Getaway Guide 2009

Get Out of Town and Escape to Ontario’s Natural Vacation Destinations for Fun and Relaxation

WORKSHOP RETREATS

Avalon Retreat Centre – Madawaska Valley

Move into deep balance and wholeness while rejuvenating in the natural splendours of the Avalon Retreat Center this summer. Located in the heart of Ontario’s Madawaska Valley, ARC is a place for connecting to the Earth, yourself and friends on the spiritual path from all traditions. Join us for our world-class retreats: nurture yourself in the enchanting beauty of ARC’s Sacred Land and ignite your healing journey with Medicine Person, Gaisheda Kheawok.

Upcoming retreats: Summer Solstice Retreat, June 19 - 21; The Wisdom & Medicine Wheel Summer Retreat & Camp, July 4 - 10; Full Moon Ritual - Flower Essences & Gem Elixirs Healing Wisdom, July 7; Circle of Wisdom/Dance of Love:  A Women’s Mysteries Event, July 31 - Aug 3; Teachings of the Fire, Sept 18 - 20; and, The Inward Journey: Healing Wisdom.

We also offer Personalized Healing Retreats customized to your schedule. Work with Soul-Based Energy Medicine ™ and our Shamanic Facilitators to support and empower you wherever you are on the Medicine Wheel of Life. By appointment.

Family Fun at ARC! We offer children’s programming during all of our scheduled Retreat weekends. Our small groups with ideal child-to-leader ratios enable young people to share in the traditional teachings and build self-acceptance while celebrating new friends and new experiences that will grow and last a lifetime! Activities offered include: painting, sculpture, mask making, drumming, song, swimming, canoeing, fishing and crafts. Gaisheda Kheawok is a peace activist, teacher, seer and leader of Earth-Based Spirituality. She stewards the land of ARC as founder and executive director of the Whispering Song School of Energy Medicine.

For more information and to register for our workshops contact us at: (416) 588-4503, info@whisperingsong.com, www.whisperingsong.com

  

   Aziza Healing Adventures (AHA)- local & international
 
Holistic Personal Growth Retreats & Getaways are held in breathtaking resorts in Canada, Bali and the U.S. Destinations offer tasteful accommodations and superior cuisine in a healing environment. Itineraries uniquely balance creativity, journal writing, reflection, yoga, labyrinth meditations, spa sessions and relaxing personal time. Gestalt therapist and Reiki practitioner, Laila Ghattas, expertly facilitates self-discovery programs designed for women only, couples, solos, private & corporate groups.
 
Come remember who you are. Reconnect to what matters.
Delight your spirit. Enlighten your being. Improve your life.
 
AHA PERSONAL GROWTH PROGRAMS:
 
WOMEN’S Weekend Getaways: MONTHLY at Thirteen Moons Retreat, ON
 
BALI Balance Journeys: Annually in January & February, Indonesia
 
CALIFORNIA Heart & Soul Care Retreats: Spring & Fall, San Luis Obispo, CA
 
EGYPT Open Your Heart Retreat: October TBA, Cairo, Egypt.
 
COUPLES Relationship Revelations Weekend Retreats: Held in Ontario
 
RELATIONSHIP Patterns Workshops: MONTHLY weekends in Toronto, ON
 
TRULY MADLY DEEPLY Self-Discovery Workshops: MONTHLY in Toronto, ON
 
Enjoy 5% savings when you register with a friend!
Please visit www.aziza.ca, call (416) 696-0086 or email info@aziza.ca. 
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Spirit of the Earth, The Living Centre – London

Spirit of the Earth, The Living Centre & Living Arts Institute was founded in 1983 as an eco-spiritual education sanctuary. Organic since the beginning, this beautiful 50-acre nature sanctuary is filled with inspiring gardens, orchards, earthship greenhouse and a medicine wheel herb garden, with more than 1,000 species of plants. The Institute, the educational branch of the Centre, offers leading edge training in Ayurvedic Live-Food Nutrition, The Sevenfold Path of Peace, Shamanu: Earth Wisdom Teachings, Visionary Herbalism and the Residential Apprenticeship Programs. Established upon Earth-centered values, these world exclusive programs bring forth pioneers and visionary leaders in the fields of holistic heath, eco-spirituality and peace consciousness. Utilizing the principles of The Sevenfold Path of Peace, you will experience a lifestyle approach that supports respect for life, human dignity, freedom, ecological sustainability and peace.

