Gesar Guru Yoga Retreat
Led by Chris Jay
Time: September 7–13, 2025
Location: Sea to Sky Retreat Centre (SSRC), Whistler, BC, Canada
This retreat is for all those who have received the Gesar Empowerment and wish to deepen their practice.
During the 2017 Gesar teachings in Auckland, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche encouraged students to do a seven day Gesar Guru Yoga retreat. If you do this, Rinpoche said, you will come under the care and protection of Gesar Norbu Dradul. Rinpoche gave instructions how to do this retreat.
Following Rinpoche’s retreat design, and the example of the Gesar retreats led by Ross Smith in New Zealand, Chris Jay has agreed to lead a seven-day in-person Gesar retreat at SSSRC.
Prerequisite — participants must have received the Gesar Empowerment from a qualified master
Please note the retreat is Limited to 25 participants (first come, first served). In-person only — no online participation
Sang Offering
We will plan on doing a Sang offering on the last morning of Saturday, Sept. 13. This sang offering will be small in scale due to the fire dangers and restrictions at that time of year, and will likely be offered inside the pavillion.
Arrival & Departure
Arrival: Sunday, September 7 — Please plan to arrive between 2PM and 5PM. The retreat will start at 5pm, with a short overview of the practice by Chris Jay. Dinner will be served in the evening.
Departure: Saturday, September 13 at 4:00 PM — Retreat concludes
Optional Extended Stay: Retreatants may choose to stay one additional night and depart the next morning (Sunday, September 14) after breakfast. An additional fee of CA$90 will apply. Please indicate this preference in your registration form so it can be included in your total retreat fee.
Early Arrival – By Exception Only: Due to limited staffing and the need to fully prepare the retreat space, early arrival is not generally accommodated. If you have a specific travel-related reason that requires you to arrive earlier than retreat starting day, please contact us in advance. Early arrival must be pre-approved by SSRC, is subject to availability and incur an additional cost of CA$155 per night. Please note that SSRC is off-grid and remotely located, and we only receive guests during business hours. Pick-up and drop-off must be pre-arranged with our team.
Registration:
Please read the important information about the retreat program before filling out the registration form:
Retreat Fee:
The retreat fee covers 6 nights of accommodation, all meals(breakfast/lunch/dinner), tea/coffee/snacks available throughout the day, and daily tsok and flower offerings. For a shared room (2 per room) in the Retreat House or Main Lodge or Mid-Level, the cost is CAD $640 (USD $450 @ April 2025 exchange rates). Private indoor room availability is very limited and will not be guaranteed. However private tents will be available. Following are private options and cabin sharing rates:
Private Tent: CAD $610 (USD $430 @ April 2025 exchange rates)
Private Indoor Room (subject to availability): CAD $850- $970
Shared Cabin with in-suite bath and kitchen (subject to availability):CAD $700
Optional Extended Stay:
Retreatants may choose to stay one additional night and depart the next morning (Sunday, September 14) after breakfast. An additional fee of CA$90 will apply. Please indicate this preference in your registration form so it can be included in your total retreat fee.
Early Arrival – By Exception Only: Due to limited staffing and the need to fully prepare the retreat space, early arrival is not generally accommodated. If you have a specific travel-related reason that requires you to arrive earlier than retreat starting day, please contact us in advance. Early arrival must be pre-approved by SSRC, is subject to availability and incur an additional cost of CA$155 per night. Please note that SSRC is off-grid and remotely located, and we only receive guests during business hours. Pick-up and drop-off must be pre-arranged with our team.
Practice Subsidy by KYS:
KYS, an organization independent of SSRC, is accepting applications for financial assistance to support program participants with demonstrated financial need. For more information about the KYS practice subsidy application process, please send an inquiry to [email protected]
SSRC Refund and Cancellation Policy:
-
Up to 60 days prior to retreat arrival day, full refund offered
-
Between 60 to 30 days prior to retreat arrival day, 50% refund offered.
-
On and after 30 days prior to retreat arrival day, no refund guaranteed
Health Issues:
For the health of all participants, volunteers, and staff, we kindly ask for your cooperation. If you feel unwell, show symptoms of illness, or have recently been exposed to infectious pathogens, please do not attend the retreat. Notify us as early as possible for a full refund.
Room Assignments:
Please note most rooms on site are double-occupancy rooms. Private room and cabin occupancy are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. In shared rooms, people will be housed with others with similar gender requests for housing. There will be an opportunity to indicate a preference for sharing a room with another participant should you be attending with a friend or partner. Rooms will be assigned in advance based on needs, and at discretion of the organizers.
Accommodation:
The Sea to Sky Retreat Centre has buildings for dining, meeting, and sleeping. Given the complexity of creating a safe and welcoming space for people’s diverse needs, we ask for your understanding and flexibility on room allocation. View pictures of SSRC’s accommodation:
Facilities – Siddhartha’s Intent
SSRC Tents – Siddhartha’s Intent
On-Site Accessibility:
Please note, there are limits to the Retreat Centre’s infrastructure: there are no fully accessible washrooms, and the terrain includes uneven rock and dirt pathways, hills, and stairs. The location is unsuited to a standard wheelchair. Please let us know if you think these limits to accessibility will impact you, or if you have accessibility needs related to standing, walking or climbing stairs so that we can work together to assess and strategize.
Special Dietary Needs:
There will be an opportunity to specify any special needs including medically acute food allergies. We may not be able to meet everyone’s preferences. We encourage you to please reflect on the difference between needs and preferences for your stay as you make your request, as this allows us to more easily accommodate all retreatants.
About the Retreat Centre:
The Sea to Sky Retreat Centre is on a secluded site of extraordinary natural beauty in BC’s coastal mountain range. It is located off the Sea to Sky Highway near Whistler, on acres of rocky mountain terrain. For more information, you are invited to explore the Sea to Sky Retreat Centre’s Website.
Registration is now open.
👉 Click here to register: https://forms.gle/gY8GRMHHoroZRBAt5
For additional information, contact:
