No Frills, All Thrills - a recap of our BWCA Yoga Retreat
Adventure Awaits
A Yoga Retreat for the {aspiring} Outdoor Woman
No frills, all THRILLS!
A recap of our 2020 yoga retreat on the edge of the BWCA, at the end of the Gunflint Trail
First of all, this group of women is completely bad ass. On the first full day, while we all played at the waterfront and laughed hysterically as each woman shot out the 400 ft. water slide named White Lightning, I suggested that a great tagline to this retreat would be: “no frills, all thrills”. The women disagreed with me, because they felt quite pampered at Birchwood Wilderness Camp, a summer camp for boys on the Seagull River. One of the women exclaimed that it was most certainly frilly because there was a flushing toilet, and she wasn’t expecting that. Needless to say, these gals were easy to please. Minimal frills, MAXIMUM FUN.
Our host for the weekend, Ashley Bredemus is co-owner of Birchwood Wilderness Camp with her dad Dan Bredemus. Ashley was a tad worried heading into the weekend that the camp would not provide a comfortable enough environment for our group of women. When in fact, this group of women chose the exactly the right type of adventure, because they felt it was incredibly cushy and luxurious. I mean hot showers, flushing toilets, 3 delicious meals a day, and a bunkhouse to sleep in?! Living in luxury!
If you are into the wilderness, happy to spend all of your time outside regardless of weather conditions, content to wear the same clothes nearly everyday, game to sleep in a bunkhouse with screen windows, and can appreciate the wide variety of spiders, caterpillars, and other critters roaming around your home for the weekend - then YEAH this place is absolutely up your alley!!!! With this group of women, it was a perfect fit, and we felt downright spoiled. The staff at Birchwood Wilderness Camp took such good care of us. We were able to enjoy every minute.
The weekend was filled with so much goodness. Yoga on a beautifully, custom-constructed, yoga deck nestled in the boreal forest treetops. A day trip to the BWCA, where we hiked, paddled, portaged, swam, and ate a trail lunch. A day trip excursion to a Birchwood favorite rock climbing spot. Swimming at the Birchwood waterfront and playing like a kid on the waterslide, rope swing, log roll, water trampoline, and more. Two campfire nights: the first night there was a brilliant display of stars, shooting stars, and lightning in the distance - laying on the Eagle’s Nest rock with that vision is something I will never forget. The last night Nora and I (Bryana) created personalized “Camp Awards” for each yogi and we all laughed ‘til we cried.
We social distanced in our respective “Covid couples” arrangements. We masked indoors to grab our food, and headed outdoors to enjoy our meals. We did everything outside. We respected one another’s space, and also had a great time.
My heart grew a few sizes this weekend. My face hurts from smiling. I’m convinced I was just at Neverland, and I most certainly met Peter Pan. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The weekend was powerful to say the least. We were honored to have a group of women spanning 52 years in age join us, empower one another, form friendships, and laugh until we cried.
I never knew leading yoga retreats and working on becoming a wilderness woman would be my path in life, but it turns out it is and makes me feel so very alive. My heart feels so much deep love for what just happened: combining the BWCA and yoga, and sharing it with the most incredible group of women. Birchwood, and the people there, are undoubtedly special. Words and photos just do not do it justice. Thank you isn’t enough.
Gratitude for my partners and the creation of Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats, my BWCA buddy Nora Woodworth helping me share our love for this special place, Ashley Bredemus, Dan Bredemus, Victor Pilon, and Birchwood Wilderness Camp for sharing their extraordinary part of the world, to all 14 yogis who really made the weekend and experience what it was, Katie Ryan for sewing everyone a custom mask and helping with the little things that really are big things.
My heart is so very full, and I have a strong yearning to head back ASAP (like... in 10 minutes, please?) Gosh, it was so much darn fun.
“Someone, somewhere, will say, “Don’t do it. You don’t have what it takes to survive the wilderness.” This is when you reach deep into your wild heart and remind yourself, “I am the wilderness.”
“Joys come from simple and natural things; mist over meadows, sunlight on leaves, the path of the moon over water. Even rain and wind and stormy clouds bring joy.”
SAVE THE BWCA
If you haven’t already - please check out www.savetheboundarywaters.org. Boreal Bliss is a member of Save the BWCA Business Coalition. We are constantly racking our brains on how we can help protect this precious place. It hurts my heart to think of this beauty getting destroyed. Does this look like a place you want around for your lifetime and for future generations? Let’s make sure it is protected.
THANK YOU!
Special thank you to Ashley Bredemus
for the beautiful photos of our weekend!!
Check out Ashley here: anoutdoorexperience.com and on social media: @ashleybredemus.
p.s. I will work on my hair flip for next year Ashley. <3
