The Wintering Retreat
Winter well with yoga, astrology, foraging, winter nourishing broth, and alchemy singing bowls. Learn your unique winter cycle.
The Wintering Retreat
Discover What Winter Is Asking of You
December 6 | 1:00–4:00 PM
Yoga Spirit | Bragg Creek, Alberta
Nature doesn’t bloom all year. Neither should we.
Winter invites us to turn inward, conserve our energy, nourish ourselves deeply and listen to the quieter rhythms of our lives.
The Wintering Retreat is a three-hour afternoon of yoga, astrology, herbalism, winter foraging, seasonal nourishment, Yoga Nidra and sound. Together, we will explore what it means to work with winter rather than simply endure it.
Your Personal December Astrology
Every December, the Sun travels through the same area of your individual astrological chart, illuminating particular houses and areas of life.
For one person, December may continually draw attention toward home, family and rest. For another, it may activate relationships, creativity, career, community or spiritual reflection.
Before the retreat, you will provide your birth date, exact birth time and birthplace so Sandy can determine the December Sun travels through your chart.
During our astrology workshop, you’ll explore the themes that return for you at this time each year and how you can consciously work with your own natural cycle.
What is December asking of you?
is your energy naturally being directed?
And what changes you stop fighting that rhythm and begin working with it?
Winter Foraging + Herbal Tea
Yes, we can still forage in winter!
Sandy will introduce you to three winter-forage ingredients that can be used to make tea. You’ll learn how to identify them, what parts are traditionally gathered, how to harvest respectfully and sustainably, and how to prepare them at home.
Together we’ll make and enjoy a simple Winter Forager Tea while exploring the relationship between plants, place and seasonal living.
Winter Broth for Nourishment, Immunity + Energy
We’ll also move into the kitchen wisdom of winter.
Learn how to create a deeply nourishing plant-based Winter Broth, layering whole foods, herbs, mushrooms, roots, sea vegetables and warming ingredients traditionally used during the colder months.
You’ll learn how to build a broth that can become a simple winter staple—warming, mineral-rich and designed to support nourishment, immune health and steady energy through the season.
Wintering Yoga
We’ll move through a grounding, warming yoga practice inspired by the inward rhythm of winter.
Rather than rushing toward stillness, we’ll create warmth first and gradually move closer to the earth, exploring breath, grounding and Apana Vayu—the downward and inward-moving current of energy described in yoga tradition.
All levels are welcome.
Yoga Nidra + Alchemy Singing Bowls
Our afternoon will eventually become quieter.
You’ll be guided into Yoga Nidra and deep rest, followed by the sounds and vibrations of Alchemy Singing Bowls.
No striving. No achieving. No need to do anything.
Simply receive.
Our Afternoon Together
1:00 PM — Welcome + Winter Forager Tea
1:20 PM — Grounding Winter Yoga
2:00 PM — Your Personal December Astrology
2:40 PM — Winter Foraging + Herbal Wisdom
3:00 PM — Winter Broth for Immunity + Energy
3:15 PM — Restorative Yoga + Yoga Nidra
3:35 PM — Alchemy Singing Bowl Soundbath
3:55 PM — Closing Reflection
What You’ll Leave With
You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of your own December astrological cycle, practical winter-foraging knowledge, ideas for creating nourishing winter teas and broths, and seasonal practices you can return to throughout the colder months.
Most importantly, you’ll be invited to reconsider what winter means.
A tree isn’t failing because it has no leaves.
A seed isn’t behind because it hasn’t sprouted.
Dormancy is not stagnation.
Sometimes the most important growth is happening quietly beneath the surface.
Come spend an afternoon learning how to winter well.
