Hollyhock
Experience Beauty
Nestled among 43 acres of old-growth fir, cedar and spruce trees on a rock-strewn Pacific island, Hollyhock emphasizes physical and mental well-being, spiritual renewal and social change. This summer camp-meets enlightenment center is British Columbia's version of a holistic haven — and a visit is sure to include several spa-worthy (and earth-friendly) body treatments.
The Services
Intensive yoga, tai chi, Pilates and meditation sessions play vital roles in the Hollyhock experience, which also happens to be shoe-, cell-phone and nicotine-free. But exercise and soul-searching isn't limited to mat work. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the retreat's breathtaking Cortes Island locale with rainforest-trail hikes, early morning kayak rows, sailing excursions, Frisbee golf tournaments and long, leisurely soaks in the outdoor hot tubs.
Hollyhock's rotating workshops — offered from April through November for more than 20 years — cover topics from wood-carving, classical Indian dance and "the Zen of Asian brush painting" to fusion cooking, portfolio investing and global justice, depending on the week. Another integral part of Hollyhock's total-wellness concept is bodywork; revitalizing, reflexology and music therapy. The latter includes the retreat's signature technique, Didjeridu Sound Sessions, in which practitioners attempt to attune participants' hearts to the ethereal strains of an ancient Australian aboriginal instrument.
The Accommodations
Accommodations range from bring-your-own tent sites and shared dorms to motel room-like cottages with private baths and ocean views. All lodgings are simply furnished, meant to encourage mindfulness, rejuvination and rest; without telephones, TVs or computer dataports, achieving those goals are essentially guests' only in-room options.
Contact
Hollyhock
PO Box 127
Cortes Island, British Columbia
800-933-6339
www.hollyhock.bc.ca
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