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Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats have been a big hit ever since the pandemic ended. This summer some 75 women will travel to the Birchwood Wilderness camp to attend a yoga retreat resplendent with nature and friendship.
After more than a year of isolation and stress, Minnesotans are finding yoga retreats a healthy way to reconnect with loved ones in Northern Minnesota. Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats began with a simple goal – to provide affordable yoga retreats and create meaningful experiences in nature in Minnesota. Since 2016, the women behind the retreats have hosted 21 yoga retreats, hundreds of Minnesotans, and retreated at seven different venues in the State.
“We are passionate about sharing all that northern Minnesota has to offer. We love to show women that they are capable of things like portaging a canoe, rock climbing, hiking, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, and taking time for themselves,” shared co-founder Bryana Cook. Bryana lives in Longville, Minnesota with her husband Dan Ryan, a local fishing guide. Bryana loves to introduce people to the beauty of the Leech Lake area, in hopes that they will return to enjoy all there is to offer.
This summer the Boreal Bliss leadership team will bring 75 women, in three groups of 25, to the tip of the Gunflint Trail to Birchwood Wilderness camp. The women will have the option to canoe to Birchwood Wilderness Camp, or to hitch a ride on the camp’s custom-built motorized barge named the “Barracuda.” While there, the women will practice yoga twice a day on an open-air yoga deck, while also learning about nature, paddling in the BWCA, and living seasonally.
During the pandemic, many found themselves in a period of prolonged stress. Children distance learning, working from home with a bevy of new officemates, and front-line workers are in need of rest and relaxation as we return to a sense of normalcy. A weekend away with loved ones, or attending solo, are proving an excellent way for women to rest and recharge.
“We want to remind women they are worthy of rest; they deserve to take time for self-care,” shared co-founder Amanda Imes. “Women are often caregivers, both in the home and out of the home. A yoga retreat provides the opportunity to step out of that role and allow someone else to plan meals, activities, and provide a welcoming space for nourishing movement in nature. It’s incredible the staying power three days of rest can have.”
The women-owned and run small business highlights the importance of diversity as it relates to race, ethnicity, age, body size, ability, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and more. Additionally, they offer scholarships for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). Boreal Bliss harnesses a welcoming environment, one where participants from all walks of life can feel comfortable in their own skin and not only attend just as they are but celebrate who they are.
Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats provides many different venues and opportunities throughout the year, from summer paddling adventures to winter cross-country skiing paired with yoga. More information can be found at www.borealblissyogaretreats.com.
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