summer
A MIND-BODY CONNECTION RETREAT FOR WOMEN
Summer 2027
Disconnection within the self is a huge issue today - it can result in depression, anxiety, perpetuating effects of trauma, difficulty sleeping and digesting, numbness and apathy, amongst many other individual symptoms.
Power Your Self is our love letter to women -- an invitation to reconnect with your innate strength and become a more grounded, powerfully embodied version of yourself.
We know, both intuitively and through decades of research, that healing happens in a safe, compassionate community. When women gather with courage, vulnerability becomes connection, connection becomes radiant resilience, and resilience becomes empowerment.
Through an integration of yoga, mindfulness and counselling therapeutic practices, we will explore the inner places where we have learned to shrink, disconnect or silence ourselves. Together, we will cultivate greater self-awareness, nervous system regulation and a more resounding alignment with your inner ‘yes!’
Join us in cozy Linwood House, within the lush forest cathedral of Roberts Creek, BC, immersed in centuries-old pine groves, bird song and the deeply connective quiet of nature.
Included: Individually-themed and boutique hotel-style rooms, organic farm-to-table meals, self-care gift package, sessions by the massive stone fireplace and in the yoga studio.
Photos courtesy of Linwood House Retreat Centre
testimonials
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“I arrived expecting a simple yoga retreat, but what I experienced was something far deeper — a truly healing and bonding journey with an incredible group of women. The venue itself felt like a sanctuary: surrounded by trees, a gentle creek nearby, comfortable rooms, and a real wood‑burning fireplace that brought all the elements together for rest and renewal. The nourishing, delicious soul food prepared by the chef added so much comfort and care to the experience.
Anilā and Juliana were exceptional, complementary facilitators who held space with genuine warmth, love, and kindness. Their guidance made it easy for each of us to feel safe, open up, and connect through our individual healing journeys.
I sincerely hope there will be follow‑up one‑day check‑ins or seasonal/bi‑annual gatherings. The timing of this retreat — early February — was perfect for thawing out, resetting, and setting a positive, healing tone for the year ahead.”
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“Nestled in the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast, the Thaw Your Self retreat was a true reset.
Thoughtfully curated, the experience blended science-based therapeutic methods with deeply intuitive practices. Facilitated by Juliana and Anilā — both skilled therapists and yoga practitioners—the space was held with both grounded expertise and spiritual depth.
Each day wove together somatic yoga, breathwork, and group therapy, creating a gentle yet powerful pathway inward. The nourishing, intentional cuisine —fed and restored our body, mind, and soul.
What surprised me most was the depth of connection. We arrived as strangers and left as trusted friends, held together through shared vulnerability and care.
I came in carrying creative blocks and self-doubt. I left feeling renewed, clear, and empowered to move forward in my artistic path.
This retreat fosters growth, self-understanding, compassion, and meaningful connection.
I look forward to joining Juliana and Anilā on their next retreat.”
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“I work in the mental health and wellness field, and for years I’ve heard people talk about the ‘mind-body connection.’ I thought I understood what it meant, but this retreat showed me that understanding it intellectually and truly experiencing it are two very different things.
This experience changed me in ways I never expected.
It deepened my relationship with myself, my body, my mind, and the people I care about. It helped me slow down and listen to what my body had been trying to tell me all along. I learned how to recognize its signals, respond with compassion instead of judgment, and honour what I need in each moment.
What surprised me most was how much wisdom my body holds when I take the time to listen.
The practices I learned at this retreat didn’t end when I went home. They have become part of my daily life. I feel more grounded, more connected to myself, and more present in the world around me.
I arrived curious. I left transformed.
I am profoundly grateful for this experience and will carry its lessons with me for the rest of my life.”
retreat FAQs
Do I need to have any yoga experience?
No - all skill levels and abilities are welcome. Our retreat will leave plenty of room for those with little to no experience, and also those who have more experience and wish to push themselves.
What do I need to bring?
You will receive a registration package via email which will tell you in more detail what you need to bring.
How will I get a feel for if this will be a safe space, with safe people?
Before the retreat we will meet via Zoom as a collective of all those who have registered. If it feels like an unsafe space in any way we would invite you to address that with us leaders afterwards, and if it still doesn’t feel right or we can’t find a way to make it safer for you, you are welcome to withdraw from the retreat with a full refund.
How many participants will be in attendance?
In order to move ahead with the retreat we will need between 10-12 participants. If we have less than 10 registered we may have to cancel the retreat. In this instance notice will be given via email and each registrant will receive a full refund.
Juliana Fruhling
MA-MFT, RCC
Juliana is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BCACC, a community and parent mental health educator, certified trauma-informed yoga practitioner and Collaborative Coach. She has additional training in Observed and Experiential Integration trauma work, Mediation, Satir Trauma Integration Therapy, and many other modalities. Juliana is passionate about helping people of all ages discover wellness through building and developing their own resilience, and discovering healing through integration.. Through her trauma-informed counselling approach, which combines elements of somatic, systemic and emotion-focused therapy, Juliana has created an experiential group treatment that invites deeper mental health healing and integration.
Juliana’s clinical work over the last 15 years has deepened and expanded her gentle wisdom and empathy, while her work with humans in all walks of life, including high-conflict family mediation, has brought forward a passion for helping humans seek wholeness, nervous system healing and identity integration. Her insights into human nature are enriched by her wide vision, perspective and unconditional compassion while also offering practical and personal action items. She continues to deepen her own language of self-knowledge in emotion, and is able to match you wherever you are.
When she’s not working towards integration and healing, Juliana is a wife to a wonderful husband, and a mother to her two beautiful kids and her Yorkie mix, Marmalade.
Anila Lacroix
E-RYT500, YACEP
For more than 20 years, Anilā has been helping people come home to themselves through movement, meditation, and psychological insight. A former teacher trainer with YYoga and the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga, Anilā brings her tender yet powerful presence into every encounter, whether clinical or personal. Her intuitive, peaceful and insightful nature provides soul-calm and steadiness, while her mischievous spirit evokes lovely, deep, bubbling chuckles and a twinkle in her eye that creates a sense of safety and connection for all those around her.
Today, Anilā weaves together two decades of contemplative practice with the science of psychology. She works as a clinical psychology assessor and therapist-in-training while completing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Adler University. Her research includes working with the University of British Columbia's Sexual Health and Motivated Cognition Labs, alongside doctoral research exploring interdisciplinary care for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Her research explores the intersection of embodiment, neuroscience, and existential psychology, with a particular interest in how people rediscover vitality, agency, and meaning following trauma, illness, or injury. She has been invited to present on women's health, sexuality, and the lived experience of chronic pain, reflecting her commitment to translating research into compassionate, embodied practice.
Above all, Anilā believes that healing is not about returning to who we once were, but about courageously evolving into who we are becoming.
For further inquiries or to register, please contact: retreat@anchorcounsellingandwellness.com