Yoga, Taiji and Meditation Weekend in the Estrie Forest, Quebec

The weekend runs Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. You arrive from 15:30, settle in, then join a welcome circle followed by yoga and meditation at 16:30. Supper is at 18:00, and the evening closes with a presentation and Yoga Nidra at 20:00. Saturday is the fullest day: yoga and meditation at 07:00, breakfast at 08:30, then study of yogic texts and meditation at 09:30. From 11:00 you choose — a walk, the pool, the sauna, or a taiji class. Lunch is at 12:30, a themed coffee discussion at 13:30, group discussion and meditation at 14:30, then free time or a yoga class at 16:30. Dinner at 18:00, and at 20:00 there's a satsang by the fireside. Sunday follows a similar shape, ending with a closing circle at 14:00 and departure at 15:00, or you can stay on and use the park.

The October weekend has a slightly different timetable. Saturday starts with gentle yoga at 07:00, breathing and meditation at 07:30, breakfast and discussion at 08:30. At 09:30 there's a choice of free time or a shiatsu massage workshop, yoga at 11:00, lunch at 12:30, a café and discussion at 13:30, then free time or meditative walking at 14:30, qigong/taiji at 16:30, supper at 18:00 and discussions by the fire at 20:00. Sunday opens with automassage and qigong at 07:00, breathing and meditation at 07:30, breakfast at 08:30, then taiji/qigong at 10:00 or yoga at 11:00, lunch at 12:30, and the closing circle at 14:00.

What separates this from a standard yoga weekend is the mix. You get yoga, taiji, qigong, meditation, shiatsu and talks on Ayurveda and Chinese medicine in the same two days, taught by someone who has been teaching all of it since 2013. The venue is a proper retreat centre in the Eastern Townships, not a rented studio — the pool, sauna and trails are all on site and included.

Claudette Ah-Soon co-founded Surya Montréal and has taught yoga, meditation and taijiquan since 2013. She is also a Shiatsu Yin massage therapist. She teaches with what participants describe as gentleness and precision, explaining the deeper meaning behind the practices rather than just running through the movements. A second Surya team member assists throughout.

Sutton sits in the Estrie region of Quebec, roughly an hour and a half by car from Montreal. The centre is surrounded by forest, meadows and small streams, with 7 km of trails to walk. Surya Montréal does not provide transport, but coordinates car pooling among participants.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation (room or campsite, depending on option chosen) - Vegetarian meals throughout (full pension) - All yoga, taiji/qigong and meditation sessions - Workshops and discussions on Ayurveda and Chinese medicine - Yoga Nidra and evening presentations - Access to 7 km of nature trails - Indoor pool - Sauna - Fireplace and outdoor fire pit - Car pooling coordination among participants

What's not included

- Transport to the venue - $200 non-refundable deposit (payable on booking, deducted from balance) - Taxes on the accommodation rate - Personal expenses