Mother/Daughter Love the Skin You’re In Retreat Weekend near Toronto, Canada

In our age of amped up online connectivity, girls are both producers and consumers of their own curated imagery trails. The culture of social media rewards them for presenting themselves as endless “snackable” sex objects for public consumption. That’s why it takes a village to remind them that they are more than the one-dimensional objects Instagram sets them up to be. Our daughters are far more than eye candy: they are multi-dimensional, complex human beings alive with passions, kindness, intelligence, leadership, and imagination. While our girls are exploding light, current research demonstrates that early adolescence is the most critical time for their mental health and well-being. In response, this year our retreat content will be designed for 12- and 13-year-old girls.

Our multimedia retreats spark critical thinking around the powerful cultural forces determining female representations in popular and social media and inspire expansive, dynamic visions for who and what young women can become. The Love the Skin You’re In Retreat Weekend drops girls into their bodies, offers a deep dive into the mental health impacts of social media scrolling, and supports them in dancing with their dark and reclaiming their fierce light. Grounded in creating a sense of belonging, we nurture inter-personal and intra-personal connection while opening challenging conversations between moms and daughters that connect young women to their inner north star. We not only help moms and their girls listen and lead with love, we help them recognize themselves as love.

The retreat will be hosted at Narnia on the traditional Territory of the Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee Peoples, and the Anishnabek of the Williams Treaties. Set just 38 minutes from the Toronto Airport, this East Caledon land is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. The nine-time Emmy award-winning Canadian comedy show Schitt’s Creek was filmed 10 minutes from Narnia’s doorstep.

Cruise beneath an arbour of twinkly lights arcing over a tree-lined entrance that wends towards this healing sanctuary on 11 acres of forest and bio-diverse wetlands. Walk up beautifully landscaped stone steps through bursting peony gardens or flowering plum trees to the covered front porch and enter a refuge of wooded warmth. Whether you sink into the great room with its temple-shaped windows, original hand-set stone wall, and fireplace, find your breath in the Yoga studio on the ground level, or let your eyes fall closed for an energy healing in the amethyst crystal healing room in the heart of the main house, your mind will settle and your heart will know spaciousness. A stroll through the ancient forest grounds leads you to a spring-fed pond and tributary that runs through the back where, true to this enchanted woodland venue's affectionate name, a wardrobe door (through which the children travel to Narnia in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe) stands.

The Love the Skin You’re In Retreat Weekend will be stewarded by Brie Mathers, who has spoken to 100,000 young women around the globe about media, mindfulness, and sisterhood and her beloved feminist wingman, Jonathan Hahn, the intrepid managing editor of Sierra Magazine who spends his free time throwing high kicks and standing on his hands. Retreatants will be hosted at this 4-guestroom retreat venue, with girls curling up sleep-over style in the Yoga Studio, with the option for those who wish to “glamp” in tents on the grounds with access to the indoor amenities. Nourishing, organic meals will be provided.

Friday May 26

5:00 pm – Opening Sister Circle Welcome, Introductions, and Intention-setting, Upper Level Great Room

6:00 pm – “Girls Night In” Pizza and Love the Skin You’re In Multimedia Girl Power Party in the Crystal Healing Room (daughters only)

“Girls Night Out” for moms at Craft Kitchen in Schomberg (discussion questions provided)

8:30 pm Tulsi Tea and Restorative Bedtime Yoga and Reiki, First Level Yoga Studio

Saturday May 27

9:30 am – Breakfast

10:00 am – Mother/Daughter Self-Defense Training with Black Belt Tang Soo Do Instructor Jonathan Hahn, First Level Yoga Studio

12:00 pm – Lunch

1:00 pm –Guided Girls Hike, Bruce Trail Forest

Mom’s Love the Skin You’re In Conversation: How to Ally Your Daughter in our Image-saturated Culture, Great Room

3:00 pm Gentle Mother/Daughter Partner Yoga and Mindfulness Practice for all, Downstairs Yoga Studio

4:00 pm Mother-Daughter Guided Outdoor Play Hour, Whole Property

5:30 pm Dinner

7:00 pm Mother-Daughter Deep Dive, Great Room

9:00 pm Tulsi Tea and Restorative Bedtime Yoga and Reiki, First Level Yoga Studio

Sunday May 28

9:45 am Superfood smoothies

10:00 am Yoga, Mindfulness, and Intention-setting, First Level Yoga Studio

11:30 am Celebratory Brunch

12:30 pm Hugs and Good-byes

Please click here to express interest and receive registration information.

Questions? Contact Brie at brie@briemathers.com.