AUTUMN SONG: Strength & Release
NOVEMBER 5th – 8th, 2026
Northern Edge Algonquin, Ontario
Take a beat…
Move boldly. Rest deeply.
At the end of autumn, the forest releases. Leaves fall. Light softens. The air sharpens just enough to wake you up. Autumn Song is your invitation to meet the turning of seasons the same way — steady, grounded, and open-hearted. This is a retreat about building strength you can feel in your bones, while softening the places that are ready to let go. A golden pause before the quieter months arrive.
Connect to your body and enliven your spirit by harnessing the energy of the shifting season – a change in earth, nature, air, and light.
Let’s gather together to move intuitively, play openly, and turn inwards.
Lean into strength while surrendering to softness.
Join me and Dana Rogers in Algonquin Provincial Park for 4 beautiful days.
There will be yoga for strengthening, somatic practice, guided walks, nourishing food, and meaningful connection.
This will be a time of deep release before the start of winter.
*****
SCHEDULE
Thursday
2pm – 3:30pm: Arrive, unpack, explore and snacks
3:30pm – 5:30pm: Wood-fired Sauna and optional Cold Plunge
6pm – 7pm: DINNER
7:30pm – 8:15pm: Welcome Circle
8:30pm – 9:30pm: Evening Practice of Gentle Movement and Meditation (Dana + Lee)
Friday
8:30-8:50am: Morning Movement, Breath and Meditation Practice (Dana)
9am BREAKFAST
10:30-11:45am: Morning Hatha Movement (Dana)
12-12:45pm: Guided Walk and Forest Bathing (Lee)
1pm: LUNCH
2pm: Free time
4-5:30pm: Natural Dye Workshop (Edge Facilitator, Wendy Martin)
5:30 – 7:30pm: PIZZA PARTY and Drum Circle/Bonfire
Saturday
8:30-8:50am: Morning Movement, Breath and Meditation (Lee)
9am BREAKFAST
10:30-11:45am: Somatic Practice (Dana)
12-12:30pm: Guided Labyrinth Walk (Lee)
1pm: LUNCH
2pm: Wood-Fired Sauna and Free Time
4:30-5:30pm: Sound Bath with Edge Facilitator, Wendy Martin
6pm: DINNER
7:30-8:45pm: Evening Movement and Bedtime Yoga Nidra Practice (Dana + Lee)
Sunday
7-7:20am: Easy Walk followed by Morning Meditation (lee)
7:30am: DROP IN LIGHT BREAKFAST & COFFEE
8:45 – 9:45am: Morning Yoga Practice (Lee)
10am: Closing Circle
11am: BRUNCH
Good-byes, Photos, and Departure
Schedule is subject to change. Expect surprises, opportunities to explore, time to rest, and quality support from expert staff and facilitators at a magical lake-side retreat.
Travel Note: There is a bus from Toronto to South River. For a nominal fee, staff from Northern Edge will pick you up, if pre-arranged. Plenty of parking on site (If you are driving, once you are north of South River, steer clear of the edge of the road as it is easy to sink into the side gutter which looks like hard ground but is not)! Also, there is limited cell coverage north of South River. If your phone connects to satellite, you can send messages via satellite. If you are interested in car pooling, please contact the Edge.
YOUR RETREAT LEADERS
DANA ROGERS (she/her)
Dana began practising yoga 25 years ago after leaving the world of competitive dance. In the beginning yoga was a way to continue a regular movement practice, and later it became an invaluable tool to heal from addiction and mental health issues. With over 1,000 hours of training in various yoga and transformative modalities, Dana has been guided by incredible teachers from Canada, the U.S., and Central America. In early October 2024, Dana will complete her Clinical Somatic Educator and Therapist certifications. Her experience teaching aerial yoga, yin yoga, breath work, meditation, somatic dreaming, and ceremony, marries scientific and spiritual knowledge to guide people to access intuitive body knowledge over outside messaging. Dana’s aim is to amplify our innate wisdom through intuition and playful exploration – she hopes we all can feel healthy, joyful, and at home in our bodies.
LEE SCOTT (she/her)
Lee has been working as a fitness leader for more than 30 years. Known for her WoW Power Walking program which she created in 2002, she has brought fun, fitness, and marathon training to the pedestrian gait including speaking at fitness and health conferences across North America. Lee has taught all manner of fitness classes over the decades and, in addition to her walking classes, currently focuses on leading strength workouts, yoga and meditation practice livestream. Originally certified as a group fitness leader in 1992, she has been a certified personal trainer and health coach with the American Council of Exercise since 2001. Since 2013, she has completed more than 1,000 hours of yoga teacher. She is co-author of The Walking Solution (Human Kinetics, 2020) and author of Step Outside (Plumleaf Press, 2025).
Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre
Here are a few of the magical places on the property for practice, conversation, and exploration.
Radiance Studio is a brand new 100-square-foot space with stunning views of Algonquin scenery. Radiance features a sprung floor, new sound system, and is stocked with lots of comfy props to support our practices.
