A Spring Wellness Retreat – May 31, 2019
At Whisper Lane Wellness in East Garafraxa, Ontario
(120 minutes from Toronto, 40 minutes from Guelph, 60 minutes from Oakville, 111 minutes from Collingwood)
Spirit Under The Trees
This One-Day Event is MORE than just a retreat. It’s about gathering outdoors in the magical environment of a country property. It’s about interacting with Nature, Nourishing Your soul and being with others of like-minded spirit. This event is small to ensure an Intimate + Contemplative atmosphere.
This Retreat Day is for YOU if you are…
- Seeking a mini-break from the hustle and bustle of your busy life
- Craving a deeper connection between YOURSELF and the spirit world
- Curious about exploring + experiencing Nature on a whole different level
- Keen to discover + connect with Your chakra system through gentle + non-invasive movement
- Feeling the need to awaken, balance, energize + ground your inner being
During this One-Day Mini Retreat YOU will experience:
- Intimate, interactive + profound play-shops allowing your spirit to be awakened by Nature’s bounty
- A disconnection from your everyday life so that you may connect with Mother Nature in preparation for the summer season before us
- The guidance of highly experienced, knowledgeable + compassionate Spiritual Practitioners as they lead you in your own self-discovery
- The whispers of the trees, the song of the birds and a beautiful landscape to envelope your senses
- Delicious, healthy + wholesome snacks, lunch and hot/cold beverages to nourish your soul throughout the day
Imagine this…
Your day starts with a beautifully scenic drive through the countryside of Dufferin County… destination, Spirit Under The Trees! Upon Your arrival at Whisper Lane Wellness, You instantly feel your shoulders drop and your senses come alive. Aaahhh, a giant sigh of release will catch you as you feel your breath start to shift into a state of calm. All of this and You’ve only just parked!
Once on the property, you will feel your heart fill and a sense of relief will take over your soul as you follow the rhythm of the trees and the call of the birds. Your senses running high now You catch Yourself as emotions overwhelm You and a sense of knowing and being in the right place, at the right time, fills You. Your spirit feels an instant spark as You immerse Yourself into a day of Nature-inspired and Spirit-infused magic on a beautiful country property.
This day is all about YOU connecting YOUR Spirit with Nature. Taking ONE day out of your hectic life to rekindle your Spirit with all things nature. So that you may Restore some balance in your Spirit and find your Ground!
This is Your Retreat Itinerary for the day:
8:15am-9:00am Park + Check-in
Guest sign in and pick-up Your personalized Gift Pouch* at the Guest Welcome Gate
9:00am-10:30am Welcome Gathering
CJ Shelton will tap into her Shamanic practices to guide us in a Sacred Fire Opening Ceremony followed by an Om-Circle led by Sarah Aucoin
10:30am-11:00am Snack, Stretch + Washroom Break
11:00am-12:15pm Play-shop: Session One
Guest Groups will rotate between three separate Play-Shop Sessions.
Whispers By The Campfire Play-shop: Melanie Cocciardi will lead guests in discovering and exploring their own ability to connect with the Spirit World.
Divination in Nature Play-shop: CJ Shelton will lead guests in creating an organic mandala from natural found objects.
Yoga On The Lawn Play-shop: Sarah Aucoin will lead guests in connecting their chakras with Nature through gently guided yoga poses.
12:15pm-1:30pm Lunch Buffet
Enjoy a wholesome + delicious gluten/dairy free meal. Spend this time nourishing Your tummy AND Your spirit while journaling under a tree, nestled in a porch rocker or lounging in the gazebo.
1:30pm-2:45pm Play-shop: Session Two Guest groups rotate
2:45pm-3:00pm Stretch + Washroom Break
3:00pm-4:15pm Play-shop: Session Three Guest groups rotate
4:15pm-4:45pm Snack, Stretch + Washroom Break
4:45pm-6:00pm Gratitude Gathering
Melanie Cocciardi will lead a Grounding Meditation Circle to conclude the day
Your Gift Pouch includes:
In Your Gift Pouch you will find tokens, messages and wisdom to help guide and assist YOU during Your day.
- An Intuitive Message channeled by Mel direct from the spirit world specifically for YOU
- A message from YOUR Animal Spirit Guide for the day provided by CJ to assist you on your nature experience
- A specific to YOU Chakra-Balancing Pose selected by Sarah so that you may explore Your own chakra connection with nature while on the yoga mat and throughout Your entire retreat experience
Your Gift Pouch, full of magic, is meant to assist You as you explore YOUR own connection with Spirit and Nature. And if this Spirit + Nature stuff is all a little new to you, don’t fret, your facilitators will be there to help guide and explain things along the way!!
Your Spiritual Practitioners + Play-shops for the day…
Melanie Cocciardi Founder/Owner of Whisper Lane Wellness
Usui Reiki Master/Teacher, Spiritual Medium + Healing Facilitator
Mel has 20+ years of experience in the field of Energy, Spirit and Wellness. Her healing studio is a sacred space whereby guests frequent private one-on-one healing sessions, workshops, trainings, classes and events.
Mel loves being able to provide a safe and nurturing space for others to unwind, decompress and heal from their otherwise busy and stressful lives. Her calm and gentle approach is such that Clients feel at ease and able to refill and restore their own energy. Mel thrives in being able to share her personal healing stories and thereby guiding others on how they too can find such magic in their own journey.
Mel brings her years of personal healing, wellness + spiritual experience to her client practice and has a passion for teaching and guiding others in discovering their own way ‘to the path’. Melanie’s grounded and down-to-earth nature weaves a thread through all that she offers allowing her to connect with others in a very human way.
