a B.S. in Food and Nutrition, and certifications as a comprehensively trained Balanced Body Pilates instructor, Menopause Coaching Specialist, and NCI Level 1 Nutrition Coach, Amanda brings a deeply informed, whole-person approach to movement and health.
Her journey into Pilates and nutrition began in adulthood, which gives her a personal understanding of what it takes to start over—and the power that’s possible on the other side. She specializes in supporting women in midlife and menopause with practical strategies to rebuild strength, improve mobility, regulate stress, and reconnect with their bodies.
Amanda’s teaching style is grounded, compassionate, and refreshingly clear. With decades of experience and a deep respect for individuality, she creates spaces that are both empowering and approachable—whether you’re navigating change, healing, or simply looking for a reset.
🌿 What’s Included:
- 2-night stay at the Thanksgiving House at Elohee Retreat Center
- Daily Pilates movement & breathwork sessions
- Interactive workshops on balance, mindset, and embodiment
- Nature hikes and guided meditation
- 3 nourishing, chef-prepared meals per day (vegan/gluten-free options available)
- Evening fire ceremonies for reflection and renewal
- Opportunities to book massage during free time
Check out the sample itinerary below…
🛏️ Accommodation & Pricing
Prices are per person and include all meals, programming, and lodging:
Spa services are available at an additional cost.
Single Occupancy: Your own private bed in a room—ideal if you crave solitude, silence, and your own space to unwind.
Double Occupancy: Share a room with a fellow participant or a friend (indicate your roommate on the registration form).
Room selection is first come, first served.
Please indicate your top 2 room choices when registering.
*Taxes are not included in above prices.
💳 Deposit & Cancellation Policy
To reserve your space:
- A 40% deposit is due at the time of registration.
- Each registration includes a non-refundable $100 processing fee.
- Full payment is due by May 1, 2026. If your balance is unpaid by this date, your card on file will be charged.
Refund Policy:
- Cancellations made before April 5 (6 weeks prior) will receive a refund minus the $100 processing fee.
- Cancellations made between April 5 and May 1 will forfeit the full 40% deposit.
- No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 2 weeks of the retreat start.
🔥 Ready to Claim Your Spot?
Your journey to embodiment starts now. Space is limited—and rooms will fill quickly.
👉 Click here to register nowWe can’t wait to move, breathe, and rise with you.
Amanda and Leslie