Harumi's Staff Pick iconHarumi's Staff Pick

Aging Gracefully Weekend Retreat: Gentle Yoga, Breathwork and Meditation

4.333 reviews
Date
Oct 23 - 25, 2026

Retreat Highlights

  • Gentle yoga that moves the body with kindness rather than force
  • Breathing exercises for stress, mindfulness practices and relaxation techniques you can keep using at home
  • Healthy lifestyle habits that support long-term well-being
  • Work on flexibility, mobility, strength, balance, joints and posture
  • Support for the stress of life changes such as retirement, caregiving, health changes or loss
  • Yoga, breathwork and meditation to calm the nervous system, improve sleep and build emotional resilience

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

There is a quiet beauty that unfolds with time. Like the changing seasons, we are meant to grow, transform, let go, and bloom again. Each experience shapes our wisdom. Each breath reminds us that life is a precious gift.

In a world that often celebrates youth, this retreat invites you to celebrate something even more meaningful—the richness of living fully, exactly where you are. We will move our bodies with kindness rather than force, breathe with awareness, rest deeply, and reconnect with the wisdom that has always lived within us. Through yoga, meditation, breathwork, nature, reflection, and community, we will rediscover that true vitality comes not from resisting age, but from embracing life with an open heart.

This is a time to release expectations, to honor your journey, and to nurture yourself with compassion. It is a time to celebrate your strength, your resilience, your joy, and the unique gifts that only the passing of years can bring. Whether you are entering a new chapter of life, seeking greater balance, healing from life’s challenges, or simply longing for time to nourish yourself, you are welcome here.

May this retreat be a sanctuary where you find peace in stillness, strength in gentle movement, and inspiration in the shared journey of others. May you leave feeling lighter, more vibrant, and deeply connected to the person you are today. Because aging gracefully is not about growing old—it is about growing whole. Welcome to this beautiful journey.

Learn Practical Tools for Everyday Life

Participants leave with techniques they can continue at home, including:

Gentle yoga sequences
Breathing exercises for stress management
Mindfulness practices
Relaxation techniques
Healthy lifestyle habits that support long-term well-being

Support Your Body with Kindness

Improve flexibility and mobility
Build strength and balance
Support healthy joints and posture
Reduce stiffness and chronic tension
Increase energy and vitality

Reduce Stress and Promote Emotional Well-Being

Life transitions—retirement, caregiving, health changes, loss, or shifting identities—can bring stress and uncertainty. Yoga, breathwork, and meditation help:

Calm the nervous system
Improve sleep
Reduce anxiety
Increase emotional resilience

REGULAR SCHEDULE check in – 3pm/check out – 11am

6am – Satsang (meditation, mantras chanting-kirtan & lecture)

8am – Yoga asana class (Sivananda sequence)

10am – vegetarian meal

11am – karma yoga (selfless service)

12pm – conference (no conference on Sunday, Monday and Friday)

1pm to 2:30pm – sauna for women  (only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)

2:30 to 4pm – sauna for men (only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)

4pm – Yoga asana class

6pm – vegetarian meal

7:30pm – Satsang

 

Prendre de l’âge avec Grâce: Célébrez la beauté de chaque étape de la vie 

du 23 au 25 octobre – retraite de fin de semaine

Il existe une beauté tranquille qui se dévoile au fil du temps. À l’image des saisons qui se succèdent, nous sommes destinés à grandir, à nous transformer, à lâcher prise et à nous épanouir à nouveau. Chaque expérience forge notre sagesse. Chaque respiration nous rappelle que la vie est un cadeau précieux.

Dans un monde qui met souvent la jeunesse à l’honneur, cette retraite vous invite à célébrer quelque chose d’encore plus significatif : la richesse d’une vie pleinement vécue, là où vous êtes Nous bougerons notre corps avec douceur plutôt qu’avec force, nous respirerons en pleine conscience, nous nous reposerons profondément et nous renouerons avec la sagesse qui a toujours habité en nous. Grâce au yoga, à la méditation, aux exercices de respiration, à la nature, à la réflexion et à la communauté, nous redécouvrirons que la véritable vitalité ne vient pas de la résistance au vieillissement, mais de l’acceptation de la vie avec un cœur ouvert.

C’est le moment de lâcher prise sur vos attentes, d’honorer votre parcours et de prendre soin de vous avec bienveillance. C’est le moment de célébrer votre force, votre résilience, votre joie et ces dons uniques que seul le temps qui passe peut vous apporter.

