‘FEEL GOOD TWISTED WEEKEND: SCOLIOSIS EDUCATION & EXPLORATION’ retreat
with Martha Carter and Claudia Katherine
OHM Centre, Vancouver ISLAND, BC
October 4 - OCTOBER 7, 2024

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

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

ABOUT THE RETREAT

Are you interested in learning more about your scoliosis, imbalanced spine, spinal fusion, or related conditions?

Would you like to meet other people with the same condition while learning gentle exercises to help ease the discomfort?

Empower yourself with the gifts of knowledge and new awareness to help you!

This 4-day/3-night weekend is a unique chance to intensively explore your own twisted and curved spine with the guidance of two experienced therapeutic spine specialists. Activities will include gentle scoliosis-focused movement classes, group discussions, and a solo assessment session—along with beach walks and delicious catered meals at charming rustic ocean-side cabins. By the end of the weekend, you will have new tools to support yourself in all your activities as you continue your scoliosis journey. You will come away with the beginnings of a custom-fit personal movement practice tailored to your specific needs for continued exploration at home.

Give yourself a break and join us on the beautiful east coast of Vancouver Island to explore new things, meet new people, and enjoy the incredible nature.

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.

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.

ABOUT CLAUDIA KATHERINE
Claudia is a Scoliosis Coach who helps people around the world feel confident in their curves, whilst helping them to slow progression and reduce scoliosis-related pain. She has her own severe three curve scoliosis so understands what mental and physical toll it can take on our mind and body. She has 6 years experience working as a Personal Trainer and Yoga Teacher in high end gyms and studios around London and Vancouver. During her time in the fitness industry, she noticed the scoliosis world was lacking trainers and yoga teachers who could understand her and her clients' curves, and took matters into her own hands. 

In summer of 2022, Claudia attended our TOPS Yoga, Scoliosis, and the Nervous System: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic retreat with teacher Deborah Wolk on Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada. Soon after that she completed her Yoga for Scoliosis certification with Elise Browning Miller and, in 2023, she completed Module 1 and 2 of Scolio-Pilates with Karina Tek. Claudia was also a teaching assistant to Martha Carter at our TOPS 2023 Soothing Somatics for Bad Backs retreat in Mexico AND Claudia and Martha co-taught the first ever Feel Good Twisted Weekend retreat together in fall 2023!

Claudia creates scoliosis-related content for Instagram and TikTok; she also has a podcast and YouTube page full of scoliosis-friendly workouts, yoga classes and tips. Find out more about Claudia at feelgoodspine.com.

FULL RETREAT PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• All classes

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

• 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 for download following the retreat

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

• Optional group discussion, activities, outings

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• This retreat is offered in person only with some recordings available for remote students.

• All registrants can access and download the class recordings following the retreat.

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: Ranges from $1,275 - $1,575 CAD + tax, dependent on your accommodation selection (first come, first serve).
  NOTE: Discount on full package if you register before our Registration Deadline — details below under Payment Policy!
  Limited private bedrooms are available.
  Email us if interested in local camping.
  See Alders cabins + other options and register for full retreat package below.

• Commuter Package with Lunch (includes everything except accommodations, breakfast and dinner) - $775 CAD + tax.

Sliding scale is 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 August 4, 2024 - use coupon code FEELGOOD2024 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 will stay in charming, rustic beachside cabins at The Alders Beach Resort. The two and three-bedroom cottages offer both shared and en-suite bathrooms plus a shared kitchen and living area.

Other options include a shared loft studio or an Airstream trailer.

Limited private bedrooms are available.

If there is not an accommodation showing that suits you, please contact us.

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

RETREAT SCHEDULE
(Subject to Change)

Friday

• Arrivals

• 6:00-7:30pm - Dinner

• 7:30-8:30pm - Introductory session

Saturday

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

• 9:30am-12:00pm - Movement Session 1 (including Q&A)

• 12:00-1:30pm - Lunch

• 1:30-4:00pm - Break

• 2:00-3:30pm - Individual Assessments

• 4:00-5:30pm - Movement Session 2

• 6:00-7:30pm - Dinner

• Post dinner: Optional group activity

Sunday

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

• 9:30-12:00pm - Movement Session 3 (including Q&A)

• 12:00-1:30pm - Lunch

• 1:30-4:00pm - Break

• 2:00-3:30pm - Individual Assessments

• 4:00-5:30pm - Movement Session 4

• 6:00-7:30pm - Dinner

• Post dinner: Optional group activity

Monday

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

• 10:00-11:30am - Movement Session 5

• 11:30-12:30pm - Final Wrap-up / Discussion

• 12:30-1:30pm - Lunch 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. 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.

QUESTIONS? Email us!

ADDITIONALLY, IN CASE YOU’RE INTERESTED…

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

Somatics for Asymmetrical Bodies: Fluid Floor Connecting to the Floor with Laura M Gates

This retreat will highlight the lower torso, pelvis, pelvic floor, hips, and details for legs and feet. Perfect for people with these issues, and also teachers and practitioners wanting to learn more.