If you are an adventurous women who is ready to bring ease and clarity to your mind, deeply nourish your body, and awaken your sense of aliveness, join us on this retreat to empower yourself as a creative force of nature!
Imagine THIS…
You wake to the gentle sound of waves rolling in. You step out onto your balcony, just as the sun peeks up from the Caribbean horizon. You pour yourself a cup of coffee, grab your journal, and stroll down to the water’s edge to see what words the tide brings in this morning.
In the afternoon, you find yourself on a journey into one of the island’s oldest neighborhoods. Your guide Jose, a 3rd generation islander, tells you his family’s story as he leads you onto unmarked paths. You arrive at the home of Mayra, who serves you savory enchiladas and mole that she’s prepared outdoors, over an open flame. In this moment, you are not a tourist, you are a traveler.
In the evening, you follow the sound of laughter to the patio. The kinship feels like medicine as the conversation pulls you in. And this is just the beginning…
Wouldn’t it be a sweet relief to take a break from taking care of everyone else to focus on your own joy?
This journey is all about YOU! Our daily yoga and island adventures will restore your sense of well being and awaken a deep sense of vitality.
What if you had tools to manage anxiety and stress so that you could embody your creativity and express yourself fully?
Our mindfulness practices and group coaching will help you stay centered, express yourself freely, and trust the power of your presence.
What if, instead of running on empty, you knew how to fill your own tank so you could be more present in your relationships?
On this retreat, through constructive rest, breath work, and staying in-the-moment, you’ll learn how to renew your energy so that you can be fully present for the loved ones in your life.
What if there was nothing holding you back and you could start creating a new chapter in your life right now?
Our exhilarating week include intention setting to so that you leave the retreat inspired to take bold new action that makes your heart sing.
Your destination: The Island of Women
A short ferry ride from Cancun through luminescent turquoise waters will bring you to Isla Mujeres, a picturesque 7 Km-long island. With the dreamy white-sand beaches to the North and the sacred grounds of Punta Sur to the South, you’ll feel a sense of “ahhh” from the moment you arrive.
A place of healing and inspiration, “The Island of Women” has been a pilgrimage destination for women in the midst of life transitions for centuries. Isla Mujeres is home to an ancient Mayan temple dedicated to the moon goddess Ixchel, who protects childbirth, medicine, the arts, and the fertility of the earth. During this retreat, Ixchel is always near. A statue in her honor and the ruins of Ixchel’s temple are just a short walk from your retreat home.
You’ll make yourself right at home at Casa Flora de Mayo. Your luxurious seaside villa has unobstructed Caribbean views that will take your breath away!
Gentle ocean breezes and the sound of breaking waves fill the house. The kitchen, dining room, living room and lounge offer generous indoor spaces to both relax in your own quiet sacred space and to gather with soul sisters in comfort.
The outside living space invites total relaxation. The large, infinity-edge waterfall pool is surrounded by a large deck. Just beyond, the great lawn extends to the majestic cliffs that lead to the water’s edge. Hello horizon!
The oceanfront master bedrooms feature king size beds and direct access to balconies. The double-occupancy garden rooms include lux bedding and semi-private baths. All of this luxury and natural beauty is here to support you—as you awaken in all of your glory!
THE CUISINE
You will enjoy farm-fresh, beautiful, and delicious meals that will not only feed your body, they will nourish your soul.
Our on-site meals will be prepared by by the amazing Lucia Di Cesare, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist equipped with a degree in chemistry and love for food! You will taste her passion for healthy eating with each incredible meal she creates.
With each brunch and dinner, you will savor local, organic, farm-to-table cuisine that will highlight the impact of mindfully sourcing what we eat.
Do you have special dietary considerations? No problem! Lucia can customize offerings to meet your needs.
Lucia’s goal is to teach you that preparing nutritious meals can be simple and taste great. Over dinners, she’ll tell you about the ingredients she has thoughtfully selected and answer your questions.
Midweek, you’ll be invited to join Lucia in the kitchen for a cooking class as she shares some favorite recipes and her principles for managing a healthy diet at home.
THE JOURNEY
Our daily themes will inspire embracing ease, connecting with your joy, and setting yourself free!