Que vous entamiez un nouveau chapitre de votre vie, que vous recherchiez un meilleur équilibre, que vous vous remettiez des épreuves de la vie ou que vous aspiriez simplement à prendre le temps de vous ressourcer, vous êtes les bienvenus ici. Puisse cette retraite être un havre de paix où vous trouverez la sérénité dans le calme, la force dans le mouvement tout en douceur, et l’inspiration dans le cheminement partagé avec les autres.

Puissiez-vous repartir plus légers, plus épanouis et profondément en phase avec la personne que vous êtes aujourd’hui. Car vieillir en beauté, ce n’est pas simplement prendre de l’âge, c’est s’épanouir pleinement. Bienvenue dans ce magnifique voyage.

Découvrez des outils pratiques pour le quotidien

Les participants repartent avec des techniques qu’ils peuvent mettre en pratique chez eux, notamment :

  Des enchaînements de yoga en douceur
  Des exercices de respiration pour gérer le stress
  Des pratiques de pleine conscience
  Des techniques de relaxation
  Des habitudes de vie saines favorisant le bien-être à long terme

Prenez soin de votre corps avec bienveillance

Améliorez votre souplesse et votre mobilité
Renforcez votre force et votre équilibre
Favorisez la santé de vos articulations et une bonne posture
Réduisez les raideurs et les tensions chroniques
Augmentez votre énergie et votre vitalité

Réduire le stress et favoriser le bien-être émotionnel

Les transitions de la vie — départ à la retraite, prise en charge d’un proche, changements liés à la santé, deuil ou évolution de l’identité — peuvent être source de stress et d’incertitude. Le yoga, les exercices de respiration et la méditation permettent :

  d’apaiser le système nerveux
  d’améliorer le sommeil
  de réduire l’anxiété
  d’accroître la résilience émotionnelle

HORAIRE RÉGULIER arrivée 15h/départ 11h

6h – Satsang (méditation, chants de mantra-kirtan & lecture)

8h – classe de yoga asana (séquence Sivananda)

10h – repas végétarien

11h – karma yoga (service volontaire)

12h – conférence (veuillez noter qu’il n’y a pas de conférence le dimanche, lundi et vendredi)

13h à 14h30 – sauna pour les femmes (seulement le mardi, jeudi et samedi)

14h30 à 16h – sauna pour les hommes (seulement le mardi, jeudi et samedi)

16h – classe de yoga asana

18h – repas végétarien

19h30 – Satsang

Schedule

3:00 pm Check-in (arrival day)
6:00 am Satsang (meditation, mantra chanting, kirtan, lecture)
8:00 am Yoga asana class (Sivananda sequence)
10:00 am Vegetarian meal
11:00 am Karma yoga (selfless service)
12:00 pm Conference or workshop: gentle yoga, breathing, mindfulness and relaxation tools (not on Sunday, Monday or Friday)
1:00 pm Sauna for women (Saturday)
2:30 pm Sauna for men (Saturday)
4:00 pm Yoga asana class
6:00 pm Vegetarian meal
7:30 pm Satsang
11:00 am Check-out (departure day)
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp

Directions

By car: take Route 15 North from Montreal to Exit 76 (Val-David, Val-Morin), then Route 117 North for 200 metres and turn right toward Val-Morin. Follow the blue road signs for "Camp Yoga Sivananda".
From Montreal-Trudeau airport (YUL), the drive takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.
By bus: take the 747 bus from the airport to downtown Montreal, then Autobus Galland from the Montreal bus terminal Berri-UQAM to Val-Morin.
Reception can pick you up at the Val-Morin bus station: call 819-322-3226 ext 314 or write to yogacampreception@sivananda.org.

Accommodation

Single rooms in the Lodge have a bed, a chair, shelving and a private bathroom, or a shared bathroom at a lower price. Double rooms have an armoire and a private bathroom with a shower. We also have shared rooms with 3 to 4 beds and, from June to September, a dormitory with curtained cubicles. In summer you can pitch your own tent on the wooded grounds. Check-in is at 3 pm and check-out at 11 am.

