My first local yoga retreat with my bestie

Embrace Joy October 2024

Elsa and I first met in 2022 at the Sangha Yoga studio in Montreal and I like to say, it was best friends at first sight. It's pretty standard to meet kind, warm-hearted people at yoga studios, particularly if they are teachers and/or they work there. That was certainly true with Elsa, and beyond that we had many other things in common: we both love to dance, (I used to teach dance and she still does), we have similar senses of humour, we're both hard-working, people-loving, overwhelmingly positive people... We often share the same perspective, view situations the same way and take similar approaches. Working together feels effortless because we tend to agree, prioritize and care about the same things.

I hadn't co-led a yoga retreat in 5 years and the last two were international ones. They require a lot of time and energy to organize and lead but are also a lot of fun, plus you get to enjoy a bit of a vacation (though it is still work!). So the prospect of planning another retreat after so long, though daunting, was an exciting venture given that it was going to be with someone I enjoyed working with so much and within the country.

The location we picked was Kabania, a quaint site in the woods with cabins on stilts heated by wood stove. Elsa had spent a night there once before and really enjoyed the experience. It really had an intimate, cozy feel and a beautiful setting: surrounded by nature in the heart of the forest.

We planned the kind of retreat we would love to attend ourselves—each element thoughtfully chosen to create a well-rounded experience that nurtured movement, reflection, and connection: yin and journaling, energizing and challenging vinyasa, a handstand and arm balance workshop, mantras and chanting, gentle flow... complemented by delicious vegan/vegetarian food and plenty of time to connect with ourselves, each other, and nature.

The retreat turned out to be a huge success! We had the loveliest time, with the sweetest group of yogis. We put a lot of thought, care and love into organizing it, and we feel like that really shined through. I remember saying, "How lucky are we, to have attracted such a wonderful group?" to which Elsa replied, "Well, we attracted what we put out!" And I think this definitely rings true. We called our retreat 'Embrace Joy,' and over that beautiful October weekend, I truly felt we embodied that intention. I look forward to co-leading many more joyful retreats alongside Elsa, and we hope you'll join us in embracing and sharing our joy!

"The most incredible yoga retreat, organized with so much love and shared with amazing people. The location was incredible, fully embracing the spirit of the retreat at its best."

- Oana Danciu

"I found that the schedule was really well thought out. A great balance of a little free time and several well-rounded practices. I truly enjoyed my experience!"

- Simon Alexandre

Our next edition of the Embrace Joy Retreat is coming in October! Find out all the details here.