Qi Medicine
A Silent Qigong and Tea Retreat
June 13-18th 2025 at Hollyhock, Cortes Island, Canada
“The outer ecosystems that are in desperate need of our care are intricately connected with the systems that reside within your own body. Consider that your healing journey is not solely about yourself but is a defiant act of hope and a catalyst for change within our larger ecosystem. And because you are energetically interconnected to everything in existence, by following your Tao you contribute to the healing of our planet as a whole.”— Stephanie Nosco
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Experience the medicine of Nature, Qigong and Tea on a transformative journey back to yourself.
Join us for a silent retreat focused on the practice of Qigong and the mindful art of Tea Ceremony. Our retreat will be hosted by the world renowned Hollyhock Retreat Centre, located on the picturesque Cortes Island in British Columbia, Canada. Spanning 48 acres, the waterfront campus provides a peaceful setting amidst stunning natural surroundings. Stephanie, who lives and practices on the West coast, looks forward to welcoming guests from around the world to experience the healing energy of the Canadian forests and coastline she loves so deeply.
Drawing from the disciplines of Chinese Medicine, Medical Qigong, Five Element theory, and Buddhism, this immersive retreat invites you to reconnect with your natural energetic flow. You’ll learn how your body’s energy (or qi) can help balance the five major yin organs: the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs, while exploring practices to counteract emotional and spiritual imbalances that lead to physical tension in the body.
The retreat will blend guided Qigong sessions, silent meditation and reflection, meridian and acupressure sessions, and daily Tea Ceremonies—each featuring thoughtfully chosen teas that support the themes and practices explored in our movement sessions. By the end of the retreat, you will possess the skills and confidence to integrate these practices into your daily life, learning the Taoist 5 Qigong set and the basic structure of Qigong practices.
Nature will serve as one of our primary teachers during our outdoor Qigong practices, allowing us to gather energy from the surroundings while observing the movements of the environment and the wisdom embodied in the blue heron, the eagle, and the cedar trees. Although we will be in community, participants will center their attention on their own healing journeys, and the silence will enhance our capacity for deep listening—both to ourselves and to the natural world around us.
This retreat will restore your energetic vitality and empower you to awaken your body’s energy and trust your inner compass.
When, Where & Investment
June 13-18th at HollyHock Retreat Center, on Cortes Island, Canada
The retreat will commence after dinner on the first day of the retreat. Check-in time and arrival details will follow.
The retreat will end after lunch on June 18th. We recommend booking your flights so you can stay for the entire duration of the retreat. Because it takes some time to get back to mainland Vancouver, please give yourself a day in between arriving and departing HollyHock, if you are flying internationally.
The base tuition to attend this retreat is $800 CAD plus Hollyhock’s Campus Rates. These rates range from $875 to $3,300 CAD depending on your choice of accommodation, and include all meals.
*For our American friends, the Canadian dollar is approximately 30% less than the American dollar. So keep that in mind.
An intimate retreat limited to a maximum of 18 participants
3 nourishing plant based meals a day, teas, herbal drinks, and choice of accommodation (scroll down for options)
An intimate experience with the natural world, among world class beaches, wildlife, and ocean life.
Relax in the hot tub, sauna or garden spaces; enjoy beach access, and access to hiking trails
Buddhist teachings about silence and the importance of listening
Taoist teachings about Qigong and Chinese Medicine
Intimate opening and closing ceremonies
3 guided sessions per day with Stephanie, including Qigong, yin yoga, and breath work
2 guided meditations per day with Stephanie or Cat
An intimate Tea Ceremony each day with Cat
Printouts of the Qigong sequence taught
Experiential teachings drawn directly from Stephanie’s Book: Follow Your Tao
What you can expect…
The Journey to Cortes, Island, Canada
The Journey to Cortes Island is a long one, which may pose a challenge, but also adds to its charm. There’s something special about retreating to a remote location and fully committing to being away. Here are some notes about travel:
The closest international airport is Vancouver, BC. From there, you have a couple of options:
Take a seaplane directly to Cortes Island.
