Embodied Resilience: A Therapeutic Yoga Retreat

5.006 reviews
Location icon
240 Davis Rd, Gabriola, BC V0R 1X1, Canada
Date
April 3 - 6, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

When we regularly feel unsafe in our bodies due to chronic stress, chronic pain, illness or trauma, natural patterns within our nervous system can become patterns of dysregulation. If prolonged, these patterns can negatively impact our physical and psychological health, relationships, and ability to connect to joy, meaning and purpose. 

This therapeutic retreat integrates yoga therapy, trauma theory, PolyVagal theory, Internal Family Systems, Attachment Theory and Neuroscience and offers a holistic framework for embodiment, befriending your nervous system and cultivating physiological and psychological resilience. 

Each session will introduce trauma-informed, active and restorative yoga practices as opportunities to connect safely to your body, breath, heart and mind and nurture embodied resilience. We will explore cognitive and somatic approaches for calming and activating the nervous system, developing mindful insight into patterns that perpetuate suffering and transforming your relationship to stress, adversity and change. 

This retreat will also emphasize a relational, empowerment-based approach to healing interpersonal and collective trauma that honours the indigenous roots of yoga and acknowledges the complex ways systemic oppression impacts individuals and communities based on their unique cultural identities, social locations and roles. 

 
This program is for people who want to explore:

How chronic stress and trauma can shape our nervous system and embodiment.
A holistic biopsychosocial-spiritual framework for befriending your nervous system, cultivating optimal health and physiological and psychological resilience. 
Trauma-informed yoga practices for nurturing regulation and resilience that address symptoms of chronic stress, trauma, PTSD, chronic pain, and chronic illness.
Trauma-informed yoga practices for nurturing your body's connective tissue and fascial system.
A relational, empowerment-based approach to healing interpersonal and collective trauma in a supportive community of practice.

 
No previous yoga experience is required. 

What you will need:
Please dress in comfortable clothing that you can move in. You may want to have extra layers of clothing available for warmth. 

Yoga mats and props (bolsters, blocks, pillows, etc.) will be provided, but please bring your own if you have them.  

 
Participant Support 
These sessions are not a replacement for therapy. Implicit memories can emerge with somatic-based practices like yoga. Having support in place (such as a counsellor/therapist, Elder or a person you trust) to process these experiences is recommended.

A short online questionnaire will be included with your email confirmation and must be completed before the beginning of the first class on Oct 26th, 2023.

 
Investment:
Our Earlybird tuition price is $750 and available up to one month before the start date of the program.  Full tuition is $810.  Full payment is due one month before the program start date regardless of tuition price.

You can find our cancellation policy here

 
Schedule:

Breakfast 8:00 - 9:00am
Morning session 9:15am to noon
Lunch noon to 1:00pm
Afternoon session 3:00 - 6:00pm
Dinner 6:00 - 7:00pm
Evening session 7:30 - 9:30pm

Afternoon and evening sessions can vary.  Your program finishes with lunch on the last day.

Admission requirements: The student must have the desire and ability to learn.  Must demonstrate a capacity for responsible self care, responsible self organization and sound mental health.  The student must understand and speak English.

This program does not require approval by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.  As such, the registrar did not review this program. What does this mean? Click here to learn more.



 

Getting Here

Location icon The Haven, 240 Davis Rd, Gabriola, BC V0R 1X1, Canada

Accommodation

Dorm bed (upper) - Participant

Accommodation
Thunderbird dormitory is our most economical option. Each dorm pod accommodates up to 6 people, and each pod has its own washroom. Bunks are adult built, single over single, with extra-long mattresses. Dorm pods are separated by gender. The Thunderbird dormitory is only available for participants registered in a catalogue program at The Haven. From July to mid-August, the dorms are reserved for our Youth Programs.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room. Read more about Thunderbird Dorms (PDF).

Dorm bed (lower) - Participant

Accommodation
Thunderbird dormitory is our most economical option. Each dorm pod accommodates up to 6 people, and each pod has its own washroom. Bunks are adult built, single over single, with extra-long mattresses. Dorm pods are separated by gender. The Thunderbird dormitory is only available for participants registered in a catalogue program at The Haven. From July to mid-August, the dorms are reserved for our Youth Programs.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room. Read more about Thunderbird Dorms (PDF).

Basic Room - Shared - Participant

Accommodation
These cozy rooms have 1 double or 2 single beds.  Some rooms have a small desk.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Basic Room - Private - Participant

Accommodation
These cozy rooms have 1 double or 2 single beds.  Some rooms have a small desk.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Forestview - Shared - Participant

Accommodation
These rooms look out to lush forest views and have 1 queen or 1 double in addition to 1 single bed.  Many rooms have a small fridge and desk.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Forestview - Private - Participant

Accommodation
These rooms look out to lush forest views and have 1 queen or 1 double in addition to 1 single bed.  Many rooms have a small fridge and desk.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Oceanview Room - Private - Participant

Accommodation
These rooms are spacious and bright with 1 queen and 1 double sofa bed and a stunning ocean view.  In room amenities include fridge, microwave, coffee maker and kettle.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Oceanview Suite - Private - Participant

Accommodation
These rooms are spacious and bright with 1 queen and 1 double sofa bed and a stunning ocean view.  In room amenities include fridge, microwave, coffee maker and kettle.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Staying off-premise - Participant

Accommodation
This lodging type is used by guests staying off-premises, not staying at The Haven.

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
2nd time
Experiential, universal, revelational about relational and self knowledge. Skilled experienced facilitators. Both times I’ve gone it has left me with deep connections in a short time and I continue to stay I. Touch with those co-participants. Food is hearty, delicious, and plentiful. Grounds are peaceful. I look forward to my next course and my next reunion with newfound friends.

5.0
TEENS ALIVE I, II & III
Our 15 year old son just completed Teens Alive (1-3) for the second time, and loved it. The environment is so nurturing and transformative - I really can't say enough about how grateful I am to have this program as a support during these years when parenting can be TOUGH. Our son is navigating high school with confidence, and making mature and thoughtful decisions - we definitely see him process his experiences in a new way and love what we are seeing. His communication with us is more open and productive, and we look forward to him navigating the rest of his teen years with his hands on the reigns. He is looking forward to next year's program and has plans to become an intern in the future as well.

5.0
Giving Voice
The Haven is beautifully set on the waterfront on Gabriola Island. I wasn't sure what to expect at this workshop. I was hoping I would find more confidence in using my voice as I have been confident in speaking in public but deathly afraid of singing in public! What I found was a very safe space to explore making all kinds of sound from humming and babble to overtone chanting and yes...singing. Leah was an excellent and gentle guide and the acoustics of our meeting space were amazing. I would recommend The Haven for anyone wanting to get away from their regular routine and explore their inner world. I will go back for more!

5.0
Imagine 2019
A wonderful opportunity to meet like minded people and to participate in goal setting activities for The |haven and for myself.

5.0
Journey to Self
Great Journey to the very centre of myself. I love all the Haven programs and this one was amazing, too.