Sheer JOY! Yoga retreat

May 4-7, 2023

enso Retreat Centre, Salt spring Island, BC

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and join us for another signature enso retreat in the beauty and tranquility of the idyllic Gulf Islands.   Sheer JOY! Yoga retreat was first offered in the beauty of the Baja. Now we bring a Salt Spring Island version of Sheer JOY! so you can experience the access to JOY. Sheer JOY! is a 4-day-, 3-night kundalini+ yoga retreat hosted at enso Retreat Centre. The ‘plus’ is our focus on the state of JOY and the importance of cultivating joy to bring more calm, peace and ease into your life. Real joy, not fleeting happiness or momentary glee is the enduring state of grace that emerges from deep-seated sense of confidence in yourself and alignment with your truest self.

There are many paths that bring you to this state of JOY. Sheer Joy! retreat focuses on the power of Kundalini yoga and meditation, sound bath, trauma-informed group coach approach, purposeful reflective and experiential activities that allow you to fill your joy tank. Life events, circumstances and our own hard-wiring constantly drifts us away from flourishing and staying on track with our truest self. Adopting daily practices to bring you back on track begins with Sheer Joy! retreat with lasting impact.

Join us for Sheer JOY!  

Sheer JOY! retreat is for anyone seeking a deeper connection to the yearning of their heart and finding ways to maintain a state of calm, ease and peace even in the face of chaos. Regardless of your background, physical capacity or yoga experience, this weekend of Sheer JOY! is accessible to anyone who commits to themselves and surrenders to the beauty, awe and magic of Salt Spring Island and enso.

This retreat will help you:

• Be nourished inside and out.

• Adopt new practices that cultivate joy —- creating more calm, ease and peace in your life

• Connect deeply with yourself and share experiences with others on a similar quest

• Be immersed in Mother Nature in the lush arbutus forest nestled against the expansive gentle ocean just minutes away from the artsy and quaint town of Ganges.

• Learn practices and activities that spark joy and nourish your body, heart and soul. 
  

Together with other joy seekers and master facilitator, professional coach, kundalini yoga teacher and retreat host Dori Howard, you will explore, learn, practice, meditate, chant, sing, dance, hike, relax, recharge, refuel, bask and much more in this beautiful offering. Co-facilitated by Nikki Robbins, nurse, coach, Rahanni practitioner and owner of Mana by Nature body products and by Erin Routly, RMT, sound healer and musician. We are blessed to have Meg de Jong prepare nourishing meals with locally sourced wholesome ingredients.

What you will do at the retreat:

• Reflect on what brings you joy
• Connect, share, laugh, sing, hike, swim, chant, reflect, move, relax, nourish, breathe and have fun!
• Be introduced to and integrate enso’s Four Shades of Joy including:

• Nutritional Harmony

• Mindset Elevation

• Heart and Soul Alignment

• Synergy with Nature
  

  You will leave this retreat feeling more confident, inspired and motivated to lean into JOY.

Unique retreat environment:

Dori is experienced and skilled at designing unique and creative offerings wherever she is in the world.

• Immersion in an inspirational setting conducive to relaxing, connecting, learning and creativity
• Individual and group reflection through journaling, Chat on the Mat, group coaching—where we share and care
• Mini-inservice/workshops before yoga classes focusing on aspects of JOY and introduction to a new JOY practice daily
• Healthy meals prepared with local and organic ingredients by the talented Meg de Jong
• Enjoyment of nature, poetry, yoga, meditation, warmth, water, waves, forest and music

Accommodations:

Private and Shared rooms with several private or shared bathrooms are well designed with furnishings and products that inspire relaxation.

Sleeping in the stillness and darkness without the interruption from city lights and noise, stars glowing from your window, listening to the waves is a truly relaxing, mesmerizing experience for all to enjoy!

cancellation policy

Terms and Conditions:

Covid Policy: We will hold our retreat as scheduled despite Covid surges unless prohibited by government restrictions including lockdowns.

General Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be submitted in writing via email. Our refund policy is stated as follows:

• Prior to 90 days of retreat commencement, your payments will be refunded, minus a $250 processing fee.

• Between 30 and 89 days of retreat commencement, if we are able to fill your spot with another guest, we will refund the total amount paid, minus a $250 processing fee. If we are not able to fill your spot with another guest, then your payment is non-refundable. Any payments held for this reason may be applied towards a future retreat, program, course or coaching session.

• Within 30 days of retreat commencement, no refunds will be given.

• You may transfer your reservation to another guest, and all payments and deposits will transfer at 100%,

Travel Insurance: Due to unforeseeable air travel disruptions, and medical issues including testing positive for Covid before or during travel, we encourage guests to purchase travel insurance.

