Learn practical techniques in Palpation, Acupressure and Lymphatic Massage while enjoying a peaceful mountain retreat in Grand Forks, British Columbia — taught by medical massage therapist, researcher and creator of PALM, Jocelyn W. Cowie.
PALM is a gentle, evidence-informed system developed over three decades of clinical practice and massage physiology research by Jocelyn W. Cowie. It teaches your hands what your eyes cannot see.
Develop refined tactile sensitivity to locate, assess and track soft-tissue changes before, during and after treatment. Objective mapping and charting give your findings clarity you can trust.
Learn precise pressure-point work rooted in meridian knowledge — interrupting the pain-tension cycle, calming the sympathetic nervous system and restoring natural organ functioning.
Master rhythmic, light-touch techniques that support the body’s fluid movement, clear muscle holding patterns and help the natural lymphatic pump operate as it was designed to.
Both packages include private accommodation, three meals daily during training, beverages, snacks and hands-on PALM instruction.
The perfect introduction. Build a solid foundation in palpation, acupressure and lymphatic massage through hands-on practice, guided self-care and restorative mountain living. Friday evening (6 PM) through Sunday (3 PM) — the complete weekend experience.
Limited to eight private rooms per retreat
A deep dive designed for coaches, trainers, therapists, healthcare professionals and serious bodyworkers seeking true working fluency in the PALM methodology.
Limited to eight private rooms per retreat
Couples and friends sharing accommodation are welcome at a reduced combined package price — ask us for a custom quote.
| What’s included | 3-Day Discovery | 7-Day Immersive |
|---|---|---|
| Private room accommodation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Three chef-prepared meals daily during training | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beverages and snacks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hands-on PALM instruction with Jocelyn | ✓ | ✓ |
| Soft-tissue mapping checklists | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deep pain-physiology & lymphatic-pump curriculum | — | ✓ |
| Sen-SORE technology introduction | — | ✓ |
| Accredited Continuing Education hours available | — | ✓ |
| Price per person (from, CAD) | $1,029 | $2,390 |
Your retreat price is genuinely all-inclusive: the only extras are the therapies you choose and the way you travel here.
Your own private room inside our eight-bedroom lodge, with quiet mountain views and true rest after each training day.
International, farm-to-table cuisine prepared fresh in our chef’s kitchen throughout your training days.
Coffee, tea, hydration and wholesome snacks on hand all day — no hunting around between sessions.
Every session is taught personally by Jocelyn — palpation, acupressure and lymphatic massage with individual coaching.
Strictly capped at eight private rooms, retreats stay small enough that everyone gets real attention and real connection.
Leave with a personal practice: body awareness, gentle movement and techniques you can use on yourself forever.
Mountain Spa Institute sits on 400 pristine farm acres in Grand Forks, British Columbia — right on the Canada–US border, surrounded by Boundary Country mountains and criss-crossed by a maze of walking trails.
Between training sessions, step out onto wrap-around sundecks with panoramic views, hike through forest and farmland, or simply sit with a cup of tea and listen to nothing at all.
“Pain, when understood, can be answered. My life’s work is giving people hands they can trust.”
Jocelyn has been teaching since 1985 — more than 36 years of developing practitioners, researching massage physiology, and translating complex science into skills you can use the same day. She wrote her thesis on massage physiology in 1993, has authored numerous papers on pain diagnosis and treatment, and is the inventor of Sen-SORE technology / PAIN IQ, a device designed to identify pain objectively.
She also practises hands-on at the Mountain Spa Institute clinic, specializing in sports and pain-management therapies. At every retreat she teaches every session personally — demonstrating, guiding your hands, and coaching each participant individually.
Training is educational and does not qualify participants to practice regulated massage therapy. It does, however, give you something that lasts: confident hands, clear working knowledge, and the ability to find, feel and fix.
Exact scheduling is finalized with each retreat cohort; every programme combines lecture, demonstration and extensive hands-on practice.
No. The introductory workshop requires no experience — it was designed specifically so beginners can learn safely and confidently, while still being rigorous enough for working professionals.
Yes. Couples and friends are welcome to share a room at a reduced combined package price. Ask us for a custom couple quote when you inquire.
Retreats are strictly limited to eight private rooms. With double occupancy the maximum cohort is sixteen people, so you receive genuine individual attention.
All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD). Applicable taxes and booking fees may be additional.
No. Training is educational and does not qualify participants to practice regulated massage therapy. Continuing education hours may be available for existing licensed practitioners — please ask.
Mountain Spa Institute, 6700 Danshin Village Road, Grand Forks, BC, V0H 1H5 — roughly four hours east of the Okanagan, on the Canada–US border.
You can pay online through our secure Square checkout links — 3-Day PALM Retreat ($1,029 CAD), 7-Day PALM Immersive ($2,390 CAD), or massage treatments (enter any amount). After payment the MtnSpa team confirms your dates, room and arrival details personally. If you have questions first, reach out via the contact page — we reply personally.
Rooms are limited to eight per retreat. Reach out to check upcoming dates, request full programme details, or ask for a couple’s pricing quote — we reply personally.
