The Gift of Ground: A Yoga & Nature Immersion

We needed a special venue for our Gift of Ground retreat, and we found it at Hollyhock Lifelong Learning Centre. Secreted away on Cortes Island at the mouth of British Columbia’s Desolation Sound, with buildings tucked beneath the spreading bows of old-growth cedars and access to a coastline populated by orcas and eagles, Hollyhock embodies the natural immersion that is this retreat’s central focus.

The Centre’s commitment to environmentalism is evident in its green building practices, and all-organic, locally-sourced menu, and is leavened through relationships with the First Nations on whose lands the Centre is built. Combine all this with beautiful accommodations, a library, hiking, kayaking, and massage and bodywork services, and you have everything you need to leave your hectic city life behind. For nearly forty years, Hollyhock has provided a nurturing and supportive environment for holistic learning and growth. What better place to deepen your practice and reconnect with the natural world?

Stunning buffet-style all-organic vegetarian meals are served up three times a day at Hollyhocks cosy Dining Room, and once a week the chefs pull together to produce a fresh-caught seafood feast accompanied by beach side BBQ oyster appetisers. Produce is sourced primarily from the Centre’s very own intensive organic garden, and chefs are happy to accommodate any specific health or dietary restrictions. And if you happen to find yourself a little peckish between meals, you can grab a bite from a 24-hour snack bar stocked with bread, condiments, fruit, coffee, and tea. For more information please see: https://hollyhock.ca/experience/

Hollyhock offers a variety of accommodation options to suit most styles and budgets. Cosy up to a loved one in a Couple’s ocean side room, share a Twin room with a friend, get communal with a Dorm room. All built accommodation will feature tasteful decor, plenty of exposed wood, and natural light. For those looking to reconnect with the land, booking a Tent site is also a terrific option. Whatever you choose, your accommodation costs will include your food, amenities, and access to one of the most stunning natural environments on earth!

Hollyhock is located the just outside the community of Mason’s Landing on Cortes Island, British Columbia. Though remote, Hollyhock is accessible via seaplane, water taxi, car and ferry, and even bus and. Guest services are happy to provide shuttle services to and from ferry, seaplane, and water taxi terminals, and will also help you find a rideshare through their rideshare board. More information on these services is available on Hollyhock’s website here: https://hollyhock.ca/getting-here/

A detailed pamphlet on getting to and from the Centre is available for download here:
https://hollyhock.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/travel-page-2019-final.pdf

"I attended two yoga retreats that were lead by David Procyshyn and Fiji McAlpine. They truly are a dynamic duo! Fiji's sessions offer challenging practices that push you to your edge in a careful way. David's classes offer a restorative balance to the physical challenges that Fiji presents. David's guided meditations are first rate. I have never felt as strong, relaxed, and at peace as I did during the last two retreats with these two incredible instructors. They are both fabulous people who care about their students' health and well being. I am attending another retreat with them later this year, and simply cannot say enough good things about their retreats and the careful planning that they put in to making them so superior. Thanks David and Fiji!"
- Janna, Retired, Virginia, USA

"I recently returned from Chacala, Mexico having attended the Embrace the Edge retreat with David and Fiji. What a dynamic duo! Once I recovered from my celebrity shock (I have followed them for 5 years on video before getting to meet them IN PERSON!), I got to know them as people, with their families, friends, having dinner, swimming in the ocean, enjoying a hike. Having down time to spend getting to know them was truly special. During the practices, they are an amazing team. David's calm voice resonated with ease and comfort during his practices and meditations. Fiji's superb descriptions and explanations help you really understand not just your stance or technique, but the benefit and reasoning behind it. They balance each other well during a practice, and my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed every sweaty moment! We both increased our abilities (poses we never accomplished before!) and our resolve to keep up our daily practice and meditations. Inspiration was everywhere, but never stronger than on our mats, together."
- Margot, Zumba Instructor, NH, USA

"Attending a retreat recently with David and Fiji provided a wonderful opportunity to both challenge and broaden my practice thru Fiji and relish in the quieter more meditative aspects of yoga that David presents so eloquently."
- Alison, Artist and support worker, BC, Canada

"It was a wonderful experience to attend a retreat where both David and Fiji were present. They complement each other gracefully ensuring that every participant's needs were met thoughtfully. It was a privilege to be able to listen to David or Fiji teaching while the other circulated to adjust or encourage us. David's experience in guiding meditation was huge bonus."
- Hillary, NYC, USA