Wild and Free:
The Rise of the Feminine
a Retreat for Women with the Salt River Wild Mustangs
October 9-12, 2025
Wild horses are led by a lead mare.
She guides and supports her herd, with the support of the stallion. The lead mare is an inspiring archetype for the women who have demonstrated resilience, strength, and leadership, often in the face of adversity.
The mare stands as a symbol of wisdom and has the capacity to lead with empathy, intuition, and care, showing how feminine energy can create balance, unity, and strength.
Join us for a paddleboarding journey down Arizona’s Salt River—where the desert meets the water, and wild horses roam free along the banks.
As you glide through this stunning landscape, you’ll witness the Salt River mustangs in their natural habitat.
Watching them move as a herd—strong, free, and in tune with one another—reminds us of our own connection to nature, to community, and to ourselves.
At the heart of each herd is the lead mare.
She leads with calm confidence, grounded presence, and quiet authority.
She moves with certainty and strength, fully herself, fully free. The herd follows, not out of fear, but because they trust her to lead.
There’s something deeply familiar in her power—something that speaks to the wild, wise part of every woman.
This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and remember your own natural power.
Your Guides
Natalie Benway-Correll and Sasha Bonner met on a paddle boarding adventure on Nevada’s Black Canyon River and knew they were kindred spirits.
Their shared love of nature, paddle boarding and connecting with something greater inspired them to create this retreat.
Natalie Benway-Correll was dubbed her parents official “wild child” and spent her formative years running barefoot, climbing trees and riding horses whenever possible.
Her unending curiosity about relationships and sexuality have guided her career as a holistic psychotherapist for the last 18 years.
Natalie is the founder of The Well Lived Life and not only does she work with humans she also partners with horses and nature as co facilitators.
She combines equine guided learning and somatic exercises with observation of free roaming horses and their herd dynamics.
She has learned how to be the Lead Mare in her own life and is passionate about supporting women in stepping into their own power as well.
Natalie brings humor and warmth to the spaces she creates as well a passion and purpose for nature’s guidance and gifts.
Sasha Bonner grew up hiking and running wild and free with her sister in the desert.
A competitive swimmer and lifeguard for many years, she was able to combine her passion for water, nature and exercise when she discovered paddle boarding!
Her love of desert flora and fauna brought her to earn a degree in Holistic healthcare and she is now a certified herbalist and reiki master.
Sasha has a passion for mentoring women and watching them expand from fear to flourishing in the sunshine of their spirit!
Sasha holds a professional stand up paddle board instructor certification and is thrilled to lead the group on the river.
Musical Guests
Nicole Upchurch
Nicole Upchurch is a singer/songwriter, banjo player and educator currently residing in Iowa City. She performs regularly with Awful Purdies, an eclectic female folk quintet and The Feralings, a folk americana quartet. She is the children’s programming instructor with Family Folk Machine, a local intergenerational choir. In addition, Nicole is a nature-based preschool teacher at Creekside Forest School at Indian Creek Nature Center where her love of music, language and nature intersects daily. Nicole’s involvement in these projects present meaningful ties to her community through activism, educational outreach and live performance.
Sarah Cram
Sarah Cram is a singer/songwriter & rhythm guitar player from Cedar Rapids, IA. She sings & plays with the bands Awful Purdies, Diplomats of Solid Sound, The Night Lights and loves to collaborate with other local musicians and play solo. Sarah owns Breathing Room Yoga in downtown Cedar Rapids, loves to hang out with her family & friends in nature and around the dinner table. Sarah is grateful for her connection to her community and live music.
Accomodations
We will be staying at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona where you’ll find peace and inspiration at every turn.
Surrounded by the majestic Arizona vistas your stay includes your choice of a shared or private room, Enjoy healing gardens, a labyrinth, pool, spa and on site dining.
Additional option to unwind after a day of paddling and add a massage to your retreat experience.
The Details:
When: Thursday, October 9th at 5pm - Sunday, October 12th, 2025 at 12pm
With: Natalie Benway-Correll LISW, Sasha Bonner
and The Well Lived Life team.
Who: This retreat is open to women 18 years and above.
Where: Salt Creek River in Paradise Valley, Arizona and the Renewal Retreat Center is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Investment:
$1600 Investment
Early Registration Price: $1450
(if registered by August 1, 2025)
$600 for Locals
(Locals price does not include meals or accommodations-does include all programming, paddle board rental and Lunch on Saturday)
$500 Deposit to reserve your spot
Please contact nbenway@wellivedlife.org to reserve your spot or get more information!
You will share in:
*Delicious, Nourishing meals
*Daily guided yoga, meditation, and movement practices
*Intimate circles exploring our wild and free essence, our connection to ourselves, one another and the greater whole.
*Embodiment Practices that promote a connection with a grounded sense of self and a renewed trust in the power of feminine.
*Self compassion tools to help you identify limiting thoughts and belief patterns.
*Group exploration exercises that examine relationship patterns including boundary setting, taking up space, awareness of verbal and nonverbal communication, and trust building.
*Development of skills that support emotional regulation, embodied presence and embodied empowerment.
*Safe and Supported Paddle Boarding down the Lower Salt River with a certified stand up paddle board instructor.
What 2024’s Wild and Free Guests are Saying….
FAQs
-
We will be on the river for about 4 hours with stops along the way for rest and programming.
-
This trip is appropriate for beginners or seasoned water sport enthusiasts.
-
We will have a shuttle from the retreat center and back from the launch site at the River.
-
The retreat is limited to 12-14 women to ensure an intimate group size and personalized attention.
-
Included in the retreat:
*3 night stay at the Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona
*Daily breakfast, lunch dinner
*Yoga
*Complimentary use of the pool, labyrinth and spa.
*Stand-up paddle board
*Access to hiking trails from the retreat property
*Transportation to and from the launch site.
NOT included in the retreat:
*Airfare to/from Arizona
*Transportation to/from retreat property
*Travel insurance
