Yoga Retreat to Tulum, Mexico - June 28 – July 5, 2014
June 28 – July 5, 2014
Sunshine, bare feet, floating in the sea, deep breaths, spacious days, bodies flowing, sipping a margarita, counting the stars, long walks, luxurious massage, fresh coconut water, communing with nature, nourishing food, delightful conversation:: all of this and more awaits you.
Together let’s celebrate the summer season, rejoice, and make pleasure a priority. Act as if it’s the only thing you need to do, as if it’s THE most important thing you could possibly do.
Welcome. I'm delighted you've found your way here.
I believe you are here to discover, live, and love from a place of deep inner joy. I believe you are here to dance into the mystery of life. Ancient yogis speak of the divine light present in each one of us. The whole purpose of the yoga practice is to wake up and live a joyful life.
We aren't here to suffer. The daily struggles, the to-dos, the times you say "yes" when you really mean "no", the times you bump your needs to the bottom of the list, the job, the relationship, the foods, the activities that drain you….they dim your inner light. But it's there, waiting to dance with you.
Joy is closer than you think.
This week in Tulum will allow you to slow down. In slowing down you will feel a certain spaciousness that can feel impossible to access at home. By unplugging from television and phones you’ll feel the balance and harmony that comes from aligning with nature's rhythms. You will be deeply restored and nourished by daily yoga and meditation.
You will tap into a deep sense of inner joy, a feeling of bliss that is rich, juicy, and sustainable.
This is what the yoga practice is all about. It's about knowing yourself and joyfully living with your eyes and heart open. Your natural state is health, happiness, and pure goodness. We complicate this inherent wisdom with our doubts, worries, judgments, and fears.
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Just a few ways you'll benefit when you choose to come along for this retreat:
- You'll relax and enjoy the company of like-minded people. Yogis are some of the most amazing people. Don't be surprised when you form real, deep, and lasting friendships.
- You’ll {re}discover what you love and what brings you pleasure. Bring on the good times.
- You'll be more connected to your body then you have in a long time with the help of daily yoga sessions, walks on beach, and mind blowing massages (that are completely optional but oh so highly recommended).
- Unwind daily and reconnect with your pleasures. You will literally feel your body and mind letting go. Tap into a new well spring of energy and vitality that has you skipping through the sand and dancing under the stars. I will dance (and invite you also). You’ve been warned.
- Say “good riddance” to the daily clutter and to-dos that usually keep your mind on overdrive. With all this mental space it’s likely you’ll feel restored and things that once confused you will likely make more sense. Hello clarity!
- You'll eat wonderfully fresh and healthy foods. Best of all, it's prepared and you simply sit back, enjoy the view of the sea, and revel in the deliciousness.
For a week you will walk around surrounded by the most awe inspiring scenery you can imagine. The sun, moon, stars, sand, sea, palm trees, birds, clouds, the way the sun sparkles on the water, the glorious colors as the sun rises over the sea. It's utterly amazing. I guarantee you will walk away from this week feeling restored, filled with hope and more happiness, and deeply connected to yourself. I’ll at least bet you a margarita.
Each day you'll feel more content, unhurried, and refreshed physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
You'll laugh, grow in your yoga practice, walk bare foot for a whole week, dance, act silly, experience happiness, and what it's like to be carefree. All things you deserve.
Are you wondering, “Is this retreat for me?”
Each year I get calls and emails from a variety of people usually asking very similar questions:
"I've never taken a retreat. What happens and should I come?"
"I really need to slow down and take care of my body, mind, and heart. Will I do that at your retreat?"
"I've been doing yoga for ________ (insert months or years). Will I be good enough and can I keep up?"
"I'm coming alone. What if I don't like anybody? What if I don't fit it?"
One student sums these questions up beautifully:
"It is a cold, dark January night. I am sitting home alone surfing the web for a yoga retreat. This was the beginning of my journey to Maya Tulum and Sharon. I was in the middle of an ugly, messy divorce searching for something - anything - some sense of peace. I was apprehensive about traveling alone. I was apprehensive about being alone on a group retreat. As soon as I emailed Sharon, my fears were laid to rest. I felt her authentic caring through her words. As soon as I arrived in Mexico at Maya Tulum, I knew I had made the right decision. The days I spent with Sharon and the group were so healing for me. I spent my days doing yoga, reading, walking the beach, reflecting, and meeting people who were open, honest, and caring. Thank you Sharon for sharing your special gifts with me." ~Lisa Haskins
What a typical day looks like:
Imagine this… you wake up in the morning filled with energy and completely relaxed from a good night's sleep. You stroll out of your cabana and through the sand to your morning yoga session. For an hour and a half, you breathe, you move, you sweat in a delicious and juicy alignment based yoga flow class. You leave feeling calm, content, alive and happy to be in paradise. You'll stroll through the sand path and tropical gardens feeling stretched out, blissed out, and hungry.
Breakfast is delicious. We celebrate each meal in an exquisite huge round cabana built with marble floors and white limestone walls. You'll choose how to spend your afternoon, but you will have a tough choice ahead of you: should you spend the afternoon walking on the white sand beach, getting a massage, napping in a hammock, exploring the Mayan Ruins, or swimming with the dolphins? We'll convene for lunch where great conversations unfold. The buffet is fresh and delicious. Prepare to be amazed by the quality of this food. Evenings will consist of slow flow, yin and restorative yoga. Evening yoga sessions are about rest. Deep, deep, healing rest. Each day you're here, you enliven your body, relax your mind, and renew your spirit.
