Artful Retreats

add to outlook add to google calendar remind me

Monday, May 31st, 2010
Starts Friday night and ends Sunday

Artful Retreats for a Woman's Body & Soul ~ Join us for a weekend of of creative awakening through movement, breath, art and music. Immerse yourself in three restorative days of healing movement, artful play, joyous celebration, rural tranquility, and beautiful, healthy vegetarian food.

The retreat offers plenty of time and space to go deep for authentic self-care and renewal, and to allow your body to surrender to the joy of dance and movement and your heart to open to the joys of creativity! No previous yoga, dance, or art experience is necessary!

Upcoming dates for our weekend retreats are in May 28-30, July 30 - August 1, and September 17-19. Each season on the island has its own magic and beauty; the mists and frog song of March, the soft air and wild roses of May, swimming tides and long deep twilights of July, September's tall grasses and garden harvests. We hope you can join us for one of these magical weekends!

The retreats will start on Friday afternoon and close on Sunday mid-day. Over twelve hours of instruction will be offered, including sessions in:
*body prayer and creating personal ritual
*creative journaling and visioning through collage
*elements of temple dance & the yoga of dance
*celebrating our sensuality
*inner bellydance
*opening the heart through women's chants and kirtan
*yoga and meditation (optional)

Our studio and retreat space is Arbutus Retreats, a beautiful, spacious sacred space nestled in a private spot on Denman Island. The gorgeous studio features big windows opening into gentle forest, pristine sprung hardwood floors, high ceilings, skylights, and a beautiful vibe. Meals and breaks will be taken in the serene and cozy private home with ocean views.

Visit us at www.arbutusretreats.com.

A variety of accommodations are available on Denman, to suit all budgets and tastes. We are happy to help you find the right place to enhance your retreat experience.

Instructors
Bronwyn is an artist, dancer, teacher, entrepreneur, and passionate believer in the power of both dance and art to bring joy, transformation, & healing to our lives. For two decades she's been been teaching, leading, and facilitating workshops, retreats, and classes for women. Whether she's teaching movement, visual art, creativity, or wise woman ways, her focus is always on guiding each woman home to herself, home to an appreciation of her unique shining spirit and perfect, wise body.

One student said: "I can't recommend Bronwyn's teaching style highly enough. We had soooo much fun!! We laughed and shared and opened our hearts. She facilitated a fabulous melding of personalities and talents into a weekend of growth....in the dance and, for some, very personal growth...

Visit Bronwyn at www.artfulwoman.blogspot.com.

Gillian has taught yoga, yogadance and bellydance as sacred forms of expression since 2000. She feels privileged to witness the re-membering that women seem to experience though yoga and dance. She believes in the healing and transformational aspects of these art forms and loves to share her joy for the dance. Yogadance unifies the arts of yoga, bellydance, and temple dance through the alchemy of breath and movement, allowing the connection of body, mind and spirit to grow.

One student said: " (In Gillian's workshop) I felt encouraged to move in a way which celebrated my femininity...the movements seem to be held in a sacred place within."

Learn more about Gillian at www.yogadance.ca.

About Denman Island
Denman Island is a tiny, jewel-like island nestled against the East Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, just a few hours journey from both Vancouver and Seattle. The island is bursting with life and the wonders of nature: private beaches, serene lakes, and forest trails. There are cozy or elegant B & B's, several 'island style' retail shops, a general store, bookstore, and places to eat like the Denman Island Bakery.

There is also a rich web of artists and healers who are located on the island and who offer their products and services. You can explore artist's studios, purchase pottery, jewelery, paintings, sculpture, or textiles. You can schedule a healing session with a massage therapist or other bodyworker, an herbal medicine consultation, or even a tarot card reading! For further information about Denman Island including accommodation ideas go to www.denmanlinks.com.

Costs and Registration
The weekend of teachings and some meals costs $325.50 including taxes. (The cost will be $347.50 after July 1st, to accommodate the new HST). The fees includes all instruction, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and snacks throughout.

A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to register, with remaining fees due on the first day of the retreat. You can pay your deposit by cheque, or by credit card through paypal on the Arbutus Retreats website upcoming events page.