Please scroll down to see the long post for all retreat details; I have updated it to reflect the new dates, February 20-27th, 2021. Send me a message through the contact tab above or just email me by clicking this lil envelope below with any questions or to sign up!
The jungle Yoga platform
Hello loves, it’s time for another luxury retreat in beautiful Uvita, Costa Rica! This retreat is limited to TEN people, no exceptions. So let me tell you all about it!
Imagine yourself relaxing and doing daily yoga in the rainforest at one of the most spectacular locations in the world. Enrich your practice surrounded by primary cloud rainforest, tropical flowers, toucans, monkeys, parrots, and butterflies. Gourmet chef on hand to prepare fresh meals every morning and evening. Situated high up in the mountainside, you will love the dramatic Pacific Ocean views, primary rainforest jungle and cloud forest above. The villas have been designed with the heavenly views in mind. Soak in a free standing tub, lay out on the terrace, or cool down in your own infinity pool while enjoying the breath taking panoramic views all around. De-stress, Rejuvenate, Enjoy.
Vista Celestial is a piece of heaven. The impressive view of the Pacific Ocean induces an immediate sense of well-being. The sunsets are breath taking, the nights filled with thousands of stars. There are countless beautiful areas to enjoy a sunrise or sunset yoga session. Vista Celestial focuses on total body health and well-being serving only healthy drink and cuisine. But know that alcohol IS readily available for those so inclined, unlike my last retreat in Rishikesh, India.
1. We will be up in the mountains in the rainforest, quite a few hours away from the airport. (No worries, luxury ground transportation is included both ways.) There will be NO ONE else at the resort except for me and my group and the staff that is there 24 hours to wait on you and take care of all your needs. Everything at VC is outside, from the yoga practice areas to the dining area and I will ask everyone to get a covid test in the days right before leaving for the retreat.
2. There are 5 villas for guests, all cut into the side of the mountain. Each is double occupancy and has ITS OWN JACUZZI out your back door on your outdoor space looking down the mountain into the rainforest as well as luxury bathroom and amenities. They villas are air conditioned but being at a high elevation offers cool breezes that relax your mind, body, and soul, especially at night, & enhance natural cell-renewing sleep.
3. This is a full seven nights retreat, from Saturday February 20th to Saturday February 27th, 2021.
4. We will practice yoga each afternoon on a mind-boggling jungle platform that literally hangs over the rainforest where monkeys, sloths and other forest friends might visit, even a bat once flew into the yoga area to say hello!
5. Fresh, organic food, most of which is grown right ON the premises and prepared for you by a highly-rated gourmet chef. Vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike will be insanely happy as the food is one of the stars of this retreat. Please do let me know your dietary restrictions or any allergies in advance.
6. Adventures await the adventurous, hikes to remote waterfalls and swimming in them can be included as well as more thrill seeking escapades; on our second trip half the group went hiking then zip lining through the rain forest from multiple platforms! Spa treatments are also available on site with appointment. Yes, the technician comes to you! Who doesn’t want a massage outside with the sounds of the rainforest enveloping you??
The nitty gritty:
What’s included:
* Luxury accommodations in modern, sparkling clean, air-conditioned double occupancy villas with large beds, luxurious bathrooms with stand alone bathtubs, indoor and outdoor showers and each villa includes a private jacuzzi OUTSIDE the back doors!
* Luxury transportation to and from San Jose airport.
* ALL delicious organic, fresh breakfasts and dinners prepared for you at the resort by superior gourmet chef are included.
* Yoga classes each day taught by me on the secluded jungle yoga platform; high-quality mats and all props are available for your use so no need to bring anything with you! (Unless you really love your mat 😆). Usually my groups are not early risers so yoga class times will be decided on by the final group as well as depending on if there is a major excursion planned on any day.
* One trip down and back up the mountain for excursions, shopping, beach play, waterfall dips, etc. You can make this retreat as relaxing or as exciting as you want; you can join in excursions or go down to shop a bit or stay and nap and have a frozen cocktail by the pool, it’s all up to you but we have Jeep transportation if we want it which is included. 🙏
Cost: $2400 per person 💘
$1200 by November 1st, 2020 will reserve your place. You can also send the whole $2400 then if you like.
I like Zelle and Venmo but can accept PayPal (friends and family or you’ll have to pay the 3% charge), or an actual paper check.
