9 Winters at Deep Portage & Rest Retreat Recap
I had to count it on my fingers twice… this was our 9th winter of yoga retreats at Deep Portage!?! *counts again* Yes. Nine years.
February 2017 marks our first yoga retreat ever. In 2016, Amanda and I went out to Deep Portage on a scouting mission. She was on crutches. We had a blast, and dreamed up all things yoga, winter outdoor fun, and cozy indoor rest.
That first retreat was obviously transformational for us. Some time after that experience we created a formal business. We started traveling to other sweet nature nooks in Minnesota. Here we are, 9 years later!?
We’ve led somewhere around 25 retreats (or more) at Deep Portage alone. We’ve hosted anywhere from 1-3 retreats per year at this special venue since our inception. In total we are creeping somewhere around leading 60 retreats over the years.
No matter the season, no matter the weather, gosh do we love this community space at Deep Portage.
Our theme at this retreat was Rest. Our book club recommendation was Wintering by Katherine May.
“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. Winter is a time of withdrawing from the world, maximising scant resources, carrying out acts of brutal efficiency and vanishing from sight; but that’s where the transformation occurs. Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but its crucible.”
― Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
We also focused on the 7 different types of rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith.
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Sensory
Creative
Social
Spiritual
When folks arrived, they got to contend with some serious ICE ICE, BABY! There was a big melt earlier in the week, and then the cold temps came in, leaving us with glare ice everywhere. Thank goodness for yaktrax.
We relocated Stacy’s mobile sauna. And it was a hit! We got to watch folks enjoying the sauna + cold plunge as we walked past the giant picture windows to and from yoga sessions.
We kicked off the retreat with a mocktail session with The Just Juice Co. Conversations by the fire in the dining hall, sipping on a sweet and healthy mocktail is now my favorite way to enter retreatland.
Followed by - THE FOOD! Can I get a round of applause? Green Scene nails it every time. Two separate people, on separate occasions, told me: “the food is half the experience for me”. This food is a delight of alllll of your senses. Thank you Green Scene.
Our opening circle was cozy with this large group. After we met one another, reviewed group guidelines and started building our “safe group container” with values, traditions, and weekend tips, then we hit our yoga mats. Stacy led us through a lighthearted and welcoming class to send our Friday evenings off in just the right way.
In the morning, some of us braved the icy trails, yaktrax strapped on. We were greeted by a stunning sunrise view on the trail, and atop the tower. For some reason March seems to deliver the clearest skies for sunrise. It’s beyond refreshing to start the day like this.
Jessica led us in meditation after the hike. A focus on winter meets the edge of spring. A relaxing way to find clarity for the day.
In the morning Jessica and Stacy each led different yoga sessions. Our retreaters were able to choose one, or take both! The great thing about our retreats is the empowerment to choose. We really want you to make a retreat your own.
Midday Bryana taught a yoga session with yummy twists. Most notably, many of you liked this poem I read in the session:
UNSTOPPABLE
Unstoppable,
they called her.
But I saw her stop.
I saw her stop many times.
Sometimes,
I thought she had stopped for good.
But no,
she always found a way to resurrect.
Rise again.
Not the same,
never the same.
Each time a little more determined,
and a little less vulnerable.
Unstoppable, they said.
But I think it was in the stopping,
that she found her power.
-Donna Ashworth
In the afternoon, retreaters got to choose between rock climbing wall or book club.
Next up, the choice between a guided nature hike or Root Chakra workshop with Stacy & Cindy. Most people opted for the Root Chakra workshop. Cindy & Stacy did a beautiful job of weaving together the concept of the 7 types of rest, reiki, yoga, sensory engagement with essential oils, and applied mindfulness practices.
Finally, Jessica brought us into total restorative relaxation with a wintering yoga + journaling workshop.
We all raved about our delicious Green Scene dinner. I announced at dinner that our massage therapist Jill had finally seen a Great Gray Owl in a tree as she drove from Deep Portage to her Walker home that evening (she’s been on the search since the last retreat!). In fact, we’ve all been “on the hunt” for Great Gray Owl sightings this winter - it’s unexplainably thrilling to see these beauties!! Quite the adrenaline rush, honestly.
Then we sauntered off to a sound bath + yoga nidra cozy session with Bryana and Jessica.
That night, we had a campfire. The stars were stunningly clear and glittery. The campfire glow, gentle conversation, and sigh of relief in the blanket of darkness was so welcomed.
This was a Saturday WELL spent, if ya ask me.
On our final morning we added finishing touches to our group nature mandala.
We were treated to a meditation session with Stacy, yoga with Jessica, and then closing circle with Bryana.
We wrapped up our time with reviewing concepts from Wintering, recalling savory special moments from the weekend, and ways in which we engaged in the 7 types of rest. I encouraged retreaters to think about/focus on at least one of those 7 types of rest as they transitioned home.
Stacy and I brought the group through a final practice of non-attachment with pitching our nature mandala back to the woods.
Thank you to all of our retreaters! And thank you to this crew! Jessica Baumhofer Frank, Stacy Nightwine: Lake Effect Yoga, Cindy Geibe: Inner Harmony Healing, and Alison Olson Cox Yoga & Thai Yoga Bodywork (not pictured), and Jill Jacobson: massage therapy in Walker, MN (not pictured), Green Scene, Just Juice, and Deep Portage staff. I sincerely appreciate you so very much.
I’m just so very amazed and grateful. That fact that so many of you dedicate time to find rest and retreat in the northwoods with us. AND going on 9 years?! I’m just stunned and grateful.
This was our third and final winter weekend yoga retreat (plus 2 winter day retreats!) in 2025. It now feels like it’s officially time to prepare to usher in Spring.
Save the date for 10 years of Winter Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats at Deep Portage!
February 6-8, 2026
March 6-8, 2026
Kick-off summer with us!
May 30-June 1, 2025 at Sugar Lake Lodge in Cohasset, MN
