Dharma Yoga Nature Retreat

Mid-Summer Weekend
August 9th - 12th, 2024

An Immersion into Yoga &
Natural Living

Let this in-depth weekend retreat bring about great wisdom via knowledge and direct experience.

Practice a complete Yoga practice that is designed to develop radiant health, a clear mind and an open heart. Let the universal teachings that are around and within us all rise to the surface of our attention. Come express your own True Nature through the feeling of bliss, contentment and a deeper sense of compassion for our conditions and environment.

The goal is to experience this state, even only briefly at first, and ultimately realize that it is accessible within us at all times. We then begin to actualize it in our everyday lives through thought, action, and speech.

Immerse yourself in the beautiful setting of Honest Farms on Salt Spring Island for a weekend of Yoga, meditation, spiritual practices, seasonal eating & spending time with other likeminded souls.

Inspired by the Teachings of Dharma Mittra

This retreat is built on the teachings of Dharma Yoga as a lifestyle practice for the purpose of Self-Realization, as taught by senior teachers in the Dharma Yoga lineage.

With foundations in the traditional style of Hatha-Raja Yoga, we will explore the tools to lead a complete practice by interweaving ancient wisdom in a modern context through movement, breath and meditation. The techniques of the masters will be revealed so we can share the practices in our own way by making them relevant and accessible to all.

The Experience

Pranayama (breathwork) and Meditations
Master Yoga Classes (all-levels appropriate)
- We will be delving deeper into arm balances, inversions, and other advanced techniques; foundation-level aspects, as well as advanced variations will be offered to challenge all participants in a manageable and sustainable way. Expand your practice!

Healing and nurturing Yin Yoga class
The powerful resetting and regenerating practice of Yoga Nidra
Kirtan (chanting mantras)
Spiritual Satsangs (philosophy discussions led by experienced instructors)
Maha Sadhana (The Great Practice - a combination of the best of the best techniques!)

Handcrafted, vegan meals made from local produce (much of which grown on the land we will be staying at!)
- Breakfast and Dinner will be provided as a part of your retreat package!
Partner & Acro Yoga
Free time to explore the beautiful land, check out the beaches, or head into town to check out the markets!

Nourish Yourself

Treat yourself to simple, fresh & vibrant meals. Our retreats feature farm-fresh produce, sourced directly from us and our Salt Spring neighbours. Accommodations are happily made for specific dietary needs.

Location

The land at Honest Farms has been carefully tended to encourage introspection, surrounded by all of the created miracles on Mother Earth. With a space that holds yogic values of Yama & Niyama to the highest, you'll be in a place that has humans, animals, and plants living harmoniously together.

Located on Salt Spring Island, a gulf island known for its potent spiritual energy, eclectic community, lively Saturday Market, oceanfronts, lakes, mountains and other forms of natural environment. There is no shortage of activities to take part in for the times we venture off the farm and enjoy the many micro-climates the island has to offer.

Choose your Stay

We provide 3 unique accommodation options for our retreat guests:

Cabin

A comfortable shared experience including a bedroom, full kitchen, dinette, bathroom, & communal loft lounge space. The cabin is surrounded by goats, chickens, ducks & the garden for your enjoyment between sessions!

Trailer

Cute & cozy living with all the kitchen essentials included, equipped with an outdoor shower & composting toilet. The trailer is for the glamper that doesn't want to miss a moment of all the beauty that Salt Spring Island provides.

Camping

Bring your own tent setup and access the communal outdoor kitchen, showers & composting toilet. The camping grounds are located around the farm on one of the most untouched parts of the land, just a short distance from the dome temple.

Teaching Staff

Sina Shalbaf

Living the life of a Yogi, Sina Shalbaf has dedicated himself to share the teachings. He pulls on practices from many lineages and teachers as he’s sought out and spent extensive time with masters in India, Thailand, Canada, London, and NYC. When he met a guru in Sri Dharma Mittra, he began to integrate all his understanding of yoga asanas, meditation, spiritual knowledge, and life’s experiences through Dharma Yoga. Sina is now known for his Ayurvedic approach to the practice which meets the student where they are at, offering skillful yoga practices that best serves each students unique physical, mental, and environmental conditions.
As a co-founder of Dharma Temple in Vancouver, he has shared the benefits of a yogic lifestyle with the high vibe community for many years before settling on Salt Spring Island with his family. Through an integrated spiritual understanding into his own daily life, he is here to support others to express the True Self in THEIR own way.

Steve Fazzari

Steve's practices of Yoga started much before he knew anything about, or had even ever seen any examples of Yoga poses. As a young teen with an extremely busy (and difficult to manage) mind, he was interested in gaining clarity of mind or accessing a space of his inner silence. Through being in nature (mostly skiing & snowboarding), and through music, he was able to find some states of cohesion where the wildness of his mind was stilled momentarily and the body and mind could work together in unison; these forms of active meditation were a relief from the seemingly nonstop battle with the fluctuations of the mind.
Seeking a greater understanding of this inner space, he began studying Eastern philosophy at the age of 13 in the form of Buddhist teachings. When Yoga started to come into his life, he was drawn back to his early years reading Buddhist scriptures. He saw the same essence in the teachings of Yoga as he did in the Buddhist teachings. He continued his journey into Yoga, but was inspired to make this his life path when he met his teacher, Dharma Mittra. Steve has completed Advanced- and Senior-level training with the living master Sri Dharma Mittra (500- and 800-hour trainings), as well as assisted at his teacher’s side.

Brittany Sharpe

Brittany is a Vinyasa & Yin yoga teacher, Mama, Nutritionist, DJ & Astrology practitioner. She currently resides in Salt Spring Island with her family, where she spends time stewarding land and caring for her farm animals. She has been teaching yoga for over seven years and has taught many Yoga & Sound offerings in Vancouver and throughout the sea to sky region.
Brittany's latest passion has been leading new & full moon circles for women and sharing the wisdom of astrology. In Brittany's gatherings she works with the power of the moon to help people manifest their deepest heartfelt desires. You can expect to leave her offerings feeling uplifted, inspired and excited for what the future holds.

What’s Included

Yoga Sessions including asana, pranayama, meditation, yoga nidra, kirtan, fireside satsang, partner yoga & special workshops
Nature Excursions to explore Salt Spring Island, with options to connect to the broader community
4-Nights Accommodations (Thursday - Monday) on Honest Farms with the accommodation type of your choice
6 Plant-Based Meals made with love from your hosts and volunteer/participants. Breakfast and dinner enjoyed together, using seasonal food grown from the farm