Space is limited. Register early.
SAVE $200! Register by November 8, 2019
WOMEN IN THE ROUND:
Exploring Wholeness through Yoga and Image-Making
Join Linda Meacci, E-RYT 500, and Dreama Phoenix, MA, ATR-BC, for a week of creativity, exploration and transformation through yoga and image-making. Practice yoga and experience the revelatory and healing power of creating personal mandalas.
COME AS YOU ARE; NO ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
This retreat is for any woman who is curious and brave and willing to jump in and explore! We often say to a person who has never practiced yoga, "You don’t have to be flexible and strong to try yoga. You come for the wholeness of the experience—to breathe and be present. And to begin from where you are." And when they come to the close of savasana, they almost always feel better! On this retreat we will approach image-making in the same way: choosing to be present, to breathe, and to experience a new process to explore our wholeness—and always to begin from where we are.
YOGA and IMAGE-MAKING TOGETHER: PHYSICAL and CREATIVE MINDFULNESS
There will be plenty of yoga offered on a rotating schedule with the image-making. Some women may choose to focus more of their time and energy in the yoga sessions, and this would be full and expressive in and of itself. However, adding the image-making allows us to take a risk and be present and mindful in a new way; it is a golden opportunity to create something new in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment.
IT’S THE PROCESS, NOT THE PRODUCT
Importantly, it is the process of image-making that matters here, not the product. You will discover the relaxation and satisfaction inherent in art-making as a process vs. making art for the sake of the product. The creation of your own personal mandala is a contemplative exercise that opens pathways to introspection, healing and growth, allowing you to express yourself in new ways as you honor your true Self.
A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN
Our intent for this retreat is to bring together women of all ages and walks of life so we can explore ourselves collectively and individually; so we can move together, play together, satsang together, and express ourselves in meaningful ways.
RETREAT FACILITATORS:
Linda Meacci, E-RYT 500
Linda is an insightful and compassionate yoga instructor who creates a supportive and empowering learning environment, welcoming student participation and self-exploration. She honors the great potential within each individual, encouraging students to contemplate the forces at work in their lives, open up to possibility, and strive to reconnect with the power, love, and wisdom within. Linda draws upon her background as performing artist, athlete and yogi to design rhythmic, fluid practices that incorporate physical asana, therapeutic movement, yogic philosophy, spiritual themes and personal attention. Off the mat, Linda thrives on her love of nature, travel and her spiritual path, Surat Shabda Yoga.
Dreama Phoenix, MA, ATR-BC
Dreama finds great joy in creating cutout images with handmade paper from Nepal and is fascinated with the healing power of making images. She is a credentialed art therapist with 33 years in private practice focused on helping people cope with the effects of post-traumatic stress, grief, and chronic illness. Dreama is proud to be a Work That Reconnects facilitator, offering her community Joanna Macy's Work That Reconnects in IntuitEarth Deep Ecology Workshops. Her Whitebear Studio is the home of IntuitArt process painting workshops, ElderArt Home-based Art Therapy, and Whitebear Creativity Coaching. Dreama walks daily in the woods above the Little Buffalo River in Jasper, Arkansas, and practices Surat Shabda Yoga.
CREATING PERSONAL MANDALAS:
The Transformative Power of Image-Making
THE MANDALA – SYMBOL OF WHOLENESS: The focus of our image-making will be on the creation of personal mandalas. Why mandalas? Mandala means circle in Sanskrit, and we all know how to make a circle—whether by physically standing in one, creating one with things we find in nature, or drawing one that has meaning for us. But a mandala is more than just a shape. Carl Jung called it “a safe refuge of inner reconciliation and wholeness.” Using your own unique visual language, you’ll explore the mandala as a symbol of an integrated view of the world.
You will create personal mandalas to:
Discover the relaxation and satisfaction inherent in art-making as a process vs. making art for the sake of the product
Discover unique individual meanings of connection and completion
Develop personal symbols of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wholeness
Use personal symbols to explore themes of wholeness, balance, letting go, transformation and unification.
Express yourself in new ways as you honor your true Self.
No prior art experience is necessary. All expressions will be honored in a supportive, nonjudgmental, process-oriented atmosphere.
YOGA as a CREATIVE FORCE
Each day we will move through yoga practices that channel our own creative energy as women and human beings. Our physical movement informs how we create our mandalas—individually and as a collective whole. We benefit immensely through daily yoga practice; it serves as a grounding force, fine-tunes our nervous system, nourishes our feminine spirit, and helps unleash and empower our creative force.
Throughout the week there will be opportunities for:
Sunrise beach contemplation
Free-spirited, alignment-based vinyasa flow
Therapeutic sessions
Restorative yoga
Yoga on the beach
Discussion/satsang and reflection
Journaling; solitude in nature; walking meditation
SETTING: TRONCONES BEACH and LAS VILLAS
THE VILLAS: Las Villas on Troncones Beach is a gorgeous oceanfront retreat 30 minutes north of Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Each villa has multiple single- or double-occupancy bedrooms with private or shared baths, a shared kitchen and common space with an open floor plan ideal for enjoying the ocean breezes. Take in breathtaking sunsets to the west and the Sierra Madre mountains to the east; take a dip and relax by the saltwater infinity pool; bask in the sun; lounge under the shade of the palapa; or walk, run and explore the beach, just steps away.
