2017 Offerings

Description: A series of asanas grounded in the Ashtanga primary series that allow the body and breathe to connect. The series of asanas introduces the Ashtanga yoga practice in a focused and energetic flow. There is an emphasis on correct alignment, breath and deepening one’s connection to self. This class is for all levels.

Description: Release your fears and learn to root to rise through a playful vinyasakrama balancing and inversion workshop. In this workshop you will learn the various bandhas, pranayama (breathwork) and kramas (stages) involved in creating a safe and solid inversion practice. We will explore bakasana (crow), sirsasana I & II (headstand) and pincha mayurasana (forearm balance).

Description: Take your practice to the next level through the journey of the seven main energy centres, located within the subtle body, and the five elements that pertain to the mind-body-spirit. We will learn to awaken, balance and cleanse the chakras through the exploration of mudras, meditation, chanting, asana and pranayama. Chakras have an affect on your physical, spiritual, emotional and mental well-being. By understanding and working with the chakras, one can move into a more balanced, peaceful, harmonious and full life. 

Description: This workshop is a sensory experience in nature, designed to enliven the parts of ourselves that become dulled by our largely indoor, sedentary and technologically driven lives. Participants are guided through a series of simple activities for stimulating each of their senses while connecting with the natural world and each other.

Description: This class will explore the energy body through vigorous movement, breath and directed awareness. Experience a whole body workout while still moving within your unique level of flexibility and strength. The Dragon Flow begins gently and slowly builds internal fire. Once the energy is awakened, then we’ll get quiet and explore the flow of chi (energy/prana) in the body through long-held yin postures.

Description: This class is designed to balance the subtle and physical anatomies of the body. We will move through a hatha yoga class, guided meditation and pranayama. Students will receive hands-on reiki adjustments throughout the class. You will leave feeling relaxed, restored and uplifted.

Description:Take in all the elements as we paddle and float through a meditation. Standup paddleboarding (SUP) is always a good way to connect with the environment around us, and a floating meditation creates a relaxing evening on the water. In this session we will kick off our evening with a small intro to standup paddling for those who have never been on a SUP before. A short paddle on the lake, allowing us to take in the scenery and unwind, will help us find a calm and peaceful spot. We will end our evening with an on-board meditation, experiencing the movement of the water, the sun and the sounds of our surroundings.

Description: This powerful workshop will incorporate drumming, movement, storytelling and singing as a means to ignite a meaningful connection to our Earth and each other. Participants are asked to bring a drum and/or shaker if they have one. There will be instruments to borrow as well. No experience necessary.

Description: Balance mind and body through gentle postures, controlled breathing and meditation.

Description: If you’ve never practiced yoga before or it’s been awhile, hatha yoga is for you. Expect to build a strong foundation in the fundamentals of yoga, breathing and alignment with a bonus mediation at the end. With an emphasis on restoration, this class is perfect for people seeking a gentler approach to wellness and relief from stress.

Description: As the sun rises, we will hike up to the hilltop to take in the expansive breathtaking views, meditate and reflect on our time together. We will set intentions before we reintegrate back into our everyday lives.

Description: Malika Sellami leads a participatory event called Kirtan. Everyone is invited to chant mantras (prayers) in Sanskrit, Pali and English. The audience is welcome to sing along, meditate, dance, play their drum or some percussion instruments provided. Kirtan is the bhakti (devotional) form of yoga. We chant melodies of love and compassion, open our hearts and send positive energy and joyful vibrations all over the world. Some mantra sheets will be provided. You might wish to bring a sitting cushion, blanket, drum or other instrument.

Description: Let Your Yoga Dance explores the seven energy centres (chakras) through a fusion of yoga, the breath and dance that is fun for all ages. Laugh, sing, and enjoy creative dance while doing yoga poses.  The intent of this class is to leave you with a blissful body, joyous heart and a steady and quiet mind.

Description: Practising the four immeasurables – loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity – leads to the development of concentration, fearlessness and genuine happiness. Loving-kindness in particular is the aspiration that all sentient beings experience the same joy and freedom that we ourselves aspire to feel. It is a heartfelt yearning and vision for oneself and others to experience happiness and the causes of happiness. This session will introduce these four boundless states and support us in our own experience and cultivation of loving-kindness through direct instruction as well as a 25-minute guided meditation.

Description: This vinyasa class invokes and plays homage to the illuminating, cooling and reflective qualities of the moon. We will move through a slower-paced flow, incorporating deep and grounding asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), meditation, chanting and relaxation. This subtle practice teaches you to slow down, reflect and attune to the ebb and flow of energy within and around us. You will leave feeling balanced, renewed and receptive. This class is suitable for all levels of yoga experience.

Description: Flower of Life Exploration: For me painting is a meditative process. When my hand is busy, my mind is at rest. In this painting workshop we will explore the flower of life, a symbol with important meaning to many throughout history. This symbol can be found in manuscripts, temples and art throughout cultures around the world. In this sense, it is a visual expression of the connections life weaves through all sentient beings.

I invite you to create art that reflects our personal and collective intentions that support our personal and collective journeys for this retreat. I will guide you in creating a masterpiece that reflects the seeds planted over our time together and apart throughout the retreat. A reminder that we touch each other by being who we are and who we are becoming.

Participants will be guided through acrylic painting techniques that will create the background for the masterpiece on a 8×10″ wooden panel. We will then use a compass to create the intricate circles that make up the flower of life, finishing the work with surface designs, techniques and various drawing tools. It is my goal to provide you with the knowledge and skills to create this beautiful visual, empowering you to use it as a creative pastime and as a mediation.

