When?
November 11-16th, 2027
Where?
Villa Serena – Las Galeras, Domincan Republic
Event Summary:
Join Meditation, Breathwork Teacher, Author & Psychospiritual coach, Shawna Thibodeau and Yoga & Meditation Teacher + Doctor of Physical Therapy, Bridget Dix for an oceanfront 5-night healing women’s retreat by the sea in beautiful Dominican Republic.
Through a combination of meditation, breathwork, spiritual teachings, healing workshops, yoga and organized group excursions, the theme of the retreat is to decompress, reflect, heal, connect back to yourself and your inner truths, and to step into greater empowerment, inner peace, and clarity within your life.
Since we’re oceanside, with a pool and the sun, and a great group of women, the purpose of the retreat is also of course, to have some fun!
This retreat is managed and booked through travel agency, Origin Travels Inc. TICO #50023504
picture this...
6 days of oceanfront healing and activities to de-stress, re-connect with yourself and enjoy the sea and the sun
Healing for the Mind, Body, Spirit & Soul
In the Dominican Republic
Life can be busy, stressful, and overwhelming. We all go through challenging situations, difficult emotions, old wounds, and life in general, asks a lot of us.
The Return to Self Retreat is an opportunity to step away from the demands of everyday life and spend time reconnecting with yourself, and in circle with other women, in a beautiful oceanfront setting in the Dominican Republic.
Through meditation, yoga, breathwork, Internal Family Systems (IFS), reflective exercises, nature, and meaningful connection, we’ll explore holistic practices that help to provide emotional healing, insight and clarity on your path forward, develop a deeper understanding and connection with yourself, practices that help to cultivate greater inner peace, and practices that help to reconnect with your own inner wisdom.
Whether you’re moving through a difficult life phase, feeling stuck, stressed or overwhelmed, or simply wanting time to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy the ocean and the sun, this retreat is designed to support emotional healing, self-discovery, spiritual connection, and a greater sense of peace, joy, and well-being.
How Does it Work?
Healing Modalities Included
The Return to Self oceanfront retreat includes a powerful combination of modalities that can provide deep release, healing, clarity, insight and shifts within. These include meditation, yoga, breathwork, sound healing, intuition development exercises, as well as inner child work, belief systems work & Internal Family Systems exercises. The retreat also includes free time for the pool and beach, as well as nature-based, fun activities such as a group hike, a group boat & beach excursion and a celebratory, light-hearted workshop on the traditional dance style of the Dominican Republic towards the end of the week.
The Return to Self Oceanfront Retreat includes four days of daily meditation practice to help us quiet our minds and connect to our true selves and inner truths. Styles explored and practiced include vipassana meditation, healing & visualization meditations. Explore what a consistent meditation practice can do for your mind patterns, mood, inner clarity and mental health.
A morning yoga practice is included four mornings of the retreat in the oceanfront yoga shala! Start your morning seaside with some movement for our bodies. Beginners welcome and modifications provided for restrictions to movement.
Breathwork is a practice of consciously working with your breathing pattern, lying down, to music. The rhythmic breathing in breathwork helps shift our mind into an altered state of consciousness, often deeper than meditation. Putting our mind into an altered state allows us to experience our thoughts, emotions, and situations in life in a different way compared to the analytical/thinking mind. It’s also a space for going inwards and connecting with your inner truths and your heart’s needs & desires. x2 breathwork sessions are offered throughout the week.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a powerful modality and form of inner child work that helps connect us to the various “parts” within us – the sad part, the angry part, the stressed part, the burnt out part, the grieving part, the fearful part, etc. Throughout the retreat we’ll be connecting to our parts to hear why they feel the way they do and the messages they have for us. We’ll practice nurturing our parts as well as gain insight and wisdom about what our parts are pointing to within our lives and how we want to integrate this wisdom into our lives moving forward. Past participants have LOVED IFS work on retreats and if you’ve come to a past retreat, they’ll be more IFS work and exercises we’ll be doing on this retreat.
