Balance
A mini-retreat hosted by Brigitte Morin & Amber Cook-Green
Friday Oct 23 - Sunday Oct 25
at Fresh Coast Yoga, Houghton MI
Balance on Every Level
In yoga, balance means many things. It’s the deep breath you take at the start of practice. The release felt in Child’s pose after a deep back bend. In a "Goddess" or "Star" pose, sthira, (steadiness) is found in the strength of the legs and grounding of the feet, while sukha, (ease) is found in softening the shoulders, facial muscles, and heart center to remain receptive. Balance may even be the courage to float your feet off the mat as your strengthen your shoulders in a Headstand.
In life, balance might be a quiet Friday night after a chaotic week. An energetic new playlist that helps you move in the morning. Or a boundary you set in a friendship to protect your own peace. In Celtic Christianity, the practice of drawing a protective circle around oneself represents the firm boundary of security (sthira), allowing for a peaceful, trusting, and relaxed inner state (sukha).
Join Amber and Brigitte as they guide you through the enriching realms of yoga philosophy, pranayama, and asana. Together, you'll delve into your personal experience of balance, focusing on inversions, hand balances, and one-footed postures during morning practices. Afternoon classes will explore the concept of balance through restorative asana, pranayama, and philosophy.
No matter where you are on your yoga journey, this weekend offers an opportunity to reflect on and embrace balance in your life. You'll gain valuable tips, modifications, and innovative approaches to enhance your balancing skills on and off the mat
Tentative Schedule
Friday Oct 23 | 6 - 8 pm
Welcome & Registration
Yoga Practice
Closing & Community
Saturday Oct 24 | 9 am - 6 pm
Coffee, Tea & Light Refreshments
Yoga Practice
Group Brunch*
Art Session with Mavis Farr*
Restorative Yoga Practice & Meditation
Closing & Community
Sunday Oct 25 | 9 - 11:30 am
Coffee, Tea & Light Refreshments
Yoga Practice
Closing & Community
*Item included in Full Retreat Package only.
Pricing
Full Retreat Package includes all yoga, brunch, art session, retreat gift and light refreshments.
Just Yoga includes all yoga sessions, a retreat gift and light refreshments.
You may purchase the retreat in full or pay a $75 non-refundable downpayment and complete the remaining payment before Oct 1, 2026.
Meet Your Teacher: Amber Cook-Green (E-RYT 500)
Fresh Coast is thrilled to share space with friend and mentor, Amber, for the Balance Mini-Retreat. With 17 years and over 10,000 hours of teaching yoga classes, trainings, and workshops Amber is widely regarded as a teacher of teachers. She has over 2,000 hours of yoga trainings in many different styles. She is heavily influenced by Krishnamacharya lineage having completed many trainings at Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago. She is influenced by Gabriel Halpbern of the Iyengar tradition, Smart Yoga (Annie Carpenter), Jason Crandell’s postural yoga, and Para Yoga which is in the Himalayan tradition.
In her classes and trainings she incorporates functional movements, mobility exercises, props, breathwork, poetry, philosophy and meditation. Amber is also a board certified physical therapy assistant and holds a B.A. in Poetry from Columbia College.
Meet Your Teacher: Brigitte Morin (RYT 500)
Brigitte is a teacher through and through. Her background in human biology and passion for yoga guided her to pursue her yoga teaching certification in 2015 through YogaWorks in New York City. Since then, she has furthered her education in trauma-informed, inclusive, yin-style yoga practices. Brigitte recently completed her 300-Hr Teacher Training through Citizen Yoga in Detroit, MI. Through this program, she has spent time exploring Katonah yoga, yogic philosophy, yoga for the LGBTQIA+ and non-binary crowd, and purposeful messaging. Brigitte holds a co-ownership role and is committed to helping the studio and our community thrive.
Brigitte spends her free time teaching Biology at Michigan Tech, trying new foods, traveling and bringing her fur-babies (2 dogs, 2 cats) on adventures around the Midwest.
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The City of Houghton offers a wide variety of lodging options from inn and bed and breakfasts, to upscale hotels on the waterfront. Use the links below to explore some of FCY’s recommended locations.
Hotels within walking distance of Fresh Coast:
Quality Inn and Suites (directly across the street from Fresh Coast)
Hotels a short drive from Fresh Coast:
For more options, please visit the City of Houghton Lodging Website.
Shared Housing Option - AirBnb
For those interested in sharing a space, we do have connections to a local AirBnb on the water, only a short drive from the studio. (Full disclosure: this particular space is owned by Brigitte’s sister!)
If you are interested in renting a room, please let us know and we can send you more details.
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There is ample free parking both on the main street near the studio, as well and on the water, in parking lots behind the studio.
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Fresh Coast prides itself on being an inclusive, accessible yoga studio. One major limitation we face is our location: a beautiful, historic building with no elevator.
Participants should note that there are two flights of stairs that must be climbed to reach the studio. We do have a bathroom on the main floor.
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Please visit our FAQ page or email us at info@freshcoast.yoga if you have other questions.