The Circular Studio is designed in the shape of a circle for specialty workshops, sound baths, chanting, and small group movement sessions. This is also used as a silent space for personal practice outside of scheduled programming and is stocked with back-jack chairs, blankets, meditation cushions, hand drums, crystal bowls, and an earth gong.
The Dragonfly Dock is a floating platform ideal for sunrise or sunset yoga and meditation, with lots of room for movement. It is also the launch area for paddle sports and swimming, or a great place to curl up with a book. (Note: may be removed by November retreat.)
Points North is a common space with coffee, tea, and snacks served throughout the day. This space is open 24 hours offering bathrooms and shower rooms located a few minutes’ walk away from cabins without en suite facilities.
The Lake House is the central location for dining and food at the Edge. The main Dining Room takes up the main floor which opens onto the Hive Deck and an outdoor waterfront dining spaces. Inside, a small lending library is available for guests to borrow a book during their stay.
The Edge has two fire areas – the largest fire circle is a great space for large groups, while StoneHedge Fire Circle is located on the waterfront, right by the labyrinth.
The Grandmother Cedar Haus is the large, wood-fired sauna with capacity for small groups to share in ceremony or social time together. We’ll fire it up a couple of times during our retreat. Our first afternoon during free time, you’ll have the opportunity to use the sauna during a two hour window after lunch and before the elective. On the following night we’ll stoke the heat after pizza dinner and allow you to circuit between the sauna, lake, and bonfire.
Northern Edge is sustainably powered, their solar system powers lights, CPAP machines, and power to charge small devices only. Unplug from the distractions of technology. With no cell service or wi-fi, relax deeply in nature. Stow your phone – we will stay connected to outside world for you in case of any emergencies, so you can fully recharge your own battery!
Northern Edge offers a variety of accommodation options – private rooms can be reserved or shared rooms for you and one or two friends (old or new). Some rooms/cabins have their own bathrooms including showers, some have compost toilets, and others are a short walk from shower and restrooms. Comfortable feather duvets & colourful linen sheets support a good night sleep.
Shared Habitat Cabins. These pair of cabins feature 2 single beds plus a small loft with a double bed, topped with feather duvets and colourful linens, and are most-suited to sharing with 1-2 friends or other participants. These shared spaces book up fast!: $1434.00 + HST per person
Shared Studio Cabins. Tranquility, Balance, Harmony, and Dreamtime are some of our most popular cabins! Each is equipped with a double bed and single bed. Unity Suite has all the same features, a little extra space, and 3 beds in semi-private cubbies.(2-3 people per cabin): $1554.00 + HST per person
Private Dreamer’s Hill Bedroom. The eco-luxe, colourful bedrooms in Dreamers’ Hill are the only accommodations featuring private showers – impressive given they run on solar power! Three of the five bedrooms come equipped with a 3pc private en-suite bathroom with showers, while two others share a semi-private bathroom & shower. Each room has a queen bed for solo travellers or two twin beds.$1974.00 + HST
Your investment includes:
4 days and 3 nights accommodations
9 delicious and wholesome meals
Wood-fired oven pizza party
2 sauna experiences
Guided walks with published walking expert Lee Scott
Daily all-levels yoga practices
Morning guided meditations to set your mood and frequency for the day
Evening breathwork, restorative, somatics and meditation
Special group experiences with EDGE guest facilitators
All props, including yoga mats, blocks, straps, bolsters, eye pillows, and blankets
Evening bonfire
Coffee, tea, and snacks throughout the day
Opening and closing ceremonies
Ample free time to hike, rest, journal, craft, read, socialize, nap, or anything else you feel inspired by!
What’s NOT Included:
Access to wifi and phone service (emergency email and phone contact through the Edge staff)
Travel to and from Northern Edge Algonquin
MEALTIME AT THE EDGE
A retreat is an opportunity to nourish body, mind, and soul – which is why it makes an amazing difference to feature a mindful selection of meals designed to enhance the
experience. At the Edge, they always do their best to deliver colourful & delicious meals that will be remembered and treasured.
Cooking at the Edge focuses on balancing globally farflung tastes with provincially produced foods. They prepare meals with organic ingredients grown and raised
close to home. Some ingredients come from their lakefront gardens, but most come from local farms and providers.
Vegetarians, vegans, and gluten or dairy free diners have been provided for since the mid-90’s – please inform the retreat centre and your leaders of any dietary restrictions upon booking so you can be accommodated.
Northern Edge is the first certified member of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Association’s Feast ON “Certified Taste of Ontario” program. Award winning in-house chef, Gregor Waters (the legendary “Cookie G”) loves to bring his food story to life for his guests.
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What our Clients are Saying…
Lee’s coaching makes all the difference for power walkers at all levels. Her proven methods of interval training and hill work, combined with her positive attitude and decades of experience, will prepare you for any race. Her great advice to “trust the training” carried me through a recent marathon. Above all, her classes are fun, friendly and inclusive.