Transcendent Movement: Awakening Well-Being and Inner Voice
3-8 October 2025 | Ripon, Quebec
Offering wisdom and tools centered in the Buddhist tradition, and drawing upon sound healing and creative arts therapies.
Wake up to crisp autumn air, the scent of fallen leaves, and a landscape ablaze with reds, oranges, and golds. In fall, Québec’s rolling hills burst with colour, offering a breathtaking and peaceful setting for deep connection—both inward and outward. Just as the trees let go with ease, this retreat invites you to release, reset, and realign with yourself.
A unique collaboration between Simone Nitzan and Jeff Cupchik, this retreat blends the wisdom of Yoga and Buddhism to support those seeking greater peace and contentment. The falling leaves remind us of impermanence—a fleeting beauty that mirrors our ever-changing nature. Here, we’ll explore how to meet life’s challenges with ease, cultivate self-empathy, and embody compassion in our daily lives.
What to expect & what you’ll take home:
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Grounding meditations rooted in the Buddhist tradition to help you meet each moment with presence
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Energizing movement practices to wake you up from the inside out—building strength, resilience, and readiness for anything
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Deep, restorative savasanas that nourish your body and soothe your nervous system
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Forest meditations that connect you to nature’s quiet wisdom
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Sound walks to attune your awareness to the subtleties of the world around you
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Practices in deep listening—to the land, to others, and to your own inner voice
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A renewed sense of compassion—for yourself, for others, and for all beings
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Clarity and insight about what truly matters to you
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In-the-moment nervous system tools to help you stay grounded and steady when life feels overwhelming
Learn about the retreat
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We’ll be staying at the stunning Centre de Vie, a peaceful retreat centre nestled in over 210 acres of forest and trails—just an hour and a half from Ottawa. With breathtaking nature right at our doorstep, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore, including one scenic hike where we’ll take in vibrant fall colours, multiple waterfalls, and sweeping views. And since no trip to Québec is complete without indulging in its famous cheese, we’ll also visit a local fromagerie to savour some of the region’s best.
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5 nights accommodation
5 dinners, 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches
All yoga, meditation and other practices
1 hike with a local guide
Visit to a local Fromagerie with a wine and cheese tasting
Forest meditations and sound walks
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Body work (massage, reflexology etc.) provided by Centre de Vie
Flights to Ottawa (if not driving)
Transportation to the retreat centre (Simone and Amy can help to coordinate transfers from the airport at an additional cost, car-pooling can also be arranged if desired)
Centre de Vie also has a holistic care clinic offering the following services. To ensure availability, we recommend booking in advance on their website: Holistic Health Clinic.
If booking an appointment ensure it is during our scheduled free time and indicate the name of our group when booking.
Services offered:
Massage therapy
Naturopathy and iridology consultation
Energy treatments (cellular memory decoding)
Cupping massage
Reflexology
Access Bars and consciousness
Consultation with Mélanie Hotte, medium
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Ready to secure your spot? Simply fill out the registration form below, and our team will get back to you within 48 hours with next steps and payment details. Spots are limited—don’t wait to claim your transformative retreat experience!
Join us for this transformative retreat, where the wisdom of the season guides us toward deeper presence, acceptance, and renewal.
This retreat is about awakening the teacher within—learning to trust our experience, decipher the stories we tell ourselves, and discern reality from perception. By connecting to the compassionate wellspring within, we’ll uncover new ways to soften resistance to change and embrace healing as a natural process.
Drawing on decades of study under Buddhist lineage masters, Jeff will share teachings that begin with the truth of suffering—how it arises in both mind and body, and how our expectations of each moment shape our experience. Together, we’ll explore how awareness, movement, and sound can serve as pathways to greater ease, resilience, and freedom.
Testimonials
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Simone is great. I accompanied Simone on two of her retreats and will be going on a third this Autumn. She is a generous and empathetic yoga instructor, able to witness and accommodate my limited range of motion, both pushing me to explore my limits while also celebrating what I can do. Simone shares her love, knowledge and enthusiasm for yoga, showing the practice to be both joyful and spiritually fulfilling.
Katherine Childs
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First and foremost--Simone is an expert yoga teacher. Any retreat that she organizes is guaranteed to be fun in addition to fantastic yoga classes that she will adjust for each participant. The food will be good, the accommodations good, and excursions that add to getting to know each location. I have attended three of her retreats and hope to attend more in the future.
Lynne Morris
Room Options
There are a variety of different rooms available. No two rooms are the same. We recommend looking at the Centre de Vie website for more pictures of the rooms and contact simone@simonenitzan.com to discuss room options before booking.
There are only 2 rooms with a private bath, one in the main house, and one in the barn.