Fly to Campbell River or Comox and then take a water taxi to Cortes.
If you prefer a road trip, you can take a ferry from either Seattle or Vancouver.
Hollyhock offers free shuttle services that pick you up from the water taxi or ferry terminals.
For detailed travel instructions, please refer to Hollyhock's official travel guide {here}
Why silence?
Social silence will be held for the majority of the retreat. This means the focus will be held internally, and socializing with other participants will be saved for the beginning and end of the retreat time. While we also value the importance of community and connection, Silence offers a rare opportunity to give the areas of our brain that are responsible for speech a time to rest, and to use that energy for genuine self reflection. In many different traditions, retreat was not intended as a time to be social, but rather to work on the primary relationship you have with yourself and with the land. While we often think of renunciation as something lacking, it is a freedom and a gift to offer your attention back to yourself, your soul and to nature.
It is important to mention that Silence also includes the renunciation of technology. We strongly recommend keeping your phone off, or at least on airplane mode (service and signal are limited given the remote location). If you require your phone during retreat, we ask that you use it in private, so that others who decide to fully renounce technology are not taken out of their own experience by others.
Tea Ceremony
Ceremonies of any kind turn our attention into intention, which is a natural doorway through which to find connection - with self, with source, and with community. When paired with a plant medicine like Tea, which has a relationship with humans dating back beyond recorded history, ceremonies become opportunities for deep connection and healing. This is the difference between simply drinking tea as a beverage, and Tea Ceremony; the aim to cultivate the Sacred in the Ordinary.
Through Tea our hearts are opened, our eyes become brighter and a golden light shines through everything. We are returned, bowl after bowl, to our original connection with nature. Tea reminds us that the human, the animal, the natural and the celestial are one; each and every thing intertwines and is interchangeable. In other words, we can experience the entire universe in every single bowl of Tea.
Cat will be serving a Tea Ceremony each day to compliment the practices of Qi Gong, Meditation and Yoga. We will be experiencing a different tea each day, consciously chosen to compliments the elements and practices explored in Follow Your Tao. Each ceremony will be followed by time for guided sharing around that day’s theme.
If you have any questions or are curious about Tea Ceremony, please follow the link below to find out more and connect with Cat directly.
Retreat Schedule
Sample schedule (details TBD)
7:00 am- Silent meditation and Ecstatic Dance
7:30 am - Tea Ceremony
9:00 am - Breakfast and free time
11:00 am -1:00 pm - Qigong/Movement Session
1:00 pm - Lunch and free time
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Yin Yoga and Meditation
6:00 pm - Dinner and free time
8:00 pm - Sound Bath with Nidra or Meditation Practice
9:00 pm - Journaling and Reflection
10:00 pm - Lights Out
Additional Activities, such as massage, hiking and swimming can be added during your free times.
About Hollyhock
Hollyhock Retreat Center is nestled on the stunning Cortes Island in British Columbia, surrounded by lush forests, breathtaking ocean views, and serene beaches. The campus is designed to promote holistic well-being and personal growth, offering a tranquil sanctuary for participants of all backgrounds.
Accommodations at Hollyhock range from cozy dormitory-style rooms to private cabins, each thoughtfully integrated into the natural landscape. The center features beautifully landscaped gardens, walking trails, and communal spaces that encourage connection and reflection.
The facilities include a main lodge for dining and gatherings, where delicious, locally sourced meals are prepared. A variety of workshop spaces are equipped for diverse activities, from yoga and meditation sessions to creative arts and learning experiences.
With a focus on sustainability, Hollyhock emphasizes environmentally friendly practices, aiming to create a harmonious relationship between guests and the natural environment. This welcoming community fosters collaboration, learning, and shared experiences, making it an ideal destination for those seeking personal transformation and connection with nature.
Meet the Team
Stephanie Nosco
Qigong Therapist, Psychotherapist, Author, Yin Yoga & Meditation guide.
Catherine (Cat) Reynolds
Tea Ceremonialist, Nature Mystic, Spiritual Counselor, Nidra Teacher and Meditation Guide