**No refunds or partial credits for those who do not complete the retreat, or for arriving late or leaving early.  

We reserve the right to cancel retreats, in which case all payments will be refunded.

What’s included

Retreat fees are per person and include the following:

• Exceptional retreat design focused on JOY!

• Welcome gift with joyful treats and products

• 4 day interactive and experiential retreat program focused on JOY! through kundalini yoga, coaching, dialogue, Sound Bath, immersion in nature, reflection, writing, nourishing and relaxing

• 3 nights of comfortable oceanside accommodation falling asleep and waking up to the sound of waves that cultivate JOY!

• Pre-Retreat Meet n Greet Session via Zoom

• Oceanfront venue with easy access to smooth stone private beach, nourishing meals, short drive to the quaint town of Ganges, warm days and cool evenings in ocean-meets-lush arbutus forest climate.

• Healthy nourishing meals 3x/day with locally sourced ingredients

• Skilled facilitation and group coaching

• Fun and connection with oracle card decks

• Daily JOY practices

• Beach bonfire

• Sound Bath

• Yoga classes and guided meditation

• Guided hike/forest bath

• Free on-site parking

What’s NOT included

• Ferry / travel to Salt Spring Island

• Travel Health Insurance

• Massages

• Items of personal use

• Off site alcohol consumption

Location and How to Get Here

What to bring:

• Comfortable clothing/warm layers for sitting in retreat, yoga, lounging, excursions, shopping, comfy pyjamas
• Shawl, light sweater for the evenings—it is cool at night
• Object of meaning for you that represents JOY or has meaning for you at this time in your life
• Poem that resonates with you now or focused on JOY
• Outdoor gear and walking shoes for a hike and beach time
• Beach wear, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses etc.
• Water bottle, thermos
• Journal and pen
• Yoga mat, blanket etc. if you have your favourite—otherwise there are plenty onsite
• YOU— in all your glory and joy

About the Facilitators 

Dori Howard

Dori’s mantra, “it’s all about the learning,” is integrated into all aspects of her life. Her experiences in healthcare for over 30 years has brought many lessons of giving, receiving, health and wellness. She has been in a steep learning curve in the practice of self-compassion, JOY and becoming a heart-centred entrepreneur. Dori’s view is that there is no magic bullet to living a life of JOY but rather a range of life practices that can move us ‘a shade more…’ towards wellness and healing. She created a self-prescribed holistic care plan that has now become her signature Four Shades of JOY, that integrates emotional agility, joy and self-compassion. She spends most of her time on her peaceful and tranquil environment at Enso Retreat Centre on Salt Spring Island and spends a few months in the warmth and magic of Mexico. Dori is a skilled facilitator with extensive experience in leading individual and group programs, coaching and leadership development. She is a certified executive professional coach, trauma informed coach, former RN, Kundalini yoga teacher and gatherer of people. Her passion is creating spaces and opportunities for people to reflect, learn and try out new (or re-activate) practices that move them toward life wellness and ‘connect to a truer you’

Erin Routly

Erin Lisa Routly comes  in service to offer you a beautiful sound experience.  As a RMT and therapist of 20 years, healer, spiritually-minded teacher, yogi, musician, Mesa Carrier and student  of the Traditional Andean Teachings and Wisdom Keeping of her Peruvian  Curandero , Jhaimy Alvarez-Acosta, and First Nations Teachings under the direction of Starr Muranko, she creates a container of sacred space to surrender into. Taking you on a journey of self and inner wisdom to connect back with our natural essence through  sound vibration of the elements.  

Nikki Robbins

Nikki has extensive experience in healthcare for over 20 years as an RN.   She is a visionary thinker with bold ideas, compassionate heart and collaborative team player.  Nikki is soulfully driven to serve those in need.

Nikki’s life practice is embedded in evolving into the truest version of self. She is solutions focused, knowing that people are resourceful and capable and whole.  She believes compassion is our superpower that enables us to heal conflict within ourselves and those around us.

Nikki hold a BSc in Nursing, MN and is a certified professional and trauma-informed coach. Her passion for alternative healing modalities includes certifications as an Essential Oils Wellness Coach, Rahanni Energy Healing and Kundalini yoga teacher.

Meg de Jong

Meghan De Jong is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who specializes in anxiety and gut health. Meg lives here on Salt Spring Island in a small cabin with her partner where she runs her nutrition consulting business. Along with working one-on-one with clients, Meg is also a recipe creator and an avid gardener. She focuses on whole food, locally inspired recipes, to connect people back to their roots and provide deep nourishment from the inside out.