1218 Canopy Lane, Algonquin Highlands, ON, Canada
Up to 16 in group
December 11 - 15, 2024
About this Retreat
A registered psychotherapist and integrative mental health provider with over 20 years of experience running a private practice. Donald was a key member of the clinical team at Helix Healthcare Group, a treatment facility for mental health and addiction. Donald now leads Retreat programming at Dimensions Algonquin Highlands. His clinical work focuses on healing through somatic and trauma therapies that are evidence-based and supported by neuroscience research. To guide Dimensions guests in the process of preparing and integrating their ceremonial experiences, he integrates relational somatic psychotherapy, sensorimotor psychotherapy, EMDR, Acceptance and commitment therapy, and internal family systems therapy with complementary wellness practices. He has received training and certification in psychedelic guiding, psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, Somatic Psychedelic Psychotherapy, and ethical right relationship in psychedelic therapy.
Dr. Komal Bhasin, MSW, MHSc,DocSocsci is Bhasin Consulting Inc.’s (bci) Senior DEI Consultant and Mental Health Expert-in-Residence, a doctoral trained mental health clinician and an accomplished DEI facilitator, coach and strategist. She is passionate about driving transformational change in workplaces and helping to equip leaders and team members with practical tools to be more inclusive in all of their interactions.
Komal is also a certified Yoga teacher specializing in mindfulness and self-care.
Komal has over 20 years of experience in providing strategic and advisory guidance
and program development across a range of sectors, with a particular concentration in mental
health equity, racial inclusion and inclusive leadership. Komal has extensive experience in creating and delivering programming in a range of DEI areas,
and she has provided one-on-one inclusion coaching to hundreds of senior leaders, bringing a
unique approach that is informed by her background as a therapist and expertise in racial
inclusion. She previously held a faculty appointment at Ryerson University where she taught
a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).
courses on social policy and social inclusion. Komal is also As bci’s Mental Health Expert-in-Residence, Komal offers tremendous expertise around
workplace mental health. As a doctoral trained mental health clinician, certified health
executive and registered social worker, Komal works with organizations to advance employee
mental health inclusion and wellbeing by offering programming on inclusive dialogue, anti -
stigma, burnout prevention, psychological safety, resilience and self-care.
Komal is committed to advancing mental health and wellness across the life course; she
currently serves on the board of the Alzheimer's Society of Ontario and previously served on the board of Children’s Mental Health Ontario and the YMCA of Greater Toronto.
Martin Millen (in English) – or Thunder Man (his Sprit name, and in Ojibwe is Nimkii Inini) – is of the turtle clan and a First Nation Traditional Medicine Man. A band member of the Matachewan First Nation with a lineage of mixed Ojibwe and European ancestry, Martin has spent decades exploring his cultural identity and working with First Nations healing customs and practices as well as complementary and western therapeutic modalities. He has studied post-traumatic stress and the effects of residential schools and intergenerational trauma and oppression on First Nations, through Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy, giving him a deep understanding of complex trauma. Having learned from Elders from Ojibwe, Cree, Lakota, and Blackfoot traditions, he integrates their wisdom into his land-based holistic healing approach.
Ritu Bhasin, LL.B. MBA is the CEO and Founder of bhasin consulting inc. (bci) and a yoga and mindfulness teacher and practitioner. Ritu is also an award-winning speaker, author and internationally recognized expert in diversity, equity and inclusion, authentic leadership, anti-racism and personal empowerment for people from equity-seeking communities. As a passionate advocate for authenticity, equity and belonging, she’s presented to hundreds of thousands of people around the world and personally coached over a thousand people. Her Amazon bestselling book, The Authenticity Principle, was released in fall 2017.
