How It Works
My Inner Harbour invites you to prioritize your mental & emotional well-being.
Mindful living begins on the inside.
When you can value yourself enough to listen carefully to your own needs, set boundaries that help you take care of those needs, speak compassionately to yourself and advocate for change when you need to, you are practicing true self-care. Easy, right?
we know it’s not actually that simple.
At home the to-do list is endless and distracting and dependants need care. You’ve been asked to prioritize other people’s needs over your own for most of your life and the narrative is often “just push through”. Real self-care seems like an unattainable luxury.
We’re here to help change that.
–
How do I practice mindful living?
01
Rest
In a world full of burnout, rest is radical. But most of us don’t know how to rest or feel guilty doing it. Rest requires a pause. It’s a chance to slow down, take a deep breath and simply allow yourself to be.
02
Reflect
Without space to check in with yourself, it’s easy to lose track of what you need. Reflection creates room to process emotions, notice how you’re doing and make sense of your thoughts.
03
Reconnect
When you’ve taken time to rest and reflect it’s easier to reconnect with and pursue what’s truly meaningful to you. Plus, reconnecting to your local community can both inspire and provide accountability.
–
“We rest as an act of self-love. We rest so that we become more embodied, and in becoming more embodied, we learn to love others better.
Kaitlin Curtice, Author & Speaker
Explore the core self-care rooms
We offer four different spaces to engage in a variety of mindful practices at your own pace and preference.
Mind room
The mind room is all about working in partnership with your brain for your overall well-being. How we think matters.
Practices you can do:
• Discover your core values
• Journal, prompts provided
• Set goals or do a mental health worksheet
• Read from our selection of self-help & memoir
Body room
Our bodies hold so much wisdom. Take some time to connect with your body, listen to what it needs and treat it with kindness and compassion.
Practices you can do:
• Mindful breathing
• Body scan
• Butterfly hug
• Bilateral rocking
Spirit room
Tap into your creativity and intuition in the Spirit Room. Here you’ll find all kinds of art supplies that allow you to play and process.
Practices you can do:
• Collage
• Watercolour
• Mindful colouring
• Mixed media
Community Room
This room is intended for conversation and social connection. Meet up with a friend or make new ones. Participate in one of the many events hosted in this room.
Practices you can do:
• Conversation questions with a friend
• Work on a puzzle
• Attend a community event
• Host a group or event of your own
More ways to use the space
Client sessions
Furnished client room rental for practitioners to see clients 1-on-1. See details >
Event hosting
Have a self-care related event or workshop? Rent one of our rooms. See details >
attend an event
Learn something new or meet new members of the community. See details >
“Real self-care is not a noun, it’s a verb – an ongoing internal process that guides us toward profound emotional wellness and reimagines how we interact with others. It requires self-knowledge, self-compassion, and ultimately, the willingness to make difficult decisions.“
Pooja Lakshmin, MD
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join?
We offer monthly memberships, daily passes, and 10 visit passes. You can sign up online, pay cash in person, or e-transfer to @myinnerharbour@gmail.com.
Do I need to book a time slot to do self-care?
Nope! Just drop-in when it’s convenient for you and do your self-care practices at your own pace. There’s no time limit.
May I try out the space before I commit?
You are welcome to come get a tour of the space for free so you have an idea of what it’s like. Alternatively, we offer a 1 day drop-in pass for $20 to use the space for the day, or can attend one of our events.
Is there a teacher or instructor there?
Our space is set up for self-serve self-care. Similar to a gym, you choose the practices you do and which room to use. If you’re not sure where to start or would like some guidance, staff are always available to offer support or inspiration. For guided self-care sessions with our founder Jessica, see our events.
May I use more than one room in a visit?
Yes! Stay in one room or move between all four, it’s up to you and what you need!
May I socialize while I’m in the space?
Our community room is a great area for connecting with others. We do ask that voices stay library-level volume. Many guests come here for calm and quiet, so your low voice helps support their experience too.
Do I need to bring anything?