Whispers By The Campfire Play-shop During this play-shop guests will be sitting cozy by the sacred campfire while Mel shares her own stories of connection to spirit. Mel will connect in with loved ones in spirit to bring forward messages to the group as well as lead guests in discovering their own intuitive abilities. Through lighthearted guidance guests will get to firsthand explore and play with their own connection to the spirit world.
CJ Shelton Founder/Owner at Dancing Moon Designs
Artist, Instructor/Educator + Shamanic Practitioner
CJ is an accomplished artist of over 35 years, an award winning educator and is trained + highly experienced in the Algonquin way of traditional healing (shamanism). Her passion is exploring connections between our individual, creative and spiritual journeys and our relationship with the wider Earth. CJ’s heartfelt wisdom is evident not only in her mystical art images but in the unique blend of Nature, creativity and psychology she uses to guide others on their spiritual journeys.
Divination In Nature Play-shop For thousands of years humans have looked to Nature for signs and omens to guide them in uncovering answers to life’s questions. In this play-shop CJ will introduce you to the shamanic practices of foraging, gathering and “still-hunting” as you create your own divination mandala or cairn from natural found objects and look for answers in the same way traditional shamans and other seers once did.
Sarah Aucoin of Sarah Aucoin Massage, Yoga + Reiki
Hatha Yoga Teacher, Registered Massage Therapist, Usui Reiki Advanced Practitioner + ACSM Certified Health Physiologist
Sarah brings 25+ years of experience in the health, fitness and wellness industry to her practice. Sarah has a thriving RMT + Reiki practice as well as regular Yoga, Pilates + Fitness teaching positions at various wellness locations. As a Thai Massage Therapist and Reiki practitioner Sarah incorporates many layers of healing to those she teaches and guides.
Yoga On the Lawn Play-shop Experience the natural wonder of taking your yoga practice outdoors! In this play-shop Sarah will guide you in a slow and gentle exploration of breathwork, movements and poses designed to re-balance + re-energize your chakras as your mind, body and soul immerse with nature. This play-shop is appropriate for everyone as Sarah’s calm + humble nature will guide even the least experienced. Sarah will close this play-shop with a guided meditation that will awaken + inspire your chakras allowing you to feel a deeper connection with Spirit and Nature.
Things You need to know:
Whisper Lane Wellness is a rural property located in The Hills of Headwaters region of Dufferin County. We are nestled just outside the hamlet of Orton in East Garafraxa Township; approximately 50km northwest of Toronto Pearson International Airport.
This day in Nature is welcome to ALL walks of life and ALL genders, 14 yrs+. We encourage You to bring a friend, partner, spouse, sibling or other. To keep your experience intimate guests will be organized into 3 small groups which will rotate between each of the Play-shops. If you are attending with others and wish to be grouped together please let us know at the time of registration.
There is absolutely no experience required to attend this event or any of our Playshop Sessions. ALL levels of Yoga experience are welcome; beginners, newbies and even the leary! Food for the day is locally sourced and free of gluten + dairy
To ensure that all of our guests get to truly benefit from this day in Nature we kindly ask that all cellphones and devices be turned off during this event. We do understand however that life requires our attention in which case please be mindful and use only during stretch + washroom breaks.
We want all of our guests to feel comfortable therefore due to allergies + sensitivities this day will be Scent-Free. Please refrain from wearing perfumes + lotions/creams with fragrance. In fact, why not come au naturel… we will be in nature after all!
Special Parking instructions will be provided one week prior to the event. If you have mobility issues and require assistance please notify us at your time of registration.
This event is outdoors, Rain or Shine, so please plan and dress accordingly. We trust that Mother Nature will do her best to provide us with the best weather she feels is fit for our day.
Things You will need for the day:
We recommend dressing in layers. Between the morning shade of the trees and the afternoon sun Your temperature throughout the day may vary. Some suggestions: track/yoga pants, tanks, short and long sleeves, hoodie/sweater, socks, flip-flops or slip-on shoes, and wellies (weather pending)
Folding lawn/travel chair. For your comfort you may wish to bring a folding lawn/travel chair to use throughout the day. You will be rotating to various areas of the property as you visit the different play-shops so be sure it’s a chair you can easily lift + carry.
Yoga mat + towel. If you don’t have a yoga mat a beach towel or large bath towel will suffice.
Water bottle + Tea mug. To avoid unnecessary waste there will be a Hot/Cold Beverage Station available for refilling. Please bring your own drinking vessels.
Journal + pen. You never know when inspiration may appear likewise you may wish to keep notes of your experience throughout the day.
Meditation and/or ground blanket.
Hat, sunglasses, umbrella and/or raincoat. This is a Rain or Shine Outdoor event; please plan and prepare for the elements.
An Open-mind and an Open-heart.
Pricing + Registration
Included in Your Retreat Registration is:
- Welcome + Opening Ceremony including a soul lifting Om-Circle
- Energy Cleanse through our Smudge Portal
- Personalized + Individual Gift Pouch filled with intuitive gifts (value $50)
- Close interaction with three highly experienced Spiritual Practitioners
- Three interactive + profound Play-shop Sessions
- Fully catered, healthy + delicious snacks, lunch and hot/cold beverages (value $30)
- Closing Gathering + Group Meditation
- Access to the property grounds
- Free Parking
$290 +HST/per person
Cash, Cheque or eTransfer. Payment is required to secure your spot at this event. Limited Tickets available
We have two payment options available:
Option 1: Pay in Full at registration $327.70 (incl HST)
Option 2: Pay in Two Instalments of $180.80 (incl HST)
(1st instalment due upon registration and 2nd instalment due Friday May 24th, 2019)