‘hello JOY !’
find your light - the playful life
our arts + movement retreat
may 2 - 4, 2025
With Madelyn Mulvaney
of the Luminous Studios
MAY 2025
Friday- Sunday
Friday, May 2nd
3:00pm start
to Sunday, May 4th
11:00am close
“The natural movement of the heart is to lift upward.”
RETREAT OVERVIEW
Join Madelyn Mulvaney, Luminous Studios Founder, on a playful, embodied wellness retreat enjoying a creatively expressive weekend at Nectar Yoga on Bowen Island. Nectar Yoga has been featured in the New York Times as a top destination for Island Trips from Vancouver! Connect to your own beautiful soulful self, enjoy a little restorative pleasure and elevate your social wellbeing by connecting to a beautiful creative community.
MEDITATION: Rest the mind
BREATHWORK: Emotional balance/Stress Management/Immune function/Vitality
JOURNAL: unearth deeper longings and SHIFT / Create your life with intention setting
CREATE: connect to your pure innate spirit and natural rhythm - uplift with PLAYful Art workshops
NOURISH: healthy vibrant nourishment to supercharge your overall wellbeing
Reconnect - Recharge - playfully!
Our Luminous retreat ‘Hello JOY’ is our most popular retreat. This restful and uplifting retreat’ will explore creative art workshops (painting/wood carving/clay creations) in self expression along with yoga/journaling/breathwork/poetry! - practices intended to re-awaken a connection to inner joy in the most playful way.
Come back to who you are - no one else has your gifts, your passion, your skills or your way of moving through the world. Come back to your pure authentic expression of yourself so you can bring things to the world that no one else ever has or ever will.
Immerse your spirit during these cheery three days at Nectar Yoga, a beautiful sanctuary 20 minutes off the coast of Vancouver on the ancestral and unceded territory of Nexwlélexwm (Bowen Island, BC). (And by the way, Conde Nast Travel lists Nectar Yoga as one of the best yoga retreats in the US and Canada.)
Brighten your connection to self, community, spirit - and discover beautiful new friendships on a peaceful and magical island. To read more about Nectar Yoga, click here.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
2-night accommodation of your choice*
*(if you choose a shared accommodation, we suggest booking with a friend)All meals (2 dinners, 1 lunch, 2 breakfasts) that nourish mind, body and spirit - Vegetarian /Vegan/ -
Welcome circle
Opening breath work workshop with Sandy Pandher focusing on awakening the heart Saturday morning followed by a morning pages journaling session
morning walking meditation on the soulful grounds of Nectar Yoga forest Sunday morning with Madelyn Mulvaney
A mindful Visionboarding session to softly hold questions, shape aspirations for your year. Unearth what you wish to move away from and move towards.
Create! A highly expressive canvas abstract painting in a workshop led by British Artist Pip Adams to bring you back into your body and soul
Create! - a stunning personally designed cedar vase with designer Jackie of JAK designs Jackie of JAK designs
Create! a hand pinched pot with clay
enjoy the Nectar hot tub to sooth your body and relax your spirit, enjoy revitalizing cold ocean plunges to reset your nervous system (both optional) - enjoy an evening by our bonfire to connect and laugh together with our little retreat community
be ‘gifted’ with our welcome tote which includes a journal and other lovely goodies including a Rose Quartz for loving crystal elevation
Lots of personal time to wander and dream and rejuvenate your spirit - or book yourself a session on site at the magical MIST Thermal opening Fall 2024. (this is not included in the retreat offerings but available for you to book yourself if you are interested)
Consider booking a mindful, embodied photography session with Whitney Tfankedjian of Tulā - Community (this is also not included in the retreat offerings but available for you to book for yourself if you are interested)
Closing sharing circle
THE PRACTICES
Our Creative Play Retreat intends to spark your creative flow through breath, movement, spirited workshops and cheery group practices with a like-minded community. Whether you consider yourself to be an artistic person or not, we are all flowing with creative potential, and this retreat will inspire you to enjoy delightful ‘making’.
Meditation
Our morning group walking meditation is focused on connecting to mother earth. The gorgeous 20-acre forested setting at Nectar will inspire the senses and quiet the mind.
Movement/Breathwork
During our breathwork/walking meditation movements we will invite in alignment based flow, functional movement, conscious presence and fun - all cozy in the yoga dome and on the stunning property forest ! When we feel free in the body, the portal of creative awakening opens.
“A world without beauty would be unbearable.”
Creativity
Nectar Yoga sits in the lush Pacific Northwest surrounded by evergreen coniferous forests. Each of our illuminating Arts/Journaling sessions will be lead by Madelyn and Luminous Arts instructors/Independent Artisans. Madelyn is a warmhearted, upbeat leader of group retreats and the Founder of Luminous Art Studios.
We will explore creative journaling, vision boarding/a gorgeous floral canvas painting with Acrylics, designing our own cedar vase, hand form a beautiful pinched clay pot - and you will also take home a beautiful gift of a Quartz crystal /journal in your welcome tote.
