Reconnecting to nature and ourselves

by Cathy Donaldson

Fear is a funny thing. It can surprise you when you least expect it — especially when it sneaks in during moments that should feel routine. So it feels strange when flutters of worry creep in as I pack for a week-long nature retreat called Transform Gros Morne in Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 2021 by Tara Kroes, Transform Gros Morne offers one-day, four-day and seven-day regenerative nature and wellness experiences emphasizing sustainability and community connection.

As a seasoned travel writer, I’ve prepared for countless adventures over the years — from press trips to family journeys. But why is anxiety creeping in now? I’ve had past bouts of anxiety, but over time I’ve learned how to manage them. Life has been relatively peaceful lately, so what is making me second-guess myself, wondering if I will keep up on hikes or twist an ankle halfway up a hill? Why am I suddenly double-checking my gear like a nervous first-timer? Should I throw in the towel and cancel the trip?

A return to the rock

Despite my anxiety monster, I board the 90-minute flight from Moncton, New Brunswick, to Deer Lake, Newfoundland. After landing in Canada’s easternmost province, I hop into a car arranged by the retreat for the hour’s drive to Woody Point — a small, picture-perfect town in Gros Morne National Park on Newfoundland’s rugged west coast.

Earth: Grounding and glimmers

That night, I review the week’s itinerary and notice that the activities reflect the elements — earth, water, fire and air. Day 1 focuses on earth, with grounding yoga planned for that morning. (I hope my hips and my recently noisy mind might benefit.)

A short drive away, at the Woody Point Transformative Arts Centre, Helena Butler leads us through easy stretches. The longtime yoga instructor and founder of Yoga Therapy NL also offers insights that at times feel aimed directly at me.

“One of the best ways to mitigate stress is grounding, doing things that help you use your five senses,” she explains. “I call these glimmers — practices that calm your nervous system and bring you joy. Mine include things like time in nature, looking at beautiful views, listening to music, enjoying good food, and putting my hands in the earth to garden. Take time to discover your glimmers.”

With the sun streaming through the stained-glass windows, I feel my breathing begin to slow and quietly tuck away Butler’s advice to practice at home, when life inevitably speeds back up.

Later that morning, we visit Upper Humber Settlement, where Lauralee and Mark LeDrew are expecting us for a foraging walk and garden-to-table lunch. Since 2015, they’ve been creating an eco-friendly haven on their six-acre property — a place where visitors can experience authentic farm-to-table living and locals can benefit from access to regenerative food systems.

“In the first few years, we grew food for ourselves and stored some for the winter months,” said Lauralee, a proud Mi’kmaq farmer and forager. “We eventually created more gardens, brought in some livestock, added a roadside honesty market and opened a farm-stay B&B. We love connecting travellers with nature, food, and sustainability.”

Our retreat group picks fresh greens, learns about the healing power of plants like dandelion and chaga, and walks a forest trail where the LeDrews discuss plans to expand their business. Lunch features a vibrant salad made from our harvest and tender morsels of moose meat in an alder cream sauce. Somewhere between the second spoonful and the laughter around the table, I feel my body finally start to unwind.

Bee-ing Brave in Cormack

That afternoon, we stop at the nearby Cormack Bee Company, a small family-run apiary. Owner Lee Harvey begins our tour with stories revealing his passion for beekeeping. Then it is onto the hives, where most of our group dons borrowed beekeeper suits before getting close. (Lee, of course, wears none of it.)

“The bees know me,” he says with a laugh, lighting a small smoker as a precaution.

He lifts a wooden frame from one of the hives, the air vibrating with the hum of thousands of bees moving in rhythm. Despite Harvey’s ease with the insects, my heart is thudding. When he offers me a chance to hold a frame, my first thought is to take a polite step back, maybe two. But since I’ve spent the morning immersed in grounding, I figure I’d better practice. I take a deep breath, steady my hands, and say yes.

The frame feels light but alive, vibrating softly in my grip. The bees are focused on their work, while I stand there — awestruck, a little shaky, but also surprisingly serene.

