Awakening the Spine, Spirit & Senses through Movement, Art & Energy Medicine

August 16–22, 2026 | 8 Transformational Days | Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

Join us for an immersive, multi-disciplinary retreat exploring how the spine, the Five Elements, and vibrational frequency guide Growth, healing, and self-realization.

This experience brings together energy facilitators, artists, sound healers, movement educators, and seekers in a layered journey of embodied learning.

Each day integrates:

• Touch for Health Five Element Theory
• The Spiritual Essence of the Spine
• BioEnergetic Wellness Daily Formula
• Tai Chi & Foundational Movement
• Dance & Creative Embodiment
• Therapeutic Touch (TT) for Families
• Intuitive Art & Sound Exploration
• Nature-based awareness and resonance

Participants deepen their energy awareness, nervous system regulation, embodied intelligence, and practical self-care skills — tools that continue long after the retreat ends.

For those who may not be able to register for the whole week, send an email to [email protected] and we can work out a daily, or multi-day plan and price.

DAY 1 — Opening to Creative Flow

Sunday, August 16 | Water Element – Opening the Channels

Theme: Intuition • Emotional Flow • Sensing the Energy Field

• Welcome Circle & Orientation
• Intuitive Painting with Marian Egan
• Touch for Health Primer: Five Elements & the Energetics of the Spine
• Evening Sound Bath Immersion with the Retreat Music Team
• Free Time at Mabou Farmers Market
• Evening Reflection & Journaling with Tanya Levy

DAY 2 — The Spine as Resonance

Monday, August 17 | Water & Fire Elements

Theme: Frequency • Vitality • Central Channel Activation

• Morning Tai Chi (Hillsborough Hall)
• Workshop: Spine Resonance Part 1 (Water + Fire) with Dr. Michelle
  • Vibrational anatomy
  • Emotional release & intuitive intelligence
• Special Teaching: Dynamic Reset Model with Denise Cambiotti
• Dance & Tai Chi Fusion Integration
• Beach Dinner at West Mabou Beach
• Brook Village Adult Dance

DAY 3 — Elemental Expression & Creative Integration

Tuesday, August 18 | Metal & Wood Elements

Theme: Breath • Courage • Growth

• Creative Exploration at Doug Fraser’s Art Studio
• Lunch at The Annex
• Inverness Beach Walk & Sea Glass Reflection
• Workshop: Spine Resonance Part 2 (Metal + Wood)
  • Breath & letting go
  • Growth, boundaries & circulation
• Evening Painting Integration Session

DAY 4 — Deepening Earth, Water & Fire

Wednesday, August 19 | Earth / Water / Fire

Theme: Belonging • Grounding • Nourishment

• Morning Tai Chi (Inverness)
• Lunch at The Red Shoe Pub
• Workshop: Spine Resonance Part 3
  • Stabilizing intention
  • Releasing patterns through elemental awareness
• Beach Integration Time

DAY 5 — Trauma Unwinding & Gentle Release

Thursday, August 20 | Earth & Metal

Theme: Safety • Self-Soothing • Reconnection

• Morning Tai Chi (Creignish Hall)
• Lunch at Judique Music Interpretive Centre
• Workshop: Unwinding Trauma
  • Gentle somatic awareness
  • Breath, sound & subtle movement
• Introduction to Therapeutic Touch (TT) for Families
• Dinner at Charlene’s, Whycocomagh

DAY 6 — Highlands Resonance: Nature as Teacher

Friday, August 21 | All Five Elements

Theme: Awe • Expansion • Full-System Harmony

• Cabot Trail Day Trip
• Tai Chi in the Highlands
• Spontaneous Music & Energy Exploration
• Optional Whale Watching (Pleasant Bay)
• Dinner & Celebration at The Doryman

DAY 7 — The Sound & Movement of Release

Saturday, August 22 | Fire & Water

Theme: Emotional Unwinding • Rhythm • Joy

• Sound & Movement for Trauma Release
• Beach Integration Time
• West Mabou Square Dance

