My business 'leaders' group - 9 of us - rented the Pacific Peace Retreat facility for our 2-day…read moreworking retreat. It is beautifully appointed for a group that size (or smaller) with lots of beds, bathrooms, work spaces plus a lovely, spacious kitchen! It was winter time but we still had a mind-clearing 'walk and talk' on a nearby beach. Everyone in our group really appreciated the beautiful view and the relaxing, inspiring energy of Pacific Peace Retreat. We will be booking the venue again!!

From the owner: Peaceful accommodation for travellers or personal healing sessions over 2 to 5 days, Pacific Peace…read moreRetreat provides a beautiful water and mountain view that's easy to take. Just a few minutes walk to the beach on the calm waters of Sechelt Inlet, you find yourself in awe of the natural surroundings and the quiet neighbourhood. Many options are available for outdoor activities with kayak rentals close by and Coast Mountain bike trails just a few minutes drive into the hills. The retreat offers secure lock up for mountain bikes or equipment and affordability for families and groups. Personal retreats or healing sessions might be an option you find attractive to help promote healthy lifestyles and spiritual awakenings.

This review is for the Madrona Del Mar Spa…read more Quite disappointed in this spa. I left irritated, the opposite of what I expected (and paid for). The positive: clean place, and the massage by Eric was magnificent. Highly, highly recommend him. The negative: The half hour steam treatment involved getting in and starting the steam room from room temperature. It took half an hour just to get it steamy then had to leave because the treatment was 1/2 hour. Also to add the stone seating was icy cold, though after I finished shivering, I found that as a benefit once it started getting warm in the room. The *Anti-relaxing float tank (for me anyway). Paying full price for said hour of anti-relaxing (my head did not float and thus my neck really started to hurt and salt oozed its way to my eyes... no position helped the relaxing. I spent some time flailing around until realizing that it wasn't going to work). The mega hot dressing room because of no ventilation. Putting fresh clothes on while sweating? Ew. Constructive feedback: Q-tips in the bathroom to get all the water and salt out of the ears, a cooling fan in the change room, and have the steam room ready for the guest so that they actually get something out of it. Maybe an instruction book on what to do in case your body doesn't float like everyone else? Or at least someone nearby who can help. And maybe not fully charge/offer something else to those who don't enjoy any/all of their service. Side note: I was offered a steam room treatment as a token but I already had it...

My husband and I came here for massages & floation therapy in mid-March. Our massage therapy time…read morehad to be re-scheduled as the RMT was sick. I thought we would have to cancel our reservation because we have a dog and we had to check out of our Airbnb. However, the owner graciously allowed us to bring our pup to the Inn and have her hang out in the conference room. It was so kind of her & we really appreciated it. Also, massage was GREAT! We also tried out the flotation therapy (using a groupon!) and that was as neat experience too. We were very pleased with our time at the spa and I'd definitely recommend it. Last thing: I lost our printed receipts for our massages. Since I needed to hand in a copy for insurance, I emailed them asking for a PDF and they emailed to me in no time. Great service!

Receiving a reflexology session from Denise is an experience to be savoured! I still feel like I'm…read morefloating on air for a few hours after my treatment. The added benefit of some aromotherapy oils enhances the feeling of wellness immensely. Thank you, Denise, for your wonderful, healing hands!!

Denise does a fabulous job! Thanksread more

A truly transformative sanctuary. Salt Spring Yoga Centre is the perfect destination for anyone…read moreseeking to discover their life's purpose and deepen their yoga practice. The serene natural surroundings create a deeply meditative atmosphere that stays with you. The volunteers are exceptionally kind, and the Sattvic food is both delicious and nourishing for the soul. It is an absolute must-visit for anyone looking to reboot their system and find true peace. Highly recommended!

Salt Spring Centre of Yoga is a truly magical place. My daughter and I attended their annual…read morecommunity retreat. So many different yoga teachers, all of them excellent; four different venues for yoga classes. The grounds are natural and beautiful. The meals were vegetarian, hearty and delicious, but nothing fancy. The veggies and fruits are from centre's farm. Most of the labor comes from volunteers; some of them yoga teachers in residency, some of them devotees who help work the land and maintain the centre, some are locals members. There is a truly welcoming vibe, friendly people, and a well-run program; the place clearly has solid leadership. The morning, afternoon and evening events were very well attended. This was a family oriented event, with multiple generations, in attendance. They even had a kids program; really darling and mature kids! Their presence only enhanced the experience. Next year they will celebrate their 50th anniversary. We took a room in the Program House; single beds with comfortable mattresses. They have both single and shared rooms, along with the washrooms and yoga room, all are spotless. It seems they have programs all year long. This is the place to go if you want an authentic and connected spiritual yoga experience. They have a website that doesn't seem to be listed on this page https://saltspringcentre.com