Since 2010, Ritu has worked with hundreds of top organizations and senior leadership teams around the world, and as a professional speaker, she has presented to hundreds of thousands of people globally. Ritu is also a certified cultural competence coach and a certified neuro-strategies coach who has personally coached over a thousand people, and very shortly she will complete a trauma professional certification program. As a passionate advocate for authenticity, inclusion and empowerment, Ritu has won numerous awards for her work, including SUCCESS Magazine’s Women of Influence Award, The Women’s Center Leadership Award, the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) Diversity Award and the City of Toronto’s William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations. She regularly appears on national television and radio in the U.S. and Canada as an expert on leadership, inclusion, personal empowerment, authenticity and antiracism.
Ritu’s Amazon-bestselling book, The Authenticity Principle, was released in the fall of 2017. She is also the co-author of the ground-breaking research study, Sponsor Effect: Canada, with the Center for Talent Innovation (now Coqual), which examines the experiences that People of Color, Indigenous peoples, and women have with advocacy and sponsorship in the workplace. She is currently writing her second book, which is slated to be released in 2023.
Before founding bci, Ritu spent ten years in the legal profession, first as a civil litigator and then as the director of legal talent for the preeminent Canadian law firm, Stikeman Elliott LLP.
Ritu lives in Toronto, Canada, but travels all over the world to eat, swim, hike, dance and work.
To learn more about Ritu, visit http://www.ritubhasin.com. Follow Ritu on Instagram at @ritu_bhasin.
Details of this retreat
Belong to Yourself by Awakening Your Core Wisdom...Life can feel so hard at times, especially when we struggle to experience belonging. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are simple and practical mindfulness, wellness, and yoga tools we can use to feel more authentic, empowered, and embodied. Join your co-hosts, Dr. Komal Bhasin and award-winning empowerment and yoga teacher, Ritu Bhasin for a transformative and experiential stay at Dimensions Algonquin Highlands. The breathtaking natural environment, situated on Maple Lake, Ontario, is the optimal location for resetting the central nervous system. This is a place where somatic psychotherapy is supported by plant medicine as the catalyst for self-betterment. Ceremonies are led by Plant Elder Martin Millen, a First Nation Traditional Medicine Man and are guided by expert somatic therapists. This co-hosted ASCEND Retreat features mindfulness, Breathwork and kundalini yoga sessions conducted by Komal and Ritu.
Embark on your ASCEND program and Retreat for self-betterment featuring one week of guided preparation, a four-night all-inclusive Retreat and two weeks of post-retreat integration. The four-night retreat at Dimensions Algonquin Highlands features a range of somatic wellness and bodywork healing modalities, and an optional cannabis-assisted psychedelic journey. While on Retreat be surrounded by an intimate group of 12 others who are equally dedicated to becoming the best version of themselves.
Join Dimensions Algonquin Highlands’ Clinical Director Donald Currie, RP, and his team of leading somatic psychotherapists, massage therapists, and hospitality experts providing a new paradigm for well-being. Your all-inclusive Retreat begins on Wednesday, December 11 and runs through to Sunday, December 15, 2024.
A special inclusion on the second evening of the retreat features Ritu Bhasin and the award-winning musician Santosh Naidu who will guide you through a mindfulness, wellness, and yoga experience, enabling you to better connect with yourself. They will use a sequence of breathwork, chakra work, somatic awareness, and self reflection practices – all to live music. Areas covered in this session will include:
An exploration of key mindfulness, wellness, and yoga practices for unlocking belonging, resilience, non-judgment, and joy
A sequence of breathwork, chakra work, somatic awareness, and self reflection practices – all to live music
A spotlight on what “Core Wisdom” is and why it’s essential for living with heightened authenticity, vulnerability, and intention
On your final evening join Dr. Komal Bhasin for a transformative Kundalini yoga session designed to center and strengthen you for the busy holiday season and the year ahead. Grounded in over 20 years of expertise in mental health and trauma-informed practice, Komal will guide you through Kundalini’s bio-psycho-spiritual benefits, combining meditation, yogic poses, and breathwork. This session will tap into the power of ancient Kundalini yogic wisdom to enhance clarity, resilience, and inner peace, empowering you to navigate life’s demands with a renewed sense of purpose and calm. Awaken your vitality, release stress, and harness the healing power of sacred wisdom to support your journey into the new year.
