We host meditation retreats all year! 
From completely silent to dip your toe, testing mindfulness,
we have what you’re looking for!

At Sugar Ridge, quality time means me time.

“A wise teacher, and a wise centre, needs to offer a whole range of skillful practices, because people come along at different stages of their inner development, with different temperaments, and with different sets of problems.”
-Jack Kornfield

Mindfulness has a host of physical benefits, and it causes people to become nicer, improves mood and concentration, and find tp joy in the littlest of things in life.  Who doesn’t need more of that?

There are hundreds of meditation techniques and many ways to improve mindfulness as you go about your day to day activities.  No need to sit cross-legged on the floor or have your mind be a blank slate.  Our retreats offer a sampling of many techniques so that you can see what works for you and let go of the rest. 

We offer a variety of retreat schedules and formats so you can choose what will work for your schedule and your comfort.  Some people are nervous to be in silence and want a more social retreat, whereas others want extended silence to work through a deeper issue.  Both are valuable and you may find them helpful at different times.

The following list of retreats categorizes them by type of retreat, length of stay and retreat content.

One Day Meditation Workshops:

A longer getaway isn’t always possible, so we offer day-long workshops.  Usually, from 9 – 4ish and includes a yummy lunch. 

Here’s a list of those that have a focus on mindfulness and meditation:

Mindfulness Meditation: An Introduction
Wed, Apr 3

Mala Bracelet Workshop with Bianca
Thu, Apr 4

Mindfulness Meditation: A Day of Silence with Liz
Wed, May 22

Mindfulness Meditation: An Introduction
Mon, Jun 17

Weekend Meditation Getaways: 

Week Long Retreats offer a deeper immersion into practice. Silent Week long retreats are held in September, December and over Easter every year.  Choose from 2 – 7 nights stay.  Everyone starts together at the beginning of the retreat and you leave after 2, 5 or 7 nights as you wish.  Being in silence isn’t oppressive, it’s a gift we give to ourselves and to each other.  Having precious time to think and reflect is a wonderful gift to yourself.  The schedule is the same every day, allowing you to rest into the format and observe yourself as you move through the day.  Noticing your reactions to moments can be fascinating, and it’s an opportunity for growth.  As you notice your reactions you build self-awareness.

Upcoming Silent Retreats

Spring Silent Meditation Retreat – 5 or 7 night
Thu, Apr 18 – Thu, Apr 25, 2019

Silent Yoga and Meditation Retreat with Toni Gordon – 2, 3, 5 or 7 Nights
Fri, May 3 – Fri, May 10, 2019

Fall Silent Meditation Retreat – 2 or 5 Nights
Sun, Sep 8 – Fri, Sep 13, 2019

Winter Silent Meditation Retreat – 2 or 5 Nights
Sun, Dec 8 – Fri, Dec 13, 2019

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
is a wonderful introduction to using meditation as a stress reduction technique.
We offer it as a week-long intensive program. Side effects include inner peace, ditching stress, personal growth, mental calmness
and improvement with mood.  This week is offered three times a year with upcoming dates of:

July 21 – 26, 2019 and October 20 – 25, 2019

Other Week Long Meditation retreats

Spring Cleanse: Ayurvedic Meditation and Yoga Week Retreat
Sun, Apr 7 – Fri, Apr 12, 2019

Facilitators:

Liz Frost

Liz Frost, founder of Sugar Ridge shares mindfulness in every retreat she facilitates. Some have a bit more formal practice than others.  Often outdoor or offsite activities are included depending on the season or theme of the retreat.  Yoga is taught as a form of meditation, getting in tune with the physical body and noticing connections between emotion and mental states.  

 

 

 

 

Bianca Azgin

Bianca’s passion for yoga started with her journey to better her physical health after dealing with many emotional challenges and debilitating illnesses over the years. This allows her to bring compassion and understanding to each and every class. Along the way she discovered that there is so much more to yoga than just the physical aspect. Her classes work on gaining better body awareness, focusing on breath and working towards mind and body relaxation.  She believes that the fundamentals of yoga and meditation are very important in furthering the students’ personal practice.  Bianca is also a Certified Reiki Practitioner. She wants to help people have a better understanding how to connect to our essence, our energies and our higher selves. 

 

Mike Murdoch

After finding my yoga mat, this journey has allowed me to find deep inner calmness and self-acceptance. Through this practice, I began to transform not just physically but emotionally as well. I now strive to spread this passion for yoga and mindful eating with anyone who’s willing, and firmly believe that yoga and a healthful diet, in some form, are accessible to everyone. Off my mat, I’m a Cordon Bleu trained chef in both Cuisine and Pastry. When not teaching yoga, I work as a freelance consultant; developing recipes for some of Canada’s largest food retailers. I’m also a certified Culinary Nutrition Expert; using knowledge as a tool to help people heal holistically with food. My true passion is helping individuals live more vibrantly through mindful eating, nourishing food choices, and a committed yoga practice.

 

Toni Gordon 
Registered Psychotherapist, Ayurvedic Counsellor, Yoga and Meditation Instructor.
I am  a graduate of the Centre for Ayurveda and Indian Systems of Healing (CAISH) where I became certified as an Ayurvedic Counsellor.  In addition, I studied Women’s Herbal Remedies at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, as well as Ayurvedic Psychotherapy at Renaissance Yoga and Ayurveda in Toronto.  I adore the philosophy of Ayurveda and decided to unite its ancient wisdom with more mainstream psychotherapies as a way of providing a more holistic and complete approach to mental health.  I am also a Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT-200) and like to include yoga as part of a healing plan for many of my clients.