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RHYTHM BLISS
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RHYTHM BLISS
MINDFUL HAND DRUMMING & MOVEMENT IMMERSION
July 5-8, 2024,
Roberts Creek, BC
Join the Rhythm Bliss family this summer for a weekend retreat at the
Roberts Creek Community Hall
1309 Roberts Creek Rd, Roberts Creek, BC
Let's Come Together to Experience Joy, Connection and Serenity through the Spirit of the Drum
In this 3-day “Rhythm Reset”, learn to use the drum as a tool for calming your mind, energizing your body and uplifting your spirit. Immerse yourself in rhythm healing on sacred land by the water’s edge and learn from master facilitators, drummers and culture keepers. Together as a community, and supported by the Rhythm Bliss Family Band, we’ll connect in rhythm and movement in the forest, by the sea and under the stars. Join us!
No musical experience is required. All you need is a beating heart...
What you'll experience:
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Connection in rhythm, song and movement with heart-centred community
Stress and tension melting away as you connect to the healing power of the drum integrated with yoga philosophy
Calming and rejuvenating breath and movement practices
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The magic of the Coastal BC Rainforest and the quaint Roberts Creek community
Learning and jamming with excellent instructors and master drummers
Connecting with Rhythm Bliss members from across the globe
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Dr. Gabor Maté, World Renowned Trauma Expert and Best Selling Author
"Drumming can be powerfully helpful and healing in times of stress, anxiety and trauma. I have experienced Alexandra’s teachings first hand. I highly recommend her work to anyone looking to use the enchantment of rhythm for wellness, stress release and healing."
"Everything in the universe has rhythm, everything dances."
Maya Angelou
Retreat Tuition includes:
7 guided 2 hr sessions of Mindful Hand Drumming, Movement and Chanting beginning Friday at 8pm and ending Monday at 2pm
5 delicious and nutritious vegetarian community meals: 3 lunches (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) and 2 vegetarian dinners (Saturday and Sunday night)
Dance party, drum circle and performance evening
Optional ocean swimming, hiking and bioluminescence experience
Opportunity to learn West African rhythms from Master Drummer Yoro Noukoussi from Benin
Accomodations
Up The Creek Backpackers Lodge
We have reserved Up The Creek Lodge as an affordable, comfortable option for retreat participants to stay at together during the retreat. The Lodge is not luxurious but is clean, cozy and only steps away from the Roberts Creek Community Hall where the retreat will be held. All the Up the Creek Lodge options below are for 3 nights stay and include tea, coffee and continental breakfast on Sat, Sun and Mon mornings (Prices are in Canadian Dollars):
Once you've registered, you'll be invited to join our private retreat FB group to arrange shared transportation or accommodations at the Lodge, an AirBnB or the Campground with others attending the retreat.
Cherry Cabin
Located 75 feet from the main house, sleeps two people in a double bed. This small cabin is cozy and private, measuring 12’ x 8’ internally, with fine views over the garden, three windows and a skylight for lots of natural light. The cabin is heated with an electric wood-look-a-like stove, has a cold water wash hand basin, a fitted closet, night tables, and a wrap-around deck and hammock. It does not have a washroom, and can only sleep two people – max. A wifi booster allows access to the internet. All beds are provided with a top and bottom sheet, two pillows, and an IKEA Mysa Mane synthetic quilt and quilt cover. Bath towels included.
Fir Room
The Fir Room sleeps up to four guests, and includes one queen sized bed and two single/twin bunks (one up, one down). The room is at the back of the property and is bright and sunny with a west facing bay window. It iincludes an en-suite shower room.
$
340
CAD plus
tax
Queen Bed
$
250
CAD plus
tax
Single Bunk
Arbutus Room
The Arbutus room is our co-ed 7-bed dorm room on the upper floor of the lodge. Every bed was hand made from locally milled wood, and are standard single/twin size beds, with firm top quality foam mattresses. Most are single/twin bottom beds, although two beds in the room are top bunks with ladder access and safety railings. Each bed is made up with a bottom sheet, top sheet, 2 pillows & cases, a comfy duvet and cover, and a full size bath towel.
