Tending the Heart ~ A Day of Yoga, Reflection & Ceremony to Honour & Integrate Loss

Saturday, April 22nd, 10am – 6pm
Enso Oceanfront Retreat Centre, Salt Spring Island

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.

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. 

This retreat is anchored in the work of world-renowned grief specialist and author Francis Weller, specifically his Five Gates of Grief.

Together, we will build a toolkit to support your grief tending as we leave the darker months of winter behind, and emerge into the light of spring.

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 eight 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 21 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 over 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 Weller, Yoga, embodiment, self-compassion, writing and community. She is honoured to share these practices to help you cultivate your relationship with grief.

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.

INVESTMENT:
$175 Before April 8
Full Rate: $225
Rate includes a delicious Indian lunch, chai & dessert
Reserve Your Spot Now – Spaces Limited

*A couple of spaces for payment plans are available before April 8. Please contact Satya to arrange.

This retreat is now full.
If you would like to add your name to the waitlist
please click here.

“I appreciated the space and calm atmosphere that was fostered- and the group size and varying types of grief and experiences that were shared. Learning practices/rituals to grief tending, the movement practice, and chanting – all allowed for a lot of healing, and are tangible practices that can be incorporated at home. I appreciated having a safe space for sharing and having my grief witnessed. This retreat was done very well.” – Samantha

“I had such a profound time. I really appreciated the format of the day, the schedule, the ratio of breaks to effort. I felt so supported in moving forward in my journey and had some really beautiful realizations.” – Kate Beddows

“I appreciated the good flow, pace and safe space that was created. The breaks and activities were well timed and planned. A beautiful venue and good food. I really liked the blend of yoga, meditation, reflection, ritual, and sharing opportunities – it really worked.” – Schuyler

“I did not realize how important and cathartic grieving is (and how challenging it can be to open this door). I also learned of the close connection between grief and love.” – Nicolas Mai

“Thank you for sharing your hearts and your gifts, and for accompanying and supporting others through some of the hard but very rich and human aspects of being alive. It was really profound for me and I am still feeling and integrating the affects of our time together. The ceremony I found particularly powerful, it seems to have initiated some big shifts in me, and quite a bit has been coming up to be released. I appreciated the way you two held space and laid a foundation to create a safe space and trust.” – Johanna

“I woke up this morning from the best sleep I have had in a long time, feeling nourished, and my heart feels it has been tended and cared for.” – Samantha

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 three weeks before the retreat.

50 % refund, minus $35 admin fee two weeks before the retreat.

​Unfortunately, we cannot issue any refunds within two weeks of the retreat.

Please e-mail satya@vedicpriestesstemple.com with any questions.

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"I offer this space from my heart with utmost respect and reverence to my ancestors, to You, to the Divine, and to the Self (Pure Awareness). For the greater good of the Whole. ॐ"
~ Satya ~