a Yoga, Somatics, and Walking late summer retreat
September 11th - 14th, 2025
Northern Edge Algonquin, Ontario CANADA
“Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are”.
—Gretel Ehrlich
Honour the final days of summer breathing in fresh Canadian air together with others in a supportive community of new friends.
Explore somatic healing and clinical somatics, yoga, guided sunrise walks, meditation, aerial yoga, pranayama, delicious food, wood-fired-sauna, paddle and water sports, deep rest, and MUCH more amidst the splendour of the Algonquin landscape.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Thursday September 11th
2pm – 4pm Arrive, Explore, Unpack, and Unplug
4:30 – Welcome Circle
6pm – 7pm – Dinner
7:30pm – 9pm – Relaxing Vagus Nerve Practice (Dana) & Evening Meditation (Lee)
9pm – Free time and Retire
Friday September 12th
6:45am – 7:45am – Sunrise Guided Walk (Lee)
8am – Breakfast
9:15am – 10:45am – Morning Yoga (Dana)
11am – 11:45am – Practice TBA (Lee)
12pm – Lunch
1pm – 3:30pm – Free Time and Wood-Fired Sauna access
4 – 5:30pm – Elective Practice (Into to Aerial Yoga with Dana & Hike/Chanting/Meditation with Lee)
6pm – Dinner
7:30pm – 9pm – Somatics and Intuitive Movement, with Yoga Nidra (Dana)
9pm – Bonfire and TBD activity (Lee)
Free Time and Retire
Saturday September 13th
6;45am – 7:45am – Sunrise Guided Walk (Lee)
8am – Breakfast
9:15am – 10:45am – Morning Yoga (Lee)
11am – 11:45am – Clinical Somatic Practice (Dana)
12pm – Lunch
1pm – 3pm – Free Time
3pm – 4:30pm – Elective Practice (Somatic Aerial Yoga with Dana & Hiking/Journaling with Lee)
5pm – Build-your-own Wood-fired Pizza Party
7pm – 9pm – Sunset Wood-fired Sauna, Lake Plunge, and Bonfire
Guided Wolf Howling
9:30pm – Meditation under the stars (Lee)
Sunday September 14th
6:45am – 7:30am – Sunrise Guided Walk (Lee)
7:45am – Breakfast
9am – 10am – Morning Yoga (Dana)
11am – Brunch
1pm – 2:30pm – Closing Circle
Goodbyes & Depart
* all content is flexible depending on weather and inspiration *
MEET YOUR HOSTS
LEE SCOTT & DANA ROGERS have four decades of experience and training between them. This will be their second retreat together and they look forward to offering even more compassionate, unique, and inspiring content to their community.
Lee brings her specialties of guided walking, fitness and yoga, pranayama (breathwork), chanting, journaling, meditation, and connecting to nature.
Dana brings her training in somatics therapy/clinical somatics, yoga, aerial yoga, yin yoga, meditation, and trauma-aware community building.
LEE SCOTT (she/her)
Lee has been working as a fitness leader for more than 30 years. Known for her WoW Power Walking program which she created in 2002, she has brought fun, fitness, and marathon training to the pedestrian gait including speaking at fitness and health conferences across North America. Lee has taught all manner of fitness classes over the decades and, in addition to her walking classes, currently focuses on leading strength workouts, yoga and meditation practice livestream. Originally certified as a group fitness leader in 1992, she has been a certified personal trainer and health coach with the American Council of Exercise since 2001. Since 2013, she has completed more than 1,000 hours of yoga teacher training. She is co-author of The Walking Solution (Human Kinetics, 2020) and author of Step Outside (Plumleaf Press) to be published in 2025.
DANA ROGERS (she/her)
Dana began practising yoga 25 years ago after leaving the world of competitive dance. In the beginning yoga was a way to continue a regular movement practice, and later it became an invaluable tool to heal from substance misuse and mental health issues. Dana has 1,000 hours of training in various yoga and somatic modalities and is a certified Clinical Somatic Educator and Therapist, serving on faculty at Homebody Healing in Edmonton teaching other educators. Her experience teaching aerial yoga, yin yoga, breath work, meditation, somatic dreaming, and ceremony, marries scientific and spiritual knowledge to guide people to access intuitive body knowledge over outside messaging. Dana’s aim is to amplify our innate wisdom through intuition and playful exploration – she hopes we all can feel healthy, joyful, and at home in our bodies.
