~Honour Your Essence ~

A full day retreat for women on connecting to inner peace, well-being and personal empowerment through therapeutic yoga, breathwork, meditation & gentle inner work.

with Catharine Tombs

~ YOGA, MEDITATION & BREATHWORK TEACHER, PHYSIOTHERAPIST, HOLISTIC COACH & MENTOR ~

Thunder Bay, ON

February 9, 2025

Join me for a transformative full-day retreat designed for women seeking inner peace and well-being.

Through therapeutic yoga, meditation, breathwork, inner child work, and reflective journaling, this retreat provides a nourishing space for self-care, self-discovery, and a deepened connection to self-love, peace, and personal empowerment.

This retreat is for those ready to prioritize their well-being, dedicating time to explore what brings stress and challenge into their lives and uncovering practices to overcome feeling stuck, unmotivated, or disempowered. With a holistic approach that integrates mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical perspectives, we’ll explore powerful tools for stress relief, nervous system regulation, releasing body-held tension, and recognizing thought, belief and emotional patterns that contribute to feelings of stress, disconnection from Self and disempowerment. You’ll gain valuable insights and skills to face life’s challenges with resilience and clarity, drawing on evidence-based practices to support emotional and spiritual growth.

When: ~ 9:30 am - 5:30 pm

Stay after until 6:30 pm

  • Bring your bathing suit and enjoy a Finnish sauna or hot tub.

  • Enjoy a serene walk in the nearby wooded nature trails.

Where: Thunder Bay (7 min from Expressway) at a beautiful private residence surrounded by nature with indoor yoga studio. Location details provided upon registration.

Facilitator: Catharine Tombs ~YOGA, MEDITATION & BREATHWORK TEACHER, PHYSIOTHERAPIST, HOLISTIC COACH & MENTOR~

$288 + tax

**Please be aware we have a feline family member ‘Milo’ who fancies himself to be a bit of a therapy cat if you are allergic or dislike cats.

Throughout the day, you'll be guided through gentle therapeutic yoga, fascial release using Yoga Tune-Up Balls, deep relaxation with Yoga Nidra, breathwork, and journaling. Our time together includes interactive group teachings and discussions, all curated to help you reconnect with your inner strength, reignite your passion for life, and align with the wisdom of both mind and body. You will  leave feeling confident with an expanded toolbox of  new skills, tools and wisdom to support your connection to a state of inner peace, wellbeing and empowerment.

Join me for a full day retreat dedicated to you!

Your retreat day includes…

✓ Welcome & Introductions

✓ Gentle Heart-Opening Yoga Practice & Meditation

✓ Reflection & Intention Setting

✓ Exploration of Current Stressors

✓ Patterns of the Ego Mind that Perpetuate Stress & Unhappiness

✓ The Art of Embodied Co-Creation/Manifestation & Bringing Your Desires to Life

✓ Using The Framework of Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Inner Child & Reparenting Work

✓ Catered Vegetarian Lunch

✓ Afternoon Breathwork & Yoga Nidra Session for clarity and deep relaxation

✓ Safe & Supportive Space for Gentle Inner Work & Healing

✓ Connection in Community with Like-Hearted Women

✓ Coloured Printed Retreat ‘Playbook’ with all teachings, self-reflections and skills and practices learned to continue your journey moving forward

Healing Modalities Explored on Retreat

Each of these healing modalities is designed to nurture your mind, body, and spirit, providing the tools and space for profound self-discovery and transformation. Together, they will support you in reconnecting with your essence and stepping into a more empowered version of yourself.

Meditation ~ Meditation is the practice of cultivating inner stillness and awareness. By focusing on the breath, a mantra, or a visualization, you’ll quiet the mind, foster emotional balance, and connect with your inner wisdom. This retreat offers guided meditations to deepen your sense of peace and clarity, helping you reconnect with your true self.

Breathwork ~ Breathwork uses intentional breathing techniques to release stagnant energy, calm the nervous system, and access deeper emotional and spiritual layers. On this retreat, you’ll experience gentle breathwork practices to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and unlock the healing power of your breath.

Inner Child and Beliefs Work ~ This modality helps you explore the subconscious beliefs and patterns formed during childhood. By reconnecting with your inner child and gently challenging limiting beliefs, you’ll cultivate self-compassion, heal emotional wounds, and reframe perspectives that no longer serve you. This work allows you to step into greater alignment with your authentic self.

Gentle Yoga ~ Gentle yoga combines mindful movement, breath, and body awareness to create a grounding and restorative experience. These sessions are accessible to all levels and designed to release tension, nurture your body, and support emotional well-being. This practice will leave you feeling renewed and balanced.

Yoga Nidra ~ Yoga Nidra, or "yogic sleep," is a deeply restorative guided meditation practice that takes you into a state of conscious relaxation. By accessing the space between wakefulness and sleep, this practice allows profound healing and transformation to occur. It’s a powerful tool for stress relief, emotional release, and connecting with your inner wisdom. This is an especially nurturing and essential practice for any woman suffering sleep disturbances such as during menopause.

