The Buddha spoke of crossing to the other shore—not by striving, but through clear seeing. In this silent retreat, we will steady the heart and quiet the mind to begin seeing through the illusions of permanence, self, and separation.
Drawing inspiration from The Other Shore, Thich Nhat Hanh’s poetic rendering of the Heart Sutra, this retreat invites us to gently explore the liberating wisdom of emptiness: the deep understanding that all things arise in dependence, are without fixed identity, and need not be clung to.
Through periods of sitting and walking meditation, daily dharma teachings, guided reflections, and mindful movement, we will cultivate the clarity and receptivity needed to recognize the other shore—not as a distant destination, but as the truth revealed and available here and now.
All are welcome. Prior meditation and/or retreat experience is recommended but not required. Please ask us if you are interested but unsure if this experience is for you. Held in noble silence, this retreat offers a supportive container for deepening insight, compassion, and inner freedom.
FACILITATION
Heather will draw on her experience in both Mahayana and Theravāda traditions, offering reflection and guidance rooted in both. The retreat will follow a classical Vipassanā structure, with alternating periods of seated and walking meditation, mindful eating, and rest periods. There will be opportunity for one-on-one interviews with the teacher during the retreat. The form will be slightly modified to include yoga asana and yoga nidra as supports. This steady rhythm offers an experience that is both rooted and spacious, inviting us to trust the unfolding of wisdom already present within—as we stay in and travel gently down the stream.
Jaya will be supporting the retreat as both yoga teacher and retreat manager. She will offer daily yoga asana and yoga nidra sessions to complement the meditation practice, helping participants care for the body as a foundation for deeper stillness and insight. As retreat manager, she will also tend to the physical and practical needs of the group with warmth and care, helping to create a supportive environment for inner exploration.
In Sight of the Other Shore
6-Day Meditation Retreat
with Heather Fenton and Julie (Jaya) Boyse
Friday, October 3 to Wednesday, October 8, 2025
This retreat is hosted by Jericho House located at 10845 Rathfon Rd., Port Colborne/Wainfleet, ON L0S 1V0
All meals will be provided (vegetarian, with options for dietary restrictions). Single rooms with private bathrooms. Retreat full capacity is 16 participants.
Participants must attend and remain on site for the full length of the retreat and participate in sessions from Friday, October 3 at 5:30pm to Wednesday, October 8 at 2pm. The practice of remaining in the ‘container’ of the retreat is supportive for ourselves and for the other participants.
BOOKING DETAILS
1. Please register using the ‘book now’ button below. Sliding scale cost can be viewed further down this page. You must secure your spot with a minimum $200 deposit. E-transfers preferred to jerichohnp@hotmail.com. Please include “Stream Yoga, October 3-8, and your full name” in the etransfer note. The deposit is fully refundable up to 60 days prior to the retreat, after which it may be subject to partial refund only, depending on if the spot can be easily filled from a waitlist. The balance will be due prior to arrival at retreat.
2. Please complete the retreat intake form that will be sent to you on confirmation of your booking. The information collected on the intake form is confidential and reviewed only by our teaching team to help us create a safe and supportive retreat environment. If you have previously been on retreat with us, we still ask that you complete the form so that all information is current.
COST + DANA
Registration for this retreat is offered on a sliding scale. Please pay what you can afford. Your generosity supports the existence of our Stream community, the programs we offer and our operating costs. The registration fees listed below cover the costs of holding the retreat (administration, food and accommodations).
The teacher(s) do not receive compensation. It is traditional for teachers to offer the Buddhadharma freely and be supported in turn by the generosity of students. Teachers rely on this generosity to continue to share their experience and understanding of the teachings. There will be an opportunity to offer donations (dana) for the teacher and retreat manager at or after the retreat.
Benefactor $1340 (inc HST)
The Benefactor rate provides the opportunity to offer a little more to support Stream and allows us to offer reduced rates for others with limited income.
Standard $1140 (inc HST)
The Standard rate represents the actual cost. If you can afford this level or higher, you assist our efforts to offer reduced rates.
Reduced $940 (inc HST)
Payment at the Reduced rate covers a portion of the cost and removes barriers for those with limited incomes to attend.
The Stream Membership discount is not available for this event.
Heather Finlayson Fenton combines 25 years of Buddhist meditation training with a lifelong interest in mental and physical health. She takes joy in community practice and teaches from the heart with warmth, compassion and humour.
Heather offers regular meditation sessions, workshops and retreats in the Niagara region and online. She and her husband, Michael Fenton, established Stream Yoga + Meditation in 2018 in Port Colborne, Ontario.
Heather’s main interests are introducing and supporting simple meditation and mindfulness practices and encouraging others — whatever their background or beliefs — to build and sustain a daily (or daily-ish) practice of stillness and inner reflection.
Heather is the author of 100 Days of Care: Cultivating Curiosity & Kindness, an ‘at-home’ meditation retreat workbook designed to integrate meditation in daily life.
In addition to offering regular weekly sessions, workshop and retreats, Heather is available for one-on-one meditation mentoring and support. Please reach out at hello@gentlydownthestream.org.
Julie (Jaya) Boyse is a yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner, and lifelong student of yogic philosophy. After two decades in the corporate world, she experienced profound burnout, which led her to rediscover yoga as a path of healing and balance. Her teaching is informed by deep study, lived experience, and years of training in both Canada and India.
Jaya offers accessible and grounding practices, including yoga asana, yoga nidra, mantra, and meditation, with a focus on restoring harmony in body and mind. Her offerings are shaped by her love of service, study, and song—often shared through the sacred sound of kirtan.
She is the founder of Journey to Balance, where she shares her teachings and retreats locally and internationally. You can learn more at journey2balance.com.