Yoga & Meditation Retreat
Yin & Yang
Finding strength in softness,
and softness in strength
May 17-20, 2024
Sutton, QC, Canada
Join Andie and Marie Neige this spring for a long weekend retreat of yoga, meditation, massage, and nature, as we work towards understanding and balancing our yin and yang energies, finding that perfect balance, and connecting with ourselves and each other on a deeper level.
If we haven't met yet,
I'm Andie!
I'm a Thai Massage therapist and yoga teacher here in the Eastern Townships. I started running retreats in Malaysia in 2016, and moved here to Quebec in 2018 after eleven years abroad. The first ever Mudra Metta retreat was held in the Townships in August, 2023, and now it's time for the next one! Just like all of my retreats, this Yin & Yang retreat will be surrounded by nature, yoga, connection, and love.
If you have any questions at all about me, this retreat, or just want to connect, please feel free to reach out. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome Home
Auberge du Renouveau
I'd like to introduce you to the area of the world that I call home... When I first came back to Canada I travelled coast to coast across the country, and decided to settle here in this beautiful region.
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Auberge Renouveau is settled in the mountains right between Sutton and Glen Sutton. There are 30 acres of land with an incredible view, 360 degrees around! This small, family run centre is perfect for small and intimate groups, so that you can feel free to wander the land, swim in the pond, sweat it out in the sauna, and enjoy as much space as you want.
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If you are an animal lover, you are in luck! There are cats in the barn and a friendly pony on site. You may even get to visit some goats down the street (see below for more details!)
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Choose your place of accommodation, in the house or in a cabin. We'll come together for meals and yoga sessions, and the rest is up to you!
What are Yin and Yang All About?
You may have seen this symbol before, but you might not be familiar with what it means.
The white colour represents the yang energy, which is associated with the sun, heat, movement, doing, the masculine, and strength.
The black colour represents the yin energy, associated with the moon, coolness, stillness, being, the feminine, and softness.
You'll notice that there is always a bit of yin in yang, and a bit of yang in yin. One side of the spectrum is not better than the other, they are both necessary for balance and harmony.
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​During this retreat we will be focusing on strength and softness within the yang and the yin energies. In the mornings, we will be working with yang energy, moving through an energetic yoga practice, creating strength, with softness at the core of that strength. In the evenings, we'll work with yin energy, as we slow down in meditation and stillness, yet finding the strength in our centre.
Who are the Teachers?
Andie Price
Certified as a 500hr advanced yoga teacher, Andie studied Vinyasa Yoga in Koh Phangan, Thailand, Hatha Yoga in Trivandrum, India, and Yin Yoga through the Frog Project based in the UK. She currently teaches a variety of styles in Sutton, Glen Sutton and Knowlton. She is also a Thai Massage therapist, trained in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and has been practicing now for over 14 years!
Marie Neige Chatelain
Marie Neige, owner of Marie Neige ~ Massothérapie & bien être is a meditation instructor, trained under Davidji, and will be teaching and guiding us in meditation sessions. Not only is she an incredibly gifted meditation teacher, but also a wonderful massage therapist and an incredible singer! You'll get to experience all of these wonderful talents of hers during this weekend retreat!
What About the Food???
Of course, the food is one of the most important parts of a retreat! So of course, the food is going to be amazing!
You will be provided with 3 delicious meals per day, all of them being vegetarian and gluten free. If you have other dietary requirements such as vegan or food intolerances, please let us know and we can cater to those. Your chef for the weekend is Vanessa Beaudry. She has been passionate about food and health for over 10 years, and creates high quality, organic meals. She previously worked for Lov, a vegan restaurant in Brossard, as well as a desk job. She recently decided to move to the Auberge Renouveau, to follow her passion as a full time cook in the peace and quiet of the countryside. She is excited to create beautiful meals, even some from what she has planted, to share with us, and also join us in yoga and mediation! We are so excited to work with her!
What's the Schedule?
