On Saturday, May 14th, yogis and free spirits alike took a moment for themselves under Les Vergers Rockburn’s apple trees in Rockburn. Organized by Josée-Anne Sarazin Côté and Virginie Duval, the founders of Fit Hippie, the orchard acted as a retreat for the day.
Beginning bright and early, the morning held something special for everyone. While some sat in on a yoga session, others preferred to join in on the dancing, while some perused the artisanal kiosks that were set up within the orchard—including an iced tea stand by Montreal’s Lab: Comptoir Roulant. Visitors took advantage of not only a cider tasting but also a maple syrup sampling, while one of Les Vergers Rockburn’s owners, Laurie Ann Prevost, had prepared a fresh batch of her delicious cupcakes. With the apples trees on the brink of blooming, the orchard provided a stunning backdrop for visitors, providing a perfect introduction to summer. “I would love to host more events like this one at the orchard, maybe have yoga sessions on a regular basis, maybe even a Farmer’s Market once in a while!” said Prevost of the day. “It’s always fun to have people come discover our place, when they’ve never seen something like this before.” Last fall, Sarazin Côté reached out to Prevost. She was looking for apples for her event, a retreat in Huntingon. Prevost mentioned her interest in hosting at the orchard, and the two began outlining the event after Sarazin Côté visited the orchard during a Wattie Photography event.
So what is Fit Hippie? According to co-founder Sarazin Côté, it is “…a community for women, where the goal is to take away the guilt and unattainable goals from everything wellness/fitness oriented. We were tired that everything targeting women in these industries were always so perfect! So we promote a healthy lifestyle that has balance. Yes, we eat junk food and drink wine, and that’s fine and normal. And no one should feel guilty about skipping a spinning class or eating pizza two nights in a row.” The duo organizes events throughout Quebec, as well as offer retreats in Nicaragua.
