~ B R E A T H E ~
A 4-Day Embodied Exploration into the Nature of Exchange
May 7-11, 2027 @ Hollyhock Retreat Centre, Cortes Island, BC
With Marianne Bernhard & Ruth Levin
What would it feel like to inhabit and live from a truly sustainable place of reciprocity?
…For each inhale and exhale to be a part of a renewal of belonging, volition and exchange?
What does nature - trees in particular - have to teach us about a process of sustainable exchange?
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Come join us deep in the luxurious forest on the coast of Cortes Island, BC for BREATHE. Four days of immersive, embodied therapeutic art practice exploring the nature of exchange.
Over the course of these four days and four nights at the gorgeous Hollyhock Retreat Centre you will be guided into deep experience of your embodied and archetypal self. We will land in our bodies, in our felt sensation, allowing our nervous systems to come into a place of restoration, cradled by ocean and old growth forest. Through Halprin Life Art Processes, we will uncover layers of pattern and meaning related to your experiences of exchange in your life. We will learn about and explore the lungs in an embodied way. We will venture out to connect through our felt senses with the forest and trees of Hollyhock, as nature’s living masters of support and exchange. We will channel these experiences - alone and together - to uncover layers of meaning and insight, bringing them back into motion and sharing to celebrate, integrate and land again, renewed.
We hope you will join us for BREATHE: Reset your nervous system and uncover an embodied experience of reciprocal, nourishing exchange.
What you can expect to leave with:
A stronger sense of communion with nature
A serious detox from the toxins, pace, stressors and enervations of modern life
A genuinely rested, nourished nervous system - come back to zero
A renewed, empowered and more sustainable approach to giving / receiving and exchange in your life
Good to know:
We will move through a wide range of artistic exploration and sharing during our time together - these include: moving/dancing, drawing, sharing… and others
No dance or other artistic experience required whatsoever
Curiosity, openness to exploration and a desire for a deep, whole system exhale are good pre-requisites
Hollyhock is an extremely precious and beautiful spot on planet earth - just being there will be restorative
Accommodation, three delicious meals a day and all supplies needed are included in your registration fees
A documentary film-maker will be joining us during the last day of the experience to capture film of those who feel comfortable with this. We commit to this being a non-intrusive and tasteful experience for you. Please see below for more information.
Getting to Hollyhock and Cortes Island is a serious adventure - and totally worth it. Please see below for more information on getting to/from.
What to bring:
High quality rain gear + warm clothing! Though we will have a lovely indoor space in which to work, we will move, be and explore outside as much as possible. Please bring clothing to ensure you can stay comfortable and warm while we do this. You can expect average daytime highs around 14°C (57°F) and nighttime lows hovering near 7°C (45°F) - and lots of rain.
Water bottle / thermos / both
Comfortable, stretchy and/or loose fitting clothing. Bring layers of differing weight and warm to adjust to activity and temperatures.
(Optional) Your own journal and art supplies. (We will provide, however you may want to bring your own as well).
(Optional) Items for a nature altar.
Registration
Registration includes:
Four nights accommodation
Three delicious meals a day (light snacks, tea, coffee and hot water in between)
Access to much of Hollyhock’s grounds (certain areas off-limits for other groups): outdoor hot tubs, beach, forest, beautiful and welcoming indoor and outdoor dining areas
Ability to participate in general/open Hollyhock activities like morning yoga
Complimentary shuttle service to/from any dock on Cortes Island to/from Hollyhock
Hollyhock provides a range of accommodation options during our time together. Our registration fees are scaled to align with these.
Select from the accommodation styles below to reserve your space today.
Nice — this actually makes the math clean since it becomes three equal installments.
FEES:
*1/3 of total — due at booking, refundable if canceled before Aug 15; non-refundable after Aug 15
Registration is done in three equal payments: Deposit, due at booking; Payment 2, Mar 15; Payment 3, Apr 16.
SCHOLARSHIPS are available for those in need. Please contact Ruth for more infomation.
6-share dorm (6 available): $1,997 + GST [deposit + two more equal payments of $665.67 + GST]
3-share single house (3 available): $2,397 + GST [deposit + two more equal payments of $799+ GST]
2-share double rooms with a bathroom shared between you (8 available): $2,597 + GST [deposit + two more equal payments of $865.67 + GST]
Single room with shared bath (1 available): $2,997 + GST [deposit + two more equal payments of $999 + GST]
CONTACT RUTH for payment links and methods to reserve your place today.
Early bird bonus: anyone who books (deposit paid) by Aug 15 receives a complimentary 1:1 session with Marianne or Ruth (participant's choice), to be scheduled before the retreat. Pay in full by Aug 15 and receive two complimentary 1:1 sessions.
Cancellation Policy
Before March 15, 2026: Your deposit (1/3 of total registration fee) is fully refundable if you need to cancel. After March 15, 2026 (early bird deadline): Your deposit becomes non-refundable. Any additional payments made beyond the deposit are refundable if you cancel before April 16.
After April 16, 2026: All payments made are non-refundable. If you're unable to attend, you're welcome to transfer your registration to someone else.
We understand life happens, and we want this policy to be fair to you while allowing us to plan responsibly for a small, intimate group. If you have questions or need to discuss a different payment arrangement, please reach out to Ruth directly.
Space and accommodation is limited - register via the links above or reach out to Ruth to reserve your space today.
Schedule:
May 7, Wednesday: Arrival between 3-5pm; Dinner at 6:30pm, Orientation followed by a short evening session
May 8-10, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Full days of exploration - exact schedule to follow.
May 11, Sunday: Breakfast, morning session, lunch at 12:30pm, departure.
Your Guides:
About Marianne - more info here.
NOTE on Documentary Film-making:
This workshop is being supported by a non-profit focused on supporting environmental awareness through film. Therefore, a part of the purpose of this workshop is to create material for a short documentary film on the relationship between our bodies, our lungs in particular, and trees and forests, to help draw the link between body and planet. There will be a documentary film-maker present on the last day of our time together. Agreement to be captured on film during this day is optional. Sensitivity(ies) will be present around more intimate footage and room to decline being filmed as a sole individual is welcomed / ok. If you have questions or feel challenged by this, please let Ruth know during your registration process.
Here is an example of the type of film and material we will be working towards.
Getting to/from Hollyhock (Cortes Island, BC): Your best resource to explore travel to-from Hollyhock is on the Hollyhock website, here.