Between sessions there is ample time available for excursions to the jungle, Mayan Ruins, swimming in the fresh water sink holes (cenotes), snorkeling and lots of pampering at Maya Tulum's world renowned spa. Finish your day by reading quietly in your cabana, dancing at Zamas, or enjoying a moonlit stroll on the beach.
What are the cabanas like? You'll sleep inside one of simple, yet chic, thatched-roofed cabanas that look as if they could have sprung naturally from the earth. Each cabana is unique and has been built with attention and detail. You'll love the special touches like the candles and incense, the sitting area for relaxing, and the generous supply of fresh water. Each room has a tiled bathroom with an open shower area. Maya Tulum Resort offers a choice of 4 types of rooms: garden, ocean-view, beachfront, and beachfront deluxe. For room descriptions please visit www.mayatulum.com
Take a look at what past participants have said:
“I loved walking into the restaurant and knowing that not only would there always be an open seat at one of the tables, that I would be welcomed with open arms and that I would spend the next hour to three hours conversing with other amazing, extraordinary, powerful women about all of the ways in which they were impacting the world through their teaching, their healing arts, and their vocations. I would be remiss if I didn't also mention the amazing therapists on staff. I have never been in the presence of so many powerful, talented, and insightful healers. The healers went beyond the sessions I bought from them to talk to me when they saw me anywhere on the resort, to check in on how I was feeling, and the progress I felt I was making. I felt so connected to people that I initially thought I was only paying for an 80 minute treatment. I entered the trip hoping to learn to relax a little more, to take myself a little less seriously, and to cut myself slack when I needed it. I ended the trip a new woman. I’m already thinking about how much money I have to put back each month to come again next year.” ~Danielle
I found the teaching to be thoughtful and sensitive, and just challenging enough. The scheduled sessions felt right-on at both intervals in the day I loved pushing myself to wake at 7, eating a granola bar with tea, and moving into asana. AND THEN, after 2 hours of yoga, I still had the entire day ahead! The resort was beautiful and staff bent over backwards to accommodate us. It's so lovely to be greeted with happiness from staff through out each day. I LOVED walking around the resort for entire days in my bare feet, after all, Barefoot Works, right? The massage therapists were healers in their own specialties. I've never encountered so many experts in one short time frame--- they each seemed to care that clients on the table received what they were there for. ~Lisa
"For me, Maya Tulum was first and foremost my getaway; a treat I needed to give myself. I hadn’t ever been separated from my husband or kids for longer than four days; and the last time I got away just by myself was over a year ago. I was worried that I would miss my family terribly and that my kids might not survive without me! Not once did I regret or feel guilty about going; I loved every minute I was there. I loved the food, the wonderful people who work there, the incredible treatments, the beauty of the beach and the peace and quite. I spent a lot of alone time reading in my cabana but I also spent a lot of time with all of the yoga gals out on the beach, in town, at the ruins or at meals which we could linger over for 2-3 hours.
I knew I needed to take a break (and Tulum was a very special break I gave myself) and I came home feeling refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated. I only wish there were two mini-retreats a year instead of one because I am already ready to go back." ~Ashley
"This has by far and away been one of the most profound experiences of my life. I came into this retreat not sure exactly what my expectations should be, but Sharon far exceeded them and made the experience unique, meaningful, and powerful."
"This was where I needed to be without even knowing it - I hoped for a respite from everyday stress and strain, but what I received was a transformation in all areas of my life."
"My soul is happy that I have given myself the gift of this retreat."
"Sharon is a master at bringing a diverse group of people together to practice yoga and bond in a way that no one could anticipate. A truly enjoyable experience!"
"My week at Maya Tulum was a wonderful time of relaxation, fun, reflection, and connection with old and new friends. The food was to die for, the resort was breathtaking, the massages were unique, and the yoga was inspiring!" ~ Dana Howell
"It was pure joy to spend this week at Maya Tulum with my loving husband. We disconnected from the everyday stresses and pressures and did yoga and read, played in the ocean, ate great food, had wonderful massages and best of all reconnected with each other, reminding us once again how blessed we are to have each other. This retreat was a gift and we are already to sign up again next year.
I had the privilege of taking my 200 hour yoga training with Sharon in Tulum last year and knew how gifted she was, and now my husband knows too. Her classes are magical and her love and concern for every person at the retreat was greatly felt.
I encourage everyone to put Sharon's retreat at Maya Tulum on their Bucket List – pure pleasure." ~Carol Peach
This week of retreat is meant to be a week of joy, delight, pleasure, and dare I say bliss? Yes, I will.
You will be blown away by how much change seven days devoted to yoga, rest, learning new ways of being, self-acceptance, nurturing, and hanging with like-minded people creates. This trip changes my life in profound ways with each year. It will do the same for you.
The Price of Paradise
| 2014 Pricing: | ||
| June 28 – July 5, 2014 | Double | Single |
| Ocean View | $1,345 | $1,690 |
| Beach Front Deluxe | $1,445 | $1,900 |
Rate includes: accommodations for seven nights, three (mostly vegetarian) meals per day, all yoga sessions, and unlimited sun, sand and sea. $300 deposit required for booking. Ask about setting up monthly payments!
To claim your spot call 1-888-515-4580.
Both yoga and Tulum have had a huge impact on my life. Both have facilitated growth and change in my life and in countless others. This year marks the sixth summer of me traveling to Tulum to lead this retreat. This week in Tulum, this retreat is by far one of the most satisfying, most transformative, most fun events that I lead all year. It just keeps getting better. Really, it's true. I believe this year will be no different.
In a Nutshell:
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Yours in Yoga,