Spirit of the Earth, The Living Centre call (519) 652-9109 or (519) 652-0230, email info@thelivingcentre.com, www.thelivingcentre.com

Northern Edge Algonquin - Algonquin Park

A welcoming sanctuary providing an intimate connection with nature. This solar-powered retreat is set on a quiet lake at the northwest corner of Algonquin Park, less than three hours from Toronto, easily accessible by train and public transportation. Their mission is to provide experiences in nature that help us to rediscover ourselves, empower one another and heal our connection to the earth. Unique “Quest for Balance Retreats” feature yoga and introduction to sea kayaking. Shamanic training programs include a two-year training with Martha Lucier, frequent presenter at the Whole Life Expo. Art retreats, women-only events, executive retreats offered year-round. Slow down and enjoy colourful organic, locally-grown foods and accommodations in fresh forest air. Unique learning opportunities and inspiring staff.

Call toll-free 1-800-953-EDGE or visit www.northernedgealgonquin.com. For Shamanic Studies Programs, visit www.shamanismcanada.com.

COUNTRY RETREATS

Ecology Retreat Centre - Hockley Valley

Located 45 minutes north of Toronto in the beautiful Hockley Valley, this spacious centre is surrounded by 200 acres of natural forest and pristine streams. There are accommodations and meeting spaces for groups of 12 to 70 people, hiking trails, an in-ground pool, and a 76-foot stone labyrinth. Registered massage therapy is available by appointment. We specialize in international vegetarian cuisine with flexibility for other menu options.

Call 1-800-486-5460, email bookings@ecologyretreatcentre.com, visit www.ecologyretreatcentre.com

Wolverton Hills – Pontypool

At Wolverton Hills you feel like you are “far from the maddening crowd.” Just over an hour east of Toronto, you will find peace and solitude at our private property on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Rent our quaint cabin for a day, night or as long as it takes to rejuvenate at our country getaway. It can’t get any easier! All you need to do is bring and prepare your own food. Enjoy a fully-equipped and very comfortable cabin, including cozy duvets, linen and towels. Sit under the stars at night next to the water’s edge and enjoy a toasty bonfire. Swim in our healing spring fed two-acre pond or hike through the rolling hills on 200 acres of interpretive trails. Relaxing aromatherapy massages and other rejuvenating treatments are available. Ideal for writers, artists, or couples who need to recharge and reconnect to the earth.

Check out our website for video tours, rates, and information www.wolvertonhills.com or call (905) 986-0848.

Sugar Ridge Retreat Centre – Midland

“A natural experience,” Sugar Ridge is located 90 minutes (150 km) north of Toronto, just minutes from Midland, but a world away. Bring your family and friends or come alone and let us help you rediscover yourself. A new eco-friendly retreat centre, Sugar Ridge respects the balance of its natural environment. The main retreat room, as well as five of the 10 private cabins, are strawbale constructed. The 4,200 sq. ft. retreat centre is available for groups of up to 50 people. This four seasons retreat offers peace and tranquility spread over 150 acres of majestic forests, rolling hills and lush meadows. The nearest neighbour is 3,000 acres of protected provincial land making up the Wye Valley. Sugar Ridge offers an exceptional combination of experiences to explore body, mind and soul. Join a retreat, let us help you create your own group retreat or have your own personal retreat. Owners Liz and Kurt Frost are both yoga teachers and psychotherapists, offering yoga classes, day programs and weekend retreats for groups or individuals. Sugar Ridge is the perfect place to explore nature at any time of year by foot, bike or ski. Wildlife abounds and bird watching is spectacular. Wholesome vegetarian meals are prepared using organic foods and produce from our own garden when possible.

Contact Sugar Ridge at info@sugarridge.ca, or call toll free 1-866-609-1793 (Canada) or visit www.sugarridge.ca

Thirteen Moons Culinary Wellness Retreat – Norwood

A beautiful and affordable place for individuals or small groups to find peace, nourishment and inspiration. Located two hours northeast of Toronto, lush cedars hug you as you wind your way up the driveway to your secluded home away from home. The artist-designed, light-filled building offers magnificent views of the 186-acre property from each room. Sleep comfortably in our cozy beds or camp under the stars.

Our specialty is culinary education to support you in making the transition to a healthier lifestyle. Your relaxing getaway features fabulous organic vegetarian meals prepared by a holistic nutritionist/cookbook author. Let our therapists pamper your body with their soothing treatments. Spend quiet time by the water, walking the labyrinth, or exploring the trails. Ideal for celebrations or time away with friends.

