REST & RECONNECT RETREATS
Your nervous system already knows how to rest.
The Rest & Reconnect Retreat series helps it remember how.
Four day psychotherapy, eco therapy and art therapy retreats on 50 acres of forest and field in Grey Highlands, Ontario. Held all year round to teach you how to rest. Led by a registered psychotherapist & art therapist. We work with the land, your body and breath & each retreat follows its season. Come once, or return throughout the year as the retreats bring you into a practice of rest that stays with you.
The season opens October 29 and runs to June 2027. Book multiple retreats in a year and save. Eligible for psychotherapy receipts in Ontario and Quebec for insurance and tax purposes.
THE PAUSE
The pause is one of the most important parts of a life.
Every life has its rhythm of action and pause. Most of us give ourselves fully to the action and have never been taught how to stop. Yet the pause is what makes the action possible. It is where life comes back into view, where you can finally take a deep breath and be present in the world you live in, in all its magnificence, its beauty and its hardship.
If you are the one who takes care of everyone else, or if work has slowly become more important than caring for yourself, your nervous system may have been travelling at highway speed for a very long time. The Rest & Reconnect series teaches you how to slow down, come to a full stop and truly rest. Over four days on the land, you learn practical ways to calm your nervous system through breath, movement, art and nourishing food, and with the support of group psychotherapy, you begin to see the patterns that prevent you from resting. You start to make caring for yourself a daily practice at the centre of your life. You leave feeling part of the world again, clearer in the decisions you make and more at home in your own life.
IS THIS FOR YOU?
The Rest & Reconnect series is for you if:
You are tired all the time, and your mind still races when you lie down at night, you can’t seem to turn off.
You are on leave from burnout but don’t know what to do with your time and how to focus on recovery.
You are currently in therapy and would like to experience an immersive approach.
You come home from vacation feeling as depleted as when you left.
You spend your days caring for clients, patients, children or aging parents, and your own needs come last.
Your body is asking for help through tension, restless sleep, chronic exhaustion or a stomach that is always on edge.
You are a therapist or health care professional who wants to bring nature, art and the body into your work and give yourself a moment to be taken care of.
Choose your retreat
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Rest&Reconnect: Grief & Gratitude
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Rest&Reconnect: Silence, Meditation & Writing
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Rest&Reconnect: The Art of Breath
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The Care of the Heart
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Spring Detox: Herbal Medicine for Health
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Healing Through Food & the Earth
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Walking the Quiet Path
“After four days on the land, many guests sleep deeply for the first time in months. They go home with breathing practices they can use in any moment, a clearer sense of what they need, and a plan to keep resting once life picks up again.”
ECOTHERAPY
We’ve created a different environment for healing
Gabor Maté reminds us that healing requires a different environment than the one that caused the harm. You cannot fully restore your nervous system in the same office, inbox and routine that wore it down. This is why the Rest & Reconnect retreats take therapy outside.
The Rest & Reconnect series is eco therapy. We learn from the elements and from the land, and our relationship with them becomes part of the healing process. The forest, the stream, the cold, the darkness, the food and the quiet do much of the work. A small group gathers for four days and inquires together into a single question: how do we rest?
Held by the land, by the community, and by the practices, you have the conditions to access the answers you already hold within yourself now that you are given time to listen.
Even a short immersive retreat can create a meaningful and lasting shift. Coming back season after season is how that shift becomes the way you live.
WHAT I SEE IN MY PRACTICE
I have been a psychotherapist for over twenty years, and before that I trained as a medical herbalist. I have practised in hospitals, schools, shelters, private clinics, group practices and outdoor therapy programmes.
I see most people living their days in one of two modes:
OVERACTIVATED
running hot and unable to switch off
CHECKED OUT
quietly dissociated, numb or getting through day on autopilot
But our natural state is:
CALM & PRESENT
Like an animal returning to calm once danger has passed, your body too knows how to find its way back.
THE REST & RECONNECT APPROACH
Body, mind and spirit belong together in the therapy space.
As psychotherapists, our concern is mental health. However, my training as a medical herbalist, which began about thirty years ago, somatic therapist and in meditation 20 years ago, taught me that our body is the foundation for so much of how we feel, think and do. It is hard to focus with a stomach ache, and hard to feel hopeful while living with chronic pain. How we feel in our body is woven into our mental health.
My approach is whole person care.
