Rest

February 28-March 2, 2025

Deep Portage ELC | Hackensack, MN

Retreat & Rest your Mind, Body, and Soul

Yoga is many things: a cherished discipline, a meditation and breathing practice, a guiding force to pursue a balanced life off the mat, and a unifying approach to align one’s values in every aspect of daily living.

During this weekend retreat, shed your stressors and indulge in a weekend of self-care and self-discovery. Treat yourself to a weekend away in a picturesque natural setting.

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.

Calling all yoga men!

Hello, you! Yes, I know you’re out there. While all of our retreats (except August) are open to men, (and are often sought after by men!), it’s infrequent that we have a size-able percentage of men join. Let’s change that! We are formally inviting you to join us this March at Deep Portage.

Q: As a man, can I attend any winter retreat with you?

A: Yes! Please do.

Q: Why this one then?

A: We are inviting an intentional focus for men at this retreat. We are also lucky enough to have Josh Wallenberg joining us as a yoga teacher at this retreat! You can read more about our teaching staff as you scroll down.

Want some additional insight on attending a retreat with us? Read more on one of our past blogs: Being a Dude at Yoga Retreat.

What’s Included:

4 yoga classes; with options to choose from on Saturday!
2 nights, 3 days lodging
4 meals catered by Green Scene Market & Eatery!
Meditation
Journaling Sessions
Yoga Nidra
Sound Bowls
Restorative Yoga
Outdoor time - 11 miles of hiking/cross-country skiing/snowshoe trails
Essential Oils Roller Bar Workshop
Just Juice Workshop
Campfire
Plan Ahead: Arrivals at 4pm Friday; Departures at 10:30am Sunday

What if I feel like I’m not very good at “resting”?

All of our retreats are very much focused on getting your own personal needs met. We always have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to classes, workshops, and activities!

You might be surprised to find that while we will incorporate traditionally “restful” elements, we will also incorporate high-energy classes, workshops, and activities. Why? Because sometimes you really need to exert energy in order to actually achieve a state of rest!

What gets you to a truly restful state is all dependent on your personal make-up, needs, habits, and characteristics. You do you! Pick and choose the elements of the retreat that will help you feel rested.

**Silver Creek Sauna Co.**

Back by popular demand! Stacy Nightwine is bringing her beautiful wood-fired mobile sauna and cold plunge tub! Enjoy the health and relaxation benefits paired with yoga, meditation, & outdoor adventure.

Yoga Teachers + Boreal Bliss Team

We are thrilled to have the following fabulous teachers and team members at this retreat!

Bryana Cook

LICSW, E-RYT 500, YACEP, 800hr Yoga Therapy Trainee
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.
Bryana is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISCW). She is in the midst of pursuing her 800 hour - yoga therapy certification (C-IAYT) through Inner Peace Yoga Therapy and the International Association of Yoga Therapy (IAYT).
Bryana’s husband Dan Ryan is a fishing guide. They live outside of small-town Longville, MN with their two boys (4 & 2 years old), black lab Sunny, and cat Lucy. Entrepreneurial life in the Northwoods suits them!

Stacy Nightwine

RYT 200, Yin Certified
Stacy is an animal and essential oil loving outdoorsy lady with the best Minnesotan accent around. Her classes are lighthearted, functional for all bodies and ages, and taught in the Hatha style. Stacy trained with Marianne Wells Yoga School and Boreal Bliss. Stacy owns her own yoga business in Two Harbors: Lake Effect Yoga.

Jessica Baumhofer Frank

RYT 200, Yin Certified
Jessica’s bubbly personality will make you feel so welcomed! She knows how to engage you and include you in a group.
Jessica teaches gentle, lighthearted and accessible yoga classes. She has a passion for sound bowls and Yoga Nidra and helping people understand Yoga is for everybody!
Jessica lives in Zimmerman MN and is teaching pop up Yoga in the park in the Twin Cities and teaches in Cottage Grove with community education. She also leads day yoga retreats in the cities.
Jessica is a graduate of the first cohort of 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Boreal Bliss.