Sunday: ARRIVING
We’ll celebrate your arrival on Isla and enjoy a delicious farm-to-table taco buffet and taking a short walk to dip our toes in the Caribbean. I’ll then guide you through a gentle yoga flow to get the travel kinks out. We’ll end the day with a ceremony to honor our intentions for the week.
Monday: CONNECTING WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS
Our day will start with a centering morning yoga flow to build a foundation for the week. In the morning, I’ll lead you in a embodied improvisation class so that you’ll have a chance to playfully connect with fellow participants. In the afternoon, we’ll walk the seaside path to Punta Sur, visit Ixchel’s Temple, and explore the meaning of sacred space.
Tuesday: AWAKENING YOUR SENSES
Today is all about awakening your sacral chakra—your center for creativity, emotions, sexuality, and sensuality. We’ll hop on the golf cart to explore, see, hear, smell and feel the island. In the evening, you’ll enjoy a tasting adventure with a special food and culture tour. To wrap up the day, I’ll lead you in a meditation to help your body rest and digest all you’ve experienced!
Wednesday: FEEDING YOUR CREATIVE FIRE
Our morning yoga will help you expand your breath and build heat to support vitality. I’ll then guide you to explore the power of your intention and your “bigger yes”. The afternoon is open for you to choose what will support you best— a massage, beach time, journaling, strolling shops, etc. And then, Lucia’s special cooking class will help you think about the role food plays in feeding your body and fueling your greatest desires.
Thursday: PLAYING ON YOUR CREATIVE EDGE
Our morning yoga flow will help you explore coming into balance and expanding your comfort zone. The afternoon will include an opportunity for a snorkling adventure, along with some fun surprises. In the evening’s restorative class I will teach you ahhh-mazing techniques for self-massage so that you can reward yourself for playing on your edge!
Friday: LIVING OUT LOUD
For your Friday yoga flow, I’ll guide you in a luscious heart opening and neck releasing sequence to free your voice. Much of Friday will be reserved for a special activity that will be shared with you when it’s time! We’ll enjoy a fantastic dinner with Lucia, come together for our farewell circle, and cap the day with a restorative yoga practice to prepare you for the sweetest dreams yet.
Saturday: TRAVELING LIGHT
On departure day, I’ll offer sunrise yoga for anyone who wants to rise and shine! There will be coffee, tea, and light breakfast options available to fuel you for your journey home. We’ll say farewell and thank you to Casa Flor de Mayo by 10 AM.
And there’s SO MUCH more!
In our group coaching, you’ll explore living from the inside out to trust the wisdom of your body and empower your intuition.
Each day, we’ll connect for share circles dedicated to cultivating self-awareness, vulnerability, and courage so that you’ll gain an intimate community to support and inspire you.
You’ll savor nutritious, organic, farm-to-table meals daily and learn delicious and easy cooking techniques so that you can deeply nourish yourself at home.
During our time together, by practicing presence and embodying your creativity, you will leave this retreat with a deeper knowing of how live your most inspired and inspiring life.
HERE IS WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- 6 Nights of accommodations with your choice of a shared or private room
- 6 Delicious dinners
- 5 Nourishing lunches
- A daily morning self-serve breakfast bar
- 6 Morning vinyasa flow yoga classes
- 3 Evening restorative practices. These will vary and include yoga/mediation/self-massage classes
- A nutritional workshop/cooking class
- Culinary and culture golf cart tour of the Island (included as 1 of the dinners)
- Shared transportation via golf cart for a couple of days to explore the island including Playa Norte, the center, the supermarket, special destination spots, etc.
- All bedding/towels, in-room hair dryers and use of laundry facilities.
- Gratuities for all group service providers
HERE IS WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
- Flights to/from Cancun (CUN)
- Airport transfers (I’ll suggest some great companies!)
- Ferry tickets
- Pre-trip (within 48 hours of departure) and pre-return travel covid-19 testing (if still required for re-entry to the U.S.)
- Taxi to/from the ferry to Casa Flor de Mayo ($5-10 one-way)
- Alcoholic beverages (you are welcome purchase your own)
- Personal travel insurance is always recommended
Join me for this soulful adventure!