Inspired by some Twitter flutter, I purchased two tickets to Bring The Balance's "Do More Less"…read moreworkshop, for Peter S and myself, conveniently just post Valentine's Day. It's the first time I've looked at the price of a yoga class/workshop and thought - yes! That is fantastic value for the event. For $40 you get 3 hours of restorative and yin yoga, a head massage, a foot rub and reiki while you zen out on your comfy mat. Only feedback - make the foot rub longer! What to expect: a very quiet, meditative like evening. Some acoustic music, candles, and at the end - bliss balls. What's lovely is that Chris + Tim do all of the work, so you truly can do more less. From setting up the room, to helping adjust your props, and putting everything away after, I felt like I was floating home. Warning: like any good drug, probably a good idea to steer clear of operating any heavy machinery after one of these evenings.

I attended the "Do Less..." workshop this evening at The Path Yoga Studio, which I purchased…read morethrough Bring the Balance (Tim Cyr ran the event with Chris Brandt). I found the workshop listed on yelp events a while back, and bought my ticket as an early birthday present to myself (I like to get myself a class or workshop as a personal bday present). After tonight's workshop, I've decided to continue celebrating my birthday all year long with the monthly "Do Less" workshop series ... The 11th happens every month, so I can pretend it's like a miniature birthday again, right? Right! I love yin yoga, but I had never tried restorative yoga before, so I looked forward to a combination of the familiar and the new. I had built it up a bit in my expectations (being my very own birthday present and all that), and the actual experience managed to exceed my expectations. The space was fabulous (see my review for The Path), and the workshop itself felt like a yummy and cozy vacation inside a comfy nest. During the 3-hour class (which did not feel that long at all), we did relatively few poses, as is characteristic of yin & restorative yoga, and the instructors' vibe combined with the beautiful space to create an oasis of deep and genuine serenity in the middle of my crazy-end-of-semester life. I loved Tim's & Chris' fun and light-hearted approach because it felt genuine, and was based on a deep respect for the healing power of the practice, and for each of us as individuals. At the core of the fun was a real and true principle: trying to do "too much," as many/most of us do, is not a bad thing to do, but it does require a balancing effort of "doing less" in order to preserve and maintain our good health. So, I look forward to continuing my own personal insanity of work and school in the new year, but now with the balancing effect of these "doing less" moments of bliss. Oh, and they promised us that the scrumptious chocolate "bliss balls" we ate had negative calories, which capped off a perfect evening. I'm also looking into to their weekend retreat in Whistler next June. It's a yoga retreat with hot tubs and happy hour. Sign me up for that...

I was looking for an unusual, authentic experience for my Sunshine Coast weekend, and wow did…read moreDhyana deliver! I bought the three hour package, which begins in the hot tub overlooking snow capped mountains and tranquil harbor. Then on to Lomi Lomi, which I'd never heard of before. To say this is a massage doesn't convey the service. Dhyana is a healer of the truest form. If you are open to her gift your session can be life changing. She starts with singing and prayer, beautiful melodies that roll through your heart and break away any blocked energy. All the while she is performing massage, which is very relaxing. Now that's its been a week since my service, I've noticed that I feel 'lighter', like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I experience more joy and compassion, and seeing more of it returned to me. It's truly magical. I would recommend this experience to anyone who suspects they are missing something from life. Inner Moves is just the place to find it!

From the owner: Inner Moves is a centre for body-mind-spirit wellness that offers a comprehensive program of:…read more- massage, Lomilomi Hawaiian shamanic bodywork, and energy work - personal retreats and group holiday retreats in Canada and Mexico - transformational movement classes in Nia, Yoga and Hawaiian Hula - meditation and chikung workshops - and community gatherings in nature.