Josh Wallenberg

Yoga Teacher, Physical Therapist, Resort Owner, Husband, Dad…more coming soon!

Deirdre Hausauer

Yoga Teacher, Nurse, Wife, Mom… more coming soon!

Jill Jacobson

Massage Therapist
Option to add a private massage appointment to your schedule while at the retreat! All registered attendees will receive an email 5-8 weeks prior to the event with limited (first come, first serve) specialty appointment reservation opportunities.
Jill 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 about 10 years. She loves to be able to provide a modality where people can begin to heal and restore their mind, body, and spirit.

Jami Nelson

Pre-Order Fresh Juice for this Event!
Just Juice is the healthiest beverage option in the Brainerd Lakes Area! I started the business in the spring of 2015 as a side hustle, out of the necessity to consume more fruits and vegetables in the easiest way possible! I was in the hospitality industry so eating healthy and taking my time to do so, wasn't often an option. Once I started drinking the juices and feeling the wide variety of health benefits, I just had to share this with our community! I started out in one spot and then it slowly grew into 4 locations where people can purchase the juice right off the shelves. And now, that side hustle has become my one and only career! I get to make it weekly in small batches to ensure the freshest, most incredible taste as well as the highest nutrient density. Creating Just Juice was the catalyst in transforming my health and my life and it is a blessing to share it with others. It has brought me to the next level in this life and continues to help me maintain optimal health and wellness.
More on Jami’s Pre-Order Juice Option below (keep scrolling down for the drool-worthy details!)

Elizabeth Sorensen

Retreat Photographer, RYT 200, Sound Healing Certified
Elizabeth is thrilled to have the opportunity to capture the serenity, self-discovery, & fun that unfolds at Boreal Bliss Retreats!
While her passion for photography began at a young age, it was in 2010 when she turned her creative outlet into a successful business where she had the privilege of working with many clients, businesses, and families over the years. And while she is no longer taking on new clients, she is excited to have the opportunity to blend her passion for photography with her love for the Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreat community!
Elizabeth lives in Lino Lakes with her husband Will, their 17 year old daughter Jenna, and sweet old dog Odie. You can find her at Pressed Hot Yoga in Blaine teaching a candlelit class on Tuesday and Thursdays at 8:30! If you attend her class, make sure to introduce yourself, she loves meeting you and connecting with others who love Boreal Bliss as much as she does!

Retreat Features

specialty yoga sessions focused on rest

meditation by the wood-burning fire

mobile wood-fired sauna

morning mindfulness hike to stunning tower view high above the treetops

cross country ski and snowshoe rentals Included

picturesque groomed cross country ski trails

sound bowl session

book club

option to add a massage appointment

meals prepared by the Green Scene Organic Market & Catering

fresh juice available for pre-order by Just Juice

**Optional Reading**

*Pause, Rest, Be: Stillness Practices for Courage in Times of Change* by Octavia Raheem
Restoring your body, mind, and spirit amid change is an act of courage, empowerment, and hope. This warm, powerful guide will help you honor the changes and spaces in your life with purposeful rest and reflection.
Option to purchase and read this book prior to our retreat. The theme will be weaved into yoga sessions, journaling, and workshops. Reading the book may help you get excited for the retreat and/or weave concepts into your home life after the event.

More about Deep portage learning center & Our Retreat:

Outdoor enthusiast? Deep Portage has 11 miles of hiking/skiing/snowshoe trails right out the back door! The center is also located on the beautiful and secluded Bass Pond and Big Deep Lake. Cross country ski and snowshoe rentals are included in your retreat! There are beautifully groomed cross country ski trails. There is also a stunning hike above the treetops at the famous tower in the woods.

Yoga enthusiast? We are proud to offer you quality yoga and meditation classes, in addition to optional workshops to enhance your practice.

