I have now held two daytime retreats at Gaia Wellness Retreat and they were wonderful. Such lovely, peaceful days in the midst of tumultuous times.
I tried to book a retreat for September 2022 only to be told that Gaia was fully booked until November. So sad!
However, I just got news that there was a cancellation. I snapped up the opportunity to book a daytime retreat for May 7, 2022. I am so happy! The last couple of years have been full of so much upheaval that I know I could use some time to regroup, to enjoy quiet, nature, good food and good company. I hope you can join me.
Here is what you can expect at the Regroup Retreat:
A Beautiful Natural Setting: The Gaia Wellness Retreat is located on a small lake, amidst 70 acres of old and new growth forest.
Delicious, Nourishing Food: All food is vegetarian, prepared fresh using local ingredients whenever possible, and the staff are wonderful about catering to specific dietary requirements. Everyone has raved about the food at the past two retreats.
Connection with Nature: A mindful walk through the forest will be offered. You will be prompted to fully engage your senses to notice and appreciate the natural surroundings. You will also have free time during which you are welcome to walk on the forest trails or sit quietly by the lake.
Sauna and Lake: There is a sauna in the main lodge that is yours to enjoy. There is a kayak available for paddling, and you are welcome to take a dip in the lake. Bring your swimsuit.
Yoga: You will have the opportunity (but not the obligation!) to participate in one 60-minute and one 30-minute yoga session.
Fitness: You will have the opportunity (but not the obligation!) to participate in a 30-minute morning fitness class.
Free Time: All activities are optional. You can join in as much or as little as you like. However, even if you join in on every activity, you will still have lots of free time. You can wander the beautiful grounds, read, write, enjoy the sauna, paddle or swim. If you have any pandemic projects that have fallen by the wayside, this would be a great time to work on them. Bring that unfinished book, knitting project, photo album, etc. along.
Quiet: The retreat centre is located in a quiet location, and you will be invited to set aside your phone and all other electronic devices. Disconnecting from the outside world will allow you to foster a deeper connection with yourself, your natural surroundings and others on the retreat.
Convenience: The retreat centre is only a 45-minute drive from downtown Ottawa, so you will not waste precious time getting there.
Overnight Options: If you wish to spend Friday or Saturday night or both at the retreat centre, you can book this directly with Gaia. Gaia offers a number of overnight options, including staying in a cabin, staying in a room in the lodge or camping on the grounds:
Cabin and room rental information can be found here: https://www.gaiawellnessretreat.com/cabin-pricing.
Camping information can be found here: https://www.gaiawellnessretreat.com/camping-pricing?rq=camping.
The prices listed are per room, cabin or tent. You can keep prices down if you decide to bunk with a friend or friends. Up to two people can stay in a tent. The number of people who can stay in a room or cabin can be found on the site.
I hope you will join me for this amazing day that will allow participants to regroup: to reflect on where we have been and how we want our lives to go post-pandemic. You may also consider giving this retreat as a gift to someone who could use some time to regroup. It would make the BEST MOTHER'S DAY GIFT, EVER! Just saying...
Here is the proposed retreat schedule. It may need to be tweaked a bit if there is rain or other unforeseen circumstances arise.
Comments