Body Soul Retreat – French River

Body & soul retreat

A 5-DAY and 4-NIGHT YOGA & NATURE RETREAT

MAY 18th, MAY 22nd, 2026 SEASON

MAY 18TH TO MAY 22ND, 2026 SEASON

Relax, re-boot and restructure your body and your mind at this 5-day and 4-night yoga and nature retreat.

Join Renee Holden, Fitness Professional, Personal Trainer, Movement Specialist, Thai Massage Practitioner, and Certified Yoga Tune-Up® Teacher at the fabulous Lodge at Pine Cove on Ontario’s French River. For five days and four nights, let nature, paddling adventure, and riverside lodging in exquisite cottages with lovely linens, fine food, wonderful wines and Renee’s personal brand of instruction take you to the next level of relaxation and help rejuvenate your body and soul for the fall.

Renee will assist you in learning techniques to self-sooth, massage, and re-hydrate tissues that limber you up and help you to either maintain or progress toward a pain and stress-free life. You will gain tools to make self-care a part of your daily routine and have an opportunity to head out on the river for a meditative kayak or canoe adventure.

No prior yoga or paddling experience is necessary. Students of all levels are welcome.

Special Guest

Karen Agro is a special person. Rather than us telling you about Karen, please take a minute to listen and watch Karen in these youtube presentations – it will enhance your day.

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaOMhP9fhbc

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D_KotawKOs

Renee Holden and Karen Agro make a really special team for your Body and Soul Retreat. Please join them at the Lodge at Pine Cove this June for an experience that can truly change you.

Your instructor

Renee Holden

Fitness Professional, Personal Trainer, Movement Specialist, Thai Massage Practitioner, Certified Yoga Tune-Up® Teacher

The Body & Soul Yoga Retreat at the Lodge at Pine Cove offers more than a typical yoga experience.

Your instructor, Renee Holden, whose career in wellness and lifestyle management spans 40 years, will lead you through a practice of self-care. “Everyone is different,” says Renee. “Self-care involves developing awareness of your body, mind and spirit so you learn how to nurture overall wellness.”

“Breathing,” she continues, “creates space where you can reflect on what you require to restore balance.” With better understanding of what you need, you will benefit from the techniques and exercises learned during the retreat. The objective is to repair and enhance physical strength and mental acuity to improve overall wellness.

Using yoga, pilates, balls and other tools, Renee will demonstrate techniques that you can personalize and use as you require them.

An expert in biomechanics, Renee will explain how every system of your body – muscles, bones, facia, tendons, circulation and more – are connected. They work together to create synergy that leads to wellness. By tuning them up movement improves leading to a healthier you. You may even sleep better.

Self-care is an important practice that extends beyond the Body & Soul Retreat. Renee’s goal is to provide you with tools and techniques that recognize your limits while helping you to develop your own wellness regime.

Karen Agro: A classical guitarist, Karen will play for us during the the retreat.

Spring 2026 Package Options and Fees

1) Friendly Package

$1504 + service charge (15%) + HST (13%) per person

Based on two people sharing a bedroom with twin beds in a two or three-bedroom (first-come, first served) cottage with shared 3-piece bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, screened in porch overlooking the water. Tuition includes: accommodation, three meals per day plus snacks, a pair of Yoga Tune-Up Therapy balls and optional paddling and hiking.

2) Cottage-Share Package

$1674 + service charge (15%) + HST (13%) per person

Based on having a private bedroom in a two- or three-bedroom (first-come, first served) shared cottage with a shared 3-piece bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, private bedroom , screened in porch overlooking the water. Tuition includes: accommodation, three meals per day plus snacks, a pair of Yoga Tune-Up Therapy balls and optional paddling and hiking.

3) Private Studio Cottage Package

$1839 + service charge (15%) + HST (13%) per person

Based on having a private studio cottage (first-come, first served) , private 3-piece bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, screened in porch. Tuition includes: accommodation, three meals per day plus snacks, a pair of Yoga Tune-Up Therapy balls and optional paddling and hiking.

4) Private Deluxe Cottage Package

$1983 + service charge (15%) + HST (13%) per person

Based on having a private single-bedroom cottage with a king bed, 3-piece bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, screened in porch overlooking the water. Tuition includes: accommodation, three meals per day plus snacks, a pair of Yoga Tune-Up Therapy balls and optional paddling and hiking.