Second $1200 if you are not paid in full is due by January 5th, 2021.
*Please note that airfare is not included; you will be responsible for booking your own flight which needs to arrive at San Jose airport no later than 2:15pm on 2/20 so as to accommodate a 3pm journey. Your flight leaving on 2/27 must be LATER than 1pm to accommodate the group but let’s all discuss that after deposits are in, later is usually better. I will give you ideas on flights. Non stops are sometimes available. I just booked a round trip there for $390 last week (in September 2020) so expect flights to be in the $350-600 range depending on when you book. 💚
*Please note Vista Celestial has a no refund policy if you cancel 95 days or less before the retreat date. The exception is if something happens due to covid again and then we will be able to reschedule the trip. But all is business as usual in CR from what I understand and I’m going there tomorrow (9/23) to make sure. ALSO, what I have done in the past is if for some reason you cannot go and another retreat hopeful steps in to take your spot, I will have them pay you back whatever you paid directly. But we all desperately need a vaca right now so plan on going and let’s make it happen.
This is a lifetime memory experience you will be creating and is so special I can’t even begin to tell you. It’s impossible to put into words. Just seeing the famous “whale’s tail” beach from the property and then actually going to stand on it is so magical. I’ll be posting some reviews of my former retreats here soon. Thank you so much for your interest. 💚
Me teaching on the jungle platform at one of my last retreats at Vista Celestial. <3
Your backyard
Your Villa
Hello loves! As many of my friends and followers know, I have been to India many times now since my first trip in 2003, and have held retreats in other, closer parts of the world, but not yet in Ma India. I’ve decided this year is the time and we are going to my favorite place! This will be an 8 night retreat held right on the banks of the Ganges river, which they say if you submerge yourself in it washes away all your sins! There will be yoga 7 days as well as a trip to the Beatles Ashram, Ganga Aarti a couple of nights and sightseeing, shopping, and people watching by the river. To be honest, lazily watching the culture from a cafe or just sitting by the river is one of my favourite things to do here. It's a total detox trip!! More details below; Pricing and the mundane stuff near the end. 🐘🙈💫
Imagine sitting by the Ganges ghats overlooking the peaceful river or enjoying the sight of a million stars littering the night sky. This is what you will experience during your visit to Rishikesh. Nestled in the Himalayan foothills beside the Holy River Ganges, Rishikesh is the land of spirituality, yoga, adventure and art. The river is clean here unlike in other parts of India because this is where it exits from the Himalayas to head south through the indian subcontinent so it is lovely to sit near it, lazily watch its current as the Indian people perform rituals along its banks, and even to submerge yourself in if you are so inclined.
Rishikesh is known as one of the holiest places in all of India and as such, sees a high number of pilgrims and yogis every year. Rishikesh is a town where you can feel the air buzzing electric with divinity all around. Spirituality comes from within but this place can inspire and motivate you to form a connection with the universal consciousness if you are paying attention. 🕉
This retreat can be as relaxing a vacation as you want, or as adventurous. If you want to sleep in and take the days slow and easy you can, as we will practice yoga in the early afternoons — not the early morning. 😁 If you want to sit at cafes over the river all day drinking chai and relaxing while people watching, you can. I will be giving everyone a list of the best (cleanest/safest) places to eat for days you’d like to venture out on your own, but your breakfasts and lunches will all be included in the price of the retreat. 💃🏻 This food will all be vegetarian, as Rishikesh is a holy city, it is a vegetarian city. Cows are holy here and you will see them meandering through the streets everywhere. Rishikesh is also one of the three destinations famous for Ganga Aarti (Haridwar and Varanasi being the other two). Ganga Aarti, a traditional spiritual ritual, is a beautiful and divine sight to behold and we will be going to it as a group event twice, but the main one at Parmarth Niketan Ashram is just a stone’s throw from our accommodations and you can go every night if you feel inspired but we will go twice as a group during the week. 💥
For the adventurers among you another highlight of Rishikesh is the array of adventure activities it offers. Rishikesh is one of the most popular places among adrenaline junkies to indulge in thrilling adventurous activities. The town is also called the Adventure Sports Capital of India and is popular for its river rafting and white water rafting. I will investigate the best place to go for this for those of you who are feeling this! Early December is one of the recommended times to go.
