‘EXPLORE YOUR FUSION RETREAT: CREATING Space for joy’
—with Stacy Joyce and Martha Carter
OHM Centre, Vancouver ISLAND, BC
Friday, May 30 - Monday, June 2, 2025

—along with special guest, Patricia Horvath (author of All the Difference).

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

QUESTIONS? Email us!

This workshop will be held at Open Heart Mind Centre (OHM) in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, BC. MAP

ABOUT THE RETREAT

Join us for an intimate wellness retreat for people who have scoliotic spinal fusions. Discover practices that promote ease in body, mind, and soul, supported by a nurturing community. 

Immerse yourself in gentle therapeutic yoga, revitalizing breathwork, and deep relaxation. Engage in creative writing, commune with nature, and experience various healing practices to enrich your stay. Enjoy catered meals, scenic walking trails, beachcombing, refreshing cold water ocean swims, hot tubs, mountain vistas, and more to add to the experience.

This retreat will enhance body awareness, improve range of motion, relieve pain, boost confidence, and cultivate meaningful personal connections. Whether you are just starting your fusion journey or are well-experienced, you will find a supportive environment in which to be nourished—and create space for joy.

ABOUT THE DESTINATION
Vancouver Island is renowned for wild, untamed beaches that are an idyllic summer sanctuary, and a hub for storm-watching, surfing, and skiing in the winter. In addition to its endless list of hiking, camping, whale-watching, and paddling adventures, there are also old-growth forests, endless beach combing and golfing. The Comox Valley is acclaimed for its incredible array of products harvested and created from its wild oceans and fertile soils, including organic vegetables, wild fish, free-range meats, and local chocolates, baked goods and wines. This workshop will be held at the wonderful new Open Heart Mind Centre (OHM) located in Merville in the Comox Valley. It’s a quick plane trip from Vancouver, or you can arrive via a stunning ferry ride. Note: If you’re flying in from an east coast (or smaller) city, we recommend booking a separate flight to Comox from Vancouver to get the best rate!

ABOUT STACY JOYCE
Stacy specializes in yoga for people with scoliosis and spinal fusion. She underwent an 11-vertebrae spinal fusion with Harrington rods at 16 years old in 1994. Two years later she discovered yoga as a means to reconnect with her body after years of pain, recovery, and bracing. In 2012 she learned about Yoga for Scoliosis & Fusions, and began studying with Deborah Wolk. Stacy completed Elise Browning Miller’s Yoga for Scoliosis Trainer program in 2020. Her mission is to share her expertise and help those with spinal fusions discover the holistic benefits of yoga.

Stacy is expanding her work through Pilates. She completed Modules 1 & 2 of Scolio-Pilates, and plans to complete the program in 2025. Find Stacy at www.spinalfusionyoga.com or on Instagram @scoliosisfusion.

ABOUT MARTHA CARTER
Martha is a therapeutic movement specialist for scoliosis and spinal fusions, offering classes, workshops, and retreats in Gentle Yoga and Somatics. Synthesizing her knowledge as a dance artist with her love of therapeutic methods, she guides participants to discover increased strength, length, alignment, and mindfulness in the whole soma—body, mind and soul. Her welcoming approach is accessible to all levels and abilities. Martha is a certified teacher of both Yoga for Scoliosis based on the teachings of Elise Browning Miller, and Essential Somatics™ based on the work of Thomas Hanna. She has also studied Energy Medicine and Trauma Release techniques, which she weaves into all her classes to help participants with pain relief while enhancing their movement potential. Martha is the founder and director of Twisted Outreach Project for Back Care and Scoliosis (TOPS), a Canadian-based non-profit that provides a range of holistic and creative approaches to working with back care and scoliosis. Martha’s full bio can be found here.

FULL RETREAT PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• All classes

• 3 nights accommodation in beachside cabins (single and double occupancy rooms are available), with local camping option also available. Email us if interested in camping.

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Tea bar + all-day snacks.

• Transportation to/from the airport, ferry, or bus station in the Comox Valley as needed

• Local transport for meals/activities during the retreat

• Access to class recordings following the retreat

• Handouts with ideas, exercises, drawings, and descriptions to help you create and continue your own practice

• Optional group discussion, activities, outings

• All registrants can access class recordings following the retreat.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• NEWLY ADDED - An online attendance opportunity is available — email us if you are interested!

MEALS

Lunch and dinner will be customized for the retreat by a caterer using local ingredients from the lush Comox Valley. Breakfast will be self-serve style in each cabin where the fridge will be stocked with all the necessities.

COST:

• Full Retreat Package -

  • Single Room: $1,495 - $1,600 CAD + tax.

