We are celebrating!

JUBILEE

10 years of Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats at Deep Portage Learning Center

March 6-8, 2026

We have so much to celebrate!

We cannot wait to reveal all of the fun we have in store for this retreat. Maybe you haven’t retreated with us in a few years. Maybe you’ve never joined us. We hope to celebrate with you with all the warmth and joy of a Boreal Bliss yoga retreat in the midst of winter.

Expect high quality yoga, meditation, workshops, outdoor winter fun, and more. As always, you choose the elements that will create the ultimate retreat weekend for yourself. We always have a lot of options, and this is YOUR retreat.

Read more about this 10-year celebration on our blog.

This retreat is open to all-levels: beginners to seasoned yogis are welcome!

A yoga retreat is an ideal way to become immersed in your already existing yoga practice, or to inspire a lifelong personal journey.

Winter Yoga Retreat at Deep Portage

Smiling woman in a blue jacket and black knit hat standing on an outdoor observation deck at sunset over a forested landscape.

We love visiting Deep Portage in the depths of winter.

It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, it’s cozy, it’s adventurous, it’s memorable.

As always, we invite you to join us and make this retreat your own.

Yoga class inside a spacious room with wooden beams, large windows, and a stone fireplace, where students are sitting on yoga mats listening to instructor.

What’s Included?

  • With several class options to choose from, you have the opportunity to take A LOT OF YOGA, or hop in for a few. As always, a Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreat is about making it your own and getting what you need.

  • 2 nights + 3 days at secluded Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack, MN. Every bedroom has its own bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower.

  • Organic food with incredible flavor & appeal. You will LOVE the food. We survey all guests via email for dietary restrictions, allergies, etc about 4-6 weeks prior to the retreat.

  • A gorgeous mobile wood-fired sauna experience. Stacy Nightwine of Silver Creek Sauna Co. in Two Harbors, MN provides you with a relaxing way to sweat it out.

  • Organic, Minnesota-made, loose-leaf tea. A soothing experience from brewing to sipping.

  • Don’t leave home without it…am I right? ;)

  • We find written reflection to be an invaluable tool for well-being.

  • In the heart of our gigantic venue, is an impressive rock climbing wall with 5+ climbing routes. A fun indoor challenge on Saturday afternoon!

  • Deep Portage has 11+ miles of trails.

  • A stunning 360º view above the trees. Hike to the lookout tower with us at sunrise to start your day with awe.

  • Included in your retreat! Snowshoe at anytime. Join the Saturday afternoon Cross Country Ski guided experience on Deep Portage’s groomed trails OR bring your own skis and head out on the groomed trails anytime you’d like.

  • One of our favorite ways to enjoy winter is a snowy campfire in the woods, under the stars. With no city light pollution - the stars are stunning up north!

  • there are over 6,000 acres of wilderness at Deep Portage Learning Center!

Throw Down Dance Workshop

Tiana FitzSimmons - dance instructor

This dance session is an optional fun experience, included in this retreat! Absolutely no dance experience needed.

A Throw Down® dance class features choreographed routines, with an emphasis on hip-hop throwbacks and top hits. An easy-to-follow choreographed routine is introduced before jumping into a cardio-packed & fun playlist.

Our instructor for this fun session will be Tiana FitzSimmons! Tiana’s personal dance experience, as well as experience as an instructor will engage you. Her overall welcoming and naturally contagious fun spirit, will keep you moving & grooving with a smile on your face!

Check out Tiana on KEYC news!

Meet the Team

  • A woman in a red winter jumpsuit and fluffy white hat walking in a snowy outdoor setting, with other people dressed in winter clothing in the background.

    Amanda Imes

    Retreat Leader, Yoga Teacher

    MS, E-RYT 200, Corepower Yoga Sculpt Certified, Economist

    Amanda is a master at creating a welcoming group space. She teaches vinyasa, while you may be moving fast-paced, she keeps things light, upbeat, and fun. She loves breaking away from strict, straight lines and tapping into creative, fluid movements.

    Amanda is an economist for the State of MN; twice each year she helps produce a forecast of Minnesota’s state General Fund revenues and expenditures for current and future bienniums. Amanda turned to yoga in 2009 to balance stress and anxiety and fell in love with the practice.

    Amanda enjoys reading, hiking, camping, running, working out, laughing, travel, and spending time with her husband and two young children (5 & 3 years-old).