All cottages include:

• Complimentary fine teas and Ashanti coffee
• Natural soap, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion
• Hamper breakfast delivered to your cottage

* If two people wish to share a 1 – bedroom private cottage (w/twins or king), the cost would be $1504 + service charge + HST each.

** If a partner wishes to join a participant but does not participate in the Yoga retreat please add;
No dining – $290/night (includes a hamper breakfast)
With lunch/dinner – $365/night (includes a hamper breakfast)

Registration -Information for Applicants

Enrolment in the retreat is limited to 20. Applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis so the earlier you apply the more likely we can confirm a spot for you.

Please email us at info@frenchriver.com and ask to be registered in the retreat.

Please let us know what package you would prefer and if possible a second preference. Also let us know if you have any food allergies or anything else we or the yoga instructor should know about. Full payment is due upon registration.

To understand how beautiful the lodge is, please visit The Lodge at Pine Cove website, browse through some of the 250+ reviews on Trip Advisor, or “Like” us on Facebook . Our guests will tell you about their canoeing, kayaking and hiking experiences, the quality of our food, our hamper breakfasts, immaculate cottages, friendly staff, and attention to detail. You will learn that the Lodge at Pine Cove offers a very special kind of peace, one that will undoubtedly contribute to your retreat experience.

Cancelation policy

Full payment is required upon registration. If an applicant is unable to attend the retreat due to illness or other health problems, he or she will receive a refund for the amount paid, minus a
$245 application fee, ONLY if we can fill their spot at the retreat. We will endeavour to fill a spot left vacant due to illness or other health problems, but we are not able to guarantee it.
You may consider purchasing trip insurance with a service such as: Trip insurance store

Paddling & Hiking

As the sun rises, with mist skittering across the mirror-like river and great blue herons standing silently on guard, you will paddle your canoe or kayak amid soaring maple, oak, and pine trees. As morning becomes day, you will enjoy a lovely breakfast on the banks of the river before the return paddle to The Lodge at Pine Cove. Paddling in the silence of the morning’s fresh air is great stress relief in itself. Take an opportunity to float effortlessly in a canoe or kayak while basking in the quiet of Pine Cove. Why not take the time to reflect and listen to the quiet sounds of nature?

Birkin’s Lake-Trail has something for everyone. It travels through some mature pine, spruce and oak forest; climbs over several spectacular rocky outcrops; passes through moss so thick you’ll want to sleep on it; and ends up at a beautiful little lake.

Moira’s Pond/North Channel Connector Trails can take you around Moira’s Pond and out along the North Channel of the French River. As you circumnavigate the pond, the forest opens up in areas. Small rugged jack pines become evident on the massive pink granite rocks. This landscape is typical of much of the Canadian Shield. Soon, you’ll come to the French River’s North Channel. You can leave the trail here and scramble along the river’s rocky shore.

Nurture Nature Adventure

Retreat Schedule

Useful information

Fishing

The French River, was a larder for millennia, for the First Nations peoples that fished its rich waters. Today, sport fishing is one of the French River’s main activities and attracts fishers for; muskellunge, northern pike, walleye (or pickerel as it is known in Canada), large and small mouth bass and other varieties of fresh water fish. Ask us about hiring a guide, bring your own boat or rent one from us.

Bird Watching

French River is home to many species of birds including; various warbler migrations, sandhill cranes, many species of duck, bald eagles, ospreys, merlins, coopers hawk, merlins, pileated woodpeckers, blue herons and many other varieties. Birding on the French River is a joy.

Hiking

Hike at Lodge at Pine Cove, on our well marked trails. From a 20 minute stroll to a 3 hour hike across the rugged Canadian Shield, you will find plenty of trails to interest you. Beaver ponds, large channels, cranberry bog, huge pine trees and plenty of flora and fauna. Hike Pine Cove and discover the French River.

Kayaking

The French River is an incredible kayaking destination. Huge expanses of flat water that you can paddle for hours, whilst exploring wild shorelines, islands, bays and channels. Bring your own kayak or we can outfit you with one. Discover the French River and it will keep you coming back for more.

Upcoming Events

May 18th to May 22nd, 2026 season