3rd Annual Rest Retreat
A Rest Retreat that supports you to unlock your potential to rest
February 8-9 2025
This year, we are expanding the Rest Retreat for even more REST and NOURISHMENT!
NEW for this year:
2 days instead of 1!
Join us each day at St. Brigid’s Villa, in Guelph, and return to your own bed at night. For those coming out of town, local air bnbs can accommodate you
2 Special Guests to offer unique, embodied practices to support more rest
Delicious, warm catered food!
Follow up Zoom call for support with integration
“This was an amazing experience! Prior to this retreat, I never allowed myself the time or ability to rest, but now I am making rest a priority and part of my “to do” list”
“While society may give lip-service to the importance of rest, in reality that is not what is happening. The pace of life is becoming increasingly frantic, arguably particularly so for women as they strive to juggle the demand of home and work life. This course helps women become self-aware, and thus more critical, of the cultural norms we have around work. Along with this, participants are provided with tools to help them challenge these norms in very real and achievable ways in their daily lives.”
“A cozy day for learning, connecting and supporting one another to take time to rest.
Great experience! Thank you so much!”
So, why a Rest Retreat?
Ever find yourself at the end of a busy day, or on a retreat, vacation, or even at a yoga class, and you keep telling yourself to rest but nothing changes?
In fact, your stress actually starts to increase instead! Your thoughts become faster, your demands to rest get louder and your body gets more tense. It is so frustrating that you just give up or find an activity to numb out.
Trust me! I have been there! Lots of times!
The good news is, You can rest! You do not have to force it or earn it!
Our bodies innately know how to move into a state of rest when we have the right conditions.
Winter is a great time to unlock your potential for true rest.
The days are shorter, and the weather colder, we naturally want to follow the natural world in slowing down to rest.
Instead of forcing ourselves to rest, we will explore the obstacles that keep us from resting and learn to work with our body’s natural ability to rest.
We will come together in safe community to play, explore and experience what true rest could really be like.
Imagine, for a moment, what it would feel like to be connected with people that actually celebrated you for resting. And even more so, imagine what your body could feel like if it was even just a little more rested.
“Angela is a wonderful teacher and facilitator! She offers a blend of education and experiential learning in a relaxed and comfortable setting. She is compassionate and supportive of your needs. Angela offers the opportunity for you to experience the teachings in a practical way, while inviting you to do what’s right for you and your body. It was a wonderful retreat and just what I needed!”
This retreat will include:
Nourishment
Two Morning Qi Gong Practice led by, psychotherapist, Lisa Clendening
Guided nature mindfulness walk
Evening Music Meditation: Lay down and receive Sounds of the Amazon presented by Mario Cabal
Free time for napping, nature walks, journaling, colouring, or whatever feels restful
Delicious catered meals
All in a cozy atmosphere surrounded by trees and fields, warmed by a woodstove
Education and Skill-Building
Education on the nervous system and tools to map your own nervous system patterns around rest
Support to identify societal and internal beliefs that keep you locked in busyness
Skills and tools to help unlock your beliefs and move through your unique obstacles that keep you from rest
Handouts to support your learning and understanding of your own pathway to rest
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Lisa believes that wellness is more than the absence of disease. It involves the wholeness and interconnectedness of our mind, body, emotions, and spirit.
As someone who has learned to thrive with a significant mental health issue, she is passionate about creating healing, transformation, and lasting wellness in the lives of her clients.
Qigong (pronounced "chee-gong") is a mind-body practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that combines gentle movements, focused breathing, and meditation to cultivate and balance life energy, or "qi." Often described as a moving meditation, qigong is used to enhance physical health, reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and promote overall well-being. Whether for relaxation, spiritual growth, or healing, qigong offers a holistic approach to harmonizing the body, mind emotions, and spirit.
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More details coming soon!
There will be choice in all activities. Every activity will be explained, and you can always choose what level of engagement feels possible. Even if that means curling up with a blanket in the room and taking a nap! This will be a chance to play with listening to your body
“We have permission to rest!… And to listen to our bodies and do what is needed for ourselves. We don’t need to adhere to societal pressures for productivity and hustle culture. It’s ok to choose a different path for yourself. One that is healthier for you and honours what your body needs each day.”
“I am allowed to rest because rest is needed. I don’t have to earn or perform to have it.”
