Womens River Gathering

Ready to release what weighs you down? Gather for gentle movement, story, song, and a nature meditation. Leave feeling supported & lighter.
About this Event

An intimate outdoor gathering for women.

Women can carry a lot, and we don't often carve out time to gather, be witnessed, and gently put down the load that feels so important. We carry loss, stress, "what if's", unmet desire, dormant dreams, and so much more. These things take up space in our lives. We aren't meant to carry our load alone, and we can't think our way out of it.

This river gathering is a time to acknowledge what you’ve been carrying, give it a voice, be witnessed as you let go of what you feel ready to release, and make room for what comes next.

There is something truly powerful about stepping outside, being witnessed by other women, and giving what we've been holding a tangible expression

Join Holly, Lesley, and Maria beside the river for a gentle afternoon of movement, guided reflection, and a simple letting-go ritual in nature.

Bring a Friend ticket special is offered until Sunday Nov 8th (select ticket, your friends ticket can be added on for just $22)

Through qi gong, meditation, a slow walk, and the symbolic release of a natural object into the flowing water, we’ll create space to acknowledge what has been, honour what it has meant, and consider what we’re ready to carry differently.

There is no right way to grieve, nothing you need to explain, and no pressure to share more than feels right.

Ideas on what women are invited to let go of: Loss of a loved one, divorce, the life you thought you'd have, health. Or something like this: "I'm letting go of this needing to make sense", "I'm releasing the relationship I can never have with my mother", "I give up the need to control outcomes for my children."

Come as you are. Leave with a little more room to breathe.

What to expect:

We'll open the circle and give everyone a chance to feel connected.

Lesley will lead a gentle qi gong practice to help everyone settle into the body and the moment.

Holly will share her story of life after losing her youngest son, Benny, followed by a guided meditation inspired by the comfort she has found in nature. We will walk to the water together, a chance to visit and unwind. It's an easy 10 minute walk on grass with some uneven ground.

We’ll then move into a simple letting-go ritual. Each woman will walk mindfully, choose a natural object to represent something she’s ready to acknowledge or release, and have the opportunity to speak her words aloud as the group witnesses her letting it go into the river.

We’ll enjoy song together by the amazing Maria, and then move into a time of reflection as a circle and sharing tea. Each woman will leave with a small booklet of practices to return to through the winter.

Meet Your Host

Holly is a mother of seven who knows that life can hold both profound heartache and unexpected beauty. After losing her youngest son, Benny, she began to understand the importance of slowing down, making space for grief, and allowing life to unfold differently than she imagined. She believes we don’t have to rush through the hard things or carry them alone. She creates space for women to be witnessed, reconnect with themselves, and discover a little more lightness as they move through life’s changes. She is an expert listener, ever curious, and uses her intuition to gently mirror back what women most need to hear.

Meet the Movement Teacher:

Lesley Joiner is a textile artist and mother of four who finds deep satisfaction in the ways connection opens once we learn to meet our whole selves. She teaches gentle somatic practices that help women listen to the body and return to the parts of themselves that feel like home. She loves qi gong because it travels with you - an unassuming practice for settling, sensing, and returning to presence. Through movement, making, and quiet attention, she supports women in acknowledging what they’ve carried and discovering a little more room to breathe.

Meet the Song Bird:

Maria Drost is a Calgary-based soprano, opera singer with a Master of Music and mother of four. Her voice has carried her from childhood dreams to stages across Europe. Her singing is rich and deeply emotive, giving shape to feelings that words can’t quite hold. Maria guides students on a journey of self-discovery, helping them uncover their voice, their inner strength, and the confidence to embrace who they truly are. At the river, she’ll close our time together with a song offered as a gift to the circle, as well as an opportunity to explore how your own singing can be a connection back to yourself.

Details

When: November 14, 10:00 AM – noon

Where: Outdoors in Foothills SW of Calgary (exact location given upon registration, or if you message to ask)

Who: Women navigating grief, disappointment, loss, or a season of change.

Investment: $44 OR Bring a Friend bundle for $66 - this is an "add-on" option as you go through the checkout process

Included: Guided experiences with Holly, Lesley, and Maria. A shared meditation and opportunity to be witnessed. A closing ritual, warm tea, and a take-home winter practice booklet.

A note about the weather: We’ll be outside in November. Dress warmly in layers and wear sturdy, weather-appropriate footwear. We will have a fire for our gathering time and we'll provide chairs and blankets. Access to warm clean washrooms are available.

Come as you are.

Leave with a little more room to breathe.