Hold Nothing: Yoga for Letting Go & Finding Freedom
Is a partial scholarship for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.
Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.
Elena Brower
Internationally celebrated yoga and meditation teacher | Bestselling author of Hold Nothing, Art of Attention and Practice You: A Journal | Host of the Practice You Podcast
Your Liberation Begins When You Let It All Go
You’re carrying too much – and your body knows it.
The tension in your shoulders, the tightness in your chest, the restless nights that never seem to restore you.
Not to mention the unspoken worries, frustrations, and regrets that linger long after the moment that caused them has passed, adding to the weight you already bear.
Left unchecked, this weight only grows heavier.
Practice can serve in transforming this heaviness into groundedness.
What would your life be like if you put down that burden and just… let it all go?
Imagine your shoulders relaxing, the knots dissolving, the old stories and lingering resentments all melting away, leaving you with:
When you finally let go and allow yourself to hold nothing, what you uncover is not emptiness – but your most genuine self, waiting to be remembered.
Meet Elena Brower, your guide into release and renewal
For more than two decades, Elena Brower has guided students around the world into deeper connection with body, mind, and spirit. Now she’s coming to Rising Circle Ranch to share her wisdom with the MEA community.
An internationally celebrated yoga and meditation teacher, bestselling author of Hold Nothing and Practice You, and host of the Practice You podcast, Elena brings a rare blend of yogic precision, Zen philosophy, and grounded compassion to her teaching.
In an intimate small-group setting surrounded by the beauty of the high desert, Elena will lead you through a carefully designed blend of yoga and mindset work to help you discover the freedom that comes when you truly let go. With her guidance, movement becomes medicine, breath becomes clarity, and practice becomes your pathway back to presence.*Note: this yoga practice is suitable for all, from beginner to advanced
During your three days with Elena, you will…
This Workshop
Is For You If…
Meet Your Faculty
Elena Brower
Renowned yoga and meditation teacher | Bestselling Author of Hold Nothing and Practice You | Host of the Practice You podcast
For more than two decades, Elena Brower has guided students around the world into deeper connection with body, mind, and spirit. A renowned yoga and meditation teacher on Glo, Elena is also the author of Art of Attention (translated into seven languages), Practice You, and Being You. Her writings, classes, and talks explore the stages of practice, studentship, and life with compassion and depth.
Her next book, Hold Nothing (Shambhala, 2025), continues this exploration of presence and release. Alongside her teaching, Elena hosts the acclaimed Practice You podcast, a space for soul-enriching conversations with teachers, artists, and thinkers.
In recent years, Elena has deepened her work through Zen study and service. After receiving Jukai (lay Buddhist vows) from Roshi Joan Halifax, she entered chaplaincy training at the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, where she volunteers in hospice and penitentiary settings – extending her practice into compassionate presence and community support.
Embodied Practice: Elena’s teaching invites students to experience release through movement, breath, and presence — not just ideas or theories.
Integrative Approach: Blending yoga, meditation, writing, and Zen teachings, she creates openings for clarity, reflection, and renewal.
Compassion in Action: Beyond the studio, Elena extends her practice into hospice and prison settings, embodying the dignity and care she teaches.
In a culture of achievement and personality, what a gift it is to be invited to unravel our story, drop our ego, and come home to our true selves. Elena’s vulnerability and her skill as a teacher are awe-inspiring. Her prompts and practices are meaningful rituals – easy to weave into real life yet powerful enough to shift everything.
—Gwyneth Paltrow, Academy Award–winning actor, best-selling author, and founder of Goop
This is a personal and beautiful invitation to become intimate through mindfulness of body, heart, and mind. A guide to true belonging, asking us to face our deepest yearning and our greatest fears. No part left out.