PRACTICE SPACES and COMMON AREAS at the Edge
Northern Edge Algonquin has a beautiful array of spaces to choose from. Here are a few of the many magical places on the property you’ll explore…
Their brand new studio space – Radiance – has 1000 square feet of wide open space and stunning views to gaze upon during your morning and evening yoga sessions. Radiance features a sprung floor, new sound system, and is stocked with lots of comfy props to support our evening practices.
Northern Edge has also installed 14 brand new Aerial Yoga silks for those who wish to join Dana (and her 10 years of aerial teaching experience) to float, decompress, and laugh.
The Circular Studio is designed in the shape of a circle and is a warming space for specialty workshops, sound baths, chanting, and small group movement sessions.
This is also used as a silent space for personal practice outside of scheduled programing and is stocked with back-jack chairs, blankets, meditation cushions, hand drums, crystal bowls, and an earth gong.
The Dragonfly Dock is a floating platform best for sunrise or sunset yoga and meditation, with lots of room for movement. It is also the launch area for paddle sports and swimming, or a great place to curl up with a book.
Points North is a common space with coffee, tea, and snacks, served throughout the day. This space is open 24 hours offering bathrooms and shower rooms located just a few minutes’ walk away from your cabin.
The Lake House is the central location for dining and food at the Edge. The main Dining Room takes up the main floor which opens onto the Hive Deck and an outdoor waterfront dining spaces. Inside, a small lending library is available for guests to borrow a book during their stay.
The Edge has two fire areas – the largest fire circle is a great space for large groups & is occasionally used as a workshop space, while StoneHedge Fire Circle is located on the waterfront, right by the labyrinth.
The Grandmother Cedar Haus is the large, wood-fired sauna with capacity for small groups to share in ceremony or social time together. We’ll fire it up a couple of times during our retreat. Our first afternoon during free time, you’ll have the opportunity to use the sauna during a two hour window after lunch and before the elective. On the following night we’ll stoke the heat after pizza dinner and allow you to circuit between the sauna, lake, and bonfire.
YOUR ACCOMODATIONS
Northern Edge offers a variety of accommodation options – private rooms can be reserved or shared rooms for you and one or two friends (old or new). Some options have their own bathrooms including showers, some have compost toilets, and others are a short walk from shower and restroom stops. This allows you to select a higher end experience or to get closer to nature in a glamping-like setting.
Book early to make sure you save the room you love!
Each room option is only a few minutes walk to the practice, eating, and common spaces.
Comfortable feather duvets & colourful linen sheets adorn each bed for a restful place to lay your head at night.
Northern Edge is sustainably powered, their solar system powers lights, CPAP machines, and power to charge small devices only.
Unplug from the distractions of technology. With no cell service or wi-fi, relax deeply in nature. Stow your phone – we will stay connected to outside world for you in case of any emergencies, so you can fully recharge your own battery!
Dreamer’s Hill Log Cabin
Anchored at the top of the trail overlooking the forest, Dreamer’s Hill was created to offer a little more comfort than other options while keeping in sustainable balance with our use of space and resources. The shared cabin features a small gathering area surrounding a gas fireplace for guests looking to visit or read a book, and a corner for preparing tea or hot chocolate.
The eco-luxe, colourful bedrooms in Dreamers’ Hill are our only accommodations featuring private showers – not an easy feat running on solar power! Three of the five bedrooms come equipped with a 3pc private en-suite bathroom with showers, while two others share a semi-private bathroom & shower. Each room has a queen bed for solo travellers or two twin beds.
Note: The bedrooms in Dreamer’s Hill are priced the same, based on easy access to these amenities, and are filled on a first-booked, first-accommodated basis. If it is important that you do not share a bathroom with another participant, book early and be sure to mention it.
Dreamer’s Hill is a short uphill walk from main programming and dining spaces.
INVESTMENT:
Shared Dreamer’s Hill Bedroom = CAD$1,584 +hst per person
Private Dreamer’s Hill Bedroom = CAD$1,804 +hst
Studio Cabins
These spacious and comfortable eco-cabins are centrally-located and feature en-suite eco-bathroom features a compost toilet & running water. Studio Cabins are ideal for sharing between participants, whether you are coming with a friend or open to sharing with someone new. They are available year-round.