Practices and group exercises to practice developing the skill of hearing and strengthening your own intuition, your own inner wisdom and your own messages of guidance. The practices of meditation and breathwork throughout the week will also help to strengthen and connect to this inner voice.
The number one thing that keeps us from following our inner truths and desires is the ego mind, fear and its’ limiting beliefs. Throughout the week we’ll be exploring what subconscious limiting beliefs we’re holding that are affecting our moods, keeping us small or disconnected from love, and keeping us from creating a life that is truly aligned with our authentic selves.
“Come back to SELF. Tuning into your truths, your needs and taking time for reflection, rest, healing, relaxation and connection with others”
Nurture your soul
What's Included in Your Package
- 5 nights accommodation at Villa Serena (private or shared room packages available, see below)
- Transportation to and from retreat villa if flying into Samana airport
- 5 days of delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner provided by Villa Serena
- 4 days of a Powerful Morning Practice including yoga, meditation and a morning journaling practice
- Breathwork workshop + 2 Breathwork Sessions for healing, clarity and connection to oneself & one's path
- IFS (Internal Family Systems) practices & exercises throughout the week to help us connect to our parts, learn their wisdom and learn how to nurture & heal them
- Group coaching circles throughout the week to reflect & to connect
- Two additional organized group activities (currently a group boat & beach excursion and a group waterfall hike)
- Dance workshop at the end of the week from local healer to learn the traditional dance of the Dominican
- Seaside free time to relax & restore on the beach or by the pool
- A sacred and supportive space to fully explore your inner self and your life
- A PDF book of the various skills & practices + all journaling prompts and workshop exercises learned to continue your inward journey of healing & growth
What’s NOT included in package pricing: Flights are not included in retreat pricing. Also not included is alcoholic drinks and drinks not included with meals. Transportation to and from the retreat villa is not included if flying into any other airport other than Samana (AZS) or flying in at a time outside of arranged transportation (there will be two times on the 11th and two times on the 16th to choose from depending on your flight – these will be shared in a WhatsApp group chat). Travel, health and trip cancellation insurance is also not included in retreat pricing and is highly recommended.
Accommodations at Villa Serena
Villa Serena has twenty-one spacious deluxe rooms, all with a large private terrace, a hammock and rocking chairs, and a stunning ocean view: a small island floats just in front of you while the waves break around it on never-ending coral reefs… Each room has a different theme, mood, and charm and is decorated with meticulous attention to detail, reminiscent of Victorian style.
Private Room Accommodation
EXAMPLE ROOMS
Shared Room Accommodation
EXAMPLE ROOMS
Reviews of Shawna's Past Retreats
Over 125+ 5 Star Google and Facebook Reviews
Registration
Choose Your Getaway Package
Limited spots available
Following travel laws of Ontario, this retreat is booked through travel agency, Origin Travels Inc. TICO #50023504 and is booked on Wetravel. If booking with a friend and want to share a room, please register at the same time and write the name of who you’d like to share with on the “Notes to Organizer” section on checkout page. If you have any questions about the retreat or retreat programming, email Shawna at befree@shawnathibodeau.com. If you have any questions about overnight accommodation or about booking through wetravel email sandra@origin-travels.com.
Shared Room Getaway
5-night oceanfront healing women’s retreat in the Dominican Republic in a shared room. Share with a friend or another guest on the retreat. Pricing is per spot (per bed).
ON FOR
$2600
**PRICING IN USD. ALL TAXES AND FEES INCLUDED**
SECURE YOUR SPOT WITH A $500 USD deposit.
Remaining payment schedule:
Two remaining payments of $1,050 USD are due by March 28, 2027 and by July 25, 2027. Pay-in-full also available.
**If booking with a friend and want to share a room, please register at the same time and write the name of who you’d like to share with on the “Notes to Organizer” section on checkout page.
Private Room Getaway
5-night oceanfront healing women’s retreat in the Dominican Republic in a private room for one person. Price is per spot.
**Only 4 available**
ON FOR
$3000
**PRICING IN USD. ALL TAXES AND FEES INCLUDED**
SECURE YOUR SPOT WITH A $500 USD deposit.