    Amanda co-owns Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats.

  • A woman in a blue winter outfit, sunglasses, and a black hat dancing or posing outdoors in a snowy area with other people around.

    Bryana Cook

    Retreat Leader, Yoga Teacher

    MSW, LICSW, E-RYT 500, YACEP

    Bryana is passionate about pursuing outdoor adventure, and loves to celebrate the benefits of yoga, meditation, breathwork, and nature immersion.

    She enjoys teaching gentle and fluid vinyasa classes. Yoga philosophy and the subtle benefits of consistent practice are elements that she can never learn enough about.

    In addition to co-owning Boreal Bliss, Bryana also owns Northern Yoga and Wellness. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISCW).

    Bryana’s husband Dan Ryan is a fishing guide. They live outside of small-town Longville, MN with their two boys (6 & 3 years old), black lab Sunny, cat Lucy, and chickens. Small business life in the Northwoods suits them!

  • A woman in a pink jacket, green beanie, yellow gloves, and snow boots is dancing or jumping in the snow at a winter gathering. She is wearing reflective sunglasses and surrounded by other people dressed warmly, with snow-covered trees and a small wooden structure in the background.

    Stacy Nightwine

    Retreat Leader, Yoga Teacher, Sauna Expert

    RYT 200, Yin Certified

    Stacy lives with her husband 10 miles north of Two Harbors with their fur babies: two pups and two kitties. She also has many “outdoor pets”: deer, birds, frogs, and even a moose! Stacy enjoys the simple life and the great outdoors: fishing in both summer and winter, kayaking, and snowshoeing. Her favorite shows are Dateline 20/20 and Golden Girls. She uses essential oils for anything and everything.

    Stacy owns her own yoga business in Two Harbors: Lake Effect Yoga. She also owns Silver Creek Sauna Co. & loves to bring her mobile sauna to retreats!

    Stacy traveled to Isla Mujeres, Mexico in 2019 to complete her 200 hour YTT with Marianne Wells Yoga School. This was a transformational experience for her on many levels. This was her first time traveling out of the country, first time on a plane, and a huge leap to pursue the study of yoga, and continue to to work on a deeper understanding of herself.

Add-ons to Enhance your Weekend!

Massage therapy, Thai yoga bodywork, or Reiki. We have wonderful options for you to round out your retreat experience.

All registered attendees will receive an email 4-6 weeks prior to the event with limited (first come, first serve) specialty appointment reservation opportunities.

A woman smiling in a wooden cabin, standing next to a bed with a yellow bedspread, with windows showing green trees outside, and a table with skincare products, a lamp, and colorful artwork in the background.

  • Add a private massage appointment to your retreat!

    Jill Jacobson grew up in northern Minnesota. She went to college for Horticulture, Floral Design, and Massage Therapy. In 2014, she married into the Jacobson family who owns Hiawatha Beach Resort on Steamboat Bay of Leech Lake, 8 miles north of Walker. She is currently a stay-at-home mom of three little ones. Massage is where she finds peace and relaxation; a way to ground herself and connect with the energy of others. Jill has been doing massage for over 10 years.

    She loves to be able to provide a modality where people can begin to heal and restore their mind, body, and spirit.

A woman smiling outdoors in autumn with orange and yellow trees in the background, wearing a navy blue shirt and a braid over her shoulder.

  • Add a private reiki appointment with Cindy Geibe, Reiki Practitioner to your retreat!

     As a dedicated Energy Healing Practitioner, Cindy brings decades of personal experience as a recipient and as a provider of Reiki & Healing Touch.  Her journey with Reiki began by transforming her own well-being but has also ignited a passion for holistic wellness and healing energy exploration.

    Cindy's philosophy centers on using Reiki as a versatile tool for healing, relaxation, meditation, and restoring balance within the body and soul. She firmly believes that balancing the energy within has the power to awaken the spirit, alleviate anxiety, nurture those battling depression, and guide individuals towards their authentic selves.

    Cindy's holistic approach extends beyond her practice into her daily life. She has been attending Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats since 2019. Her favorite is the Adventure Awaits Retreat that borders on the BWCA. She weaves her love for outdoor activities, such as yoga, camping, and hiking, into her journey to well-being as much as possible.

    Cindy offers individual Energy Healing sessions in Eagan, MN. Find out more at InnerHarmonyHealingMN.com

A woman lying on a bed performing a stretching exercise with her legs bent, while another woman supports her knees from the front, in a room with wooden shelves, a desk, and a yoga mat on the floor.

