Explore & Learn

In addition to this event, you can enjoy all of the daily activities that Woodside offers. Explore our sample retreat schedule.

We breathe in and out about 22,000 times a day. We never take notice, but hidden in each breath is a way to reduce anxiety, help with burnout, provide pain relief, and decrease negative thinking. We need to know how to unlock this breathing superpower.

Join Co-Founder and former drummer of Maroon 5, Ryan Dusick, and entrepreneur, author, TEDx speaker, and Breath/Well-Being Advocate Sandy Abrams for a wellness weekend of inspiring conversations, connection, and breath practices to release stress and elevate your being to create a lasting peace in the majestic Redwoods at Canyon Ranch Woodside for this three-day retreat.

Ryan Dusick shares insights from his new memoir, Harder to Breathe, about the decade lost to liquor and anti-anxiety medication due to physical and mental health challenges during his rise to fame with Maroon 5, his commitment to recovery and his current perspective as a mental health professional. Ryan’s story moves beyond celebrity to examine the nature of human heartbreak and resilience and to buoy anyone currently facing unique challenges. The combination of Ryan’s mental health insights and Sandy’s empowering Breath experiences offers a holistic and therapeutic experience to breathe easier and leave feeling calm and empowered.

Ryan Dusick
Ryan Dusick is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist with an MA in Clinical Psychology and the founding drummer of the world’s most popular band, Maroon 5. As a boy, he dreamt of pitching for the Dodgers and writing adventure novels. Arm injuries sidelined his burgeoning baseball career just as rock music became his new passion and purpose. Founding the band Kara’s Flowers in 1994 with fellow Brentwood High School students Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, and Adam Levine, Ryan worked tirelessly through his college years at UCLA before the band changed its name to Maroon 5 and finally had its first hit record, Songs About Jane. Multiple hit songs, two Grammy Awards, and 20 million albums sold later, Ryan found himself suffering and without direction, as his career as a performer ended just as it was taking off. Struggling with physical and mental health challenges, Ryan finally overcame his struggles in 2016. He began his recovery journey, culminating in a new life path full of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. Now working as a mental health professional at The Missing Peace Center for Anxiety in Agoura Hills, CA, Ryan is spreading the message that recovery is possible and some astounding things can come with it.

Sandy Abrams
Sandy Abrams is a longtime entrepreneur and author of Breathe to Succeed (Career Press; 2019), where she discusses the power of breath and mindfulness in business and life. Through Sandy’s renowned workshops, she brings the lessons in her book to life by highlighting the impact of today’s fast-paced, digital world: sleep deprivation, negative thinking, and feeling overwhelmed by the nature of social media. Sandy has led her signature BREATHE Master Class for the Global Wellness Institute with viewers from more than 70 countries. The longtime yoga practitioner brings a powerful reminder to be present during this retreat. And her work has led to a series of workshops at multi-global corporations such as Google, Facebook, Pepsi, CVS Health, and WW (formerly Weight Watchers). Sandy counts Arianna Huffington and Mark Bertolini, former CEO of Aetna/current chairman, as devoted fans of her work.

Friday, June 30

8 pm: From Barely Breathing to Fully Alive
An open and honest conversation with author Ryan Dusick about his memoir, “Harder to Breathe,” followed by Q&A and 30 minutes of a relaxing Breath experience led by Sandy Abrams. The theme of this discussion is Balance vs. Toxicity of Imbalance; a variety of themes from Ryan’s book are about the danger of imbalance. His new perspective as a therapist offers insights for others to find a healthy balance with their challenges, whether it’s work, digital overwhelm, stress/anxiety, relationships, perfectionism, etc.

Saturday, July 1

11 am: Getting Out of Your Own Way
An inspiring conversation about letting go of thought patterns that hold you back. Swap out a limiting mindset and self-sabotaging thoughts to lean into a growth mindset. We don’t always like change, but you’re more adaptive than you think. We’ll talk about the mindset tools for overcoming various challenges; then, we’ll breathe in ways that embody new thoughts and energy that clear the way for progress and momentum, ultimately rewarding change.

Sunday, July 2

10 am: The Power of the Present Moment
We’re always busy but not wired for constant motion. Reconnect to yourself by finding joy and ease in moments of pause and stillness. We live in a culture of ‘doing’ that’s not sustainable. Being at rest is very productive too. Ryan will share ideas for balancing ‘doing’ with simply ‘being.’ We’ll enjoy a 30-minute Breath experience that embraces internal calm.