Rooted in the Body: Held by Earth A Somatic & Nature-Based Day Retreat
Algonquin Island – Toronto Island (30min ferry ride from downtown Toronto)
10am-4pm
September 6th, 2025
Enjoy the last days of summer outdoors. This retreat is a sanctuary for restoration, reconnection, and rooted presence. We’ll blend somatic movement, nature therapy, dance, mindfulness, and rest exploring the body and land as gateways for healing, transformation, and accessing inner peace & joy.
By attuning to our breath, movement, and the earth’s rhythms, we learn to slow down, listen, and receive the guidance that lives within and around us.
Together, we’ll gather in a small circle on Toronto Island to move, reflect, rest, and play—held by birch trees, sand, sky, and lake. Through somatic awareness, sensory exploration, and intentional ritual, we’ll restore balance and renew our relationship with our own bodies and the body of the Earth.
This daylong retreat is soulful pause to also honour the seasonal transitions supporting you to heal, release, realign, and root into what truly matters as you prepare for the quieter months of fall and winter ahead.
*No previous experience is necessary*
Held in a tranquil oasis on Toronto Island, this day-long retreat invites you to gently tend to your inner and outer landscapes. Just a short ferry ride away, this peaceful sanctuary offers the perfect ground for restoration and reconnection.
Throughout the day, we will move through a carefully crafted journey that weaves somatic practices, dance/movement therapy, mindfulness, and nature exploration. Each experience is designed to help you slow down, regulate your nervous system, and remember your deep connection to the living world around you.
Together, we will:
Deepen awareness of the body through guided movement, sensory exploration, and embodied meditation
Experience as a co-regulator and active collaborator in the healing process
Engage imagery and symbolic play to access insight, creativity, and emotional expression
Reconnect with the elements through eco-somatic awareness and land-based movement
Foster embodied presence, emotional resilience, and inner resources. Whether you are feeling depleted, seeking healing, or simply seeking deeper connection, this retreat offers a spacious and supported place to land in your breath, in your body, and in the living world.
Tentative Retreat Schedule
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Arrival & Ferry Ride
Meet at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and board the 9:30 AM ferry to Ward Island. Please arrive 15–20 minutes early with a prepaid ticket, as lines can be long. Use this crossing as a threshold to gently shift into retreat space.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Walk to Nature Spot
A short mindful walk from the ferry dock to our beachside opening circle location.
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Opening Circle & Eco-Somatic Awareness
We begin by arriving fully—through the senses, breath, and the elements. This guided meditation and intention setting grounds us in the body and anchors us to the land.
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Land & Body: Guided Embodiment + Movement Practice
In a meadow surrounded by birch trees, we explore movement as a way of listening to the inner and outer landscapes. Through authentic movement and nature-based mindful somatic movement practices, we awaken the body and regulate the nervous system. Afterwards we walk over (15mins) to our outdoor yoga studio for lunch and afternoon practice.
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM | Nourishing Lunch
Enjoy a seasonal, catered vegetarian/vegan (both options available) lunch and social time.
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Grounding Practice: Somatic + Sensory Movement Exploration
On our outdoor yoga deck, we deepen into the body with a blend of gentle somatic modalities—drawing from Feldenkrais, Body-Mind Centering, eco-kinetics, and breath-based grounding movement. We close this session with a guided introspective practice to connect with our inner world.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Closing Ritual: Land-Body Art & Sisterhood
We close in circle with collective movement, shared reflection, and nature-based art making—offering gratitude to the land and our bodies.
4:00 PM | Departure
Walk back to the ferry dock, feeling rooted, nourished, and renewed for the season ahead.
SAVE YOUR SPOT & PAYMENT
Early bird ticket – $135 ends July 31st, then we move to tiered pricing
Space is limited to 10 for this retreat, please send your e-transfer to liz@lizdiaz.ca to secure your spot include your email address in the notes.
Supporter Pricing $165
Regular Pricing $155
Supported Pricing $145 (Only 2 spots)
This offering is available on a sliding scale to support accessibility and community care.
If you are able to pay at the Supporter you help make it possible for someone else to attend at a reduced cost—your contribution directly supports another dancer’s spot.
If a lower rate would make this retreat more accessible for you, please feel welcome to register at the Supported rate. If the supported rate is still not accessible to you please reach out.
This is one way we practice mutual care: those with more capacity give a little more, so that those needing support can receive it.
What’s Included
* A nourishing catered lunch featuring wholesome, seasonal ingredients vegan and vegetarian options available
* A full day of guided practices
* All yoga mats and props provided
* An intimate small group experience for deeper connection and personalized attention
Not Included
* Ferry ticket to and from Ward Island (approx. $9 round-trip)
Important NOTE
This retreat will take place entirely outdoors on Saturday September 6th*—please dress comfortably and bring appropriate layers for changing weather conditions.
*Should the forecast call for rain on the day of the event, we will postpone to the next day (Sunday September 7th). You will be notified 3 days in advanced of the retreat if it will be switched to the rain day. Please book with flexibility in mind as this is an outdoor venue and is subject to the elements.
Refund Policy
Due to the intimate size of this retreat and the upfront costs involved, including catered food and venue rental, we kindly ask that you provide at least two weeks’ notice if you need to cancel. Cancellations made 14 days or more before the retreat date are eligible for a 60% refund, with the remaining amount retained to cover non-refundable costs.
As spots are limited, this notice period allows me time to offer your space to someone on the waitlist.
Questions? Drop me a line lizatlizdiaz.ca
