A sacred gathering to connect, move, and reorient.

A sacred gathering to connect, move, and reorient.

Join me (and some special guests) in my most happy place for an extended weekend of restorative and flow yoga, creative movement, enriching conversation, intentional play, embodied adventures, and nourishing food.

Embracing the Wintering | Oct 19-22, 2024

  • The Experience

    Savour your coffee and a wee bite before awakening to mixed-levels morning flow yoga, followed by a late breakfast. Indulge in free time to read, rest, skip stones at the beach, walk the rainforest trail, explore the hidden gems of Ucluelet, venture further to the many beaches of Pacific Rim National Park, or wander the town of Tofino. Return to our home base for a late afternoon restorative yoga practice, followed by a sumptuous supper. Wrap up the day with intentional conversation, interactive games, or creative moment.

  • The Venue

    In 2011, I immersed myself in my first yoga teacher training in Ucluelet, BC. I chose The Cabins at Terrace Beach as my home away from home for the duration of my training, and have returned almost every year since then. Situated on the south end of this West Coast peninsula, the awe-inspiring views of the Wild Pacific Trail at your doorstep, you’ll be mesmerized by the haunting rhythmic call of the nearby whistle buoy. The trees, trained by the blusterous winds, arch away from the shoreline. I am perpetually in awe of this wondrous place.

  • The Purpose

    This is the year that I mark my 50th turn around the sun. To celebrate, I wanted to bring together a group of thoughtful, like-minded people to share in the activities that nourish me: yoga, movement, conversation, witnessing breathtaking sunsets, savouring delicious meals, walking the windswept landscape of the place I return to again and again to replenish my spirit. Spending time in connection to people and to place is the most precious gift I could hope to receive.

Reserve my spot

Your accommodations & pricing

The Cabins at Terrace Beach feature luxury West Coast waterfront cabins and suites. No matter what option you choose, you’ll enjoy spacious accommodations with vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, a deck with rainforest views, and all are just steps away from the renowned Terrace Beach and He Tin Kis/Lighthouse Park. Pricing includes 3-nights accommodations, all yoga and movement classes, morning beverages & snacks, breakfast, dinner, and evening activities. Please click on the arrows below for details including pricing per accommodation type.

*Please note: pricing does not include travel costs or optional activities. A deposit of $500 is required to reserve your spot. The remaining amount will be due by August 1st, 2024. Upon reserving your spot, you will receive an email with a link to gather your requested type of accommodations and other pertinent details.

  • Immerse yourself in the luxury of one of eight stunning Lodge Suites, each a spacious 400 sq ft sanctuary. Completely furnished with lavish king-size beds (one per suite), pillow-top mattresses, and large soaker tubs + 18-inch rainforest shower heads. The suites have gas fireplaces and serene rainforest views from private decks. Each suite also has a queen-size sofa couch, HDTVs, mini fridge, coffee maker, kettle, and an assortment of glasses. Lodge Suites are NOT pet-friendly.

    $1699pp plus GST

  • Please note: Shared Lodge Suites are best suited to couples or friends who are open to sharing a king-sized bed.

    Immerse yourself in the luxury of one of eight stunning Lodge Suites, each a spacious 400 sq ft sanctuary. Completely furnished with lavish king-size beds (one per suite), pillow-top mattresses, and large soaker tubs + 18-inch rainforest shower heads. The suites have gas fireplaces and serene rainforest views from private decks. Each suite also has a queen-size sofa couch, HDTVs, mini fridge, coffee maker, kettle, and an assortment of glasses. Lodge Suites are NOT pet-friendly.

    $1349pp plus GST

  • Share a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom cabin. The Main Floor entrance boasts three large skylights with stunning tree views, vaulted ceilings, and a beautiful propane fireplace. Enjoy a fully equipped kitchen, dining table for six, and large deck with forest views. Downstairs, discover two bedrooms with direct outside access, a full bathroom with a soaker jacuzzi tub, and convenient washer & dryer. Cabins are pet-friendly at an extra charge of $60 per pet, max 2; pets are not allowed in The Lodge, and thus must be well-behaved if left alone in the cabin.

