Summer Flow
A weekend retreat on West Lake in the Haliburton Highlands, co-hosted by Emilee Fridman and Cora Timofte. Hot yoga, yin, reformer and mat pilates, private-chef meals, cedar saunas, and the long northern light.
“There is a way of moving that asks nothing of you. A way of breathing that returns the body to its quieter self. For three days, on a stretch of water older than memory, we set down what we carry, and remember how to be unhurried.”
Hosted by Emilee& Cora.
Two teachers, one philosophy: that movement should leave you more yourself, not less. Emilee and Cora co-host this weekend together, sharing every practice. Hot yoga, yin, reduced-heat flows, reformer and mat pilates. Each session is co-led so guests can move between voices, cues, and styles without ever leaving the rhythm of the room.
Emilee Fridman
Emilee has spent the past decade studying the quieter traditions of yoga and pilates: vinyasa rooted in breath, the slow art of yin, and apparatus and mat pilates that build precision without strain. Her work draws from time spent in Mysore, Bali, and the Canadian wilderness she calls home. She designs each retreat as a sanctuary: small in number, generous in space, and shaped around the rhythm of the people who arrive.
Cora Timofte
Cora teaches the same range: hot yoga, yin and reduced-heat flows, reformer and mat pilates, with a precision that has made her one of Toronto's most sought-after instructors. Disciplined, intentional, and deeply curious about how the body wants to move, she meets each guest where they are.
Three days on West Lake.
A small group. A still place. Two daily practices, three private-chef meals, cedar saunas, and the long unstructured afternoons that make a retreat feel like one.
What's included.
- Luxury lakeside cottage accommodation
- Daily yoga (hot, yin, reduced-heat) co-led by Emilee & Cora
- Reformer and mat pilates sessions
- Private-chef curated meals (welcome dinner through farewell brunch)
- Cedar sauna access throughout the weekend
- Water activities: paddleboards, canoes, swim dock
- Guided breathwork and restorative evening practice
- Use of the property: forest trails, fire pit, lake
Strong, then softening.
Mornings begin warm. Heated vinyasa to wake the body, breath leading every transition. Midday brings reformer pilates: precise, considered, and surprisingly humbling. Afternoons soften with yin and restorative work. Evenings close with breath and stillness.
Yoga
Hot and reduced-heat flows, co-led by Emilee and Cora. Heated vinyasa to wake the body, yin and restorative work to release it. Suitable for all levels; modifications offered throughout.
Pilates
Reformer and mat pilates with a focus on alignment, control, and the small muscles that change how you move everywhere else. Grouped by experience level.
Lake & nature
Paddleboard yoga at sunrise. Forest walks. A few unforgettable inversions on the dock. The setting is the third teacher.
A private chef.For every meal.
Our chef plans every meal of the weekend, from the welcome dinner Friday night to the slow farewell brunch on Sunday. Considered, locally sourced, and quietly extraordinary. Dietary restrictions are accommodated thoughtfully; just let us know in advance.
Unhurried, by design.
Mornings begin in silence on the dock. Afternoons are yours. Evenings draw the group back together around the table, the sauna, the lake.
Friday
- 16:00
Arrival & welcome
Settle into your cottage. Tea on the porch. Property tour.
- 18:00
Opening flow
A gentle hot yoga practice to set intention for the weekend.
- 19:30
Welcome dinner
A long table, curated by our private chef. Wine if you wish.
Saturday
- 7:30
Morning hot yoga
Vinyasa as the lake comes alight. Ninety minutes of breath-led movement.
- 9:30
Breakfast
Granola, fruit, fresh bread, garden tea, and no rush.
- 11:00
Reformer pilates
Strength and precision work, grouped by experience level.
- 13:00
Lunch & open hours
Light, seasonal lunch. Sauna, swim, paddleboard, or do nothing at all.
- 16:30
Restorative & breathwork
Yin postures, supported by bolsters and silence. Closing with breath.
- 19:00
Chef's dinner
A considered multi-course meal. Long conversations encouraged.
- 21:00
Sauna & lake
Cedar sauna. A swim if you're brave. A fire if you're not.
Sunday
- 8:00
Closing practice
A slow, integrating flow on the dock. Gratitude. Stillness.
- 10:00
Farewell brunch
One final meal together before we send you home.
- 12:00
Departure
Check-out. Carry the weekend with you.
The Cedarson West Lake.
We host the retreat at The Cedars, a private property on West Lake in the Haliburton Highlands, two and a half hours north of Toronto. A modern A-frame cottage on the water, a purpose-built yoga studio, a cedar sauna, and a long dock that catches the first light.
Visit thecedarshaliburton.com
The drive from Toronto.
The Cedars sits on West Lake, about two and a half hours north of the city. Highway 35 takes you most of the way. Carpooling among guests is common; we'll connect you with others arriving from Toronto if you'd like.
All-inclusive of accommodation, every meal, both daily practices, sauna access, and on-site experiences. A 25% deposit reserves your place; balance due 30 days prior to arrival.
Reserve your place- Two nights · luxury lakeside cottage
- Six chef-curated meals
- Six practice sessions across yoga, pilates & restorative
- Cedar sauna, lake, paddleboards, canoes
- Small group: twelve guests, two teachers
Places are limited and offered by inquiry. We recommend reserving early.
Begin the conversation.
Spaces are limited and offered by application. Tell us a little about yourself and we'll be in touch within two business days.
Questions, answered.
Yes. Practices are offered with multiple options, and the small group allows Cora and Emilee to meet each guest where they are. Curiosity matters more than experience.