Soft Tissue/Fascia Body Work ~ Using Yoga Tune Up® Balls which are specialized therapy balls designed to target tension and release adhesions in your muscles and fascia. This practice combines self-massage techniques and mindful movement to create a deeply therapeutic and restorative experience.

Manifestation and Co-Creation ~ Manifestation is the practice of intentionally aligning your thoughts, feelings, and actions to attract the life you desire. Through guided exercises, you’ll clarify your goals, align with your highest self, and learn how to co-create with the universe. This retreat provides tools and insights to help you step into a life of purpose, abundance, and possibility.

Meet Catharine:

This retreat is led by yoga, mindfulness meditation, and breathwork teacher and registered physiotherapist, Catharine Tombs.  Catharine has been a yoga and meditation instructor and teacher of inner work for over 10 years and a physiotherapist for over 20 years. She has been running wellness retreats for women in Southern Ontario at her extended family’s resort-  Elmhirst’s -  in the Kawartha Lakes region for 8 years and has more recently expanded to hosting them in Thunder Bay where she lives.  Having experienced the  transformative power of holistic mind-body practices and inner work in her own life,  she is passionate about guiding others to  improve their mental, emotional and spiritual health, as well as their life through a psychospiritual approach to foster greater overall wellness and wellbeing.  


Education, Trainings & Certifications:

  • Honours Bachelor of Science - Psychology - University of Guelph 

  • Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy - University of Western Ontario

  • Registered Physiotherapist since 2003

  • Align & Shine Yoga teacher training with Mindy Willis, 2014 Thunder Bay - 200 hours

  • Embodied Awareness - Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher training with Bo Forbes, 2014-2016, Boston - 300 hours

  • Yoga for First Responders 

  • Introduction to Sound Healing 2022, Thunder Bay Gary Savitzsky

  • Compassionate Inquiry training with Gabor Mate- 2019-2020

  • Reiki Level 1 & 2 - Japan 1994-1996

  • Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program and Diverstiy, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Training with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield- 2021-2023

  • Grief Movement Training with Paul Denniston 2024

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Absolutely!  I commend you for your bravery in be willing to try something new!

  • Yes!  If you are feeling called to attend you may find that in being able to solely focus on Self you may experience even greater benefits!  Of course it’s also lovely to attend with friends!

  • Yes, please bring comfy clothes, your a journal, your bathing suit and a robe and outdoor sandals should you wish to partake in a sauna or hot tub afterwards.

  • That won’t be a problem, please just be sure to let me know what you need.  Our caterer is very accommodating. 

  • Please let me know what injury you are experiencing, as a physiotherapist I am well equipped to offer you modifications or alternative rest poses.  The yoga practice is gentle and completely optional.

  • Absolutely!  The yoga practices are gentle and you can modify the poses as needed or simply rest and enjoy the time nurturing you and your baby.

  • The retreat participant numbers will be a maximum of 10 people to create a more intimate experience.

  • That is completely natural and understandable to feel nervous and at the same time curious and interested in delving into taking better care of Self.  Many of my retreat participants have commented in the past about how despite their nervousness how much they’ve enjoyed their retreat experience and what a safe and supportive environment I create.  Please listen to some of the videos on my testimonials page for more feedback. 

Cancellation/Refund policy: 50% of payment is a non-refundable deposit - no exceptions. If canceling greater than 30 days prior to retreat, a 50% refund is available. No refunds available on cancellations 30 days or less prior to retreat as sufficient time is required to fill the vacancy. If retreat is cancelled, a full refund is provided.  Thank you in advance for your understanding and consideration.

Inclement Weather Cancellation Policy

At our retreats, the safety and well-being of our guests are our top priorities. While we strive to proceed with scheduled retreats despite inclement weather warnings, there are specific conditions under which a retreat may be canceled. Please note the following policy:

  1. General Policy:

    • Retreats will generally continue during winter storms and inclement weather warnings.

    • No refunds or transfers of dates are available due to winter storms or inclement weather.

    • It is the responsibility of each retreat guest to monitor the weather in advance and make any necessary travel arrangements. This may include arriving at the retreat city earlier or arranging additional accommodations if required.

    • We are unable to accommodate for weather conditions in different locations from which guests may be traveling. Guests should plan their travel accordingly, taking into consideration potential weather disruptions.

    • It is the client's responsibility to determine if travel is safe for them. Guests should evaluate weather conditions and their personal travel circumstances to make informed decisions about their safety.

  2. Cancellation Criteria:

    • Retreats will be canceled if any of the following conditions are present in the retreat city location:

      • A major snowfall of greater than 25 cm (9.8 inches) within a 24-hour period.

      • A major snowfall of 25 cm (9.8 inches) or more within a 24-hour period with winds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or more, causing widespread reductions in visibility to less than 400 meters (0.25 miles) for at least four hours due to blowing snow.

  3. Rescheduling:

    • If a retreat is canceled due to the above conditions, it will be rescheduled to a new date chosen by the retreat leader.

    • If a guest is unable to attend the rescheduled date, a refund or transfers of dates will be available.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring the safety and smooth operation of our retreats. Please plan your travel accordingly and stay informed about weather conditions leading up to your retreat.

“You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.”

― Eckhart Tolle