“People don’t realize how gentle bees are when you’re respectful,” Harvey says. “They’re incredible teachers.”

As we leave, I feel proud I didn’t back away. Holding that frame reminds me that fear can disappear quickly when you stick around long enough to face it.

Moving through the elements

The next few days settle into a lovely flow of yoga, hiking, local experiences and shared meals.

Our water day takes us to Trout River Pond, where our retreat leader guides us on a slow, mostly silent “forest therapy” walk — more moving meditation than hike. We pause often, encouraged by Kroes to engage our senses and be fully aware — of the sound of wind through the trees, the feeling of moss underfoot, the smell of spruce needles as we rub them between our fingers. My mind, usually happy to fill any silence, finally goes still.

That evening, we gather for a sound bath led by musician Murdoch Wilson. As vibrations from singing bowls and gongs fill the room, I feel the resonance deep in my chest. When the final note fades, my soul seems lighter.

Our fire day brings us to the Green Gardens Trail, one of Gros Morne’s most spectacular coastal hikes. The wind whips our faces as we climb through meadows toward the sea, where cliffs drop into turquoise water and sea stacks stand like sentinels. Halfway along the trail, a familiar flicker of anxiety resurfaces when a stubborn foot bunion decides to flare up, the pain forcing me to slow down and hold up the group.

Instead of spiralling, I take a breath, sit on a rock, and ask the others for a bandage, happy to learn someone has moleskin in their pack. They cheer me on as I adjust my boot and carry on at my own pace. The ache eventually eases, replaced by gratitude — for my older-but-still-capable body, my breath, and the kindness of strangers-turned-friends.

My favourite day has an air theme and takes us to the Tablelands, one of the few places on Earth where the planet’s mantle has been thrust to the surface. Yellow-orange rock stretches in every direction, making the landscape barren and otherworldly — more like Mars than Newfoundland. I feel an unexpected lump rise in my throat. I am not sure why the sight of all that raw, ancient earth hits me so hard. Maybe it is the silence or the sheer reminder of how small we are in the grand scheme of things. It is beautiful and unsettling all at once.

Kroes urges us to touch the rock, to feel its weight and warmth beneath our hands.

“This is what the inside of the Earth looks like,” she says. I press my palm to the surface and think about how fitting the retreat experience had been, discovering what lies beneath the planet’s surface and my own, too.

There is much more during the memorable week, from Indigenous teachings and Reiki to time spent in the sauna and hot tub, and evenings filled with Newfoundland music and delicious food.

By week’s end, my legs are tired, my heart full, and my mind quiet. I went to Gros Morne to learn about transformation and leave reminded that growth can happen at any age — often in the most unexpected places.

If You Go on a wellness retreat in Gros Morne

Location: Retreats are based at Bonne Bay Inn, Woody Point, Newfoundland and Labrador, on the southern edge of Gros Morne National Park. Fly to Deer Lake (YDF), about a one-hour drive.

About the retreat: Transform Gros Morne, founded in 2021 by Tara Kroes, offers one-day, four-day and seven-day regenerative nature and wellness experiences emphasizing sustainability and community connection.

Activity Level: Moderate: Daily yoga and hikes (3–10 km). Hiking boots and poles recommended, along with layered clothing.

When offered: Dates for 2026 week-long retreats: March 1-7, July 5-11, Sept 5-12, Oct 4-10. Contact Tara at [email protected] re one-day and four-day retreats.

Good to Know: Small groups, locally sourced meals, no chain accommodations, plenty of opportunities to rest, reflect and reconnect.

Disclaimer: Our talented writers are often invited by tourism boards and travel companies to experience places like this first hand so that they can share them with you. As a guest of Transform Gros Morne, Cathy was not compensated for her time spent researching, planning and writing this feature, nor was JourneyWoman for publishing it. In addition, the host organizations did not review this article before it was published, a practice that allows the writer to express her perspective with integrity and candor.

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