  • Shared Room: $1,360 - $1,405 CAD + tax.

• Commuter Package (everything included EXCEPT breakfast, dinner, and accommodation) - $805 CAD +tax.

Sliding scale is always available based on financial need. Low-income participants and students, ask us about scholarship opportunities.

USA PARTICIPANTS: CHECK CAD TO USD $ EXCHANGE RATE HERE.

PAYMENT POLICY

Registration & Deposit Deadline - 2 Months Prior to Retreat.
As a non-profit, we need to know we have enough registrations required to fulfill our financial obligations to pay studios, accommodations, teachers, caterers, etc, by their deposit deadlines. Save $50 (incl. tax) on our Full Retreat Package when you register by our Registration Deadline of March 30, 2025 - use coupon code EXPLORE2025 during registration.

30% deposit due at registration; balance due 2 weeks prior to Retreat.

NOTE: Prior to completing your registration, you will see an orange button option to ‘Pay Now’ (this will be the full amount) OR to ‘Pay CA $XXX Deposit Now’ (the 30% deposit amount).

ACCOMMODATIONS

Just down the road from the OHM Centre, participants can stay in charming, rustic beachside cabins at The Alders Beach Resort. The two and three-bedroom cottages at The Alders Beach Resort offer both shared and en-suite bathrooms plus a shared kitchen and living area.

Limited private bedrooms are available.

NOTE: All cabin and room bookings first come, first serve.

RETREAT SCHEDULE
(Subject to Change)

Friday

• 4:00-5:30pm - Arrivals

• 6:00-7:30pm - Dinner

• 7:30-8:30pm - Introduction to Workshop

Saturday

• 7:30-9:00am - Self serve breakfast in the cabins

• 9:00-9:30am - Travel to studio (1 mile distance)

• 9:30-12:00pm - Session 1

• 12:00-1:30pm - Lunch at OHM

• 1:30-4:00pm - Break

• 4:00-5:30pm - Session 2

• 5:30-6:00 - Travel to cabins for dinner

• 6:00-7:30pm - Dinner

• Post dinner: optional group activity

Sunday

• 7:30-9:00am - Self serve breakfast in the cabins

• 9:00-9:30am - Travel to studio

• 9:30-12:00pm - Session 3

• 12:00-1:30pm - Lunch at OHM

• 1:30-4:00pm - Break

• 4:00-5:30pm - Session 4

• 5:30-6:00pm - Travel to cabins for dinner

• 6:00-7:30pm - Dinner

Monday

• 7:30-9:00am - Self serve breakfast in the cabins

• 9:00-10:00am - Checkout

• 10:00-10:30am - Travel to studio

• 10:30-12:30pm - Session 5

• 12:30-1:30pm - Lunch at OHM and Departures

TRANSPORTATION
Participants are responsible for arranging transportation to the Comox area. Merville (where OHM Centre is located) is 10 minutes from Courtenay/Comox, which has two airports: regular and sea plane. Access is also possible by car or bus via the ferry from Vancouver. TOPS will arrange for your airport or bus terminal pickup and transportation to the retreat centre.

**Coming from further afield? If you’re flying in from an east coast city (or a smaller city), we recommend booking a separate flight to Comox from Vancouver. Flights booked all the way through to Comox, B.C. can be at a much higher rate than necessary. Questions? Contact us.

Interested in a longer trip to BC?
Extend your time, either before or after the workshop! Consider a visit to Victoria (the capital of BC, at the southern tip of Vancouver Island), enjoy exploring the old growth forests on Vancouver island, book a whale watching tour, visit Tofino (a small ‘gem’ of a town on the far west side of Vancouver island). Or consider travelling through Seattle for a couple of days (only a 2.5 hr drive to/from Vancouver!). Let us know if we can answer any questions or help with ideas.

Cancellation Policy: $30 processing fee for cancellations up to four weeks prior to retreat start date; 30% non-refundable within four weeks of retreat start date; 100% non-refundable within two weeks of retreat start date.
Note: in the event that borders are shut / travel is banned by Government or public health mandate due to Covid-19, all registrants will receive a full refund, less $30 processing fee.

ADDITIONALLY, IN CASE YOU’RE INTERESTED…

**Check out other retreat offerings at Open Heart Mind Centre (OHM)!

Finding Center: Exploring the Plumb Line of the Asymmetric Body with Deborah Wolk

Through anatomy, asana and pranayama, Deborah will define common ideas of the midline and the plumb line as well as explore Eastern ideas of an energetic center. Students will learn how to better balance a personal feeling of center leading to more efficient breath and energy.