  • Add a private Thai yoga bodywork session to your retreat!

    Alison is a yoga teacher, Thai yoga bodyworker, attorney, and had a past life experimenting with all kinds of exercise and sports activities! She completed her yoga teacher training through Devanadi School of Yoga and Wellness, fell in love with Thai yoga bodywork and completed foundational TYB training through Devanadi as well. 

Mocktail Social + Fresh Juice Add-on

Unwind with Just Juice!

A fun & relaxing Mocktail Bar experience with Jami at Deep Portage upon arrival. Revel in the joy of crafting and sipping on refreshing mocktails, specially curated for a healthy and delightful experience.

Just Juice Pre-Order Packages

All registered retreaters will receive instructions on the option to add juice to their weekend! Pre-order seasonally fresh juice, wellness shots made by Jami of Just Juice.

  • A group rate at this retreat includes 3-6 people (we typically only room 3-4 together unless a larger group of 5-6 is requested).

    You can register with a group of your friends, or you can register solo and room with soon-to-be friends. You and your roommates will have an attached bathroom with shower, toilet, and two sinks to yourselves.

  • A semi-private room is for you and a friend, or opt to bring your partner along. You can also register solo and meet a new soon-to-be friend as your roommate. You and your roommate will have an attached bathroom with shower, toilet, and two sinks to yourselves.

  • Opt for a private room and attached bathroom all to yourself! Your private bathroom has a private attached shower, toilet, and two sinks.

  • Enjoy a full weekend retreat experience. Commute to and from your own home/vacation spot in the area. Everything is included except for the lodging.

  • Enjoy a Saturday day retreat experience. Commute to and from your own home/vacation spot in the area. Everything is included for your Saturday experience except for the lodging.

Registration now open!

Register
A group of people participating in a yoga class in a room with a stone fireplace. The instructor is a woman sitting cross-legged, raising her hand, surrounded by mats and props.
A snow-covered building with a stone chimney and multiple roofs, surrounded by snow, with trees in the background.
A black notebook with the word WRIITE on the cover, along with some papers or postcards, are placed on a gray carpeted floor near a textured wall.
A group of people participating in a yoga or meditation class in a spacious wooden-ceiling room at night, with windows showing dark outside, and a stone fireplace on the wall.
Group of people wearing winter clothing standing around a campfire outside at night with snow on the ground.
Group of people hiking on a snow-covered trail in a winter forest with leafless trees and snow-laden branches.
People snowshoeing through a snowy forest with tall, leafless trees covered in snow
Four people on an outdoor viewing platform in winter, overlooking a snow-covered landscape with trees and a lake or river in the distance.
Snow-covered landscape with a dense forest of bare and evergreen trees under a cloudy sky, extending to a distant horizon.
A winter landscape with snow-covered trees in a forest, under an overcast sky.
People snowshoeing in a snowy forest, with one person bending down in the foreground and others walking in the background.
A group of people participating in a yoga class inside a wooden-finished studio, practicing a Warrior pose on mats with yoga blocks, near large windows and a stone fireplace.
Black and white photo of a winter landscape with snow-covered trees, rolling hills, and a cloudy sky in the distance.
Group of people in winter clothing, including hats, gloves, and jackets, gathered on a metal observation deck overlooking a snowy, wooded landscape under a cloudy sky.
Wooden sign that reads 'Deep Portage' in a snowy forest with bare trees and snow-covered ground.
A black book titled Writhe on a gray carpet with a black exercise mat nearby, and some pamphlets or magazines partially visible underneath the book.
A group of people participating in a yoga or meditation class inside a room with a stone fireplace, wooden beams, and large windows.
Person climbing an indoor rock wall with various colorful holds.
A woman playing acoustic guitar on a stage in front of an audience sitting on the floor, with a stone wall and window in the background, black and white photo.
A woman practicing yoga in a downward dog pose in a yoga class. She is wearing a gray hoodie and glasses. Other people are visible in the background, also practicing yoga.
A person wearing a blue puffer jacket and a black knit hat standing on a metal observation deck, looking at a sunset over a forested landscape.
A woman practicing yoga in a cross-legged seated meditation pose on a green mat in a room with natural light and wooden beams.
People participating in a yoga class in a room with a stone fireplace and wood storage.