Nothing is required, we have materials and supplies provided. You’re welcome to bring a journal, a current craft project you’re working on, your favourite book, or anything else self-care related!
Are there refreshments available?
We have a complimentary coffee, tea and water station for members/drop-ins.
If I buy a day pass, does that grant me access to your events in the same day?
You may attend any in-house event on the same day (this means hosted by My Inner Harbour staff.) Paid events by guests will require ticket purchase.
Guidelines & Policies
My Inner Harbour is intended to be a warm, supportive environment for all members. To maintain a safe, welcoming space please adhere to the following guidelines:
Click here to review our guidelines
- Respect
Treat the space and other members with respect. Be gentle with furniture, materials, and leave the space close to how you found it. Be mindful of members’ varying needs and practice a stance of curiosity and compassion. - Noise Levels
The Body, Mind & Spirit rooms are intended for quiet engagement with the materials & prompts. If you would like to chat with other members please feel free to use the Community room. You are welcome to bring materials from the other rooms with you. While we hope that the Body, Mind & Spirit rooms will feel peaceful, we know that noise is part of shared space. There will be doorbells, hallway conversations, tea kettles or coffee machines at various times. We ask members to practice patience, awareness of their surroundings, and consideration for other members as much as possible. - Device Usage
We strongly encourage all members to put away their phones/other screens during their time at My Inner Harbour. Our phones are excellent tools and excellent distractions. My Inner Harbour encourages members to be as present as possible to their physical surroundings, themselves, the self-care practices they are engaging in and other members while on site. - Mental Health Support
My Inner Harbour is not a mental health clinic and does not provide counselling or mental health support at this time. We do have individual therapists who provide counselling services through their private practices in our Therapeutic Suite. We are happy to connect you with these practitioners as needed. If you are in crisis please call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888 or visit the nearest emergency room. - Signing in
Please sign in + out at the back door. This helps us keep track of who is in the building in case of emergency. - Visitors
You may bring a guest to My Inner Harbour once a month at no charge. Please be respectful of this limit. If a guest would like to come more than once a drop-in fee will apply. - Beverages
Tea and coffee, as well as mugs, are provided in the kitchenette. Please clean up after yourself. - Getting here/accessibility
My Inner Harbour is currently located in a heritage home with a staircase to the front door and two individual steps at the back door. We regret that we are not able to make the building more accessible at this time. The Body, Mind & Spirit rooms, the community room and a washroom are all located on the main floor. There are stairs to the Therapeutic Suite and Artist Suite. - Medical Needs
My Inner Harbour is not a medical clinic and does not provide medical advice or support. Please speak to your doctor or visit a walk-in clinic if you have health concerns. - Varying Outcomes
While My Inner Harbour’s goal is to support the well-being of members through providing a variety of self-care activities, events and workshops, My Inner Harbour cannot guarantee the effectiveness of these methods for individual members. Wellness is impacted by numerous factors with self-care practices being only one of them. All members are unique and have individual needs. If a member is dissatisfied with the service being provided membership can be cancelled at any time. - Behaviour Tolerance
We will not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment of staff or members. We strive to be an inclusive environment, where we continue to learn how best to welcome and support people of every demographic and community. Everyone has a right to feel welcome as themselves. - Conflict
Conflict is a normal part of life and exists in most spaces. When conflict arises between members we will aim to listen carefully to the concerns of all parties and work toward consensus on a way forward. We expect members to demonstrate a willingness to give each other the benefit of the doubt and assume that resolution will be possible. - Feedback
Have we missed something? Constructive feedback is welcome! We are committed to listening and learning so that we can co-create a beautiful space. As a new and growing organization, we may not always be able to address a need or make a change immediately, however we want to learn and make plans for the future!
Ready to try it out?
You can experience the space in a variety of ways. Just want a tour? Drop by anytime, its free!
Become a member
Choose the plan that works for you – we have a variety of options to fit your schedule, preferences and budget.
Attend an event
We have a variety of therapeutic and self-care related events, hosted by practitioners, artists, coaches, & more!