Retreat in the Pines

My retreat at Retreat in the Pines was an absolute dream! It was a magical book-filled getaway, and the perfect way to celebrate my friend Yulia's birthday. We did some much-needed yoga and had mindful walks, which helped me feel so relaxed and less stressed. The delicious food, expertly prepared by Chef Angel, was a highlight, but the true joy was the book discussions and the deep connection with the wonderful new friendships I made. We shared so much laughter and connected with so many amazing people! I left feeling refreshed and deeply inspired and greatful. Fresh air and much needed connection with nature transformed and improved my mind!

I spent my birthday weekend May 16-18, 2025 at Retreat in the Pines. The journey from NYC, to Mineola, TX was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we arrived at the Pines Friday evening, Michelle , the retreat leader was welcoming and kind. The atmosphere is calm and earthing. The food was delicious. All meals were freshly made. The massage, Yoga session, meetings at the gratuity hall. The ladies , 10 of us connected and shared heart warming moments. I left whole. And will be returning in the very near future. Thank you for creating this space for women.

I booked a solo retreat and was a little anxious not knowing what to expect, but thanks to our leader Dayna we all turned into fast friends. The schedule, the food (shoutout to Chef Angelic) and the no judgement vibe really were refreshing and exactly what I needed. I would recommend this retreat to any woman in need of a reset or community. I hope to be back soon.

Retreat in the Pines was an amazing weekend from start to finish. Our leader Michelle was amazing! I loved all of our yoga sessions, a letting go ceremony, hike, and recreation activity was fabulous. Chef Angel was on point the meals were delicious. The ladies in attendance were so warm, open, and shared their heart space. I am still feeling the rewards three weeks later. The scenery along with nature sounds was delightful it really took me away the hustle and bustle of NYC. Thank you Theresa for creating a wonderful safe space for all of us. Thank you Michelle and Angel for a great experience. Love CK oxox

Retreat in the Pines, located in Mineola, TX, offers an idyllic escape perfect for mothers of small children seeking a rejuvenating break. Having attended two retreats there over the past two years, I can attest to the special bonds formed with other women. The retreat provides a serene environment ideal for healing both body and soul. The top-notch food is always a highlight, with everyone enjoying it immensely. The serenity, scenic walks, enriching yoga sessions, heartfelt conversations, and overall ambiance make it a haven of tranquility. This retreat is perfect not only for mothers of small children but also for mothers of older children, single women, and women at any stage of life. Some came to continue their yoga journey, some came to re-energize, others came to try something new and maybe even there were those who just wanted extra sleep!! My favorite time to visit is in the fall when the weather begins to cool, and I'm eagerly looking forward to returning this year!

Such an amazing place to reset and heal. The food is wonderful, the cabins are clean and beautiful, the grounds are peaceful and enchanting. My yoga instructor, Dayna, was fun, welcoming, knowledgeable, and such a light. This was exactly what I was looking for in a yoga retreat, a good balance of meditation, physical activities, social interactions, time for self reflection, beautiful nature, and delicious food. I went home very relaxed and grateful.

My sister and I went to Retreat in the Pines to reconnect and rebuild our relationship. We left there with a bond that’s stronger than ever! Debbie was our retreat leader and she is absolutely AMAZING! It was quiet, peaceful and very relaxing. Angel was our chef and she made sure we were never hungry and prepared wonderful food. There was yoga and meditation and I loved that we had a schedule to follow. There was also a lot of good conversation with the group of ladies. I definitely recommend this retreat for anyone who needs to recharge and reconnect.

Retreat in the Pines is my "Happy Place"! I have been to many retreats with various instructors and always have a wonderful experience. Regardless of how stressed I am when I arrive, I leave Sunday refreshed and grateful to have shared a weekend filled with laughter, tears, and healing with like minded women.

This weekend was my 2nd time attending a retreat here. I definitely recommend. This is an all inclusive experience with chef on property cooking all the meals, lots of tea, coffee and wine to drink. The property is quiet and beautifully set in the middle of pine trees. There is a schedule of activities to do but you are gently told to do what you want and take what you want from the retreat. I really enjoyed the yoga, meditation and making vision board. This is a unique experience because you meet the most amazing women and the sense of community was much needed.

