SACRED SOUND, SACRED SILENCE
with Heidi Kalyani
“When I am silent, I fall into that place where everything is music.”
RUMI
Experience the nourishing, connecting and transformative power of sound… and the blissful silence that complements it!
This heart-opening weekend will feature kirtan (call and response singing), sound journeys with guided meditation and singing bowls, mantra chanting, restful yoga nidra, gentle movement, and a selection of deep listening practices. There will also be solo time for journalling, walking the beautiful trails, practicing yoga asana, or breathing in the silence!
Nurture your heart, your voice and your nervous system while you cultivate deeper connections with yourself, others and the world around you.
Come alone, or share this inspiring weekend with a friend!
DATES
Friday April 25th – Sunday April 27th, 2025
DETAILS
Friday afternoon – arrival, registration (4pm – 5:30pm)
Friday evening – opening circle and session 1 (6:30pm – 9pm)
Saturday morning – session 2 (9am – noon)
Saturday afternoon – session 3 (2pm – 5pm)
Saturday evening – session 4 (7pm – 9pm)
Sunday morning – session 5 and closing circle (9am – 11:30am)
Sunday afternoon – depart (by 1pm)
LOCATION
This three day (two night) retreat will be held at La Solitude de Pré-d’en-Haut, on the Petitcodiac River near Memramcook, New Brunswick.
We will stay in small individual cabins, enjoy simple meals, and gather in the beautiful Thabor for our group sessions.
The weekend will offer a balance of sound and silence — sound when we are together and silence when we are alone. (I will offer optional journal prompts, and other reflection tools if you wish to use them during the silence!)
If you would like a longer or more spacious retreat, you are welcome to book extra nights at the retreat centre. Please inquire and book directly with La Solitude.
REGISTRATION
Registration for the weekend (including simple food, accommodation, and the program):
$395 + HST
To secure your place a $100 deposit is required.
NEED MORE INFO?
Send me a message! I’d love to answer any questions you have!
NURTURING CONNECTION
practices for co-regulation
with Heidi Kalyani & Bruce Dienes
“Perhaps the most important thing we bring to another person is the silence in us… not the sort of silence that is filled with unspoken criticism or hard withdrawal. The sort of silence that is a place of refuge, of rest, of acceptance of someone as they are.”
RACHEL NAOMI REMEN
Join us for an opportunity to slow down, unplug and deepen connection to yourself, your loved one, and your togetherness.
By exploring the power of nervous system regulation (through the lens of polyvagal theory), this weekend retreat offers the opportunity to learn practices that support creating a safe harbour for each other – even in turbulent times.
In addition to individual nervous system mapping and shared co-regulation practices, the weekend includes quiet reflection, deep listening, nourishing conversation, simple meals, and time in nature.
Experience the warmth and joy of being fully seen and heard by someone close to you…
Come with your partner, parent, adult child, sibling or best friend. Couples of all genders welcome. La Solitude offers individual solo cabins, allowing both people space and silence for digesting, resting and reflecting, as well as lots of time for togetherness in the main gathering space!
Registration includes resource sheets and a beautiful activity-based card deck (designed by Heidi) to help you bring the practices home.
Register early as space is limited to 14 cabins (7 pairs).
ABOUT US
Bruce and Heidi met in the silence, and have been exploring their shared passion for transformative practices (both contemplative and culture-shifting) ever since.
Bruce is a life-long Quaker. The insights from being steeped in those silence practices have shaped his consulting, teaching and volunteer work, and inspired him to get a Ph.D. in Community Psychology. He creates transformative alternate social spaces using prosocial principles and mindfulness-infused, values-based committed action. His focus is on men’s issues, peer support, community empowerment and organizational effectiveness. He is an adjunct professor of psychology at MSVU.