The body, the mind and the spirit each have a place in healing, and they belong together in the therapy room. In the Rest & Reconnect retreats, your awareness of our body and the sensations you feel is brought fully into the treatment process, beyond what somatic therapy usually reaches. We work with the breath and the nervous system, with nourishing food, with herbs and the eliminative organs, with movement and the senses, with art and the imagination, and with the spirit through meditation, silence and our connection to the living world. Being outside and in nature helps us remember that we are not alone, we are held in an ecosystem of wellbeing.
What every retreat holds
WHAT EVERY RETREAT HOLDS
Each retreat in the series has its own theme and its own season. The foundation is the same.
You receive four days of permission to rest, and you are genuinely encouraged to do nothing. You learn specific breathing practices that bring the nervous system into calm, along with daily Kundalini yoga. Through psychotherapy practices and group psychotherapy, you become aware of the nervous system patterns that keep you from resting, and art therapy gives those patterns a shape you can see and work with. You eat deeply nourishing seasonal food, warm yourself in the wood fired sauna and walk the trails of the Lodge. Your devices are handed in on the first evening, so the digital detox is complete.
Four days and three nights at The SEED Lodge, Thursday to Sunday
Three nourishing vegetarian meals each day, with herbal teas and fresh juices
Daily breathwork, Kundalini yoga and meditation
Themed psychotherapy, art therapy and group sessions led by Esther
The wood fired sauna, trails, forest and 50 acres, with snowshoes in winter
A post retreat integration plan and a psychotherapy receipt
THE ARC OF THE SERIES- 2026 TO 2027
The retreats follow the turning of the year.
We begin in grief and gratitude, move into silence, are born into the breath, open the heart, wake the body in spring, learn to nourish ourselves, and then walk out onto the earth.
Each retreat prepares the ground for the next.
Come to one or many throughout the year.
I · Autumn · October 29 to November 1, 2026
Grief & Gratitude
Grief is the portal to rest. It is the one emotion that demands we stop. It breaks our habitual patterns in a very real and full bodied way and places us in a liminal space for a time. Grief simply needs to be felt, and the patterns we adopt to avoid it only delay it until it catches up with us. When people begin to rest for the first time, grief is often one of the first emotions to surface.
Grief is also a barometer of our capacity to love. The more we love, the more we grieve, and our capacity to grieve is our capacity to deepen into life. Gratitude is grief’s companion, a deep and profound breath and the capacity to see in front of us all that we love. This is where the series begins.
II · Early winter · DECEMBER 17-20, 2026
Silence, Meditation & Writing
In December the land teaches us. It is the darkest time of the year, and life is moving underground to begin its incubation. We take away the distractions and stimulants and do the practices that calm the mind, so we can learn to be here now. From that calm, we listen.
This retreat is held in silence. It is a solitary journey held within the group, as each of us begins to listen to who we are when the noise and the light are taken away. Writing gives that listening a place to land.
III · Midwinter · JANUARY 7 to 10, 2027
The Art of Breath
Optional Four Days in Silence add on, January 10 to 14, 2027.
After the silence of December, learning to breathe is like being born into a conscious life. Breath is our first relationship and our last relationship, and for many people it is a relationship that has never been nurtured or even acknowledged. I believe this is the primary training everyone needs at some point in their life, because the breath is our connection to life. Here you learn how to access rest through the inhale and the exhale.
IV · Deep winter: FEBRUARY 11 to 14, 2027, Valentine’s weekend
Care of the Heart
Care of the Heart is an art therapy based retreat that delves into the senses, creativity and what we love. It is a deep meditation on love and on what trauma does to our capacity to love what we love. In the depths of winter we look at the frozen things that live underground and do deep clearing work with the psyche. The weekend moves in two movements: first we clear what keeps the heart from loving, and then we connect to everything that makes the heart expand.
V · Early spring · March 25 to 28, 2027, Easter weekend
Spring Detox: Herbal Medicine for Health
As the land begins to stir, the series turns toward the physical body. We go out to the plants, working with dried and preserved herbs while the ground is still waking, and we bring the eliminative organs, the liver, the kidneys and the bowels, into the treatment space. The teaching of this season is discernment: knowing what is a yes and what is a no, and choosing what you allow to grow in your life.
