Aug 29 2025 - Sep 1 2025
Retreat this long weekend on a sacred journey into a world full of natural ancient wisdom. The wisdom of your body and soul. Arrive with an open mind, and leave with an open heart. Explore ancient and modern traditions to connect with parts of yourself which may be neglected or unexplored.
So what does this mean?
You will be guided through many different processes over the retreat. Everything is optional and you are welcome to observe rather than participate and treat this time as a gift to yourself, participating in what serves you the most. Feel free to nap, skip sessions or join in to everything that is offered. Here’s a taste of what you will learn and experience
Medicine Plants are plants considered sacred to indigenous people due to their medicinal properties. They are believed to have spiritual as well as physical healing properties. You will learn about some of the medicinal plants common to North America and still used locally.
Smudging is a cleansing ceremony which involves gently burning a medicine plant or a combination of several to “bathe” in the smoke and cleanse your body, mind, spirit, the environment or possessions.
Medicine Wheel Teachings involve walking the medicine wheel garden with a particular intention in mind. As you walk the wheel you may find answers to questions
Awakening Your intuition: accessing your own ancient wisdom. Spend a day guided by Arrole Lawrence to explore spirit, soul, higher heart and the higher mind. Understand how the imprints of emotional energy become stored within your cellular structures, and the blueprints of the mind, emotions and spirit and how to clear them. Understand the nature of trauma, emotional charge and the effects on the human body system. The discourse provides an understanding of how trauma can also pass from one generation to the next and have an impact on family and cultural structures.
Forest Bathing is inspired by a Japanese practice called “shinrin-yoku” which directly translates to “forest bathing”. In forest therapy, time is spent in the natural world through mindful exploration using our senses. An emphasis is placed on the pleasures of the experience and on connecting with nature through the building of a relationship with the land and all its beings.
Mandala Workshop – create a mandala to take home and use in your own meditation practice. Mandalas have been used for thousands of years to help one to focus and direct attention inwards.
Canoe the Wye Marsh – weather permitting we will hike to the Wye Marsh and go for a gentle paddle, spending some time drifting in the reeds and watching the action around us – incorporating silent meditation at times.
– 4-Day/3-Night Cabin Stay
– 3 Local and Organic meals & snacks per day
– Daily Yoga & Meditation
– Medicine Plant Teachings
– Smudging Ceremony
– Medicine Wheel Teachings
– Mandala Workshop
– Awakening your Intuition Workshop
– Forest Bathing
– Nature Hike
– Beach Adventure
– Canoe at Wye Marsh
– Evening Bonfire
– Beach sunset meditation
Everything will be taken care of for you this weekend so you can immerse and relax in the teachings and practices you experience. The itinerary has plenty of free time for you to unwind and enjoy the beautiful natural environment you’ll find yourself in: time for a nap or head to the beach. It’s a weekend for simplicity and returning to basics to embody the wisdom you already have within. All you have to do is show up, and do what serves you!
With daily yoga and meditation, healthy meals, and workshops that will heighten your innate wisdom and creativity, you will leave this experience with newfound awakening. Find balance in your life; taking techniques and memories home that will strengthen your mind, body and spirit.
The sacred healing traditions you will be introduced to are a gift not be missed. You will be taken through a journey of native ancestral teachings, traditional plant medicine wisdom (not ayahuasca or anything else ingested), smudging, and create your own mandala to take home. All this with the backdrop that is Sugar Ridge, pure nature, wholesome food, yoga and meditation.
Liz Frost MA Ed, RP, is a certified yoga teacher, mindfulness coach and psychotherapist. She was introduced to meditation in the early 90’s and found yoga as a form of meditation. With a foundation in meditation and somatic based psychotherapy, she incorporates mindfulness into yoga practice. She is the owner of Sugar Ridge and devotes her time and energy to making the world a more peaceful place.
Liz Frost, M.A. Ed, RP
Arrole Lawrence is a Saulteaux healer and band member of the Keeseekoowenin First Nation located in Elphinstone, Manitoba. Before healing became his main focus, Arrole worked in economic and financial policy analysis after completing a BA from the University of Toronto in 1993. For the past 12 years, Arrole has worked as a First Nations healer and teacher at aboriginal community health centres throughout Ontario. He currently resides in Orillia, Ontario. As an indigenous healer, Arrole helps individuals to quickly resolve, crippling physical ailments, patterns of depression, grief and trauma. Arrole's knowledge of accessing DNA blueprints and soul memory have lead to accelerated and long term healing for his clients.
Tuition for this adventure is $725 plus HST for shared accommodation (up to 4 people in a cabin)
Semi-private – $895 + HST each (2 people per cabin)
Private – $1,195 + HST for a cabin to yourself
This includes all of your meals from Friday evening until lunch on Monday, all classes, ceremonies and accommodation.
Shared - Cabin will be shared with up to 3 other guests of the same gender. If you are booking for just yourself, depending on the retreat, we will match you with other guests of the same gender.
Semi-private - Cabin will be shared with the 1 other person you are registering with. If booking alone, we will try to match you with someone of the same gender.
Private - Cabin for one person, not sharing with others.
Welcome to Sugar Ridge! It is our mission to provide a space for you to be nourished in body, mind and soul. From completely silent to dip your toe, testing mindfulness, we have what you’re looking for!
Our Accomodation Types