Heidi is a writer, artist, musician, facilitator, long-time meditator and change-maker. One of her deepest passions is creating nervous system friendly spaces for nourishing and meaningful connection. In addition to her work in the field of embodied leadership, she offers classes and retreats featuring meditative sound journeys, kirtan (chanting) and yoga nidra. She also loves designing, hiking, singing, cooking, and sipping steamy mugs of tea.
Together, they live in a small sunny house in rural Nova Scotia where they pursue a regular practice of co-regulation – with each other and their beloved cat Jackson.
DATES
Friday August 22nd – Sunday August 24th, 2025
DETAILS
Friday afternoon – arrival, registration (4pm – 5:30pm)
Friday evening – opening circle and session 1 (6:30pm – 9pm)
Saturday morning – session 2 (9am – noon)
Saturday afternoon – session 3 (2pm – 5pm)
Saturday evening – session 4 (7pm – 9pm)
Sunday morning – session 5 and closing circle (9am – 11:30am)
Sunday afternoon – depart (by 1pm)
LOCATION
This three day (two night) retreat will be held at La Solitude de Pré-d’en-Haut, on the Petitcodiac River near Memramcook, New Brunswick.
We will stay in small individual cabins (each person will have their own separate cabin!), enjoy simple meals, and gather in the beautiful Thabor for our group sessions.
The weekend will offer a balance of conversation and connection when we are together, and silence and solitude when we are alone.
If you would like a longer or more spacious retreat, you are welcome to book extra nights at the retreat centre. Please inquire and book directly with La Solitude.
REGISTRATION
Registration for the weekend (including simple food, accommodation, and the program):
$950 + HST (regular price, per couple); $850 + HST (early bird price, until June 1st, per pair)
To secure your place a $300 deposit is required.
NEED MORE INFO?
Send me a message! I’d love to answer any questions you have!
SOOTHING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH SOUND
a weekend retreat
with Heidi Kalyani
“Stay close to any sounds that make you glad you are alive.”
HAFIZ
Join me for a deep dive into the heart of nervous system regulation using the power of sound and the vibrant, resonant silence that accompanies it.
Through a weekend of immersion in nature, supportive community and simple yet powerful sound-based contemplative practices, you will discover ways to soothe and nourish your autonomic nervous system, so that you feel grounded, rested, resourced and more deeply connected with yourself, others and the world around you.
Our time together will provide opportunities for both self- and co-regulation, featuring sound journeys with guided meditation and singing bowls, gentle practices of humming, singing and mantra-based lullabies, and a transformative exploration of the unique map of your own nervous system using the wisdom of polyvagal theory. There will also be solo time for journalling, walking the beautiful trails, practicing yoga and meditation, or sitting quietly in the inspiring silence!
Come alone, or share this rejuvenating weekend with a friend. All are welcome!
DATES
Friday October 17th – Sunday October 19th, 2025
DETAILS
Friday afternoon – arrival, registration (4pm – 5:30pm)
Friday evening – opening circle and session 1 (6:30pm – 9pm)
Saturday morning – session 2 (9am – noon)
Saturday afternoon – session 3 (2pm – 5pm)
Saturday evening – session 4 (7pm – 9pm)
Sunday morning – session 5 and closing circle (9am – 11:30am)
Sunday afternoon – depart (by 1pm)
LOCATION
This three day (two night) retreat will be held at La Solitude de Pré-d’en-Haut, on the Petitcodiac River near Memramcook, New Brunswick.
We will stay in small individual cabins, enjoy simple meals, and gather in the beautiful Thabor for our group sessions.
The weekend will offer a balance of sound and silence — sound when we are together and silence when we are alone. (I will offer optional journal prompts, and other reflection tools if you wish to use them during the silence!)
If you would like a longer or more spacious retreat, you are welcome to book extra nights at the retreat centre. Please inquire and book directly with La Solitude.
REGISTRATION
Registration for the weekend (including simple food, accommodation, and the program):
$395 + HST
To secure your place a $100 deposit is required.
NEED MORE INFO?
Send me a message! I’d love to answer any questions you have!