Lodge Single Plus

Accommodation
Les chambres de cette catégorie sont dotées d'une salle de bain privée, d'un lit simple, d'un bureau et d'une chaise ainsi que d'une grande armoire. Elles sont spacieuses, douillettes et confortables.  Elles sont situées dans le Lodge, où se trouvent également la réception, la bibliothèque, la salle à dîner et la boutique ainsi que les 15 autres chambres que nous offrons dans ce bâtiment. Le bâtiment principal a été conçu dans le respect de l’écologie pour un confort optimal : murs de paille crépis, chauffage radiant au plancher, mezzanine ensoleillée, terrasses extérieures avec vue sur les jardins.  The rooms in this category have a private bathroom, a single bed, a desk and a chair as well as a large wardrobe. They are spacious, cozy and comfortable. These rooms are located in the main LODGE, where you can find the reception, the library, the dining room and the shop as well as the other 15 rooms we offer in this building. It is a comfortable ecological building made of straw bales. The underfloor heating system diffuses heat evenly throughout. The building has a comfortable seating area and roof terraces overlooking the gardens where guests can enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits.

PanchaKarma Single Plus

Accommodation
Les chambres de cette catégorie sont dotées d’une salle de bain privée, d’un lit simple, d’un bureau et d’une chaise ainsi que d’une grande armoire. Elles sont spacieuses, douillettes et confortables. Ces chambres sont situées à la clinique ayurvédique Panchakarma qui est un peu plus loin, près de la forêt et l’espace est partagé avec seulement 4 autres chambres qui offre plus de tranquillité. The rooms in this category have a private bathroom, a single bed, a desk and a chair as well as a large wardrobe. They are spacious, cozy and comfortable. These rooms are located the Ayurvedic Panchakarma clinic which is a little further back, near the forest and the space is shared with only 4 other rooms which offers more tranquility.

Chambre privée (salle de bain partagée) / Single room (shared bathroom)

Accommodation
Les 4 chambres sont confortables et accueillantes avec une armoire. La salle de bain est partagée sur l'étage avec un maximum de 4 personnes. La bâtiment Ayurvédique située un peu plus loin, près de la forêt et l’espace est partagé avec seulement 4 autres chambres qui offre plus de tranquillité. The 4 rooms are cosy and warm, with an armoire. The bathroom and shower are shared with a maximum of 4 people. These rooms are located the Ayurvedic clinic whisch is a little further back, near the forest and the space is shared with only 4 other rooms which offers more tranquility.      

Chambre privée / Single

Accommodation
Les chambres de cette catégories sont comfortables et accueillantes avec une armoire et une salle de bain privée. Elles comprennent 2 lits simples mais peuvent être réservées en occupation simple. Elles se situent dans le Lodge principal. Dans ce pavillon se trouvent aussi la réception, le sauna, la bilbiothèque, la boutique et la salle à manger. Le bâtiment principal a été conçu dans le respect de l’écologie pour un confort optimal : murs de paille crépis, chauffage radiant au plancher, mezzanine ensoleillée, terrasses extérieures avec vue sur les jardins. The rooms are cosy and warm, with an armoire, private bathroom and shower. They have 2 beds but can be booked in single occupancy. There are in the Main Lodge. The Lodge is in the same building as the reception, the sauna, the library, the boutique and the dining room. It is a comfortable ecological building made of straw bales. The underfloor heating system diffuses heat evenly throughout. The building has a comfortable seating area and roof terraces overlooking the gardens where guests can enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits.

Chambre partagée (2 lits) / Double room (2 beds)

Accommodation
Dans ce pavillon se trouvent aussi la réception, le sauna et la salle à manger. Le bâtiment a été conçu dans le respect de l’écologie pour un confort optimal : murs de paille crépis, chauffage radiant au plancher, mezzanine ensoleillée, terrasses extérieures avec vue sur les jardins. Les chambres doubles de la Lodge se partagent à deux et sont douillettes. Chacune d’entre elle comprend 2 lits simples, une armoire et une salle de bain privée. The Lodge is in the same building as the Reception, the sauna and the dining room. It is a comfortable ecological building made of straw bales. The underfloor heating system diffuses heat evenly throughout. The building has a comfortable seating area and roof terraces overlooking the gardens where guests can enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits. The double rooms in the Lodge are each shared by two people. Each room has two single beds, armoire and a private bathroom.