Lodging Information: Each room has 3-5 beds and one bathroom. The beds are bunk beds, however we only sleep on the bottom. You have the option to purchase a private, semi-private, or group rate ticket. We send a pre-retreat survey one month prior to the retreat for any roommate requests as well as sleeping needs and information. We assign guests to rooms based on your preferences.

The Food!

Four meals are included in your weekend: Friday dinner, Saturday brunch & dinner, and Sunday breakfast. All meals will be catered by The Green Scene: Eatery & Market. Green Scene does food SO WELL! It’s a whole experience of the senses. For real.

Options available for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free etc. Tea + coffee will also be available. We send out a survey a month prior to learn about any dietary restrictions/allergies.

The Juice!

You can add a pre-order of juice to accompany your retreat!

Just Juice pre-order Packages

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

recipes of juices based on seasonally available produce
accommodating of most any allergies as the juices are DF and GF
if guests would like larger quantities, option to email directly for even more to take home and enjoy!

Rest Yoga Retreat

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Registration

Prices include State sales tax on lodging/meals:

GROUP RATE - $535 PER PERSON

A group rate at this retreat includes 3-6 people (we only room 3-4 ppl 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.

SEMI-PRIVATE RATE - $595 PER PERSON

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.

PRIVATE RATE - $675

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

CHECK YOUR EMAILS! Approximately 5-8 weeks prior to the weekend, we send you an email with important information regarding your weekend retreat including a detailed itinerary, FAQ, pre-retreat survey with roommate requests, dietary needs, and more. Your timely response is important!

BIPOC Scholarships

As part of our ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion in the yoga space, we are offering scholarships to Black, Indigenous, people of color for our fall and winter yoga retreats. Please fill out a BIPOC scholarship application here. Thank you!

Cancellation Policy

6+ weeks notice: $40 fee

4-6 weeks notice: $80 fee

6 weeks and less notice : 75% of total amount fee

14 days or less notice: no refunds available

We hope that you can appreciate the amount of time, love, and energy we wholeheartedly put into each retreat. Not just during the event, but the many months leading up to it.

Please note: Our winter venue does not issue refunds due to weather. As such, we are unlikely to cancel the retreat except in a very extreme scenario. In most situations, we hope our guests plan ahead to accommodate Minnesota weather conditions in winter to safely travel to and from the retreat- which may occasionally mean allowing extra travel time.

In the event of widespread extreme weather, including highway closures, the retreat will be rescheduled. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled weekend, you may be able to receive a partial refund or transfer credit to a future retreat. If the retreat is not cancelled/rescheduled, we will be unable to issue refunds on an individual basis due to the weather.

PACKING LIST

Yoga mat
Journal or notebook and writing utensil
Watercolors, colored pencils, and/or markers for Sarah Seidelmann’s workshop
Bathroom supplies and toiletries: bath towel, washcloth, shampoo/conditioner, soap
Yoga block(s) and strap
(meditation) pillow - any pillow will do!
Small cozy blanket to bring to sessions (for savasana, meditation, journaling, etc)
Yoga clothes
Lots of layers!!!
Water bottle
Beverages (yes, you can bring alcohol) of your choice
Snacks of your choice
Slippers - with a hard sole to wear in the dining hall
Tennis shoes for rock climbing (rock climbing included in price)
Snowpants, hat, gloves
Warm boots for walking around the woods
Yak tracks or something else for extra tread on slippery ice and snow
Wool/warm socks
Warm pajamas
Sleeping bag or bedding
Pillow and pillow case
Sheets for your bed (they are twin size if you prefer to be exact)
Extra cushion/camping mat if you’d like more padding on your mattress
Ear plugs (if you are a light sleeper & concerned about getting good sleep)
Good book to curl up with
Flashlight or headlamp
Snowshoes or cross country skis if you have your own (these are available and included in your price)