Contact Louise Racine, RR1, Norwood, Ontario, K0L 2V0, or call 1-888-326-7326, send email to louise@thirteenmoons.ca, or visit www.thirteenmoons.ca

New Life Retreat Centre for Wellness – Perth

A lovely, peaceful health and meeting retreat near Perth, 3.5 hours east of Toronto in the lovely Lanark Highlands. Features include: walking trail, hot tub, nearby swimming, canoeing and kayaking. We are known for our excellent vegetarian cuisine (raw food is a specialty). A lovely heritage house on 100 acres, sleeps 17 and space for a dozen more. The New Life Retreat is suited for corporate or government meetings, workshops, individual stays, family gatherings and weddings, and for a well deserved rest and healing. Come and check out our new yoga studio or the pioneer log house accommodation.

Telephone (613) 259-3337, or find much more information at www.newliferetreat.com, email nlrinfo@newliferetreat.com

Harmony Dawn Retreat - Rice Lake

Harmony Dawn is custom-built for healing and self-transformation groups, utilizing both Feng Shui and the latest sustainable energy technologies. Nestled into the Northumberland Hills off Rice Lake, just 1-1/2 hours from Toronto, Harmony Dawn has drawn rave reviews from guests for its “feel,” location and hospitality, especially its innovative, healthily balanced cuisine. It has been voted one of the “greenest” buildings in Canada. Open year- round; group size: 8-22. Kindly book at least 6 months in advance to get the date of your choice.

Call (705) 696-2066 or visit us at www.harmonydawn.com

COUNTRY RETREATS

Robins’ Nest Straw Bale Retreat – Norwood

Simple, affordable, unforgettable! Pamper yourself with a soak in the hot tub, delicious healthy meals, quiet strolls in the woods, walk the labyrinth, enjoy therapeutic treatments. Specializing in personal or small group retreats of 10 or less, Robins’ Nest provides a tranquil space for people to step out of stress and get back to nature. Come on your own or with some friends; for a weekend or a week, you decide your stay. Bridal party getaways, birthday parties, “mental health” escapes, or pick your own reason! The aesthetically pleasing straw bale house aids in this relaxing atmosphere. One day to full weekend workshops also available.

Located at 1150 County Rd. 40, Norwood. For information visit our website, www.robinsnestretreat.com, or call (705) 639-2284.

Northern Light Centre – Singhampton

A retreat facility for rent by groups of up to 25. Great for family fun. Workshops of all kinds, meditation, sweat lodges, yoga weekends, vision quests and spiritual seeking groups, to name a few. It is a magical place where peace abounds and coyotes howl at night. Participants gather around the fire at night and watch the sky of a thousand stars. Occasionally Heather teaches herb workshops on the land, showing the local herbs, the edibles and medicinal ones, and how to use in food and as medicine.

www.northernlightcentre.com, heather@northernlightcentre.com


URBAN & COUNTRY SPAS

Pure + Simple Spa – Toronto

Rejuvenate your sun-exposed skin with an Urban Renewal Facial and a hydrating Oxygen Treatment from Pure + Simple. Established in 2000, Pure + Simple is Toronto’s favourite facial spa (voted Best Facial in Toronto Life and NOW). From the Ayurvedic inspired facials to the Pure + Simple Facial (a classic European), to treatments such as the IPL (the best in AntiAging), we will have your skin glowing and your spirits refreshed. Your skin will experience the best of natural and organic skincare products made by Pure + Simple, Jurlique, Martina Gebhardt and many other lines. Add a Pure Oxygen treatment to hydrate moisture starved skin, leaving you feeling energized. With four locations in the popular urban centres of Yonge/Eglinton, Yorkville, King West, and downtown Oakville, Pure + Simple is a convenient urban oasis.

Four GTA Locations: Yonge/Eglinton: 2375 Yonge St, Tel: (416) 481-2081; Yorkville: 27 Bellair Street, Tel: (416) 924-6555; King/Bathurst: 725 King Street West, Tel: (416) 366-8558; Oakville: 348 Lakeshore Road East, Tel: (905) 844-4900. www.pureandsimple.ca; Email: spa@pureandsimple.ca

Highfields Country Inn & Spa – Zephyr

You are invited to discover the beauty of the countryside and relax at our private 175-acre estate day and destination Spa. Complimentary use of wet sauna, exercise facility, spa lounge with fireplace, outdoor tennis, pool and acres of hiking trails. Unique spa treatments, outdoor weddings, helicopter spa packages offered. There is no single supplement and HighFields is gay friendly. Breakfast is available and local restaurants and golf courses are minutes away.

View the website at www.highfields.com and call (905) 473-6132 or send email to info@highfields.com for reservations.

