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Rooted and Rising:
A Grounding & Growth Retreat
Rivendell, Bowen Island, BC Canada
November 9-13, 2026
Ready to root and rise?
Uneasy and anxious?
Distracted by technology and the ever-increasing pace of life?
Perhaps you are facing a major life transition?
Do you need direction and clarity?
This is your invitation to breathe, reset and find your time to deeply rest.
Imagine a meaningful five days and four nights on beautiful Bowen Island. Reconnect to the deeper life within you. Reclaim your peace.
The Rooted and Rising Retreat is a transformative invitation: designed to foster a renewal of connection to inner self and your authentic story.
Through mindful practices, insightful teachings, movement, and nourishing adventure, let go of stress and uncover your deepest desires. Whether you're seeking clarity, healing, or simply a break from daily pressures, get set to launch your journey toward living with wholeness and purpose.
Are you ready for the next step in your transformation?
Is this you?
You're always learning, asking deeper questions. Yet, you feel uncertain about what you truly want.
You long for dedicated time with wise friends, guided self-discovery, and the grounding practices of yoga and meditation. You’re ready for renewal.
But distractions make it hard to envision your life.
You need a supportive, creative, and intentional space by the ocean—away from it all—to rest, play, and rediscover your direction.
You are more than ready to say yes to yourself!
You arrive.
A sense of tranquility washes over you.
Escape the city’s frequency and find your own rhythm amidst the ancient cedars and salt-misted air of Bowen Island. This is not a high-intensity boot camp; it is a deliberate invitation to slow down, nourish your body, and reconnect with what matters.
The Practice: Movement & Soulful Inquiry
Our days are anchored by two intentional practices designed to bring you back to center:
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Yoga for the Real Body: Morning sessions in our studio focus on grounding and restoration. Whether you are an experienced practitioner or a complete beginner, the focus is on hearing your body’s unique voice over the noise of daily life.
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Soulful Inquiry: We hold space for the questions that often get pushed aside. Through guided reflection and communal conversation, we explore internal landscapes with the same curiosity we bring to the island’s hiking trails.
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We will explore the Quaker inspired practice of "Clarity Groups", using the art of open questions and grounded awareness of inner wisdom.
You have arrived.
This is for you!
Join us, if you desire:
✨ Renewed clarity and inner wisdom through focused self-discovery sessions, inspired by the Circle of Trust lineage.
✨ Spacious time for meaningful conversations, quiet solitude, restorative naps, and peaceful walks along the trails or labyrinth.
✨ Daily gentle yoga (beginner-friendly!), breathwork, and meditation to nourish your body and mind.
✨ A warm, welcoming community of guides and kindred spirits who share your love for soulful conversations, travel, and deep connection.
✨ Delicious hearty cuisine and the heartfelt hospitality of Rivendell, provided by a dedicated volunteer team.
✨ A breathtaking, life-changing experience that will stay with you long after the retreat ends.
Are you ready to say yes to self-care?
What does a day look like?
Experience the tranquility of waking up to the soothing smells and sounds of the forest and the crackling fire in our common space.
Start your day with a warm coffee as you make your way to morning meditation in our gathering space.
Enjoy revitalizing morning yoga, allowing your heart and body to guide you, followed by a delicious brunch crafted from local organic ingredients.
Throughout the rest of the morning, engage in self-inquiry and a guided practice of awareness and journalling. Explore the trails or simply relax with a book in a cozy couch as you gaze on the forest and mountains beyond.
Gather for gentle evening movement and savor another warm delicious meal as the sun sets from your dining table.
Cherish the depth of conversation with new friends or the peaceful quiet of the forest evening.
Finally, your cozy bed awaits you for another restful night and another day in our forest retreat.
Rivendell
Perched atop the highest point of Bowen Island, Rivendell Retreat Centre is more than just a venue—it is a sanctuary designed for stillness, community, and deep reflection. The architecture harmonizes with the surrounding forest, offering a physical space that feels both expansive and profoundly intimate.
The Hearth: The Central Fireplace
The soul of the main lodge is undoubtedly the central stone fireplace. It serves as the physical and metaphorical anchor of the house, drawing guests together for evening tea, shared stories, and quiet contemplation. In the cooler coastal months, the crackle of the fire provides a rhythmic backdrop to soulful inquiry, creating an atmosphere where walls come down and honest conversation begins.
The Sanctuary: The Light of the Chapel
The chapel at Rivendell is a masterclass in sacred architecture. Designed to let the outside in, the natural light pours through floor-to-ceiling windows, shifting throughout the day to paint the interior in soft greens and gold. Whether you are there for a morning meditation or a quiet moment of solitude, the play of light against the timber and stone creates a sense of openness that makes it easy to breathe and even easier to listen.