$
RV Spot
This parking space has room for one small camper van or RV, max. 16′ length. Electrical connection is possible, but no septic hook-up. Your reservation includes full access to our lodge facilities, including bathrooms, kitchen, and common areas. Wifi should reach the RV spot.
Other Great Options for Accomodation...
Nearby AirBnBs
For those looking for a more luxurious, spacious and private stay, there are a number or AirBnBs nearby. You can see what's available by clicking here. In particular, we highly recommend Shades of Jade Inn and the Cedar and Sea Cottage. If you are not walking distance to the Roberts Creek Community Hall, make sure you have a vehicle or are willing to take transit.
Roberts Creek Provincial Campground
If you are looking to camp, there are a number of spaces available for 2 person tents on the grounds of Up the Creek Lodge (which include breakfast. See above). There is also provincial campground that is a short walk from the Robert Creek Community Hall where the retreat is held. You can learn more about the provincial campground here.
Meet the Team
Alexandra Jai
Co-Founder Alexandra Jai hails from Santiago, Chile and is a hand drumming and yoga teacher, rhythm and movement facilitator and performer with over 30 years of experience. Initiated in her teens into the healing power of the drum by Yoruba master drummer Olatunji Babatunde from Nigeria, Alexandra plunged heart-first into the study of hand drumming, learning traditional West African, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Middle Eastern drumming from master percussionists across the globe. Called to share the healing she’d received, in 2003 Alexandra co-founded Rhythm Bliss (formerly “Drum Mama Studios”) where she began integrating hand drumming instruction with yoga philosophy, mindful movement and breath practices.
Yoro Noukoussi
Guest Artist/Teacher Born the son of a chief of the Waama people of North Benin, Yoro Noukoussi is a multi-instrumentalist and learned the art of storytelling and drumming from his family as they traveled the region sharing their cultural traditions. Now living in Vancouver, Canada, Yoro is in great demand as a teacher and performer, having mastered the donga (talking drum), kokomba (congas), and djembe. Yoro is also an amazing Audio Engineer/ Singer/ Song writer/ Music Producer/ Owner Director at Waaba Music Studio.
Yato Noukoussi
Guest Artist/Teacher Yato Noukoussi is a supremely talented and extremely hard working live drummer, beat maker, Session/recording drummer, and Drum Tech living in Vancouver, BC.
Rachelle Calam
Accompanist Rachelle has been a fan of world music for most of her adult life and was drawn to hand drumming in her later years when she began to experience a deeper connection to rhythm and its therapeutic value. After some years of exploring percussion with a diverse selection of teachers, she became a regular student of Alexandra’s and gradually found her passion in helping others benefit from the powerful nature of rhythm as it continues to be a profound guide in her life ~ She is thrilled to be part of the Rhythm Bliss Team!
Jesse Millman
Producer/Accompanist Jesse is an accomplished musician, dancer and athlete in his own right, having recently captained his High School basketball team to their first ever provincial championship, winning tournament MVP honours. Jesse is currently studying Arts & Sciences at Montreal's McGill University where he also plays bass and drums in the indie rock band "Poster Child".
Michael Millman
Co-Founder Michael is co-founder and Chief Beat Keeper of Rhythm Bliss Mindful Hand Drumming & Movement, a global online rhythm meditation program and community with hundreds of members worldwide. A reformed corporate lawyer turned award-winning creative director, songwriter and videographer, Michael is a passionate musician, community builder and storyteller having produced the campaign video to successfully re-elect Jody Wilson-Raybould, Canada’s first Indigenous Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Celso Machado
Guest Artist/Teacher Celso Machado is a world-renowned Brazilian guitarist, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist who lives in Gibsons, British Columbia. For over forty years he has delighted audiences from concert stages throughout Brazil, Western Europe and Canada, as well as in the United States and is a tremendously engaging and entertaining performer, facilitator and teacher.
