Yoga Weekend at a Restored Monastery in Old Quebec City

The weekend is built around a simple rhythm: practice, eat, free time, practice again. Friday you arrive between 3pm and 5pm, register and check in, then there's a 5:30pm yoga practice followed by dinner at 7pm. Saturday starts early with a led class from 7:00 to 8:30am, breakfast at 8:30, then meditation and pranayama from 9:30 to 10:30. There's a break until the noon session, lunch at 1pm, and then the whole afternoon free until dinner at 6pm. Saturday closes with Yoga Nidra at 8pm. Sunday repeats the morning shape — led class, breakfast, meditation and pranayama — then packing and a 1pm departure.

What separates this from a standard yoga retreat is the building. Le Monastère des Augustines is a restored Augustinian cloister, and the museum and heritage site are part of what you get access to. Breakfast is eaten in silence, which is a house tradition rather than a retreat gimmick, and it changes the tone of the morning. The rooms come in two grades: Authentic rooms with a shared bathroom down the hall, or Modern rooms with a private ensuite.

Emma O'Neill leads all sessions through Mysore Toronto. The classes run 60 to 90 minutes depending on type and include breathwork, relaxation and meditation alongside the asana work. She teaches to mixed levels — the FAQ is explicit that beginners and advanced practitioners share the room and each session is adapted to the person.

Old Quebec City is the other half of the trip. The monastery is a 10-minute walk from VIA Rail's Gare du Palais, so you can arrive from Montreal or Toronto by train and never touch a car. The old town is walkable end to end. The July 10–12, 2026 dates coincide with Fête du Québec, so Saturday afternoon puts you in the middle of the city's summer festival.

Practical notes worth knowing before you book: full payment is due 30 days out, on June 10, 2026. Early-bird rates hold until June 19. If you want the shared-occupancy rate you either book with your roommate or call the centre directly on (418) 694-1639 and quote the code EMMA-0710. Parking is on-site but not included, run by Gesparc at $26 per day. Massages and treatments are available for an extra fee through the monastery.

What's included

- Accommodation for 3 days / 2 nights (choice of Authentic or Modern room) - 2 dinners, 1 lunch and 2 silent breakfasts - 7 yoga and meditation sessions - Access to the Museum and heritage site - All yoga and meditation equipment

What's not included

- Transportation to and from Quebec City - Alcohol (wine can be purchased at the on-site restaurant) - Optional excursions, including Fête du Québec events - Parking (available on-site for an additional fee) - Service fees and gratuities - Massages and treatments - Travel insurance