HEALTH RETREATS

Nonpareil Natural Health Retreat – Stirling

Specializing in raw organic juice fasting, cleansing and detoxification. Getaway to this 173-acre country estate. Indulge in the simple pleasures of country life, being cared for and nourished. Awaken your inner power. Experience our new medical-grade SaunaRay for infrared sauna. Recharge and revitalize your energy through raw juices and power drinks, rest and relaxation, yoga, relaxing full body massage, reflexology, nutritional consultations, moor mud baths, reiki, emotional energy balancing, and long walks through rolling acres of maple forest. This is a powerful program and a permanent makeover from the inside out. Swim at the Crowe River under invigorating waterfalls, relax in hammocks and enjoy quiet evenings under the stars. Nonpareil is located only 2-1/4 hours east of Toronto.

Call (613) 395-6332. E-mail nonpareil@sympatico.ca, view our website www.nonpareilholistic.com. Address RR#3, 658 Wellmans Road, Stirling,  Ontario, K0K 3E0.

Maple Ki Forest & Spirit Waters – Tamworth

Established in 1986, Maple Ki is a tranquil, beautiful retreat nestled amidst rocks and trees of the magnificent Canadian Shield, and features stunning views of a pristine lake and river with rapids. This spacious waterfront hideaway offers cozy rooms and a soothing ambience. Make Maple Ki your home away from home and your sanctuary for relaxing and revitalizing the body, calming and centering the mind, healing the heart, and uplifting the spirit. Hatha yoga instruction is offered each morning, either on the platform beside the lake or in the yoga studio overlooking sparkling lake waters. Savour superb vegetarian cuisine. Encourage deep relaxation with healing bodywork sessions and infrared sauna. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake, a walk on the woodland trails, a paddle across the lake and along the river, or a nap in the hammock. Unwind, unfold and emerge renewed. Perfect for individuals retreating in solitude or with loved ones. Group rentals available. Midway between Toronto and Ottawa just north of Napanee. Contact Julianna Norrie (613) 379-2227, email info@mapleki.com and visit www.mapleki.com

WILDERNESS RETREAT

Kukagami Lodge – Wahnapitae

Immerse yourself in the quiet beauty of the Northern Ontario forest. Sleep in the peaceful silence of your own private log cabin. Dine on salads picked fresh from our organic gardens. Swim in the clean, clear water of our spring-fed lake. Relax by the shore as you watch loons dance upon the water. Kukagami Lodge is a summer paradise. Walk through the forest, kayak or canoe on the lake, or just sit back with a good book. Let our wood-heated sauna steam the toxins out of your system, then step into the cool water of Kukagami Lake to vitalize and refresh. Get back to nature in comfort! Leave the city behind as you step back a hundred years to the simple life: away from electricity and running water, away from the fast life, and into the stillness of the forest. Kukagami Lodge offers all-inclusive packages for summer getaways: lodging, three meals daily, snacks, canoes, kayaks, a little sailboat, hiking and mountain biking, swimming, reading and relaxing, and the ever-popular sauna.

We are located six kilometres from the nearest road, so we bring you across beautiful Kukagami Lake by boat. Open July 19th through Thanksgiving for summer season, and December 26-March 25 for cross-country skiing. Edible Wild Plants workshops July 20-22 and September 25-27. Learn about the wonderful wild ways of dining.

Kukagami is located 35 km northeast of Wahnapitae. Write: Kukagami Lodge, Wahnapitae, ON. POM 3CO (705) 521-6587. Send email: lodge@kukagami.infosathse.com. Find us on the map halfway between Sudbury and Lake Temagami.

Visit our website for rates and stories at www.kukagamilodge.com

   Evergreen Adventures' Northern Lite Experience - Algonquin Park

All-inclusive three-day, two-night weekend canoe trip experience in Algonquin Park. Ideal travel experience for couples, families, friends. This all-inclusive tour means all transportation (to and from Toronto), equipment, gourmet healthy food, experienced guides, and even a sleeping bag (to keep) are provided for all participants. We also provide a DVD of pictures and videos. On these tours, adventurers will have an opportunity to enjoy some of Canada’s most naturally beautiful areas, while canoeing crystal clear lakes, hiking through majestic forests and enjoying the peaceful surroundings of nature. Our off-the-beaten-track tour philosophy allows adventurers to strengthen character development skills through our custom programming designed to enhance your communication, teamwork and leadership capabilities. 

Please contact us for more information — if you have a group or are looking to join a pre-existing tour, we can accommodate your needs. This is an introduction tour but is set at an intermediate level. Perfect for beginners or those looking to get out of the city and enjoy the beauty and serenity of back-country camping. 
Visit www.evergreenadventures.ca, email info@evergreenadventures.ca or call (416) 901-9363


Earth Tracks – Algonquin Park

Earth Tracks specializes in Wilderness Living Skills and Naturalist-led Canoe Trips. We offer courses in Wildlife Tracking and Naturalist Studies, Edible and Medicinal Plants and Wilderness Survival. We also run guided Naturalist Canoe Trips into Algonquin Park.