Chambre partagée (4 lits) / Quad (4 beds)

Accommodation
Dans une chambre partagée au lodge, il y a deux lits à deux étages, pour un total de 4 personnes du même sexe. Les chambres sont comfortables et accueillantes avec une armoire et une salle de bain privée. Réservations disponibles seulement pour un groupe de 2 personnes au minimum participant au même programme. Dans ce pavillon se trouvent aussi la réception, le sauna, la bibliothèque, la boutique et la salle à manger. Le bâtiment a été conçu dans le respect de l’écologie pour un confort optimal : murs de paille crépis, chauffage radiant au plancher, mezzanine ensoleillée, terrasses extérieures avec vue sur les jardins. The shared rooms in the lodge consist of two sets of bunk beds, and can be filled with up to four people (same sex accommodation). The rooms are cosy and warm, with an armoire, private bathroom and shower. Booking available only for a minimum of 2 people group coming for the same program. The Lodge is in the same building as the reception, the sauna, the library, the boutique and the dining room. It is a comfortable ecological building made of straw bales. The underfloor heating system diffuses heat evenly throughout. The building has a comfortable seating area and roof terraces overlooking the gardens where guests can enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits.

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
The ashram sits on wooded land in the Laurentian Mountains, about an hour from Montreal, with forest trails down to the lake, a wood-fired sauna and an outdoor pool in summer. When the weather allows, yoga classes are held outdoors on the platform by the pond, otherwise in the Mataji Hall or the Annapoorna Building. The Lodge, an ecological straw-bale building with underfloor heating, holds the reception, the library, the sauna and the dining room.

Daily schedule
06:00am Satsang (Meditation, Kirtan Chanting, Lecture, or Silent Walk)
08:00am Asanas and Pranayama (All-Lervels Yoga Class)
10:00am Vegetarian Brunch
11:00am Karma Yoga (Selfless Service)
04:00pm Asanas and Pranayama (All-Levels Yoga Class)
06:00pm Vegetarian Dinner
07:30pm Satsang (Meditation, Kirtan chanting and Lecture)

Programs are subject to change or cancellation.

Meals

Menu Types

We serve two vegetarian meals a day, brunch at 10 am and dinner at 6 pm, balanced and nourishing with plenty of local vegetables. Following yogic tradition, our kitchen does not use meat, fish, eggs, garlic or onions. Alcohol, tobacco and drugs are not allowed at the ashram.

What's Included

  • 2 nights of accommodation in the room type you choose
  • Two vegetarian meals a day (brunch and dinner)
  • Two yoga classes and two satsangs a day
  • Gentle yoga, breathing, mindfulness and relaxation practices from the program
  • Use of the grounds, the trails and the wood-fired sauna

What's Not Included

  • Transport to the ashram
  • Shuttle from the Val-Morin bus station (arrange it with reception)
  • Massages and Ayurveda treatments booked at reception
  • Laundry (coin-operated)
  • Boutique purchases
  • A yoga mat (please bring your own)

Customer Reviews

4.33 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
Verified logo
Great
It was great experience at Yoga camp.I would revisit again.

3.0
Verified logo
Love the yoga, the food and the people I meet.... But please :
The Sivananda Val-Morin Center is well located, surrounded by plenty of land to roam and meditate. The yoga sessions are good, but repetitive and that is the Sivananda way. The Satsang is good and the speeches are interesting / informative. The food is GENEROUS and usually quite tasty ! But venerating of ''Vishnu''devananda should be removed from the beginning and ending of each yoga session. it is disturbing to me. His pictures should be removed from everywhere. There should be a sign outdoors to warn that Vishnu devananda's pictures still are hanging on the walls that is a big NO NO for anybody looking for inner peace, which is the sole purpose of yoga. Feeling safe and I think more respect should be shown towards the victims. Nobody wants to venerate ''JAI'' a predator. So very sad because I love the place but it's hard to dissociate the negative from the positive.

5.0
Verified logo
The Gift
At first I found the routine quite difficult, but like other retreats, I was settled in by day two. Fairly repetitive which is no coincidence. I was lucky enough to have 5 days there and even though the huge hours put in daily and the five thirty wake up, I had far more energy than usual. Call it prana? The food was excellent and the small group of friends I made had our daily ritual of a noon sauna. The staff were focused and open, some more than others but on the whole, a good team. The last Friday morning yoga class was devine in the fall air and first rays of sunshine. I intend to make this a yearly event. Nameste. 🙏

Similar retreats

You might also like