Personal Growth Opportunities
Something new is unfolding at WHEAT.
In addition to professional trainings, we now offer immersive personal growth workshops devoted to creativity, restoration, and authentic expression.
Through art, music, drama, movement, poetry, film, and the intermodal use of the arts, we engage imagination and somatic awareness to calm the nervous system, deepen connection, and awaken what has been dormant. Creative blocks loosen. Insight emerges. Vitality returns.
Our approach integrates Indigenous ways of knowing with Western clinical wisdom, honoring the whole person.
Join us online or at Painted Sky Studio on Lake Manitoba in St. Laurent. Subscribe to receive retreat invitations.
Don’t wait. Create and celebrate!
Upcoming Opportunities
WHEAT Institute is excited to invite you to an upcoming weekend retreat, embodying desire – a creative arts therapies workshop exploring identity, desire, touch, consent, communication, and boundaries through trauma-informed and somatic practices.
Facilitated by Dani Minuskin (she/her, Art Therapist and Counsellor) and Susie Showers (they/them, Drama Therapist and Relationship Counsellor), the weekend will feature art & drama therapy, relationship therapy, trauma-informed somatic approaches, story, poetry, painting and other art forms, to build capacity for more joy, intimacy, and ease in relationships.
This will be a beautiful opportunity to play your way into deeper connection.
The workshop is queer-led and neurodivergent-affirming, and suitable for anyone who wants to explore new ways to understand and express themselves. No prior art or expressive arts therapy experience is required.
Hosted at Painted Sky Studio, a stunning lakefront retreat centre in St. Laurent, Manitoba.
Please watch the video below and review the attached PDF brochure for additional details.
Embodying Desire with Dani Minuskin and Susie Showers
In Person Retreat
May 22 – 24, 2026
- Held at Painted Sky Studio in St. Laurent, Manitoba
- Workshop Fee: $619.00 CAD (excludes accommodation and meals)
- Accommodation is available at Painted Sky Studio and Water’s Edge for $75.00 + taxes per night
- Meal Plan is available for $60.00 + taxes per day
- Contact WHEAT at info@wheatinstitute.com for more information and to register.
We are pleased to announce our second personal growth workshop: Creative Renewal Retreat facilitated by Heidi McCurdy, BFA, MEd, ExAT.
Facilitated by Heidi McCurdy, BFA, Med, ExAT, Certified Expressive Arts Therapist, singer, songwriter, sound healer and holistic voice coach. Heidi helps others to free their voice and creativity through singing, drumming and intermodal arts. As well as working with the WHEAT Institute, Heidi is Co-President of the Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association (OEATA), and has served as Faculty with Langara College, Sarah McLachlan School of Music, Naramata Centre, Songroots Camp and Sources Women’s Place.
Renew your creative spark with expressive arts in a gorgeous lakeside studio!
Would you love to rekindle your energy and vitality through creative play?
Have you been feeling caught up in day-to-day responsibilities, wishing you had more time for yourself?
Have you lost touch with what you brings you joy?
Do you have creative projects on hold, just waiting for inspiration?Would you love to spend an art-filled weekend in nature with creative community?
Then this workshop is for you!
Discover playful and contemplative forms of creative expression for healing, wellbeing, wholeness, and joy.
You will have the opportunity to try a variety of art forms, each designed to activate creative flow, awaken imagination and bring you more in touch with your authentic self.
The weekend will include expressive painting, journaling, singing and vocal play, drumming, poetry and movement. We will also explore connecting with nature as a source of nourishment, and ways to reciprocate with our creative offerings.
We will also explore connecting with nature as a source of nourishment, and ways to reciprocate with our creative offerings.
Themes of harmonizing body, mind, heart, soul and spirit will support you to refresh and restore your energy, drawing on the guidance of your intuitive inner wisdom. You will also learn playful ways to quiet your inner critic, let go of perfectionism and dissolve creative blocks.
You will also learn playful ways to quiet your inner critic, let go of perfectionism and dissolve creative blocks.
Benefits of the workshop include:
– release stress
– renew your energy and vitality
– rediscover your playful side
– quiet your inner critic
– activate creative flow
– unleash your authentic expression
– awaken inspiration to guide your life
– tune in to your inner wisdom
The art forms we will use emphasize “process over product,” which anyone can enjoy, regardless of experience. There will be a combination of self-exploration and interactive group activities.
At Painted Studio, you will enjoy comfortable accommodations, delicious catered food, gorgeous lakeside views, and restorative time in nature.
Please watch the video below for additional details.
Creative Renewal Retreat with Heidi McCurdy
In Person Retreat
September 4 – 6 2026
Friday, September 4, 2026 from 7 – 9 pm:
Welcome circle
Interactive assemblage
Somatic sensing
Saturday, September 5, 2026 from 10 am – 5 pm:
Grounding & creativity warm-ups
Expressive dance
Journaling & poetry
Vocal play & Soul Wisdom Mantras
Body/Mind/Heart/Soul/Spirit integration art
Intermodal exploration
Sharing
Sunday, September 6, 2026 from 10 am – 5 pm:
Grounding & creativity warm-ups
Nature mandalas
Singing, vocal play & drumming on the land
Dance
Reflective art
Writing & group poetry
Closing circle
- Held at Painted Sky Studio in St. Laurent, Manitoba
- Workshop Fee: $619.00 CAD (excludes accommodation and meals)
- Accommodation is available at Painted Sky Studio and Water’s Edge for $75.00 + taxes per night
- Meal Plan is available for $60.00 + taxes per day
- Contact WHEAT at info@wheatinstitute.com for more information and to register.