Remaining payment schedule:
Two remaining payments of $1,250 USD are due by March 28, 2027 and by July 25, 2027. Pay-in-full also available.
Cancellation & Refund Policy: Due to the limited number of retreat spaces available and the significant costs associated with planning and facilitating the retreat, all deposits and payments are non-refundable for all reasons, including illness, injury, personal circumstances, travel delays, or changes in availability. Because retreat payments are non-refundable, we strongly recommend purchasing travel and trip cancellation insurance shortly after booking your retreat. Please see the FAQ section for more information on travel insurance options. Retreat dates cannot be transferred, and payments cannot be applied as a credit toward future retreats. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer or gift your retreat spot to another individual, subject to approval by the retreat organizer. For guests selecting a payment plan, all scheduled payments must be received by their due dates. If a payment is not received within 14 days of the due date, it will be assumed that you are no longer attending the retreat, your reservation may be cancelled, and your spot may be offered to another participant. Any payments made up to that time remain non-refundable. See FAQ section for full refund and cancellation policy.
Still Have some Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Read through the FAQ below. If you have any further questions about the retreat or retreat programming, email Shawna at befree@shawnathibodeau.com. If you have any questions about overnight accommodation or about booking through wetravel email sandra@origin-travels.com
We recommend flying into Samana airport (AZS). Transportation to and from Samana Airport to the retreat villa is included in your package price. There will be two times to choose from on the 11th and two times to choose from on the 16th based on your flight times. Transportation outside of these times is at participant’s cost. You can also fly into Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) however transportation to and from villa is not included.
Absolutely! YES YES YES! Going to a retreat alone can be extremely powerful and transformative. Common feedback we also receive is the welcoming, safe and connected vibe we create and the relationships you create on retreats sometimes turn in to lifelong friends. Around 50% of Shawna’s past retreat attendees have come on their own and this % increases with international retreats.
Another big YES! We welcome women of all levels and complete beginners too! Retreats are a great place to learn or to solidify established practices and routines.
Yes, a retreat information email with all this information will be sent out closer to the retreat date.
The villa is able to accommodate for dietary restrictions. Send an email to befree@shawnathibodeau.com if you have any dietary restrictions to ensure that week’s menu will accommodate you.
Because retreat payments are non-refundable, we strongly encourage purchasing trip cancellation insurance shortly after booking your retreat – this helps to protect you if for example you got sick or there’s a family medical emergency and you are unable to attend the retreat. Trip cancellation insurance and out-of-province emergency medical insurance are not included in the retreat price. We strongly recommend that all participants purchase appropriate travel insurance to protect against unexpected cancellations, interruptions, medical emergencies, and other unforeseen circumstances. Guests may obtain travel insurance through providers such as Manulife, Ontario Blue Cross, CAA, Travel Guard, or another insurer of their choice. Travel health insurance is also highly recommended. Each participant is responsible for choosing if they get travel or trip cancellation insurance and it is each participant’s responsibility to understand what their chosen insurance includes.
Flights are not included in retreat pricing. Also not included is alcoholic drinks and drinks not included with meals. Transportation to and from the retreat villa is not included if flying into any other airport other than Samana (AZS) or flying in at a time outside of arranged transportation (there will be two times on the 19th and two times on the 24th to choose from depending on your flight – these will be shared in a WhatsApp group chat). Travel, health and trip cancellation insurance is also not included in retreat pricing and is highly recommended.
Due to the limited number of retreat spaces available and the significant costs associated with planning and facilitating an international retreat, all deposits and payments are non-refundable for all reasons, including, but not limited to, illness, injury, personal circumstances, scheduling conflicts, travel delays, flight cancellations, weather, government travel advisories, or changes in personal availability.
Retreat dates cannot be transferred, and payments cannot be applied as a credit toward future retreats. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer or gift your retreat spot to another individual, subject to approval by the retreat organizer and travel agency.