The program will be in the mornings and evenings. 3 meals a day will be provided, and the rest of your day will be yours do do as you please. Included in the price is a lovely massage, either Thai Massage by Andie, or an Ayurvedic Massage by Marie Neige. You can choose your preference. Other than that you can read, hike, swim in the pond, enjoy the sauna, or just get to know your new friends a bit better.
Friday Evening
Opening Circle
Yin Yoga & Meditation
We'll start off the weekend with an opening circle where we'll get to know what to expect throughout the retreat, get to know each other a little bit, and set our intentions for our time together. Then we'll begin our evening practice with some yin yoga and meditation.
Saturday Morning
Morning Meditation
Yang Yoga
Morning practices will start off in a quiet meditation, however this practice is when we will get the body moving and the energy flowing. Each morning practice will be more yang in nature, pushing our boundaries and strengthening our bodies. Not to worry though, we will always respect ourselves and work in a safe way.
Saturday Evening
Goat Yoga (optional)
Kirtans
Saturday evening is going to be filled with fun! We'll start off the evening going down the road for some goat yoga! Here we'll be playing with the baby goats who just love to jump on your back while you're in your poses. Be prepared to not take yourself too seriously! We'll come back and after dinner we'll enjoy some kirtans, singing chants and enjoying the vibrations that will entrance you in a way you will definitely remember!
Sunday Morning
Morning Meditation
Yang Yoga
Sunday morning will be just like Saturday, starting with a quiet meditation, and then moving into the yang part of our days. You'll definitely be feeling great and ready to enjoy a delicious breakfast after this practice!
Sunday Evening
Spa Yoga
with Yoga Nidra
This is the evening you've all been waiting for... Spa Yoga, when you don't have to drive home, but can just fall asleep afterwards! Spa Yoga is a very relaxing class where the poses are completely passive, you get all cozy, and get a massage in each pose. It's the most relaxing class ever. But this time we're going to finish with a yoga nidra, (yogic sleep), which is a guided visualization to take you on a journey in your mind to bring you into new and deeper states of relaxation.
Monday Morning
Yin Yang Yoga
Closing Circle
For our final practice, we'll be combining both yin and yang aspects of the practice, in a Yin Yang Yoga class that will tie the whole weekend together. We'll leave you feeling completely balanced and hopefully have a stronger connection to your true self, within that perfect balance. After a breakfast feast, we'll finish with a closing circle where we'll reflect, connect, and revisit our intentions.
Accommodation Options
***Please Note: We will do our best to give you your choice in accommodation, but we may need to shuffle you around a little!***
The White House
Here in the main house there are 5 double/triple rooms (max 10 people in the house), where you can have a shared room or one of your own. There are proper bathrooms and showers here, which can be used by everyone, and the meals will be shared together on the main floor. This is a great option if you like to socialize and be around others most of the time. It's nice and close to the yoga barn, the lake, and the sauna, so you'll never have to go very far.
The Lake House
The Lake House is a small cabin that overlooks the beautiful lake, and is close to the sauna. There is a double futon downstairs, and single beds for two or three people upstairs (max 4 people in the cabin). La Casita is your own private little outhouse. With its own little private kitchenette and fireplace, you can have a lot of privacy if you have a small group that you want to come with. It's also a great option for a couple!
The Prairie House
The Prairie House is the smallest of the options to stay. This little loft cabin has a double bed on the main floor, and a single bed on the mezzanine, so it can hold 2 or 3 people. This cozy little place has a private kitchenette, outhouse, desk, and is closest to the resident pony! So if you love animals, or if you have a pet that you want to bring along, this is where you'll want to stay.
The Mountain House
The Mountain House is a great option for those of you who love nature and a good hike! There is a wood stove, small kitchenette, a fire pit outside, and an outhouse. This little cabin can hold a maximum of 4 people (single beds on the main floor, and a double bed upstairs), and is a 15 minute walk through the forest, past the stream, and up to the top of the hill where you can enjoy an amazing view! This is a great option if you want to take advantage of all of the land and space that this beautiful property has to offer!