Workshops
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Q & A - Rev. Andrea Rose Cano
Joy, Alegria, Glede, Freude, Joie, Radist…
Joy is a universal experience, yet it manifests uniquely across cultures, languages, and individual perceptions. This immersive workshop invites you to take a deeper dive into the rich language and dynamic experience of joy — exploring how it is shaped by our cultural backgrounds, personal heritage, and the many ways we sense and express it.
Through thoughtful group sharing, guided reflection, and interactive exercises, we will engage all six senses — sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and intuition — to unlock new pathways for recognizing, cultivating, and amplifying joy in our lives.
Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own stories, traditions, and practices that spark joy while discovering fresh perspectives from others. By exploring this vibrant and multifaceted emotion, we’ll embrace joy not just as a fleeting feeling, but as a powerful and sustainable practice of well-being.
Come ready to connect, share, and celebrate the countless ways joy can illuminate our lives and communities.
DRUMMING EXPERIENCE INTERACTIVE - Elise Tickner
Join me for a fun and energizing drumming workshop where we’ll come together to explore the power of rhythm! Whether you’re an experienced drummer or a total beginner, this is a space for everyone to join in the rhythm. I’ll have a variety of drums and percussion instruments available, but feel free to bring your own drum, heartbeat, or voice – no experience necessary!
In this workshop, we’ll lay down some beats, listen to each other, and discover how drumming can unite our voices and bodies into a shared experience. Drumming together can be a powerful way to connect, and it feels good – and feeling good is medicine for the body and mind. It’s not just about playing instruments; it’s about creating a space where your unique rhythm contributes to something greater.
Come as you are, bring your drum or use one of mine, and experience the joy of playing together.
EMBRACE JOY OF WATERCOLOR & WORDS - Barbara Rainey
Discover the delightful blend of creativity and reflection in this inspiring workshop, where you’ll craft a beautiful 4” x 4” meander book filled with vibrant watercolor shapes, designs, and meaningful words. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting your creative journey, this session invites you to relax, explore, and express yourself.
During our time together, you'll have access to a wide variety of watercolor hues, allowing you to play with color combinations that speak to you. Once your watercolor backgrounds are complete, you'll add thoughtful details, inspiring quotes, and personal reflections using a fine-tipped black pen. The result will be a unique and heartfelt keepsake that will continue to inspire you long after the workshop ends.
To support your creative process, a selection of quotes will be provided, but feel free to bring your own favorite phrases or words that resonate with you. All necessary supplies to start and complete your book will be available during the workshop.
For those who need one, fine-point black pens will be available for purchase at registration for $3.00.
Come Embrace the Joy of creativity, connection, and expression in this memorable retreat experience!
ENERGY HEALING w/ SINGING BOWLS - Zandie Lawson
During this workshop, using her deep understanding of universal energy, the leader, Zandie, will serve as a guide for participants toward heightened self-awareness and holistic well-being. This work and process incorporates sound frequencies from singing bowls to stimulate personal wellness. Once your own conscious awareness has accepted these healing frequencies, you will be in an emotional, physical, and spiritual balance and be more able to facilitate your own self-wellness and healing. Your spirit will thank you and will jump for joy!
EXPLORING EMBODIED JOY - April Brenneman
We live and breathe and have our being within our material body, planted firmly on our Earth. Our spirit, mind, and body are connected. Living in this realm feels overwhelming at times. Yet, we have a deep well of love, hope and joy within. In this 90 minute workshop, we will explore different aspects of what it means to be embodied through breath, writing/art, movement and sharing our experiences in community. All levels of body/movement and writing/art abilities welcome.
FOREST BATHING - Laura Lindberg Reda
Forest bathing (or “shinrin-yoku”) is a practice that originated in Japan and has spread around the world, promoting restoration and wellness through sensory immersion in nature. ANFT certified guide Laura Lindberg Reda will facilitate a short walk, inviting you to slow down, unplug from your modern devices, get out of your head, and plug in to your innate senses to ‘embrace the joy’ of nature’s restorative wisdom.
Please dress for the weather, to be comfortable outside for our 90-minute workshop where we will be moving slowly (even if it is raining!). This isn’t a “hike”—we won’t go a very long distance—but still wear sturdy shoes, and be prepared for walking on some uneven ground where there might be roots and wet leaves and such. You may also want to bring a water bottle or hat. (P.S. no swimsuits required – we’re just ‘bathing’ in the forest atmosphere surrounding Skamania Lodge. And we’ll seek cover if Mother Nature truly calls for it).
HEALING PRACTICES w/ YOGA, QI GONG, BREATHWORK - Wendy Fisher
This transformative workshop weaves together three powerful healing traditions to awaken your body's natural vitality. Begin with an illuminating introduction to the complementary benefits of yoga, qi gong, and breathwork. Experience a thoughtfully sequenced practice that combines fluid yoga postures to stretch and strengthen the body with qi gong movements that cultivate and direct your body's vital energy. The session culminates in a guided breathwork meditation, designed to integrate and enhance the vibrant energy awakened through movement.
This balanced approach offers both beginners and experienced practitioners an opportunity to deepen their connection to these time-honored healing practices. Join us to discover how these ancient wisdom traditions can support your modern wellness journey. Please bring a yoga mat.
HIDDEN JOYS - Leslie Soken
Discovering and tending to our joys through nature.
At a time of year when there seems to be loss - of light, of blooms, leaves, as well as reminders of our own losses, nature reveals to us the hidden promise of new life. There is also pruning to be done as well during this time. We will delve into all the joys that this holds for us through spiritual practices that include silence, poetry, reflection, visio divina, embodiment, and response.