Upon arrival, you are greeted with a very tranquil environment. The staff seemed pretty well…read moreorganized, and they provided a really quick but informative tour. They provide slippers, a robe, and a locker card for you and I was promptly shown where to put my belongings. I booked a 60-minute RMT treatment, but was early. I lazed in their lounge area for about 20 minutes. In the lounge, there are light refreshments such as water, coffee, tea, fruits, mixed nuts etc. You could also order off their menu if you please. My RMT was a few minutes behind, but I understand, and she apologized. The massage went great, she was really strong, and intuitive. I then proceeded to the newly renovated Grotto for my allotted 2 hours of soaking and relaxing (it's 2 hours booked time-slot, they don't set the timer for you when you step foot into The Grotto). The entire Grotto area is not large, it is about the size of a standard hotel swimming pool area. It was beautiful, but it's not mind-blowing. The mineral pool takes up the majority of the Grotto, and that was lovely. It had a large waterfall feature that was like a curtain of silence (more on that later). The temperature was perfect and my skin did not prune! There is one cold waterfall (more like a fancy Moen-style fixed showerhead). There is one medium-large hot tub. Outside, there are several (about 6) patio-style tables and chairs, equipped with heat-lamps (for colder months) and medium-large gas fireplace/pits. You could also order food and beverages here (alcohol too). They had 5-6 large wooden barrel-like structures that were the dry saunas. I went mid-week, so I didn't have to share mine with anybody. It is very new and very clean. They also have 2 outdoor showers in case you need to rinse off. There is a self-serve beverage area that serves four different flavours of water varying in effervescence (not kidding). All in all, not a bad experience. PROS: -lovely ambience: I can see if you want to splurge on a mini-spa experience, the Grotto could be a great option ($95 per person, 2 hours stay max) -new facilities: the locker room is large, clean and very nice. The showers were large, clean, and well stocked. The lockers are electronic, so I didn't feel like my belongings were in any danger. They even have one bikini dryer which worked like a charm. -RMT: she was great, very lovely personality, and knew what she was doing CONS: -The Grotto: since I booked an RMT treatment, I had no choice but to add the Grotto (why? Not sure....) Would I have added the Grotto anyway? Sure... but would I pay $95 for a couple of pools and self-serve sparking water? No... Why didn't I get a slight discount for The Grotto since I am already paying for an RMT appointment? Not sure.... I was tempted to go back to the lounge and take the entire bowl of fruit (they featured plums and nectarines that day which are so expensive at the moment) and empty out their mixed nuts dispenser. But I promised I would not let my intrusive thoughts take over my life anymore...-The Grotto rules: there are signs posted everywhere that all guests should speak in quiet voices (much like the Scandinave Spa in Whistler). However, there were a few couples having full blown conversation whilst soaking in the mineral pool. Keep in mind, there is a constant, loud waterfall in The Grotto, so in order to be heard above that noise, you need to speak loudly. That's why I had to take reprieve behind the curtain of silence, because I did not care about whether or not Steve wanted to go back to get those runners. I was also a bit peeved that the staff standing around (2-3 of them at a time) didn't reinforce these rules. In Whistler, they are way more stricter about the silence rule. -The RMT: again, she was lovely and skilled... but $200 for 60 minutes.... Yes, I will get SOME of the money back, but my health coverage pays only for what the average RMT charges across Canada, so I will likely get about $100 back. Again, I get it, it's a resort/spa, it's all about the ambience and location. She did throw in some warm towels, lavender mists etc to make it more "spa-like", but I would not return just for an RMT treatment I can get elsewhere for much cheaper. -The check-out process: If you noticed, I reiterated "treatment" several times. Are you supposed to tip for an RMT treatment? Okay, I get it, it's a resort/spa. I would have tipped my RMT anyway, because it is what it is. The thing that left a really bad taste in my mouth (and it wasn't the lavender mist spray or the strawberry-lemongrass sparkling water), was the AUTO GRATUITY. Now, am I a dunce and didn't read the fine print? Maybe... but I am also only ONE PERSON. I used one towel, one robe, one pair of slippers (which I returned, I swear), and I fetched all my own refreshments. There was a 15% auto-gratuity for BOTH the RMT and THE GROTTO *shakes head* I would have gladly tipped them 15%-20% on my own anyway, but that's not the point. TLDR:Do it once, won't be back

There is a beautiful waterfall as you walk in that sets a wonderful backdrop inside the grotto…read more This beautiful grotto at Tigh Na Mara is calming and relaxing. The water temperatures are within 1 degree of your body and a delight to soak or enjoy a swim. Covid rules limit the number of people to 8 in the grotto. There is also a lounge and tapas restaurant where you can enjoy wine, snacks or tappas afterward. The only downside to visiting the grotto is the cost. Be prepared to spend at least $100 for a couple to enjoy an hour of relaxation.