DAY 8 — Closing Integration & Celebration

Sunday, August 23 | Earth Element

Theme: Harvest • Stabilization • Community**

• Mabou Market Visit
• Group Sharing Circle
• Sound Bath & Five Element Alignment
• Farewell Ceremony

What Makes This Retreat Unique

Deep Self-Care & Nervous System Support

• Regulation tools through movement, breath, and sound
• Energetic literacy for daily life
• Practical techniques you can use immediately

Integrated, Cross-Disciplinary Learning

• Five Element Theory in action
• BioEnergetic Wellness Formula
• The Spiritual Essence of the Spine
• Therapeutic Touch foundations
• Intuitive art and musical development
• Movement as medicine

Community & Cultural Immersion

• Collaboration with local artists and musicians
• Beach gatherings, shared meals, and community dances
• Cape Breton’s landscape as living classroom

A Living Classroom

• Land as teacher
• Movement as message
• Sound as medicine
• Creativity as catalyst
• Energy awareness as lifelong skill

Facilitators

Anne-Marie Boudreau, ARCT, Concert Pianist, Sound Therapist, improv and intuitive vocalist, Reiki
Colin MacLeod, intuitive musician, Grade 8 Violin Distinction, TFH, Sound Therapy, recording artist
Donna Hutchison, harpist, intuitive musician for Symphony of Radiance, recording artist
Brenda Cox, MEd deaf and audiology, music therapy, intuitive musicianship, recording artist
Marian Egan, TFH Instructor, intuitive artist, certified Kinesiologist, Fitness Instructor w Limerick University
Tanya Levy, MSW, TT, TFH, artist, writer
Denise Cambiotti, HCD BioEW, TFH, Muscle Tuners International
Dr. Michelle Greenwell, CIH BioEW, MSc CAM, BA Psych, TFH Instructor, TT, Tai Chi, dance, author,
Natascha Polomski, MSc CIH BioEW, TT, TFH, Sound Immersion, author
Evelyn Mulders, HCD BioEW, Kinesiology College of Canada, Sound Essences

(TT – Therapeutic Touch, TFH – Touch for Health, HCD – Honorary Causa Degree, BioEW – BioEnergetic Wellness, CIH – Complementary and Integrative Health, CAM – Complementary and Alternative Medicine)

Please check out the blogposts introducing our beautiful faculty, so far…

Musicians: Colin MacLeod, Donna Hutchison and Brenda Cox

Denise Cambiotti

Marian Egan

As well as our Podcast episodes – Audio and Video

Accommodations have been kindly reserved for you at the Glendyer Bed and Breakfast – an exquisite historic site with a running stream, labyrinth walkway, and special hosts to make your stay in the area so loving. The rooms will be held only until the end of March for the August booking because our community is very busy in the summer. Please don’t delay in booking your accommodations and saving your special spot here.

The post 🌿 Cape Breton Island Energy & Arts Immersion Retreat first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Originally Published on https://greenwellcenter.com/

Michelle Greenwell Dr Michelle Greenwell, CIH

With a passion for supporting others on their wellness journey, and a career spanning 4 decades, I specialize in movement to heal the body through dance or Tai Chi and creating specialty tea blends to bring micronutrients and intentions into your day. I have a BA in Psych, a MSc in CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) and a PhD in CIH (Complementary and Integrative Health). I include tools from my BioEnergetic Wellness Profession with Touch for Health, Therapeutic Touch, NeuroReflex Integration, and western herbs with eastern theories. With an extensive YouTube channel (@michellegreenwell) and online programs, I create daily activity opportunities for adding energy and vitality with ease and grace. My podcast is Be Well with Dr Michelle Greenwell, highlighting herbs and special guests who inspire transformation and health discovery. You can interact with me one-on-one or through group programs and resources.