Use Your Health Insurance on a Dimensions Retreat
You may be eligible for certain treatments on your health benefits plan. Do you contribute to a private or occupational health and wellness benefits program? You may be eligible for claiming one or more of those benefits at Dimensions. Find out more
THE THREE-PHASE ASCEND PROGRAM
PRE-RETREAT PREPARATION (one week prior)
(Virtual group meetings, dietary advice, videos, worksheets, meditations)
INCLUSIONS WHILE ON RETREAT at Dimensions Algonquin Highlands:
Private luxury cabin accommodation with en-suite bathroom (soaker tub + walk-in shower)
All meals, drinks, and snacks (healthy and organic)
One welcome reception hosted by Komal and Ritu (discussion on integrating yogic principles, mindfulness and breathwork into your day to day)
*One optional psychedelic Plant Medicine Ceremony with cannabis
One Ceremony preparation, group, coaching
Five individual Body Work and Wellness selections (acupuncture, massage, Thai massage, individual breathwork, reiki, sound healing, cranial sacral therapy, hot stone massage, mindfulness meditation)
Choice of either BioSound therapy or Floatation therapy (float tank sensory deprivation)
One individual somatic psychotherapy session (1 hr)
One group psychotherapy session for integration (2 hrs)
Daily morning group yoga or Qigong
One nature group (forest therapy)
One evening group Sound Bath
One evening mindfulness, breathwork, wellness and yoga session with Ritu Bhasin and musician, Santosh Naidu
One Kundalini yoga Session with Dr. Komal Bhasin
One evening cacao Ceremony, followed by ecstatic dance
Optional seasonal cold-exposure therapy (cold plunge)
Seasonal outdoor activities
POST-RETREAT INTEGRATION, guided integration over two weeks:
-Virtual group discussion, videos, meditations
The ASCEND Retreat is held in a uniquely western container: it is supported by rigorous health and safety protocols and is among several well-being programs developed by Dimensions’ team of experts. The Retreat’s five-star environment is a ground-breaking opportunity to leave the everyday behind. Pause, reflect, and connect to an enhanced sense of purpose.
* RETREAT PARTICIPATION IS BASED ON ASSESSMENT
*For Guests who would like to experience Plant Medicine:
Dimensions is the foremost plant medicine retreat location in Canada – we offer plant medicine journeys for those guests who are interested. We use a cannabis blend of sativa, indica and a hybrid which increases the psychedelic effects of cannabis. Martin Millen, our Indigenous Plant Elder brings years of experience in assisting plant medicine journeys.
When used therapeutically in a professionally supervised environment, psychedelics can help you safely explore past experiences and memories that are normally difficult to tolerate or access. By quieting the part of the brain associated with ego, psychedelics disrupt patterns of negative thinking and allow for the creation of new perceptions. In these expanded states of consciousness, you’re better able to develop – and maintain – a deeper, more compassionate sense of yourself and your place in the world, leading to better mental health and improved well-being. At Dimensions, safety is our priority. We incorporate multiple measures to optimize your wellness journey and ensure your stay with us is safe and effective from beginning to end.
(Psychedelic Assisted Therapy with Cannabis is Optional)
Clinical Team:
Our Clinical team falls under the leadership of our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Douglas Cook (Neurosurgeon). Donald Currie, RP is our clinical Director and Retreat facilitator. Our therapists have expertise in using trauma, somatic and plant-based psychotherapies and other modalities. The clinical team will be integrated into your entire experience.
Sessions involving therapy are with somatically trained therapists. Somatic psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between the mind and the body. It aims to help individuals process and release emotions, beliefs, and traumas that are stored in the body, which can lead to physical symptoms, emotional distress, and mental health issues. Somatic psychotherapy can be helpful in treating a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, grief and depression.