I wanted to touch in to let you know about an amazing initiative in support of Brooksong Retreat and Cancer Support Centre, based out of Haliburton, Ontario.
This piece asks for a personal reflection as an entry point. In 2022, as many of you are aware, I was diagnosed with a rare presentation of Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and was first introduced to Brooksong through a friend during my own healing journey with cancer. Through Brooksong I was held, offered space to explore movement, found comfort and understanding in community, dove into creative practices and experienced deep support through their virtual programming.
Brooksong is incredibly special, and has become very dear to my heart. I am in awe of what they have created and continue to nurture in support of ensuring no one walks alone through a lived experience of cancer – that includes folks diagnosed and those who offer care and support.
The Centre is located on a beautiful expanse of land surrounded by ponds and forests. It is truly healing just arriving there.
I feel honoured to now be a part of their facilitation team offering massage therapy and support at some of their in person retreats.
These weekends are held with love and compassion by an incredible team, nourishing foods, safe spaces to share or sit quietly, hands on care, gentle yoga and movement, creative practices, time for rest and soothing time in nature.
Cancer hits you hard; physically, emotionally and financially. This I understand.
The ability to go on a retreat focused 100% on your healing isn’t often accessible financially, especially during times of illness.
I am in awe at how everything Brooksong offers is free of charge to participants. All programs and retreats are funded through generous donations by amazing people and organizations who are able to comfortably offer this type of support. There is a waitlist of over 200 people hoping to be able to spend time at Brooksong from all over Ontario as they navigate cancer. This hurts my heart, thinking about so many diagnosed daily.
This year I decided to join the Haliburton Highlands Challenge (HHC). The HHC is a unique fundraising event that runs from July 1 – August 31 annually and celebrates the important health benefits of moving our bodies in whatever ways we are able as well as taking part in creative practices, while aligning with and nurturing the vision and mission of Brooksong Retreat & Cancer Support Centre. I believe so strongly in what Brooksong has created and am excited to join this community challenge as an act of support and to engage in daily tending practices.
I thought it would be fun to record 30 days of my community challenge sharing short tending practices with you. I hope you’ll join me through yoga, song, meditation, creativity, journaling, breath and other practices to help us tend to our inner gardens so we can support ourselves to thrive, and in turn help keep this important support alive and available to more people.
The practices I’ll be recording are inspired from my tending your inner garden offerings (you can learn more through this link) which is a program I teach that was born through my own cancer journey in 2023 – this feels important to share in this way.
I took this photo during my last trip to Haliburton (May 2025) offering massage at a Brooksong retreat. This beautiful sculpture is from the Haliburton Sculpture forest, another incredible place. It’s named the Sleep of the Huntress and was birthed by Doug Stephens . She is very special and offers me a deep reflection on how I tend to my own inner garden, honouring our need for rest and renewal.
Here is the link to view my fundraising page to make a donation directly to Brooksong.
My fundraising goal reflects the amount it costs to support one person to go on retreat, plus a little extra.
If you’d like to join me for the daily practices, I’ll post many of the shorter offerings on my fundraising page, and/or you can register to receive the full 30 days in your inbox through
Registering for the practice videos is free, and it also ensures you receive all the details for a few live virtual classes dedicated to my commitment to Brooksong. This is available for everyone.
By registering to join me, you’ll receive direct links in your inbox, as well as have access to a special video library with all the tending practices (ranging from 5 to 60 minutes) in honour of Brooksong, which will be uploaded daily, for 30 days, starting July 1st.
We’ll explore themes such as: Grounding and Presence, Community, Joy and Play, Healing, and Integration.
I’m going to kick this challenge off with a free virtual sharing cup and gentle movement session on July 1st at 12:00. Login details will be mailed to all registrants and dates for all the live classes will be sent to you once the challenge officially begins July 1st.
* The recordings will be available until September 30th and you can join anytime between July 1st and August 31st.
I am deeply grateful for your support and hope you’ll join me in any way you’re able for this fun and nurturing initiative.
This is my first time doing this so we’ll be learning with eachother and definitly leaning into joy along the way. Don’t hesitate to reach out at any time.
Together we can create a huge impact through simple acts of kindness, this kindness has to start with how we tend to ourselves.
Here we go!
Lots of love,
Amber
Photo of me, Spring 2023