Tending the Heart ~ A Day of Yoga, Reflection & Ceremony to Honour & Integrate Loss
Everyone one of us has experienced loss in some form. Unfortunately, many of us haven’t had access to tools and safe spaces to be witnessed, to integrate our grief.
Join Satya (Vedic Priestess Temple) and Sarah Jane Smith Lyons (The Nest Yoga and Embodied Possibility) in a safe, sacred space to connect with others and be less isolated in your grief.
This retreat is anchored in the work of world-renowned grief specialist and author Francis Weller, specifically his Five Gates of Grief. Through movement, breath work, self-reflective journalling and ceremony, we will bring understanding, self-compassion and awareness to how grief is showing up, held, and released. We will also learn ancient traditional yogic practices from India that tune us into holding, working with, and integrating our grief.
Together, we will build a toolkit to support your grief tending throughout the darker months of winter.
Nestled in the beautiful forest of Salt Spring Island, on the traditional unceded territory of the Hul’q’umi’num’ and SENĆOŦEN (Coast Salish) speaking peoples, Enso Oceanfront Retreat Centre is an ideal location for this gathering, that considers the body, mind, heart and spirit. Omja Catering will serve a delicious Indian lunch.
While death is the most commonly recognized source of grief, there are many other life experiences that result in grief. All forms of loss are welcome at this retreat.
YOUR FACILITATORS
Satya Amrita Kumari Jehman
Satya completed a deep-dive study into renowned grief author and speaker Francis Weller’s work, including participating in his “Apprenticeship with Sorrow” course. After losing her mother to sudden death seven years ago, she has been guiding folks on the grief journey. Her practice deepened more recently after losing her father to a tragic and complicated death in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Born into the Vedic lineage, Satya has been living the traditional path of yoga all her life – with a more concentrated practice over the last 20 years. Satya carries the gift of ceremony and ritual by the grace of her ancestors. She completed a year-long Yoga Apprenticeship in 2015 (Vijnana Yoga RYT200), and an-depth study of jnana yoga (self inquiry) with her teacher in India amid a trio of winters, over a decade ago. She also has a background in writing.
Backed with two decades of yogic study, practice and training – Satya offers a heartful space of utmost respect and compassion to you and your tender heart. She offers ceremony, workshops, retreats and one-on-one support at www.vedicpriestesstemple.com.
Sarah Jane Smith Lyons
Sarah Jane is an experienced yoga teacher, facilitator and coach who specializes in working with women who are childless not by choice. Her experience of multiple losses, unexplained infertility and a chronic illness that led to a hysterectomy led her into deep grief, and she realized the necessity of grief tending.
After the death of her father during the pandemic, Sarah Jane found solace in the work of Francis Weller and studied with him in his “Apprenticeship with Sorrow” course.
She has developed a positive personal relationship with grief tending by drawing on the practices of yoga, embodiment, self-compassion, writing and community. She is honoured to share these practices to help you cultivate your relationship.
Sarah Jane leads in-person group yoga classes on Salt Spring Island at her studio, the Nest Yoga, plus online programs, and coaching for childless not by choice women at www.embodiedpossibility.com.
YOUR CHEF
Naomi Singh (Omja Catering)
Prior to moving to Salt Spring Island in 2008 to begin the journey of motherhood, Naomi worked for global aviation leaders. Both in commercial and military sectors. After the birth of her second daughter Kilaya, she realized she was “not cut out for the stay at home mom thing”. So she entered her first Saturday market, where she sold raw baklava, raw cheese cake, and samosas. Since then Naomi has grown into a successful local caterer and private chef here on Salt Spring.
“The love of food is more than its smell, flavours and colour. It’s the nourishment our bodies get from a meal made with love that nurtures the soul.” – Naomi
INVESTMENT:
$150 Before Sept. 30
Full Rate: $200
Reserve Your Spot Now – Spaces Limited
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I HAVEN’T DONE MUCH YOGA. IS THIS RETREAT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS?
Yes, the asanas (physical postures of Yoga) we will be doing are suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. The focus and intention of the movement practice is to connect with your body and notice what you feel and where you feel it.
AM I REQUIRED TO SHARE MY STORY OF LOSS?
What you share is up to you. There will be opportunities to share and many ways to do it. You can share how you feel and the impact that grief has had on your life with or without sharing specific details. You can also choose not to share.
IS THIS RETREAT JUST FOR DEATH LOSS?
While death is the most commonly recognized source of grief, there are many other life experiences that result in grief. All forms of loss are welcome at this retreat.
DO I HAVE TO BRING MY OWN FOOD?
Omja Catering will serve a delicious Indian lunch. You might want to bring snacks for mid-morning and afternoon.
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?
Full refund minus a $35 admin fee until September 23rd
50 % refund, minus $35 admin fee, September 24th – 30th
Unfortunately, we cannot issue any refunds after October 1st
Please e-mail satya@vedicpriestesstemple.com with any questions