VI · Late spring · MAY 27 to 30, 2027
Food and Nourishment: Healing Through Food and the Earth
This retreat is about feeding: how to feed yourself, how to feed others, what it means to be nourished, and how to eat. The meals themselves become part of the therapeutic practice, and eating becomes a way of caring for the whole person.
VII · Summer · JUNE 10 to 13, 2027
Walking in Silence: Silence, Landscape and Presence
Having been nourished, we move. We walk, we dance, and we go outside to get to know the earth that has been holding us all year. This retreat brings the series full circle, carrying everything you have learned out onto the land.
WHY ONE RETREAT BUILDS ON THE NEXT
Each retreat explores one facet of rest, and together they build a complete picture of what rest can look like in a human life.
The practices you learn in Grief & Gratitude make the silence of December possible. The listening you develop in silence prepares you to meet your breath. The breath steadies you for the heart work of February. A body that knows how to breathe and feel is ready to wake up in spring, to be nourished in May and to move freely in June.
The knowledge builds on itself. Your nervous system learns through repetition and return, and each time you come back the practices go deeper and the calm arrives sooner. This is why I invite you to plan your year of rest in advance and put it in your calendar now.
One retreat gives you a first taste of the practice and a few days of stillness.
Three retreats give you a season of practice. Grief & Gratitude, Silence, Meditation & Writing and The Art of Breath together form a complete winter descent into rest.
Five or more retreats give you a year of practice and a lasting relationship with rest, the land and your own nervous system.
Booking more than one retreat in the same year comes with a reduced rate. Write to arrive@theseedlodge.com to plan your year of rest.
You cannot afford not to rest. The costs of burnout & nervous system depletion are huge.
What past guests have said about the SEED Lodge:
“The seed lodge was such a peaceful place. I came with an idea of all these activities I wanted to do but quickly found that once I escaped the noise of the city that all my body wanted to do was sleep… and so I did. Not having access to my phone or computer allowed me to disconnect from work completely. I can’t say it was easy, but it was worth it. By Sunday I realized that I could have used a whole week of this… I will definitely be back. ”
“Thank you so much Esther for creating this true oasis of peace in a time where there is so much turbulence going on everywhere. I didn’t even realize how tired I was until I came here and all I could find myself doing was sleeping. The beds were super cozy, the meals felt nourishing and it was amazing to be totally cared for. As a parent with two small kids, this was the biggest treat. I would recommend everyone do this at least once a year.”
All meals, accommodations & programming included
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![A cozy bedroom with two twin beds placed on opposite sides, each with patterned bedding and pillows. A small bookshelf with books sits between the beds beneath a window with white curtains. On each side of the window, there are framed artworks on the wall. Two lamps on small tables are positioned beside each bed, providing warm lighting. The ceiling is made of wooden planks with a ceiling fan and light fixture.]()
Private Room
A room to yourself with twin bed, organic cotton sheets, a writing desk and original artwork. Four bathrom are shared amongsts max 8 guests. This retreat is tax exempt.
Due to the nature of this retreat don’t allow people to share a room even you are coming from the same family. The only exception is the Care of the Heart retreat which is open to couples who would like to share a room.
$1495 (book before January 1st to get this rate, after January 1st prices increase to $1595).
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![A cozy bedroom with a wooden ceiling, white walls, and two windows with beige curtains. The bed has white bedding, pillows, and a pink striped blanket at the foot. A wooden bedside table with a plant, a Buddha statue, and reading glasses is beside the bed. The room is warmly lit with a gold-colored lamp.]()
Ensuite Room
A queen bed with organic linens, writing desk, original artwork and a full bathroom with bath.
Book by 2026: $1749
2027 prices: $1895
FOR THERAPISTS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
This is rest for you and a living education in eco therapy and arts based & contemplative practices.
Many of the people who come to the Lodge spend their working lives holding space for others. If you are a therapist, counsellor, nurse, physician, social worker, bodyworker or allied health professional, the Rest & Reconnect series offers you two things at once.
First, it offers you rest. Those of us in the caring professions are often the last to receive the care we give, and our own nervous systems carry the weight of the work.
Second, it offers you a living education in eco therapy, art therapy, somatic & contemplative practice and whole person care. You experience these approaches from the inside, as a participant, in a clinical container held by a registered psychotherapist. You see how the land can act as a co therapist, how art making gives shape to nervous system patterns, how breath and Kundalini yoga regulate the body, how food and herbs support mental health, and how a small group becomes a healing community over four days. You leave with practices you can bring back to your clients and a felt understanding of why they work.