What you will take away from this Retreat:
Permission to rest (and a certificate to prove it!)
You will learn to build a compassionate relationship to your internal thoughts and emotions
You will discover your body’s innate ability to rest
Experience nourishment from real rest
Bring home practical ways to continue to integrate more rest into your life and combat the guilt
A community that can witness and support your journey to more rest
“I have been listening to my body more in the past few days and feeling less guilt about rest. I would normally get groceries and complete all my chores on Sunday but I was tired when I got home so I rested and did it Monday. Today after work, I was exhausted. So I listened to my body and napped for an hour (guilt free)! :)”
“ I am continuing to pay closer attention to the needs of my body and prioritizing rest when needed.”
What to Bring
Let’s embrace true rest by coming in your most comfy clothes possible!
All comfortable wear are fully welcomed – even your pyjamas! Also, bring your favourite cozy blanket, pillow, slippers, mugs and anything else that helps your body sink into rest.
Warm outdoor clothes to walk outside and a journal and pen is also highly recommended.
Location
The rest retreat will be held on the edge of Guelph, Ontario within St. Brigid’s Villa. The villa is nestled in the fields and forest of the lands of Ignatius Jesuit Centre. The Jesuits have tended to these 500 acres of land for over one hundred years. They have restored farmland into forest, a brook into a thriving river and have involved the community in many tree planting projects. THe land also contains a hearty organic farm and community garden plots, labrynths and more. Trails run throughout the property that take you through the varying landscapes. It truly is a special, sacred place that welcomes all those that are weary and in need to rest in nature.
Meet Your Facilitator
“Angela does a very good job of leading from the middle. She was just openly authentic enough, sharing her own experience snd growth so we didn’t feel she had an air of superiority but also moved with in the subject matter in a way that felt we were in a journey with an accomplished, wise and experienced guide.” Past Rest Retreater
“I really liked Angela’s teaching style. She ensured everyone had a chance to speak and never forced anyone to participate.
I appreciate Angela’s humour and vulnerability. It was well coordinated and I felt safe to you lead us.”
“Angela has a calmness and gentleness that makes me, (and I’m sure others), feel safe. Her facilitation skills were both professional and “real” and it never felt rehearsed or disconnected. Her teachings were honest, true, heartfelt and accessible.
Angela’s compassion set at tone of non-judgement toward self and others at the beginning and throughout the ‘experience.”
Angela’s playful and gentle spirit informs her work as a Somatic Experiencing Psychotherapist. Angela offers a safe and compassionate therapeutic experience that facilitates the body-mind-nature connection.
Angela has been on her own journey of unlocking her potential to rest as she has been experiencing her own health problems that have forced her to come face to face with beliefs that stop her from being able to rest. Angela continues to return to nature to support her own understanding of slowing down and has been able to touch into real rest. Angela believes we all have the capacity to experience true rest when we start treating our bodies as nature, and not machines.
“The experience was great! I love your genuine, warm nature and the ability to provide a safe space for rest.”
Your Investment
Groups is a cost effective way to get all the benefits of therapy - plus more!
Early Bird Rate $425 Until January 8 Full Rate: $450.00
This price includes:
Intentionally formatted retreat program based on trauma-informed practices
Therapeutic teachings and exercises Angela has carefully crafted through extensive trainings of Somatic Experiencing, Inner family Systems and Nature therapy .
Angela’s therapeutic presence and support
2 Qi-Gong sessions
Music Meditation session
Guided Mindfulness walk
Therapy skill based handouts.
Follow up Group Zoom call for further integration
***I am a Registered Psychotherapist so this retreat can be claimed under some insurances***
Additional Fees:
Two Catered Lunches and Dinner for Saturday night. Price to be announced soon
Note on Finances
Eek - even the word finances can make my stomach feel queasy. This is the part of my job that I feel challenged with. I am constantly struggling with balancing honouring my time, training and costs with wanting my services/programs to be accessible. Everyone has the right to access services to support their well being! There are a lot of challenges within finances, and array of levels of income and ability to pay for services. I want to acknowledge the fee of this retreat may feel inaccessible for some. And, I am willing to explore options in how to make this more accessible through sliding scales and payment plans. Happy to have a conversation with you - no questions asked! So, if you are interested in this rest retreat, but the finances are a barrier - let’s talk!