Me and a girlfriend came here for a relaxing weekend retreat to spend time with each other and in nature! The retreats leader was Keitha and we all loved her so much! We also got to meet Teresa at our retreat as well - she is the owner of the location. This is the perfect yoga/ relaxation retreat if you want to get away and recharge. There are multiple workshops and yoga classes and they also have a fun art and craft activities as well. It's a great place to meet other women, create friendships and bond in nature. It is located away from the city and is surrounded by trees. It is a very relaxing location. Shout out to Dana who gave the most amazing massage ever! Also a huge shout out to Angel as well who is the retreat chef. The food here was so tasty and fresh! I get food anxiety because I am vegetarian and I hate going places where I don't have anything to eat. This place has plenty of options for vegetarians and others with different dietary needs. My friend and I had so much fun here, I am so glad she found it and we were able to go together! I do wish they had some sort of charging station at the retreat as it would have been so helpful since the nearest one is about 30 miles away. All in all I would definitely recommend this retreat to others that are interested!

I just returned from the most incredible retreat at Retreat in the Pines July 21-23, 2023. I had been feeling like I needed a getaway, and my therapist agreed! I was nervous at first because I'd never been to a retreat before, and wouldn't know anyone there, but this place turned out to be an incredible reset for me and I departed feeling rested and whole. Dayna was our retreat leader, and she made us all feel welcome and SEEN. She has great energy and you can tell she loves her work there. The days were perfectly paced with yoga and mindfulness classes, an incredibly nurturing massage by Jan with the magic hands and best energy, easy heartfelt conversations with wonderful women who all were seeking peace and healing, outstanding healthy beautiful food, snacks, coffee, tea, and wine, comfortable cozy accommodations, free time for reading or napping in a hammock in the pines, a healing "letting go" ceremony, lots of laughter and a few healing tears. We also learned how to make our own essential oil bath salts/scrubs and sprays to take home with us. I appreciated the little extra touches such as the provided organic EO body care products, and love also that they are environmentally conscious and provided recycling, and even compost for their garden. Chef Angelic incorporated fresh herbs from this garden to season the scrumptious meals she created for us as well as sourcing vegetables and breads from local vendors which says a lot about her talents and this place, as well. I loved everything about this place and everyone I got to meet and share this experience with. I'm so glad I made the big decision to go. I will definitely be back! Thank you for everything.

Everything about our experience was wonderful! We attended the book lovers retreat in February. Our schedule was a perfect mix of community time, yoga, and down time to read. We will be back!

I came here to get away from daily responsibilities and focus on myself and gain solitude. This was exactly what I came for. The property was spacious and serene, the accommodations were simple and clean ( with exceptions of hammocks which need replacing ) and most of all the yoga, women and food were fantastic. I'm recommending this retreat for many of my yogi friends and hope to return. Thank you for replenishing me!

Would you like to get away but not have to pay an arm and a leg? And not only get away but experience an oasis of nature, and an invigorating mind and body workout? Definitely check out Retreat in the Pines! Travel a short ways to the small town of Mineola, TX and you will find two beautiful cabins nestled away in the piney woods. 3 days full of yoga workouts all throughout the day, all inclusive meals and cozy beds to sleep in. KC is the most wonderful cook...she also sells her fresh breads and baked goodies (made gluten free by request), homemade hummus and more! This was the greatest gift of relaxation I gave myself for my birthday. Definitely come here if you are a lady looking to try something completely different and get your yoga stretch on...all while connecting with some other wonderful like minded women. You will absolutely not regret it!!

I could not have asked for anything more from my experience at Retreat in the Pines. Pros Beautiful property Fantastic yoga instructor and host, Theresa Fantastic home cooked meals daily Challenging, relaxing, fun yoga classes Thought provoking workshops Peaceful and serene Wonderful company (like minded women from all walks of life) Affordable (seriously, you cannot beat the price for the quality of lodging, classes and meals) Not far from home (1.5 hour drive for me) Left feeling refreshed and invigorated Gained the peace of mind I was looking for Cons Couldn't stay longer Miss it already Looking forward to my next stay at Retreat in the Pines!! Thank you Theresa!

I just got back from a yoga retreat with a girlfriend, and keep thinking that perhaps I didn't read the fine print. The retreat was full, which meant we shared a room with two bunk beds with two other women. Then two more were in the living area on a pullout futon and daybed. There is one bathroom, with toilet and very small shower in the same room. (The type of shower that you can't turn around in without hitting something.) So we spent much time waiting. There is a tub but it's with the sink and didn't have anything for privacy. The yoga instructor was great, but the class was so full we couldn't do some poses. We had about 6 inches between us. I didn't bring my mat and should have because the one I used reminded me of a Target special. I realized one reason that men no longer came is that if they would very tall, they wouldn't fit. The food was good, but we were still surprised here. At breakfast the first day, we ran out of cream. My friend and I went into Mineola Saturday afternoon and I was going to pick up some cream for everyone, but I knew the cook had left and assumed she would get some. There wasn't any Sunday and when I asked she said that she was only provided a small container for the weekend. I couldn't believe she didn't have the freedom to buy more. I did ask for fruit one morning and was given an apple, but it was mushy. The whole weekend just didn't make sense to me. Totally not what I expected. Again Jackie, the instructor was great and it was a really nice group of women.