Eco therapy is my specialization, and the Rest & Reconnect series forms the experiential foundation of the eco therapy training I am developing for practitioners.
Try this now: a one minute pause
Before you read on, take one minute for yourself. Sit back and let your feet rest on the floor. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four. Breathe out slowly through your nose for a count of six or eight, letting the exhale be longer than the inhale. Repeat this five times.
Notice what changed. Perhaps your shoulders dropped, or your jaw softened, or your thoughts slowed a little. That is your nervous system remembering its way back to calm. Imagine four days of this, held by the land.
Resistance sounds like…
HOW TO JOIN
Pick a retreat that resonates and fill out your application or begin with a 15 minute intake call.
Because these retreats are psychotherapy based, every participant books a short 15 minute intake call and signs our therapeutic consent form before attending. This lets us open your file and make sure the retreat is the right fit for you.
Full payment is due 30 days before the retreat and holds your spot. Payments are non refundable and can be transferred to another person who meets the same participation requirements. If you are declined after your intake call, you receive a full refund.
The Rest & Reconnect retreats are designed for people who are ready to slow down and do gentle inner work. If you are in acute crisis or need addiction treatment, please write to us and we will help you find the right support, and we would love to welcome you at a later time.
The SEED Lodge is a drug and alcohol free facility. Smoking and vaping are permitted in designated areas only.
FAQs
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The Rest & Reconnect series is a seasonal set of four day, psychotherapy based eco therapy retreats at The SEED Lodge in Grey Highlands, Ontario. Each retreat explores one facet of rest through breathwork, Kundalini yoga, art therapy, group psychotherapy, nourishing food, sauna and time on the land. Together, the retreats build a complete practice of rest across the year.
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They are for burned out professionals, caregivers, parents, creatives and anyone who wants to support their nervous system, unplug and learn to rest. They are also for therapists and health care professionals who want to experience eco therapy, art therapy and whole person care from the inside and bring these approaches into their own practice. No previous experience with yoga, art or meditation is needed.
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Yes. The Rest & Reconnect retreats are psychotherapy based and led by a registered psychotherapist. They are eligible for psychotherapy receipts for insurance in Ontario and Quebec and can be claimed for tax purposes. For people with activated nervous systems or a history of trauma, rest can feel difficult at first, and returning regularly while continuing the practices at home is what helps you find your way back to calm.
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Eco therapy takes therapy outside. We learn from the elements, the seasons and the land, and our relationship with the natural world becomes part of the healing process. At The SEED Lodge, the forest, fields, stream, food and quiet work alongside the therapeutic practices.
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Whole person care means the body, the mind and the spirit are all part of mental health and are cared for together. Esther’s background as a medical herbalist and Kundalini yoga teacher, alongside her work as a psychotherapist and art therapist, means each retreat works with breath, food, herbs, movement, creativity, meditation and emotional process as one integrated whole.
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Each retreat stands on its own, so you are welcome to come once. The retreats are designed to build on each other, and the knowledge deepens each time you return. Many guests choose three retreats or more in a year, and multiple bookings in the same year come with a reduced rate.
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Many practitioners come for their own rest and leave with a felt understanding of eco therapy, art therapy, breathwork and whole person care that they bring back to their clients. The series also forms the experiential foundation of the eco therapy training Esther is developing.
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Devices are handed in at the opening circle on the first evening and returned at the close of the retreat. We share an emergency contact number with you before arrival so your loved ones can reach you.
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Meals are vegetarian, seasonal and made with local and organic ingredients whenever possible, with herbal teas and fresh juices to support digestion and the nervous system. Dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
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Yes. Many guests come on their own. You will have time for solitude and gentle connection with a small group who share your intentions. If you come with a friend or partner and share a room, they can join you for 50% off.
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The SEED Lodge sits on 50 acres near Rocklyn in Grey Highlands, Ontario, about two hours north of Toronto and close to Blue Mountain and Georgian Bay. You will receive directions and carpool details after booking.
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Bring comfortable layers for the season, outdoor footwear, a water bottle, sauna wear and a journal. We provide yoga mats, props and all art materials. You will receive a full packing list after booking.
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Yes. We create custom Rest & Reconnect experiences for teams and organizations. Write to arrive@theseedlodge.com to start the conversation.
