Breathing BEYOND Grief™
A weekend for honoring the animals we love
Register by March 7 and save $50 with code EARLY50
The love was real. So is the grief.
They were part of your everyday life, there in the morning and there at the end of a long day. When they died, the whole rhythm of home changed.
Maybe you had to make the hard decision at the end. Maybe the loss was sudden. Maybe it was years ago and still catches you off guard.
And maybe the people around you moved on faster than you could, so you’ve been carrying it quietly.
Your body has been holding all of it.
You don’t have to carry it alone. This weekend is a place to honor the bond, let your body release what it’s been holding, and carry their love forward in a way that feels good.
That’s what this weekend is…
More than a grief group: a weekend to honor the bond, and tools you’ll keep.
Permission to grieve fully
Without apologizing or explaining why it hurts this much
A way to honor your companion
Rituals and remembrance that keep the bond alive
Words for what you’ve been holding
The thank-yous and goodbyes you didn’t get to say
Release of guilt and regret
Especially around endings, decisions and the last days
A breath practice you’ll actually keep
No equipment, no apps, just you
A kinder relationship with yourself
The same patience and kindness they always gave you
Deep rest and renewed energy
Many guests say they’ve slept better here than they have in years
A community that gets it
People who know this loss is real, without needing it explained
Breathwork & Sound
Each day is built around releasing what your body has been holding, so there’s room for the good memories, not just the ache. Our daily breath sessions are a conscious, connected breathing practice that helps your body let go of stored stress and emotion. Sound soothes and restores.
No experience needed. We teach you everything, and you are supported the entire way.
Daily breath sessions
Release grief at the cellular and somatic level
Personal breathing assessments
Individual attention so the work meets you exactly where you are
Somatic bodywork
Hands-on support that helps your body release what talking can’t reach
Sound healing
Gongs, drums and sound bowls help move heavy, stuck energy and let emotion flow
Remembrance & Writing: Honoring the Bond
Some of the best healing happens when you get to tell their story.
With gentle guidance, you’ll remember the life you shared, tend to any guilt or regret around the ending, and write the words you didn’t get to say, sharing them first in a small, safe circle.
Small groups for safety and confidentiality
Feel held, with plenty of time to be heard
Telling their story
Share who they were, the funny habits, the quiet moments, the bond
Tending guilt and regret
Gently look at the decisions and the last days, and set down what isn’t yours to carry
A letter to your companion
Guided writing to say what’s still in your heart
A remembrance ritual
Bring a photo, collar or keepsake to honor them together
Time in nature
Integrate what arises in the beauty of the outdoors
Don’t take our word for it - Here’s what guests say about this program
“It was my great privilege to take the Breathing Beyond Grief workshop at the Clearing Center. The work is very deep, but presented in perfect little manageable steps, expertly planned and presented. Each session was a twining of threads including breathwork, movement, music, loving support, writing, and intentions. I experienced some of my deepest meditative states and also releases of ancient grief. I have done much internal work, but this really blew me away. Thank you.”
“I had hit complete overwhelm before attending this seminar. I feel lighter and more spacious in my body, calmer in my mind and less overwhelmed.”
“The experience was truly life changing. The love, the grace, the staff, the knowledge, it was all an incredible experience! Just when you think it couldn’t be any better, it is! ”
The Details
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When
May 14-16, 2027
Schedule:
Friday: Arrive and settle in
Registration 5:30 pm
Program begins at 6 pm
Saturday: Breakfast 8-9 am
Program 9 am - 6 pm (with breaks, meals and time to rest)
Sunday: Breakfast 8-9 am
Program 9 am- 4 pm
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Where
The Clearing Center Ranch, North Fork, California
Tucked into the Sierra Nevada Foothills, 30 minutes from Yosemite and 5 minutes from Bass Lake.
Mountain air, oak and pine trees, big skies and quiet. The land does half the healing.
May in the foothills is green and blooming, with warm days and cool evenings. Bring a light layer.
Fly into Fresno/Yosemite (FAT) approx 1 hour away or make the scenic drive from anywhere in California.
Ride share and shuttle options available for a fee.
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Invest in You
Tuition: $535
Payment options available (does not include lodging)
All breathwork sessions, bodywork, sound healing and materials
Personal breathing assessments
Lunches and continental breakfast daily
Group Size: limited to 15 participants for personal attention and small groups as well with additional staff facilitators
Staying at the Ranch
Limited onsite lodging and camping
Cedar Cabin
Manzanita Cabin
RV
Onsite lodging is limited to two tiny cabins (Cedar and Manzanita) and one RV, and spaces are matched personally. Each cabin has a queen bed on the main floor, a queen loft (by ladder) and a pullout sofa, plus a kitchen and bath. The RV has a private queen room, a bed over the cab, and its own bath and kitchen.
Private cabin: $320
Shared cabin: $225 or $150
Private RV: $270
Shared RV: $195 or $130
Camping: $100 ($50 per night). Bring your own setup; bathrooms and showers are onsite.