    $1749pp plus GST

Your surroundings

Ucluelet, BC is situated on the southern tip of a peninsula on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Thirty minutes north is Tofino, BC, acclaimed for its world-class surfing beaches including Long Beach, Chesterman Beach, and Cox Bay. The entire peninsula is renowned for its breathtaking scenery, wild waves, dense rainforests and hiking trails, opportunities to paddleboard, kayak, or cycle. Be sure to bring binoculars to catch a glimpse of orca pods, bald eagles, and wolf packs. For more urban adventures, the two towns boast a plethora of quaint local shops, incredible Indigenous and non-Indigenous art galleries, and a thriving farm-and-sea-to-table food scene.

I have always loved the remoteness of this area, the feeling that Mother Nature is undoubtedly in charge, and the mystical sunsets. A stop at Coombs Market always marks the starting point of the spectacular drive for me. I recommend taking extra time to stop for a walk at Cathedral Grove, relish the views of Cameron, Kennedy and Sproat Lakes, and pull over to dip your toes in the river. From Coombs Market, you can expect to drive about 2 hours on a winding, scenic road.

For more inspiration, be sure to check out the Netflix series Island of the Sea Wolves. This documentary series provides extraordinary storytelling about the wildlife in this remote part of our planet.

Our gathering spaces

The Lodge boasts a gorgeous Great Room, which will serve as our yoga studio and common room for dancing, gaming, and conversation. Our dining room is also located in The Lodge. Weather permitting, we may gather for a bonfire on Terrace Beach, and we will connect for a group walk around the Lighthouse Loop at He Tin Kis Park (a section of the Wild Pacific Trail) - a relatively flat, accessible 2.6km walk that can be completed in 45-60 minutes, but newbies will inevitably stop often to take in the astonishing scenery and snap photos, so we can take our time.

I am considering some optional excursions (surf lessons, anyone?). When you register, I’ll send you a form and you’ll have a chance to tell me how you might like to supplement this retreat.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Temperature in Ukee in October typically ranges from 7-15° C (48-60° F). As a rainforest, you can always anticipate bouts of rain, sometimes quite torrential. It can also be windy, as the shape of the trees will attest.

  • I recommend a selection of comfy clothes you can move in, plus layers to keep you warm, and rain gear.

  • As The Cabins is not an established yoga venue, I ask that you bring as much of your own yoga gear as is practical to transport with you. My wish list includes: yoga mat, bolster, blocks, blanket. I will supply straps, eye pillows, and massage balls.

    For ideas on how to recreate your on yoga props, please take a peek at this blog post I wrote.

  • I have planned an incredible menu with our caterers, Heartwood Kitchen, that will be nourishing and delicious, featuring options for vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians. You’ll be able to detail any further preferences, requests, or allergy considerations in the info form you’ll receive upon registration.

  • 7am Coffee, Tea & Snacks

    8am Mixed Levels Flow Yoga

    10am Breakfast

    11am Optional Group Walk

    12-4pm Free Time

    4:30pm Restorative/Yin Yoga

    6:30pm Dinner

    7:30-9:30pm Evening Activities

  • I anticipate we will have a diversity of levels, ages, abilities, and experience amongst our group. As such, I will ensure each practice is inclusive and will offer plenty of options to modify. Flow yoga may involve sun salutations, functional movement, and strengthening poses, but I will leave out hand balances and inversions. Restorative/Yin yoga will be very gentle and meditative, suitable for every body.

  • As there are only 18 spots available, I recommend securing your spot as soon as possible. Your $500 deposit is non-refundable, but it is transferable should you have to cancel (final date to make changes or cancel will be October 1st, 2024). The remaining balance will be due on August 1st, 2024.