The Intimacy: The Warmth of the Gathering Space
While the chapel invites expansion, the gathering space offers a deep, grounded sense of warmth. It is a dedicated space for movement and creative practice, featuring:
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Radiant Comfort: The literal and aesthetic warmth of the room makes it the perfect environment for restorative yoga or movement work.
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Enclosed Serenity: Nestled into the landscape, the space provides a feeling of being "held" by the island, ensuring that your group feels safe to explore, move, and connect without distraction.
The Rivendell Experience: This is a place where the landscape does half the work for you. Between the glowing embers of the hearth and the ethereal light of the sanctuary, guests find themselves naturally settling into a state of presence.
Delicious Hearty Cuisine
Nourishment from the Heart
We believe that the kitchen is the heart of the home, and food is a form of medicine.
Our meals are prepared with intention, featuring:
Home-Cooked Comfort: Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients transformed into vibrant, family-style feasts.
Wholesome Simplicity: From warm, crusty sourdough and garden-fresh preserves to slow-roasted root vegetables and restorative broths.
Zero Effort, Total Presence: Enjoy the rare luxury of being fed—no planning, no prep, just pure nourishment.
If the studio is the soul of the retreat, the kitchen is the heart. There is something profoundly healing about a home-cooked meal you didn't have to plan, prep, or clean up.
Brunch: Think sourdough still warm from the oven, local preserves, and bowls of grains that actually keep you fueled. Enjoy a selection of savoury and sweet inspirations crafted from crusty grains, preserves alongside premium proteins and fresh fruit to provide delicious and sustainable options for both palate and divergent preferences.
Dinners: Long, slow meals served family-style. Roast root vegetables, vibrant greens, and nourishment that feels like a hug from the inside out. A finale meal that feels like home, only better. A beautiful bounty of succulent proteins, artisanal casseroles, and roasted root veggies along with
lush fresh greens to awaken the palate. And of course, a sweet ending.
What is Included & What is Not Included
Included in Retreat Fee
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Four nights accommodation in the Rivendell Lodge
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All meals including daily brunch and dinner
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Fully stocked snack bar with protein options, tea, coffee
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Daily Sessions in Self Inquiry
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Daily Yoga, Somatics and Meditation Sessions
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Evening Gentle Movement
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Pre and Post-Retreat Group Video Calls
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Preparation Materials
Not Included
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Airfare to Vancouver BC, if necessary
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Shuttle to Horshoeshoe Bay Ferry Terminal and Ferry to Bowen Island
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Gratuities for Rivendell
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Travel medical insurance for non-Canadians or residents *required
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Trip cancellation insurance *always recommended
Arrival and Departure Information
Retreat Begins: 6:00 pm
Monday November 9, 2026
Arrive 4:00-6:00 pm
Retreat Ends: 10:00 am
Friday November 13, 2026
Located on Bowen Island, a short ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, BC (Vancouver)
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For details of ferry fares and schedules please refer to BC Ferries website.
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Take Trans Canada Highway to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in West Vancouver. Alternatively, public transportation is available by bus from downtown Vancouver to the ferry terminal.
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Follow the Highway signs to the Bowen Island Ticket kiosk.
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When you leave the ferry walk or drive up through the village to the first crossroads. Miller Road goes right and Dorman Road goes left. Take Dorman Road left.
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Within a short block you will see the “Village Baker” on the right. Take the road to the right which is Village Drive and follow this road through a series of switchbacks until you come to a stop sign at a T junction. A Rivendell sign here points to the right.
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Turn right and follow this road to the large sign: Rivendell. At the top of this driveway is ample parking. The address at Rivendell is 600 Rivendell Rd.
Robyn and Dan
Who are we and what do we offer?
Robyn is a 500 RYT Yoga Facilitator. After decades of explorative yoga, the grounding and calm she found piqued her curiosity and embarked upon a series of yoga teacher training to expand her breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding. She is a strong proponent of a health-filled lifestyle: sound nutrition, weights along with high intensity exercise, sound sleep and an active lifestyle in nature. She enjoys guiding gentle hatha flow, yin and restorative yoga, meditation and breathwork.
Dan has been on a journey to wholeness that inspired him to be mentored by the Quaker activist and author Parker J. Palmer in the Circle of Trust Approach. Dan's passion is to help others find their inner wisdom and clarity. He uses poetry, wisdom metaphors, journal writing, visual images and the power of skilled and disciplined listening and speaking. An Anglican priest and poet, Dan has facilitated these soulful encounters with thousands of people, in various cultures, professions and organizations.
For the summer months, they live in the southern Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada. They offer guests sailing adventures on their yacht ‘Anam Cara’.
Please be in touch with us to have a chat or for more information!