MEALS: Fresh and delicious brunch and dinner are provided daily, mostly on site at Las Villas, with both vegetarian and fish or meat options. Meals feature authentic Mexican and other cuisine prepared by Villas Troncones' gourmet cooks, who do their best to meet special dietary needs. We will enjoy two group dinners at local restaurants (at no additional cost).
ACTIVITIES: Besides our yoga and image-making, there are other activities available, including:
Walking, running and exploring the 3-mile stretch of golden Troncones Beach
Visiting the local sea turtle sanctuary at Roberto's Bistro, where you can watch and help release baby turtles into the ocean---an experience not to be missed!
Massages and local hot springs
Surf and stand-up paddleboard lessons
Kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, and more
THE TOWN: Just a short walk down the beach from Las Villas is charming Troncones, a tiny community with a few tiendas (shops), beachfront restaurants, small hotels, B&Bs, cafes, and some yoga and surfing retreats (some of the best surfing in Mexico is in this area).
YOUR RETREAT, YOUR WAY:
relax, reflect and renew on your own terms
There will be yoga sessions, image-making and other activities scheduled daily. A sample day's schedule is shown here (times and activities may vary).
Please do not feel pressure to do it all. You may participate in as many or as few sessions as you wish. This is your retreat, so make it what it needs to be for you, no one else. It's important that you allow yourself time and space to relax and renew in body, mind and spirit.
Go at your own pace. Honor your inner nudges and whispers and let them guide you toward an appropriate level of activity, striking a healthy balance between community time and your own personal time.
Take time for yourself, and take advantage of all this place has to offer, a veritable feast for the senses. Feel the sand between your toes, the freshening breeze upon your face. Quiet yourself and sway gently to the rhythm of the waves. Breathe deep the salty sea air. Gaze upon the transcendent beauty of an ocean sunset or the mountain's majesty. Be still, and let earth, sea and sky nourish the soul!
TRAVEL PLANNING
ARRIVAL DAY -- SATURDAY, FEB 8, 2020:
Room check-in opens at 4 PM.
Retreat activities begin at 5 PM.
DEPARTURE DAY -- SATURDAY, FEB 15, 2020:
Room checkout is at 10 AM, but you can stay on site longer to use the pool, enjoy the beach, etc., if you have a later flight departure.
TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS:
Retreat Venue: The Villas on Troncones Beach; Troncones, Guerrero, Mexico.
Nearest Airport: Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International (ZIH)
Map: Click here to see Troncones and ZIH Airport on Google Maps.
Airport Transport: Troncones is about 30 minutes north of Zihuatanejo via shuttle. The cost for a group shuttle is $25-30 per person each way. The retreat team will coordinate shuttle reservations.
A NOTE REGARDING AIRFARES:
In our experience from past years, airfares for flights to and from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International airport (ZIH) have not fluctuated much over time, particularly for flights originating in Pittsburgh. If this trend holds, the timing of your purchase may not impact your price as much as the itinerary you select (day and time, flight duration, originating airport, etc.).
Alternate Airports for Departure: In checking flight options, we have at times found lower fares and shorter itineraries into ZIH (including some direct flights) from locations other than our home airport of Pittsburgh International (PIT). Airports to consider include: Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and San Francisco (SAN).
Women in the Round 2020
FEES and PAYMENT INFORMATION
RETREAT FEES (per person):
— DOUBLE Occupancy Early Bird rate* : $1,795 (until Nov 8, 2019)
— DOUBLE Occupancy Standard rate* : $1,995 (after Nov 8, 2019)
— SINGLE Occupancy Early Bird rate* : $2,395 (until Nov 8, 2019)
— SINGLE Occupancy Standard rate* : $2,595 (after Nov 8, 2019)
* NOTE: Rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
-- Some rooms have private baths
-- Some rooms share a bathroom with another room
-- Rooms have one King, one Queen or two Single beds
-- Limited number of oceanfront rooms available
PAYMENT due with REGISTRATION FORM:
If registering before November 8, 2019:
— A $500 Nonrefundable Deposit must be submitted with your completed registration form (with the balance due November 8, 2019).
If registering on or after November 8, 2019:
— Full payment must be submitted with your completed registration form.
FORMS of PAYMENT ACCEPTED:
— Check payable to LINDA MEACCI YOGA INSTRUCTION
— Credit card via PayPal (3% processing fee applies)
CANCELLATION and REFUND POLICY:
— Cancellation Fee of $500 applies to ALL cancellations.
— All cancellation requests must be made via EMAIL to info@lindameacciyoga.com.
— On or before November 8, 2019: Your payment(s) will be refunded, less the $500 Cancellation Fee (which can be covered by your $500 Nonrefundable Deposit, if applicable).
— After November 8, 2019: Your payment(s) will be refunded ONLY IF your spot can be filled from a wait list. In any case, the $500 Cancellation Fee will apply (which can be covered by your $500 Nonrefundable Deposit, if applicable).
Women In The Round 2020
REQUEST A REGISTRATION FORM / ASK A QUESTION
To request a Registration Form or more information, please use the form below (fields marked with an asterisk * are required). To prevent our email response from being rejected as spam or junk mail, make sure “info@lindameacciyoga.com” is added to the list of approved or “safe” addresses in your email system. Thank you!