Tell us your preference when you register, and we will confirm your space within 48 hours. Onsite beds go to the earliest registrations. Prefer to stay nearby? There are Airbnbs around North Fork and Bass Lake, and you are welcome at the ranch all weekend.
Is This Weekend Right for You?
This program is for you if:
You’re grieving a dog, cat, horse or any animal companion, whether the loss was last week or years ago.
You feel like no one around you understands how much this hurts.
You’re carrying guilt or second-guessing about a decision or the last days.
You’ve been grieving quietly because you weren’t sure you were “allowed” to.
You are new to breathwork (many of our guests are first-timers).
You want practical tools you will still be using six months from now.
You may not be the right fit if:
You are looking for a spa vacation - this is an intensive with homework and deep inner work.
You are currently in acute mental health crisis - this is powerful and we want you safe. Reach out first and we will talk honestly about timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. Your bond with an animal can be one of the steadiest, simplest loves in your life. Grief follows love, and it deserves the same care as any other loss.
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Yes. Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. Many people find that an old loss, never fully grieved, is still asking for attention.
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Please do. A photo, collar, tag or small keepsake is welcome and becomes part of our remembrance time together. Please leave other pets at home.
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A conscious, connected breathing practice rooted in diaphragmatic breathing. It works with your body’s own rhythm to bring presence, calm the nervous system, integrate stored stress and emotion and clear the way for more connection to life, love and joy.
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Our approach is trauma-informed, and we’ve facilitated breathwork retreats for over a decade. Sessions are paced to your nervous system - you’re always in choice. If you have a heart condition, are pregnant, or have specific medical concerns, check with your provider and mention it upon registration so we can support you well.
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Yes - many of our guests are first-timers. Every session is guided, and personal breath assessments mean the work meets you where you are. All you need is willingness.
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All feelings are welcome here - anger, grief, fear - you name it. They are often the release you came for. As grief specialists, holding people through big feelings is precisely what we do. You’ll be met with care, not judgment, and you never have to share more than you want to.
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The ranch is in North Fork, California - about 1 hour from Yosemite International Airport (FAT) and a scenic drive from most of California. Detailed directions come with registration. We try to arrange ride share or offer a shuttle from the airport during certain hours for a fee.
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Refund Policy: Deposit is non-refundable, but transferable (minus costs incurred) to another event with The Clearing Center.
Over 30 days prior to event: 100% of monies over and above the deposit may be refunded.
Within 30 days of event: 50% of monies over the deposit will be refunded.
Within 7 days of event: No refunds.
If program is cancelled by The Clearing Center, all monies will be refunded or transferable.
Lodging Cancellation Policy
Lodging is reserved specifically for you and is non-refundable. If you need to cancel, please let us know as soon as possible. We will try to fill your space. If your space is rebooked, your lodging payment will be refunded, minus a $25 rebooking fee.
If the program is cancelled by The Clearing Center, all lodging payments will be refunded or transferred.
We recommend travel insurance to protect against unexpected changes.
Meet Jen & Carter
Jennifer and Carter have been trauma-informed, conscious connected breathwork trainers since 2011. As grief specialists, they founded The Clearing Center to help people find healing, connection, and joy through breathwork and grief recovery in a warm, welcoming environment.
After struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts, profound grief, breast cancer, and autoimmune challenges, Jennifer realized she needed to reconnect with her heart to rediscover her worth and begin healing her body, mind, and spirit. That journey led her to breathwork, mindfulness, devotional singing, and the daily practice of emotional awareness. Through every breath, every tear, and every moment of joy, she experienced God's presence and love. No longer disconnected from life, Jennifer now lives with greater awareness, purpose, and compassion, sharing the tools that helped transform her own life.
Carter integrates the practices of The Clearing Center into the demands of corporate life, using them to cultivate resilience, health, and vitality amid everyday stress. Combining his gift for energy healing with the somatic power of breathwork, he helps people safely release stored emotions and reconnect with clarity, freedom, and inner peace. His grounded, compassionate presence brings a supportive masculine energy to every program, creating a safe space for deep healing and lasting transformation.
Meet Erica
Erica is an Occupational Therapist and Integrative Breathwork Facilitator. Through her clinical work as an OT, she has gained extensive knowledge and training in nervous system regulation, and she brings that expertise to every session she leads.
Her path to breathwork was personal. At a point when life no longer felt like it was working, despite doing everything “right,” Erica began an inward journey of self-inquiry. Through breathwork, meditation, attention to her nervous system’s cues, and a willingness to lean into difficult emotions, she uncovered the beliefs, patterns and suppressed emotions that had kept her stuck and disconnected from her own heart. Guided by her faith and spiritual connection, she learned to trust herself and to connect with others more authentically.
Today, Erica helps others understand and work with their nervous system responses, so they can release what they’ve been holding and make choices that are in alignment with their own truth.
Come remember them with people who understand.
Facilitators and staff who have walked this road themselves. A small circle of people who get it.
Space is limited to 15 guests, and onsite lodging goes first.
Still have questions?
Book a free 15-minute call - We’d love to meet you.