Guests selecting a payment plan are responsible for making all scheduled payments by their stated due dates. If a payment is not received within 14 days of the due date, it will be assumed that you are no longer attending the retreat. Your reservation may be cancelled, your spot may be offered to another participant, and all payments made up to that time will remain non-refundable.
This retreat requires a minimum of six (6) participants to operate. If the minimum number of participants is not met, or if the retreat is cancelled by the retreat organizer prior to departure for any reason, participants will receive a full refund of all amounts paid toward the retreat. The retreat organizer is not responsible for reimbursing airfare, travel insurance, passport fees, visa costs, vaccinations, exchange rate fluctuations, or any other expenses incurred outside of the retreat booking.
Guests are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and arriving at the retreat on time. No refunds, credits, or partial reimbursements will be provided for missed retreat days, delayed arrivals, early departures, missed activities, or unused services resulting from flight delays, flight cancellations, missed connections, travel disruptions, personal circumstances, or any other reason.
Guests are responsible for ensuring they have a valid passport, meet all entry requirements for the Dominican Republic, and obtain any required travel documentation prior to departure. Failure to meet entry requirements or obtain the necessary travel documentation does not qualify for a refund or credit.
The retreat itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, participant safety, supplier availability, instructor availability, or other operational considerations. Activities, excursions, instructors, or the order of events may be modified or substituted with comparable experiences where reasonably possible. Such changes do not constitute grounds for cancellation or refund.
The retreat will proceed rain or shine. If weather conditions make an outdoor activity unsafe or impractical, activities may be rescheduled, relocated, modified, or replaced with a comparable experience.
In the event that the retreat is affected by circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the retreat organizer, including but not limited to natural disasters, hurricanes, severe weather, pandemics, government restrictions, civil unrest, transportation disruptions, supplier failure, or other force majeure events, every reasonable effort will be made to reschedule the retreat or provide an appropriate alternative. Any refunds or credits will be provided in accordance with applicable laws, the terms and conditions of our third-party suppliers, and the policies of our TICO-registered travel agency.
Because retreat payments are non-refundable, we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance, including trip cancellation, trip interruption, and emergency medical coverage, shortly after booking your retreat. Guests are responsible for ensuring they have adequate travel insurance and for reviewing the terms, conditions, exclusions, and coverage provided by their chosen insurer.
about your facilitators
Meet Shawna & Bridget
Shawna Thibodeau
Meditation & breathwork teacher, Psychospiritual & IFS Coach, Author & Mental Health Nurse (RN)
Shawna is a meditation, breathwork and yoga teacher as well as a healing, empowerment and spiritual mentor. A history of depression and anxiety in her teens, led her in her early 20’s onto a healing and spiritual path. Finding and practicing meditation completely shifted her life and opened her up to learning and studying various holistic and spiritual modalities over the next 12 years.
With a professional background of 8 years in mental health nursing, Shawna combines therapeutic and spiritual modalities to help others heal, gain clarity and step into greater empowerment and more aligned and authentic lives. She is passionate about teaching others how using the mind can influence reality as well as how belief systems create the current reality you are living. She helps clients heal, release what does not serve them and step into minds, beliefs systems and a path that aligns more with their truths and their highest self.
Bridget Dix
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Yoga & Meditation Instructor
Bridget is the founder of Inner Child Physical Therapy & Healing Arts.
Movement, energy and the miracle of the human body has always been of interest to me. After earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, Bridget completed a yoga instructor training in 2015 that left her wanting more in-depth knowledge of how the body works and techniques to facilitate healing.
In 2019, Bridget graduated with my doctorate of physical therapy from D’Youville University in Buffalo, New York, and since then she has worked across the United States and now Kauai, Hawaii to practice physical therapy at outpatient clinics.
Alongside her physical therapy practice she has taught yoga, explored sound healing with Porta Luce Sound, holotropic breath work and fascial release for energetic and physical healing. This journey has given Bridget experiences that have shaped her inner and outer worlds through the practices, teachers she have been inspired by and through students and clients she has been honored to work with and lead on retreats, in classes and private sessions.