—Frank Ostaseski, author of The Five Invitations
Gratitude from Elena’s students:
Supported By the MEA Team
Elena Brower
Internationally celebrated yoga and meditation teacher | Bestselling author of Hold Nothing, Art of Attention and Practice You: A Journal | Host of the Practice You Podcast
For more than two decades, Elena Brower has guided students around the world into deeper connection with body, mind, and spirit. A renowned yoga and meditation teacher on Glo, Elena is also the author of Art of Attention (translated into seven languages), Practice You, and Being ...
View BioOur Agenda at a Glance
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
4:00 PM: Arrival / Check-In
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
9:00 PM: Free Time
Friday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
Saturday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner, Dessert & Graduation
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Sunday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout / Departure
*Please note that not all "classroom time" activities take place in the actual classroom.
*Please note all times are estimates as some activities go longer or shorter depending on the group. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.
Step into transformation in the high desert
Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.
Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.
PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs
Optional: Explore the Ranch on Horseback
Our Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert, offering guided horseback riding for all experience levels through diverse terrains under the vast Southwest sky
You’ll experience highlights like:
Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity you can book once you arrive on the ranch. Whether you’re seasoned or brand new to horseback adventures, this guided experience lets you discover the ranch’s natural wonders alongside our gentle horses.
Your workshop also includes:
Release What You’re Holding – and Come Home to Yourself
Life isn’t going to lighten the load for you. If you keep pushing through the same way, the stress and strain will only follow you into the next season.
This 3-day workshop is your chance to pause, reset, and reclaim the energy and clarity you’ve been missing. But here, over three days of practice, you’ll discover how to meet it differently: with humility of heart, stability of mind, and an embodied sense of freedom you can return to every day.This is your invitation to hold nothing — and discover everything.
Book your spot today
Hold Nothing: Yoga for Letting Go & Finding Freedom
Is a partial scholarship for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.
Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this workshop for?
This experience is for anyone who feels weighed down by stress, tension, or old patterns that no longer serve them. Many participants are carrying regrets, self-criticism, or worries that feel lodged in the body – and are ready to let them go. Whether you’re moving through a life transition or simply yearning for a reset, this workshop will help you return to yourself with more clarity, freedom, and ease.
Do I need to be an experienced yogi to attend?
Not at all. While Elena’s morning sessions will include strengthening asana practice, modifications are always offered, and afternoons are devoted to more restorative practice and journaling. You’ll be guided at your own pace, whether you’re brand new to yoga or have been practicing for years.
Do I need to be flexible or “good at yoga” to join?
Not at all. This retreat isn’t about mastering advanced postures or pushing yourself into shapes. It’s about using movement, breath, and presence to release what you’ve been holding and come home to yourself. Whether you can touch your toes or not doesn’t matter – what matters is showing up with openness. Elena’s guidance emphasizes accessibility, humility, and self-compassion in every practice.
Is this workshop religious or spiritual?
No – this retreat is not affiliated with any specific religion. Elena weaves yoga, meditation, writing, and Zen-inspired teachings into her classes, but the practices are universal and accessible. Whatever your background or beliefs, you’ll find tools you can adapt to your own life.
What if I’m not planning a major life change?
You don’t need to be at a crossroads to benefit. This retreat is just as valuable if you’re seeking an internal shift: more presence in daily life, relief from the stress you’ve been holding, or a renewed sense of vitality.
What’s included in my tuition?
Your tuition includes 3 nights of lodging at MEA’s Rising Circle Ranch, all chef-prepared meals, snacks, and drinks, and full participation in the retreat program. Optional add-on activities like horseback riding can be booked separately.
How do I know if I qualify for a partial scholarship?
We offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis. If finances are a barrier to attending, we encourage you to apply. Our goal is to make this experience accessible to those who need it most.
What if I’m not sure this retreat is right for me?
That’s okay – we’d love to talk with you. Book a free call with our team, and we’ll help you decide whether this is the right time and the right fit for your journey.
Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors
Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.
Daniel Booz
Lucas Erie
Leslie Bartlett