Rooms were very cramped. Cabin was freezing the entire weekend. Hope that you do not get stuck in the bunk beds for the weekend as they are very uncomfortable.

I echo Jean H.'s review. The accommodations are cramped. I understand 3 additional beds have been added to the 'main' house- one in each room. There are two small bathrooms for 10, yes 10, women! The yoga studio is small - and these 3 additional guests make it so crowded that many poses cannot be properly done. The yoga instruction was great! Food was ok- but no lunch on Saturday means you must drive into Mineola- where the choice is not great. You loose at least 2 hours out of your free time and takes away from the 'retreat/relaxation' mode, which is the whole point of the weekend. They should offer something - yogurt, cheese, fruit, leftovers- the stuff they put out for snack time would work. All in all good place for the price.

I've booked a yoga weekend at Retreat in the Pines for the last three years, and the facilities are wonderful. There are two cabins tucked into the piney woods, and the cabins are well decorated and maintained. Since we have a large group, we usually get the smaller cabin to ourselves and love it. It contains a bedroom with 4 bunk beds, then a twin in another room and a futon in the living area. This has always been clean and comfortable. It is so peaceful to sit on the porch and listen to the birds and feel the breeze. If you are worried about bugs outside - hello, this is the country! I love the hammock in back of the main cabin and walking the trails / road. Though you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, it is just a short drive into Mineola.

I'd like to start this review by saying that we are a group of 3 mid size families who travel regularly to cabins once in the Winter and once in the summer, we have been to several other locations before and we know what to expect. So I'm one of the guests that came to this place last June and our experience was that this place is less than ideal to rest and relax, we rather had quite the opposite. We found the place to be unkept and neglected when it comes to maintenance and cleanliness. For starters, we found a wide variety of critters all throughout the cabin, on the floors, walls, under and over the beds, from lizards to spiders to caterpillars, you name it, we had a zoo in there. We also found incredible amounts of lint, dust and god knows what else under and in between the beds and walls as well as on the wooden bed frames (See pictures). Also, food disposal does not work, per owner instructions, you have to put the food on a container under the kitchen sink and leave it there, as you can imagine, it will get stinky after the first day. Pans and pots are filthy with grease/grime, we spent a good amount of time cleaning those up ourselves so that we could prepare food in them. Also Coffee machine was a joke, it was flat-out dirty, we also had to clean it up so that we could prepare a decent cup of coffee. Additionally, outside fridge it's gross at best, there's rotten food left overs -I assume from some other guests- that has been there for a while, these containers have developed all kinds of mold in there. it was absolutely disgusting to open that outdoor fridge door. Some of of the other items that we though were not in good shape/order were; - Basketball board is broken, no way to bounce the ball as there's no plastic board anymore. - Back door screen are torn, all kind of bugs get in to the cover back porch. - Flat tires on bikes. They have two bikes there but all 4 tires are flat. - Mattresses are in such bad shape, I'm a 200+ person and those mattresses were nowhere near rated for that weight. We had trouble sleeping as these mattresses were so uncomfortable (Plus the fact that we were afraid some bug was going to bite us). - Closets are full of broken household items, from broken chairs to personal items such as medicines, our smaller kids found some type of prescription medicament and they were playing with them. Thankfully none of the kiddos swallowed any of them but why on earth will someone leave those things around on a rental cabin?? I'm not talking here about guests that may have accidentally forgotten their medicine but the maids -or lack thereof. So after all these issues, we decide to call owner, Theresa Polley in order to address these issues and we found her to be impolite and rude, she did not take ANY responsibility for the issues we found with her property. She said she has pest control services coming twice a year -no wonder why so many critters are inside the property- recommended pest control for the CITY is every quarter, you would imagine being in the woods, this service has to be performed more frequently. I also mentioned about the mattresses, and she limited herself to say "Pick another one, you saw the pictures before you signed contract". There was silence on the other end when I asked if she could have checked the bad shape of the mattresses by looking at the online pictures. This place sounded like a great place to relax and forget about your day-to-day activities but it was not possible for us having issues mentioned above and the lack of customer service from the owner.