We strive to blend ancient and modern wisdom through our teaching style and view nature as the ultimate teacher.  Our classes and trips are small and very focused, providing quality education and practical field experience. Both the curious beginner and seasoned outdoors people will benefit from our programs and we are equally committed to both. We have classes suitable for adults as well as children and strive to create a strong mentoring experience for all participants.

Call us at (519) 217-4921 or email earthtracks@gmail.com, visit us at www.earthtracks.ca and also at, www.northernedgealgonquin.com

Coyote Springs – Haliburton

A unique setting in beautiful Haliburton, Ontario. 100 acres of sacred land awaiting your arrival. At Coyote Springs we offer retreats: weekend and week-long intensives on Basic Shamanism, Advanced  Shamanism, Medicine for the Earth, Vision Quests, workshops for personal growth and empowerment, honouring the four seasons, Reiki classes and more. Shamanism Soul Retrieval, Extraction, Psychopomp, Space Clearing. Shamanic programs: Basic and two-year Advanced shamanism. A blend of modalities: Toltec, Navajo, Hopi, Mongolian and others. Holistic Health: Intuitive Energy work, Crystal healing, Chakra balancing, Reiki, Reflexology, Thai yoga massage, Deep tissue massage, Relaxation massage, Animal communication and wild crafting plants from this land.

Coyote Craftchick is a healer and teacher. Born with the gift of healing, she has spent a lifetime gleaning and honing this wonderful gift. As a child she looked after animals that were wounded and  anyone else who would allow her to work her magic. In the early 1990s she became extremely ill. The medical system could not find the cause. A woman who did reflexology started to treat Coyote. It was a moment in time that cellular memory kicked in and she began to regain her health. Knowing how reflexology helped her, she became a certified reflexologist, and went on to become a teacher with The Reflexology Association of Canada. Her health improved, as did her intuition. This amazing woman works from the heart with love and compassion for life and all living things. By appointment only.

Terms, cash or cheque. For more information call (705) 854-0889, www.coyotesspring.wordpress.com, or email coyote_is@msn.com

INTERNATIONAL

A Yoga/Nia Retreat - Hvar, Croatia

Clear skies above crystal blue waters. The fragrance of lavender on the fresh morning breeze…Glorious, breath-taking scenery! Gentle, stimulating yoga practice in the mornings. Deliciously prepared organic meals. Setting your spirit free through the movement and magic of Nia at sunset. The magnificent island of Hvar is rated among the 10 most beautiful islands in the world and has been compared with France’s Provence and Italy’s Tuscany because of its sprawling vineyards, noble olive groves, charming stone cottages and fragrant lavender plantations, framed by the crystal waters of the Adriatic Sea beneath an azure sky.

Grapes and wine are an ancient symbol of fertility, joy, healing and vitality. Wine represents the “Blood of Life” and the alchemical process of infusing the creative, intoxicating spirit into matter. Wine is used in the sacred rites of many civilizations, representing the presence of the Divine Spirit on earth. During this retreat we will harvest grapes and learn about old and new methods of grape production.

Cost includes: Accommodations / Daily Yoga Meditation and Nia Classes / 2 Meals per Day / Nature Safaris / Grape Harvesting / Sight-Seeing Excursions / Dalmatian Cuisine Cooking Classes / Tour of Local Winery and Wine Tasting / Complimentary Bottle of Wine. A la carte services: Thai Massage / Reiki / Chakra Balancing / Bio-Energy Therapy / Life-Path Oarcle Consultations. Early Bird Special of $1,099 expires June 30.

The Yoga / Nia Retreat to Hvar, Croatia is scheduled for Sept. 20 – 27, 2009. For details and itinerary please visit: www.AtmaShaktiYoga.com /Retreats or call: (416) 466-8152.

YOGA & MEDITATION

Still Point - Bay of Quinte

Still Point Yoga Retreat Centre is on the beautiful Bay of Quinte, about halfway between Toronto and Ottawa. Still Point has been offering yoga retreats for more than 14 years: Hatha yoga, satsang, meditation, dharma talks, workshops and quiet time for rest and relaxation. Meals are vegetarian and very special. Come read a book, write your journal, rest in community or fully participate. The more casual yogis can do a wine tour of Prince Edward County or go to the Sandbanks.

For more information or reservations call (613) 476-8061, or send email to: stillpoint@kos.net, www.stillpointyogaretreat.com