All Materials provided. Limited to 14 people.

Description: Build strength and increase flexibility while improving your cardiovascular ability in this challenging power yoga class. Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) will be used to warm up the body, focus the mind and find a steady flow of breath that syncs with each movement.

Description: The body has an energy field. Energy flows in patterns throughout the body. Through infections, injuries, and mental and emotional stress, this energy flow can be disrupted, leading to disharmony. This makes it difficult for the body to heal and can result in recurring injuries or infections. Depending on the location of the issues, this can cause chronic maladies. Brenda Hanson will teach students how to heal themselves of major illnesses using simple hand holds and hand placements on the body. Students will learn how to displace energy in their bodies to help it flow properly so the body can heal.

Description: According to Buddhist philosophy, the untrained mind oscillates between agitation and dullness, between restlessness and boredom. Shamatha (i.e., calm abiding) meditation is the practice of developing single-pointed concentration, developing a calm, clear and focused mind. This practice is essential if we are to subdue and heal our agitated and unruly mind, to become masters of our own mind so-to-speak. Emphasis in this session will be placed on practice by way of a 25-minute guided meditation. Our ultimate focus will be on developing the building blocks of shamatha, relaxation, stability, and clarity using mindfulness of breathing.

Description: This is a dynamic and revitalizing all-levels vinyasa flow with invigorating energy of the sun. We will build internal heat and strengthen and stretch the body through various asanas, from foundational to more challenging, with an emphasis on breath control (pranayama), postural alignment and enhancing mind-body connection. This class is suitable for all levels of yoga experience.

Description: Essence love is the deepest part of our feeling nature, and like a magic thread, weaves all aspects of our being together. As we grow up and experience the speed and demands of modern life we can lose this vital connection to our source of inner well-being and joy, which arises naturally when obstacles are dispelled. This experiential and practise-based session will explore the role of the feeling nature and subtle body in this all-important rediscovery of and reconnection to essence love.

Description: This spa is kindly brought to you by Wood’s Body Goods. $2 from every spa sale goes toward supporting Ski Timber Ridge. The spa begins with a fresh rose petal foot bath, followed by an aromatherapy hot cloth. After that, you’ll receive a chocolate honey face mask, bath salts for your feet, a chocolate key lime sugar scrub and a refreshing aroma spray.

Description: Space clearing is an ancient spiritual practice used to remove negative energy or revitalize stagnant energy in a person, place or animal. It is done when that person, place or animal is not functioning optimally. Brenda will be discussing the importance of this spiritual practice and how it has improved practitioners’ lives and their health. Students will learn and practise different methods of self-clearing and how to protect themselves from negative energy.

Description: This class is a great way to bring strength and balance to the breath, mind, body and our life. Postures to open and strengthen the body, and improve stability to joints and structure. This class is open to anyone new or old to yoga. No flexibility or experience needed.

Description: This class is designed to gently wake up your body for the day, connecting your breath and body through gentle flowing sun salutations, meditation, and treating the hips and back to a little extra love in the morning.

Description: A fun and challenging approach to yoga. Poses on the board encourage our self-awareness, reminding us to stay centred. Challenge your balance and core strength while having fun out on the water. Each session will have a brief introduction to paddling for those who have never been on a SUP before, and will progress from some basic SUP yoga, to more dynamic and fun SUP yoga poses.

Description: This class is a slower, but steadily paced, vinyasa class focused on opening the hip area. The focus is on building strength and flexibility in the lower back and hips through a unique sequence of asanas.  A series of asanas are repeated throughout the sequence to gently release tension and bring awareness to breathe and body. Find freedom as you move through a series of fluid poses to release any tension and tightness that may be stored in the hip area. All levels welcome.

Description: Begin with a heat-building yang practice, then settle into the deeper yin poses once the body is warm.

Description: Yin Yoga targets the connective tissues of the body that the more active styles of yoga  do not. It achieves stimulation and release of the tendons, ligaments, bones and joints through long holds and a deeper awareness. Yin Yoga is a perfect complement to the dynamic and muscular (yang) styles of yoga that emphasize internal heat, and the lengthening and contracting of the muscles. Highly beneficial for all, Yin Yoga focuses upon the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis and lower spine. No previous experience required. Suitable for all student levels. Yin Yoga is not suitable for students with injuries.

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Description: Like having a massage, this restorative practice uses props to release back, shoulder and neck pain and tension by accessing subtle movements of the spine. The result is complete relaxation and full body mobility. Ideal for beginners. No experience necessary.

Description: Yoga nidra means a conscious deep sleep. In meditation you remain in the waking state of consciousness, and gently focus the mind, while allowing though patterns, emotions, sensations and images to arise and go on. However, in yoga nidra, you leave the waking state, go past the dreaming state and go to deep sleep, yet remain awake.

While yoga nidra is a state that is very relaxing, it is also used to purify samskaras, the deep impressions the are the driving force behind karma. Yoga nidra brings incredible calmness, quietness and clarity. It is one of the deepest meditations, leading awareness through many levels of mental process to a  state of supreme stillness and insight.

Using guided visualizations and deep relaxation techniques, this class will allow you to access deeper into the mind and release tension, stress, anxiety, fears and self-limiting beliefs that we all encounter and carry with us in life.

No experience needed. Everyone welcome.