Tranquility, Balance, Harmony, and Dreamtime are some of our most popular cabins! Each is equipped with a double bed and single bed. Unity Suite has all the same features, a little extra space, and 3 beds in semi-private cubbies.
Studio Cabins are just a 1-minute walk from main programming spaces, flush toilets, and showers.
INVESTMENT:
Shared Studio Cabin = CAD$1,384 +hst
Private Studio Cabin = CAD$1,584 +hst
Habitat Cabins
Located centrally and surrounded by the maple and balsam fir forest, these cozy bunkies were the Edge’s first year-round accommodations and are the best choice for friends who want to feel like they’re going back to summer camp together!
These couple of cabins feature 2 single beds plus a small loft with a double bed, topped with feather duvets and colourful linens, and are most-suited to sharing with 1-2 friends or other participants. These shared spaces book up fast!
Habitat Cabins are just a 2-minute walk from main programming spaces, bathrooms, and showers.
INVESTMENT:
Shared Habitat Cabin = CAD$1,284 +hst
Canopy Cabins
Wish upon a star before bed, fall asleep to the sound of the loons calling, and rise with the morning sun as it naturally lights up the forest canopy above your clear-roofed cabin. These simple & clean wood cabins are surrounded by lush greenery at the edge of Algonquin Park.
Nestled on the hillside, these glamping-style accommodations bring you closer to nature, and are named to match. Ladybug Lounge, Loon Echo and Lily’s Pad are just the right size for a couple to share, while our original honeymoon suite, Moonbeam, and it’s twin Firefly are a bit cozier, and are best for solo travelers. These cabins are un-heated, but each cabin boasts comfortable feather duvets and colourful linen sheets on double beds.
Canopy Cabins are just a 3-minute walk from main programming spaces, bathrooms, and showers.
INVESTMENT:
Shared Canopy Cabin = CAD$1,284 +hst
Private Canopy Cabin = CAD$1,384 +hst
You Investment Includes:
- 4 days and 3 nights
- 9 delicious and wholesome meals
- 1 wood-fired oven pizza party
- 2 sauna experiences
- 3 guided sunrise walks
- morning all-levels yoga practices
- breathwork, clinical somatics, meditation workshops
- elective practice choices (aerial yoga, hiking, chanting, journaling)
- 2 special evening practices
- all props, including yoga mats
- evening bonfires
- coffee, tea, and snacks throughout the day
- opening and closing ceremonies
- access to paddle sports (SUP, canoes, kayaks)
- wolf-howling
- ample free time to hike, rest, journal, read, socialize, nap, or anything else you feel inspired by!
What’s NOT Included:
- travel to and from Northern Edge
- access to wifi and phone service
MEALTIME AT THE EDGE
A retreat is an opportunity to nourish body, mind, and soul – which is why it makes an amazing difference to feature a mindful selection of meals designed to enhance the
experience. At the Edge, they always do their best to deliver colourful & delicious meals that will be remembered and treasured.
Cooking at the Edge focuses on balancing globally farflung tastes with provincially produced foods. They prepare meals with organic ingredients grown and raised
close to home. Some ingredients come from their lakefront gardens, but most come from local farms and providers.
Vegetarians, vegans, and gluten or dairy free diners have been provided for since the mid-90’s – please inform the retreat centre and your leaders of any dietary restrictions upon booking so you can be accommodated.
Northern Edge is the first certified member of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Association’s Feast ON “Certified Taste of Ontario” program. Award winning in-house chef, Gregor Waters loves to bring his food story to life for his guests.
I'm soooo ready to sign up... what else should I know?
Should you have any question’s about retreat content, please feel free to contact me through this website’s contact page.
If you have question’s about the booking process, room styles and preferences, food, driving and directions, please contact The Edge. They will be handling all aspects of the booking, so they will best be able to assist you. While you’re on their site, browse their photos, blog, and if you are on Instagram they have some great videos touring the property and accommodations.
Shared rooms are the most budget conscious way to go, so grab your partner, a family member, or friend (or two) to nestle into one of the great camp-style bunkies!
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO JOIN US AT ALGONQUIN… and we mean it. Lee and I are very well versed in teaching to a wide range of abilities and experience. We look to foster a fun and supportive atmosphere where participants can play, experiment, and try new things.
“The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature”.
—Joseph Campbell