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Benjamin Millman
Music Director Benjamin Millman is a pianist, producer and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Vancouver BC. He’s been playing and creating in the Vancouver scene since he was a child, and completed his bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance/Composition with a major in Jazz Piano from Capilano University. Specializing in a large range of genres and instruments, Benjamin’s performance credits are vast – you may have heard him leading RnB, Funk, Pop or Jazz groups at countless Vancouver venues such as the Vogue and the Fox Cabaret, singing in choirs to sold out crowds at the Rogers Arena and PNE Forum Stage, or touring with a variety of different acts on the keys, guitar or percussion around Canada and the US. His mission is to make honest, artful, and groovy music, and to pay homage to the great legacy of the Black American and African Diasporic Music he loves!
Camille Millman
Chef Camille Camille studied Plant Based Culinary Arts at the famed Cordon Bleu Culinary School's London, England Campus. She has also worked as a Head Chef at the world-renowned Hollyhock Retreat Centre on Cortes Island, British Columbia. She is currently studying sociology at Concordia University in Montreal while working part-time as a private chef.
Layla the Wonderdog
Retreat Mascot Layla has been with the Rhythm Bliss family for the last 11 years, is hypo-allergenic, adorably fuzzy and is always willing to offer a nuzzle of support to whomever may need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I get to the retreat?
Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements. The retreat is happening on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast at the Roberts Creek Community Hall at 1309 Roberts Creek Rd, Roberts Creek, British Columbia, Canada. Roberts Creek is most easily accessible by ferry from Horseshoe Bay. Horseshoe Bay is a 90 minute drive from Vancouver International Airport. We have purchased a number of ferry reservations to ensure that our attendees can make the ferry on Friday if they are driving their own vehicles. The retreat centre is a 20 minute drive or bus ride from the Langdale Ferry Terminal where the ferry arrives. If necessary, we will arrange transportation from the Langdale Ferry terminal to Roberts Creek. Up the Creek Lodge is a 4 minute walk from the Hall where the retreat takes place.
Q: What Terms & Conditions apply? What is your refund policy?
Q: What kind of drum should bring to the retreat? Do you have any to borrow or rent?
We recommend you bring a djembe if you have one. There will be a limited number of djembes for rent at the retreat. Please let us know as early as possible if you'd like us to reserve one for you.
You can find our Terms & Conditions including our Refund and Cancellation Policy at the bottom of this page.
Q: What's the food going to be like?
The meals will be vegetarian/pescatarian, sourced as much as possible from local and organic suppliers, and lovingly prepared by Chef Camille (our daughter) who has studied at Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London, England and has worked as the Head Chef at Hollyhock Retreat Centre on Cortes Island, BC. For those with dietary restrictions, please let us know as early as possible so that we can do our best to accommodate you!
Do I need to have drumming experience to attend?
NO drumming experience is required. This will be a multi-level retreat accommodating drummers of all levels.
Q: What is there to do around Roberts Creek if I want to travel before or afterwards?
The Sunshine Coast of British Columbia (which includes the town of Roberts Creek where the retreat will be held) is a 180 km stretch of paradise that’s tucked into the southwest corner of mainland BC. The shoreline stretches from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound and is accessible only by ferry, boat, or plane. If you are able we recommend you spend some time discovering vibrant communities, connecting with nature, and enjoying the laid-back vibe. You can learn more about all the things to do on the Sunshine Coast here: https://www.sunshinecoastcanada.com/
Q: What will we be doing at the
retreat?
The teaching at the retreat draws from several rhythm cultures and traditions and combines drumming with mindful movement, chanting and connecting with nature. We incorporate mostly West African, Latin, and Afro-Cuban rhythms into the teaching, as Alexandra has studied primarily with master teachers from these traditions and her roots are South American (Viva Chile!).
Shakti Mi, Founder of Prana Yoga College
"Alexandra's love of rhythm and movement is infectious and she is a highly skilled and inspired drum and yoga teacher, with a huge wealth of experience and insight to share. She is open, non-judgmental, passionate and caring."
Terms & Conditions
Please familiarize yourself with our Cancellation and Refund Policy as well as our Disclaimer, Waiver and Media & Photo Policy before registering to ensure the retreat is a good fit for you.
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