Shanti Retreat Yoga on Wolfe Isalnd

We had the pleasure to explore The Shanti Retreat www.shantiretreat.ca  located on Wolfe Island, near Kingston Ontario. The adventure allowed us to reground through the study of yoga and time to meet other like minded health conscious students. I was very impressed with the mainly highly educated, and fit female crowd.  The Shanti property is on the waterfront of the Island on Lake Ontario two kms west of the Ferry landing in Marysville, Ontario.

The property has beautiful tranquility, with a separate yoga training building adjoining the accommodations. However, there is often a lot of debate about keeping the air conditioned on or off during the class, as the gentle democracy ebbs and flows to accommodate all.  Some like it hot, and some don't! The owners, Darin and Wendy are yoga instructors themselves, and the Shanti's karma flows from their teachings. The facility is based on kindness to ones body and soul. After 9 years in Japan, the couple returned to their Ontario homeland to share their learnings and created a facility which is a combination of Indian Yoga philosophy, combined with the delicacy of Japanese etiquette, gardening and wood styling.

We had the pleasure to train with Dallas, an instructor from Kingston, who was gentle on our training but creative with her content regarding the value of daily yoga practice, to ground your thoughts in self compassion, and share that with those you come in touch with.

The short ferry ride out of urban Kingston, onto the rural Wolfe Island is really a metaphor for the change in energy one feels when you leave your emotional baggage behind. The departure by boat allows one to leave our previous realities and open our minds to the opportunity for growth and change offered at the Shanti Retreat. The ferry crossing allows one the potential to disconnect  from our hustled urban living, and help us find simplicity and bliss inside ourselves.

The food is excellent, and is freshly prepared and health conscious. There are foods for vegans, vegetarians, gluten free eaters, and organic milk. They use free trade soap and shampoo. Close to the 401, but just far enough to make a change. Definitely worth the travel.

Namaste,

The Adventure Guy