We will also take one day trip to the “Beatles Ashram” also known as Chaurasi Kutia, which is an ashram close to Rishikesh on the eastern bank of the Ganges, opposite the Muni Ki Reti, in the foothills of the Himalayas. During the 1960s and 1970s, as the International Academy of Meditation, it was the training centre for students of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who devised the Transcendental Meditation technique. The ashram gained international attention between February and April 1968 when English rock band the Beatles studied meditation there, along with celebrities such as Donovan and Mia Farrow. It was the setting for the band's most productive period as songwriters, where they composed most of the songs for their self-titled double album, also known as the "White Album". You can see all the Beatles art in the rooms where they stayed.
For my shopping peeps, the shops and markets in town are full of artistic items, precious artifacts, and handicrafts. A few stores even seem museum-like due to the astounding statuary and gorgeous gems and crystals available. The shops are treasure troves for those who love crafts, antiques, and spiritual things. Rows of shops are full of items like precious and semi-precious jewels, stones, pearls, beads and shells, wooden handicrafts, Madhubani artwork, sequin tapestries as well as handlooms, Indian wear and even carpets.
THE NITTY GRITTY:
Price: ONLY $950 per person (!) which includes private accommodation (Yes a room to yourself) in a nice, clean hotel with its own private western style bathroom for 8 nights; 7 days of yoga classes; breakfast and lunch at the hotel restaurant is also INCLUDED in the price as well as transport from DehraDun airport to your accommodation in Rishikesh. I will have each of you picked up from the airport. Admission to Beatles Ashram is included as well as having me as your guide through the different areas of Rishikesh on the first few days while you get your bearings: Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Tapovan, etc.
You must arrive in Rishikesh on Thursday December 5th, which may mean leaving where you are coming from on 12/4 depending on your starting location. You can fly direct to Delhi and take a train to Rishikesh’s area for less money but I would recommend taking a flight to Dehra Dun airport where I will have you picked up unless you have travelled in India or the East in the past.
For those who loves lists:
What’s Included for $950: (I have never been able to offer a retreat under 2K and not sure when I will be able to again so this is incredibly affordable).
~Private car transport from Dehra Dun airport to Rishikesh, door to door ( I will pair people up if anyone is arriving at the same time)
~Eight nights hotel in a private (not shared) room with private, western style bathroom and Air Conditioning
~Breakfast AND Lunch at the hotel restaurant which is vetted and safe
~ Seven days of afternoon yoga classes, each day before lunch (yes you can sleep in if you so desire or take a walk or have a tea along the river after breakfast.)
~Entry to the famous Beatles Ashram
~ A donation to Karma Animal Trust — Rishikesh’s amazing NGO helping the animals of the area.
~ Ganga Aarti on the banks of the river with the group
Send me a $150 non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot or the full $950 can be sent by check, PayPal (friends and family), or Venmo to @melodyhenry — spots are filling up as of this week but I will post when we are down to our last couple of spots.
What’s NOT included:
~Airfare to Dehra Dun airport
~Indian Visa (you can finally apply for this online and print from home! I will send details!)
~Transport back to airport (which I will arrange for you and people on similar flights can share) OR if you choose to go to Agra on the 13th to spend a night or two to see the Taj Mahal I can help point you in the right direction on that as well. (I will look into pricing for anyone interested on that soon).
~Spa treatments or adventure excursions.
~Dinner or any meals outside of our set breakfast and lunch at the Green hotel restaurant.
Once you have paid in full and I get a list of email addresses I will start to send info for things like vaccines I recommend if you don’t have them, what to pack, what kind of clothing to wear, staying healthy in India, etc. You will also be able to personally ask me any questions or concerns you might have about the trip or India in general. We are going to Northern India in December so it will be cool and the risk of mosquito borne illness will be very low. Expect 70s in the day and 50s at night. It can actually get a bit chilly after the sun goes down by the river! :)
Can’t wait to take you to my favorite place in India! 💚🇮🇳💚
What an AMAZING time! Thank you to all that took my workshop on the Chakra system, and for those who took one or both of my Black Metal Yoga classes, especially the sunset edition. Over 70 yogis sweating, growling, laughing, crying, screaming — we blew the roof off with your amazing energy!! Here are some photos shot by a friend, hopefully more to come. I also hope to make it back next year!! <3
Click photo to see a few more. <3
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