Hi, I’m Mandy, and I’ll be your trip captain! For the past two decades, I’ve worked as a theater artist. I’ve had the great pleasure of touring my original work to diverse venues from Montreal to Bogota, from the New York Clown-Theatre Festival to the White House. In 2021, I was honored to be named the Maine Arts Commission’s Performing Arts Fellow, recognized for artistic excellence and “a joyful spirit for ferocious play.”
For 15 years, I hosted thousands of artists from around the globe at Celebration Barn Theater, a residential center for physical theater training. As Executive Artistic Director, I facilitated immersive workshops dedicated to deepening creative exploration and amplifying the uniqueness of each person’s artistic voice.
But ever since I was a young kid, there was something that terrified me: my anxiety.
When I started practicing yoga in 2001, I found tools to help manage my overwhelming feelings. Yoga gave me focus so that my mind wasn’t always occupied with obsessive-compulsive thinking. It also grounded me and helped me move stuck energy before it escalated into panic attacks. For years, I lived in the city and practiced regularly at yoga studios, embracing 30 and 60-day challenges.
My husband and I moved to the woods of Western Maine right after our daughter was born. The studios were now a long drive away. I tried, but I just couldn’t get into practicing yoga at home by myself. My work became increasing exciting and demanding. And then my son was born. As life got busier and busier, I got conditioned to do as much as I could, as fast as I could, with as little as I could. That worked really well…until it didn’t. In 2018 my anxiety made a raging return and I knew things had to change.
That’s when I decided to return to yoga and dove into teacher training. I received my 200-hour certification with Jacqui Bonwell and continued to earn a 500-hour certification with David Venditti. As this body work unlocked new pathways for creativity, I wanted more tools–for myself and to share with others–to stop playing small and bring bolder visions to life. After a year of rigorous training in transformational coaching, I became certified through Leadership That Works and began helping artists flourish, both personally and professionally.
This journey has enabled me to update my entire operating system—and build a practice that supports ongoing updates!
As an artist coach, performer, and yoga teacher, my specialty is working with creative women, helping you to reconnect with your personal power so that you can bring your voice and vision into the world with greater ease, clarity, impact.
My quest—on and off stage—is for total freedom.
Now, I can’t wait to find out: What makes YOU feel wildly alive?
YOUR INVESTMENT- USD DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
By May 12- Early Bird Bonus: $2,599 + A Complimentary Massage (register by Mother’s Day)
By June 15- Standard Early Bird: $2,599
From June 16 on- Regular Full Price: $2,899
Limited Singles- Oceanfront Master bedrooms (king bed) with private bath and balcony: $600 supplement
Shared Oceanfront Master Bedrooms (for those traveling together): $300 discount
REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION POLICY
To register, complete the registration form via the link below. I’ll follow up by email to invoice you for your deposit or payment in full (which ever you indicate on your registration form.) Within 48 hours of receiving your completed registration and payment, I’ll reach out to you to schedule a phone call so that we can discuss your room preference, dietary restrictions, and travel plans!
A $500 USD nonrefundable deposit is due to secure your spot, or you may pay in full. Because space is limited, early registration is strongly encouraged and will give you the greatest flexibility for the room of your choice!
Register by June 15 for the Early Bird pricing (listed below.) Pricing go up to the full fee and increase by $300/person, effect on June 16. Accommodation prices listed above include the FULL retreat experience!
50% of the total trip is is due by July 15. Payment in full is requested by September 1, unless other arrangements have been made in advance. Any cancellation will result in a total loss of the $500 USD deposit. Cancellations made between July 1 and September 1 will result in a loss of 50% of the trip price. Any cancellation made between September 2 and the trip departure will result in a total loss of funds. We reserve the right to cancel the trip if it’s not meeting the trip minimum. (If we do so, you will be refunded in full.)
Trip cancellation insurance is always recommended whenever making travel plans. You can use our suggested Travel Guard Insurance online and choose from several policy options.
If we find that the trip is not a good fit for you, we reserve the right to cancel your reservation, in which case your payments will be fully refunded.
Copyright © 2024 Amanda Huotari, All Rights Reserved