There are 7 additional rooms in the main house with 3 shared bathrooms.
There are 3 rooms in the barn with 1 shared bathroom.
Regular Registration After July 31st, 2025
Single Room Private Bath $3000 + HST
Single Room Shared Bath $2700 + HST
Double Room Private Bath $2550 + HST
Double Room Shared Bath $2350 + HST
Early Bird Pricing Until July 31st, 2025
Single Room Private Bath $2800 + HST
Single Room Shared Bath $2500 + HST
Double Room Private Bath $2350 + HST
Double Room Shared Bath $2150 + HST
Meet Your Hosts
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Simone’s journey with yoga began as a personal trainer and Exercise Physiology student, where she discovered that physical fitness alone couldn’t bring the clarity she sought. A transformative trip to India awakened her to the power of devotion and simplicity, leading her to dedicate herself to yoga. Her academic path—a Master’s in Breathing Physiology—deepened her fascination with the body, while her studies in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga under Kevin Grodesky, Chris Richardson, and Toronto’s Downward Dog Yoga Centre (where she completed 500+ hours of training) shaped her dynamic, breath-centered approach.
Now an experienced teacher and teacher trainer, Simone has taught functional anatomy, physiology, and yoga in Tel Aviv’s Lotus Yoga School (where she co-directed teacher trainings) and studied under mentors like Stacey Brass Russell and Judith Hanson Lasater, becoming a certified Relax and Renew® Restorative Yoga instructor. Blending science and spirit, she guides students toward mindful movement with deep gratitude for her teachers—and a commitment to sharing yoga’s transformative gifts.
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Dr. Jeffrey W. Cupchik is a medical ethnomusicologist, composer, musician, educator, and author of the new book with SUNY Press, The Sound of Vultures' Wings: The Tibetan Buddhist Chöd Ritual Practice of the Female Buddha Machik Labdrön.
Having studied closely with Tibetan Buddhist masters for over 25 years, he contributes a unique perspective to cultivating wellbeing through music and meditation in daily life.
Drawing from his new online course curriculum, "Music for Health and Wellness," this workshop invites you to learn and practice empirically tested tools utilizing music and sound that can lead to human flourishing.
Schedule
Friday October 3rd
2 - 4 pm Arrival
4 pm Welcome circle and gentle movement
6:30 pm Dinner
Monday October 6th
7:30 am Breakfast
9 - 11:30 am Morning Practice
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 pm Free Time to Explore
3 - 4 pm Wine and Cheese Tasting at a local Fromagerie
4:30 - 6 pm Afternoon practice
6:30 pm Dinner
Saturday October 4th
7:30 am Breakfast
9 - 11:30 am Morning Practice
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 pm Free Time to Explore
4 - 6 pm Afternoon Class
6:30 pm Dinner
Tuesday October 7th
7:30 am Breakfast
9 - 11:30 am Morning Practice
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 pm Free Time to Explore
4 - 6 pm Afternoon practice
6:30 pm Dinner
Sunday October 5th
7:30 am Breakfast
9 - 11:30 am Morning Practice
12 pm Leave for Hike (packed lunch)
12:30 - 4:30 pm Hike with a local guide in Parc des Montagnes
5 - 6 pm Yin Yoga Class
6:30 pm Dinner
Wednesday October 8th
7:30 am Breakfast
9 - 11:30 am Morning Practice
12:30 pm Lunch (can be a packed lunch for those that prefer to get going - requires advanced notice)
2 pm Closing Circle Fire Pit
3 pm Goodbyes
*Schedule subject to change
**Sauna will be available throughout the retreat in the evenings
Apply For A Spot
Fill out the form below to schedule an intro call so you can decide whether this retreat is right for you!
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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Absolutely. Our retreats welcome everyone—from complete beginners to long-time practitioners. Simone and Jeff are experienced in creating inclusive, supportive spaces where everyone feels at ease.
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Not at all. The morning sessions combine movement, meditation, rest, and philosophical reflection. You're not doing physical yoga the whole time—and most people are surprised by how quickly the time passes.
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Not at all. Many participants come solo, and our retreats are designed to build community while also honouring your personal space. Whether you're looking for connection or quiet, you'll be supported.
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Yes. Simone is highly skilled in adapting practices to suit individual needs. Whether you're working with injuries, joint replacements, or chronic conditions, modifications will be available so you feel safe and cared for.
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That’s exactly why we practice. Meditation is about meeting yourself where you are. Simone and Jeff are skilled at guiding people with all levels of experience (and all kinds of minds) into stillness at their own pace.
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Yes. While meals are primarily plant-based, there will be options that include fish and chicken to support a variety of dietary needs. Our goal is to ensure everyone feels well-nourished.
