Practices for Building Consistency In Your Life

Insights From Our Yoga and Meditation Retreats on Bowen Island, BC

meditation retreats near me

At Nectar Retreat Centre on Bowen Island, we often hear guests say they wish they could bottle the clarity and vitality they feel here and take it home with them (we are working on something special in response to this wish, so stay tuned!). That feeling is possible to sustain, and the key is not found in mastering advanced poses, but in building regular habits that keep you connected to your body, breath, and mind every day. 

Set among the coastal rainforest in the heart of Bowen, just a short 20 minute ferry ride from Vancouver, BC, Nectar offers space and guidance to help you create these lasting practices. Our space is a New York Times and Condé Nast Traveler trusted destination for those seeking health and wellness retreats in British Columbia, drawing renowned facilitators and visionaries to lead transformative yoga, movement, consciousness, and spiritual programs. We host yoga, metaphysical and meditation retreats that support both deep immersion while you are here and the skills to integrate them into daily life once you return home.


September as the Season of Steadiness

September often feels like another kind of new year. “September is the other January,” author best known for her books on happiness and habits, Gretchen Rubin reminds us, an invitation to lean into new rhythms, renewed routines, and re-rooted beginnings. The days are still touched by late-summer warmth, yet the rhythm of autumn begins to call us into routine again. Calendars start to fill with structured commitments, school routines return for some. We find ourselves longing for a sense of steadiness that can carry us through the months ahead.

At Nectar, we see September as an invitation to build practices that last, not just for this month, but for the seasons to come. Consistency in practice does not mean rigidity or perfection. It is about showing up often enough that the benefits of yoga, meditation, and breathwork become woven into the fabric of daily life.


Building A Consistent Practice Through Yoga

When the pace of life increases, it is tempting to let personal practices slip to the margins. But even a few minutes each day can anchor the nervous system, support physical and spiritual health, and create a sense of mental clarity. These postures and techniques are selected for their ability to be integrated into short, daily rituals, whether you have a full 90 minutes or just a few minutes to spare.

Daily Practice
Yoga has been well studied and the benefits of yoga practice is extensive. While attending on-going yoga classes regularly is ideal, even just 6 weeks of practice can lead to improvements in well-being and resilience to stress as one randomized control trial shares. Five minutes of meditation upon waking, ten minutes of mindful movement at lunch, and a gentle breath practice before bed can cumulatively lead to profound shifts over time. The goal is to build rituals that are realistic and repeatable, even on your busiest days.

To establish a daily practice, layer said practice on top of an existing daily activity, like making coffee or brushing your teeth, so it becomes a natural and easy-to-remember part of your day. Make this Nectar playlist part of your soundtrack as you hold these yoga postures and body scan, and see where it all takes you…

Headstand (Sirsasana)
Build strength, focus, and courage.

Why It Matters:
Headstand strengthens the shoulders and core, sharpens concentration, and offers a new perspective both literally and figuratively, much like the Hanged One in Tarot which invites us to see the world through a shifted lens. (See also the first image in this blog post).

silent yoga retreat near me

How to Practise:

  • Start in a kneeling position and interlace your fingers, placing your forearms on the mat.

  • Crown of the head rests lightly on the floor, cupped by your hands.

  • Engage your core, lift your knees, and slowly walk your feet toward your head.

  • With control, lift both legs to vertical, horizontal outwards, or scissored.

  • Hold for a few breaths, then come down slowly.

Chair Pose (Utkatasana)
Ignite endurance and stability.

Why It Matters:
Chair Pose activates the legs, tones the core, and builds mental resilience, qualities that mirror the groundedness we seek in daily life.

yoga retreats in bc

How to Practise:

  • Stand with feet together, inhale and sweep arms overhead.

  • Exhale, bend knees, and sink hips as if sitting back into an invisible chair.

  • Keep chest lifted, weight in heels, and core engaged.

  • Hold for 5 to 10 breaths.

Crow Pose (Bakasana)
Cultivate focus, courage, and lightness.

Why It Matters:
Crow Pose builds arm and core strength while challenging balance and focus. It is also a playful reminder that progress comes through steady, repeated effort.

meditation retreat British Columbia

How to Practise:

  • From a squat, place hands shoulder-width apart on the mat.

  • Lift hips, place knees high on the backs of the arms.

  • Shift weight forward into the hands and lift one, then both feet off the ground.

  • Engage the core and gaze forward.

Body Scan Meditation
Anchor awareness in the present moment.

Why It Matters:
This mindfulness technique helps develop a consistent habit of noticing, noticing the body, the mind’s patterns, and the subtle shifts that come with regular practice.

yoga and meditation retreat near me

How to Practise:

  • Lie on your back or sit comfortably.

  • Close your eyes and slowly bring attention to each part of the body, from toes to crown.

  • Notice sensations without judgment, lingering in areas of tension. 

Consistency is the Quiet Path to Lasting, Authentic Change

A steady practice does not have to be elaborate. In fact, it is often the unflashy yet intentional, repeated gestures such as a deep breath before a meeting, a posture held with care, a moment of mindful noticing, that ultimately bring transformation that endures. September is an ideal month to commit to showing up for yourself in small, sustainable ways.

Our 2-night yoga and breakfast-included stays provide gentle structure for those looking to root into a rhythm. We also host multi-day retreats, day retreats, and community offerings throughout the year, designed to help you build a practice that travels home with you. If you are visiting Bowen Island just for the day, consider our outdoor Hatha yoga classes on the pier at Snug Cove from May to October, or unwind at Mist Thermal Sanctuary with a 90 or 120 minute private Nordic spa circuit.

bowen island spa hotel
When was the last time you gave yourself five whole days without your phone? Our Disconnect to Reconnect Silent Retreat Dec 8–12, 2025, offers a gentle digital detox so you can rediscover presence, clarity, and deep rest. 🌙 Over five days a
As the air begins to shift and the world leans into Autumn, join Andrea Clark for Creating Consistency: A Practice to Ground and Begin Again, an evening of grounding and renewal at Nectar Yoga. 🌙 📅 Tuesday, September 23rd | 6:30–8:30 PM Thi
Looking for a sign to visit Bowen Island and treat yourself to Nectar's tranquil space? This is it! We have limited spaces in September that have just become available. 🌿 📅 Upcoming Nectar Experience Availability: Sept 17-19 Sept 19-21 Sept 26-28
Though summer still lingers, a shift is beginning to stir. 🍂 As the days slowly shorten and the air grows softer, we invite you to join us in honouring the change of season at our Autumnal Equinox sound bath, happening September 20 at Nectar. Led
Letting go doesn’t always happen all at once. More often, it’s a gradual softening, a slow release of tension, beliefs, and the pace we’ve been keeping. 🏃🏻‍♀️ This month, we’re exploring Practices for Shedding Stress, p
Looking for things to do on Bowen Island before or after your stay at Nectar? This island is full of hidden gems, local makers, scenic trails, nourishing cafés, and quiet corners that invite you to linger. When you support local, you support