No previous art experience is necessary!
THE FOOD
During your retreat, you will enjoy delicious and nourishing plant-based meals curated by the kitchen at Nectar Yoga. All meals are served in our Onyx Lodge at our long table, cheery, chatty family style.
Please note: Nectar Yoga’s kitchen is a strictly meat + fish free facility.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Whether you choose these cozy, vintage-inspired A-frames, the well-appointed deluxe cottages, or the simple private rooms, the moment you step into your accommodation, you know you’ve entered a joyful, peaceful and cozy place to unwind and relax.
Each space is imbued with its namesake stone’s positive vibrational properties and colour accents for support, grounding and attunement to the natural world.
DELUXE COTTAGES | Amethyst, Jade and Quartz (Quartz and Amethyst is now fully booked and the Jade cottage LOFT is now also booked but two spaces still left in the Jade cottage)
Shared Accommodation | Sleeps 2 in Twin Beds with attached bath and also has a loft for one individual with a total of three in each cottage
Scandinavian-inspired deluxe cottages were designed with simplistic coziness in mind. Comfy beds, soft linens, fluffy pillows and a reading window seat offer perfect places to snuggle up to a loved one, or with a good book and a warm mug of tea. Wake up and take a luxurious morning shower in the gorgeous bathroom, or take it outside in the steamy, year-round outdoor shower adjoining the bathroom. A covered porch lined with warm cedar perches you with a perfect view of the property’s centrepiece, our magnificent maple and alder grove trees.
Choice of 2 XL twin beds *close together, so we recommend booking with a friend
Each cottage also has a loft with a double futon on the floor. *the loft sleeps one guest. Regarding accessibility, please be aware the loft has a small ladder to get up to it.
Covered front deck with year-round seating
Reading nook with picture window
Writing desk
Mini fridge, kettle, mugs, assorted teas
Ensuite bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower
Natural, locally-made toiletries
Smart TV and in-room Wi-Fi
Clean, non-smoking facility
FOREST COTTAGE | Moonstone
Shared Accommodation | Sleeps 2 in Twin Beds with attached bath
This cottage offers similar amenities as our deluxe cottages with added seclusion. Wake up to sunbeams illuminating the room through the windows before sipping tea on your porch nestled on the edge of our Alder grove. After a day of exploring the Island, a rustic outdoor shower awaits you, stocked with sweet-smelling, natural products to lather on.
Choice of 2 XL twin beds *close together, so we recommend booking with a friend
Private deck
Reading chairs
Mini fridge, kettle, mugs, assorted teas
Ensuite bathroom (toilet and sink, shower outside)
Outdoor shower (located on the deck)
Natural, locally-made toiletries
Wi-Fi
Clean, non-smoking facility
A-FRAMES | Opal, Jasper and Sunstone (Sunstone is now booked)
Private Accommodation | Sleeps 1 in a Double Bed with detached shared bath
Warm, pine-clad angled walls welcome you at our modernized 60s-throwback A-frames. The comfy beds and luscious linens await your dreams, while the picture window and its lush foliage views await your daydreams. Use the space for creative pursuits, or as a basecamp for a walk in the forest. Rainy day? Sit outside on your covered porch and enjoy the fresh, pine-scented ocean air and the sound of raindrops caressing the old-growth trees.
Private Accommodation, sleeps 1 guest
1 double bed
Covered front deck with year-round seating
Access to 2 shared, detached bathrooms with shower
Natural, locally-made toiletries
Wi-Fi available in the Onyx Lodge
Clean, non-smoking facility
ONYX LODGE ROOMS | Emerald + Turquoise + Amber
EMERALD ROOM
Shared Accommodation | Sleeps 2 in Twin Beds with attached bath
Located upstairs in the Onyx Lodge, this simple shared room with attached bath is the perfect oasis for your retreat journey. Enjoy the pine clad attic ceilings, cozy carpet and lovingly appointed attached bathroom with rain shower.
Twin Beds
*(image shows room set as a king, but beds pull apart as twins)
*Beds close together, so we recommend booking with a friendAttached bathroom with shower
Natural, locally-made toiletries
Smart TV
In-room Wi-Fi
Clean, non-smoking facility
ONYX LODGE
TURQUOISE ROOM - FULLY BOOKED
Private Accommodation | Sleeps 1 in a Double Bed with shared, detached bath
This cozy room is the perfect space for solo travelers. The window opens to a view of our property and the comfy bed offers a space for restful sleep.
*Please note that these rooms are located upstairs in the Onyx Lodge, so some sound from the kitchen and Onyx Lodge gathering space is to be expected during waking hours.
Double bed
Detached, shared bathroom with shower
Natural, locally-made toiletries
Smart TV
In-room Wi-Fi
Clean, non-smoking facility
ONYX LODGE
AMBER ROOM
Private Accommodation | Sleeps 1 in a Double Bed with shared, detached bath
Very similar to the Turquoise room, this cozy room is the perfect space for solo travelers. The window opens to a view of our property and the comfy bed offers a space for restful sleep.
*Please note that these rooms are located upstairs in the Onyx Lodge, so some sound from the kitchen and Onyx Lodge gathering space is to be expected during waking hours.
Double bed
Detached, shared bathroom with shower
Natural, locally-made toiletries
Smart TV
In-room Wi-Fi
Clean, non-smoking facility
THE PRACTICE SPACE - The Geodesic Dome
Our geodesic dome is the sacred hub of Nectar. To preserve and respect this energy, we ask that the space is used mindfully.Usage of the dome includes all props (blocks, bolsters, blankets, straps). We encourage guests to bring their own mats. If props are used, it is asked that they are put away mindfully.During the cooler months we heat the dome with a wood burning fireplace. Perfect for adding the element of fire in the cooler months. Guests are advised to dress in layers to maintain their preferred body temperatures.
THE ONYX LODGE | Lounge & Dining Room
Your arrival at Nectar Yoga is down a long forested driveway, across a bridge over a babbling stream, and at the end will emerge our Onyx Lodge, Nectar Yoga's communal gathering space.
Outside the Onyx Lodge is a parking area and a central check-in boutique, Nectar Goods, that welcomes our arriving guests. The front entry has an enclosed boot room with adjoining bathroom. After removing your outdoor gear, you will enter into the central space. With soaring 25' ceilings overlooking the alder forest, casual sofas and lounge chairs, a long family dining table, double doors that open to a covered outdoor space with a secondary seasonal dining area and relaxing outdoor sofas.
WHAT TO BRING
A smile or two!
Your favorite snacks
a book if you wish
Layered clothing for the season
a yoga mat (although we have them here as well)
Must have: a fresh Journal and pens for our journaling session together if you have one that is special to you otherwise a blank journal is included in your welcome tote
Water bottle
Travel mug
Waterproof footwear
Comfortable clothing
Any crystals or tools you generally incorporate into your practices
If you have a meditation pillow that you love to use, please bring along.
THIS RETREAT IS FOR YOU IF…
You love the outdoors!
You long to make some art and learn some fun techniques to create beauty
You want to connect more with yourself in a restful uplifting space
You like slow, mindful yoga practice
You want some playful, peaceful time for introspection, for yourself so you can bring your best self to the world.
INVESTMENT & REGISTRATION
$875.00 - $995.00 All-inclusive (please view our registration page for room costs)
Payment in full required to secure your space. Non-refundable, non-transferable.
Payment can be made by Credit Card online or via e-transfer.
Taxes applicable – all prices are in Canadian dollars
*Travel to/from Nectar Yoga on Bowen Island is not included
PAYMENT TERMS & CONDITIONS
Once booked, this retreat is non-refundable. If you cancel at least one month in advance of the retreat you will be issued a credit valid for 18 months that you can use towards any offering at the Luminous Studios. No refunds will be given.
ABOUT MADELYN
Madelyn is a teacher, speaker, photographer and passionate advocate for self awareness through the arts. Founder of the Luminous Studios (formerly known as the Luminous Elephant) she creates bright, imaginative curriculum in the arts for children and adults and is deeply passionate about the joy of getting away to recharge at retreats.
ABOUT THE LUMINOUS INSTRUCTORS
The Artists at Luminous Studios are handpicked for their gift of teaching from the heart – wildly creative, happy and kind-hearted, who develop authentic relationships with their students.
Our collaborating artists are sunny advocates for awakening inner joy in a beautiful environment where we all grow and learn from each other.
ABOUT ANDREA - The founder of Nectar Yoga
Andrea (the founder/owner of Nectar Yoga) is a visionary, with a deep desire to lead people to witnessing their own, distinctly unique, wholeness through grounded embodied physical techniques and lesser-known esoteric practices.
Inspired by her life in the forest, both her personal practice and offerings change with the cyclic tides of the seasons. Andrea is the Creatrix and Co-Owner of Nectar Yoga Retreat, founded in September 2014. The space was created with the heartfelt desire to lead people back home. Home in the body, home in nature, home in the seen and unseen realms. The heartbeat behind Nectar Yoga along with her husband Satjeet you will experience the magic of this soul created place on Bowen island.
ABOUT NEXWLÉLEXWM (BOWEN ISLAND)
We humbly and respectfully acknowledge that we reside on Nexwlélexwm (Bowen Island), the ancestral and unceded territory of the Squamish Nation. Nestled in the Howe Sound, this small island has big heart. The tight-knit community of 3,800 or so year-round residents can’t wait to welcome you.
Nectar Yoga Retreat sits on 20 acres of forested land. You’ll see that it is Andrea and Sat’s life’s work to be stewards of this land, to care for its forests and waterways, and to teach their guests to develop relationship with the flora and fauna. The land they occupy has consciously been left largely untouched.
