ELENA BROWER & CHRISTY NONES
'OCEAN OF THE HEART' RETREAT
February 17 - 22, 2012
Amansala Resort - Tulum, Mexico
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Certified Anusara Yoga Teachers and longtime friends, Elena Brower, of NYC, and Christy Nones of Miami, will lead another extraordinary 5-night retreat at Amansala resort on the beautiful shores of Tulum, Mexico. They will lovingly offer teachings, gained from years of studies and exploration, to help us dive fully into the rich sea of awareness, wisdom, joy, wellness and elegance, that lies like hidden treasure in the depths of the heart. Morning meditation sessions, two yoga practices daily, adventurous exploration along the Mayan Riviera and sweet relaxation in the spa or on silky white sands by turquoise waters, will offer perfect circumstances for fully immersing ourselves in the ocean of our hearts.
Retreat dates: February 17-22, 2012 Fri. – Wed.
(5 nights during President's Day)
Retreat Includes:
• Eco-Chic Beach hotel accommodations with artistic design details, well-appointed private bathrooms with hot water and purified water, Wi-Fi internet access, open air yoga rooms, open air seaside dining hall and beautiful beach-front lounging areas
• Three healthy, delicious meals daily (chicken or fresh fish & vegetarian options)
• 2 Daily yoga practices, sunrise meditation and casual lectures/talks
• Beach club use, Bicycles & kayaks available for participants' use as well.
Room Pricing:
(note - Oceanfront rooms are first booked/first served basis)
SHARED TRIPLE (1 king and 2 twins or 1 king and 2 queens): $1,265 usd per person
SHARED DOUBLE ROOMS (2 double beds; all oceanfront): $1,457.50 usd double occupancy
STANDARD PRIVATE ROOMS (1 king bed; non oceanfront): $1,475usd single; $1,150usd double occupancy
DELUXE PRIVATE ROOM (1 king bed): $1,870usd single; $1,540usd double occupancy
Amansala is a perfect beach front hotel for group retreats, boasting 2 open air practice spaces and several different dining & gathering areas both indoors and out all with ocean views. All rooms have private bathrooms with hot & cold water, each with its own artisanal decoration and charms. Amansala has a luxurious bohemian chic feel with sweet ocean breezes, a beach club with bar, and gorgeous white sand beaches stretching in both directions. It really is a very special spot.
ITINERARY:
DAY ONE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012
Afternoon arrival at Cancun International Airport; Optional transportation provided to hotel in Tulum if desired.
Hotel Check-in.
Mexican Dinner at hotel 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Welcome meeting with Elena & Christy (during second half of dinner)
DAY TWO: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012
Meditation at sunrise 7:00 – 7:30 am
Coffee/Tea, fruit, yogurt, granola 7:30 – 8:00 am
Morning Yoga Practice (Intermediate with Elena and Mixed level with Christy) 8:15 – 10:30 am
Brunch/Breakfast 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Free time, beach, kayak, paddleboard, shopping, biking, Spa Services
– Or - Group Excursions
Late Lunch of salad and taco bar (fish, chicken and veggie options)
at hotel 3 – 4 pm
Evening Yoga Practice (Elena & Christy with whole group) 6:00 – 7:30
Dinner at hotel 7:45 – 9:15 pm
Salsa Lessons and Dancing – (Ice breaker par excellance!)
DAY THREE : SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012
Meditation at sunrise 7:00 – 7:30 am
Coffee/Tea, fruit, yogurt, granola 7:30 – 8:00 am
Morning Yoga Practice (Intermediate with Christy and Mixed level with Elena) 8:15 – 10:30 am
Brunch/Breakfast 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Free time, beach, kayak, paddleboard, shopping, biking, Spa Services
– OR – Group Excursions
Late Lunch of salad and taco bar (fish, chicken and veggie options)
at hotel 3 – 4 pm
Evening Yoga Practice (Elena & Christy with whole group) 6:00 – 7:30
Dinner at hotel 7:45 – 9:15 pm
Fireside Chat 9:45 pm
DAY FOUR : MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2012
Meditation at sunrise 7:00 – 7:30 am
Coffee/Tea, fruit, yogurt, granola 7:30 – 8:00 am
Morning Yoga Practice (Intermediate with Elena and Mixed level with Christy) 8:15 – 10:30 am
Brunch/Breakfast 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Free time, beach, kayak, paddleboard, shopping, biking, Spa Services – Or - Group Excursions
Late Lunch of salad and taco bar (fish, chicken and veggie options) at hotel 3 – 4 pm
Evening Yoga Practice (Elena & Christy with whole group) 6:00 – 7:30
Dinner at hotel 7:45 – 9:15 pm
DAY FIVE : TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012
Meditation at sunrise 7:00 – 7:30 am
Coffee/Tea, fruit, yogurt, granola 7:30 – 8:00 am
Morning Yoga Practice (Intermediate with Christy and Mixed level with Elena) 8:15 – 10:30 am
Brunch/Breakfast 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Free time, beach, kayak, paddleboard, shopping, biking, Spa Services – Or - Group Excursions
Late Lunch of salad and taco bar
(fish, chicken and veggie options) at hotel 3 – 4 pm
Evening Yoga Practice (Elena & Christy with whole group) 6:00 – 7:30
Dinner at hotel 7:45 – 9:15 pm
Fireside Chat 9:45 pm
DAY SIX: WENESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012
Coffee/Tea, fruit, yogurt, granola 7:00 – 7:30 am
Grand Finale Meditation & Yoga Practice
(Christy & Elena with whole group) 7:45 – 10:30 am
Brunch/Breakfast 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Check out & Optional Transportation to Cancun International Airport
Looking forward to playing together in Paradise...
PAYMENT & ROOM INFORMATION :
• A deposit of 50% of full retreat price is REQUIRED to hold your place and reserve a room in the retreat. Full payment of the retreat price is also accepted at the time of booking if that is preferred.
• While all the rooms at Amansala are lovely, open to the ocean breezes and not more than 80 feet from the ocean, not all rooms are ocean front. The filling of the oceanfront rooms will be on a first come/first served basis, so participants are strongly encouraged to book as soon as possible in order to have the possibility of reserving the most desirable room.
If you'd like to participate please make payments here, input your information and request desired room type. You may also send an email to our wonderful retreat coordinator, Nadia Kruler, at nadia.kruler@gmail.com with any additional questions or special inquiries and/or requests. She will be coordinating all room requests and assignments and will also do her best to place you with a roommate if needed. She will interface with Amansala resort on our behalf to help accommodate all participant needs to the best of her ability. Nadia will contact you via email within 48 hours of your deposit to provide you with information about room options and to confirm your spot in the retreat.
• If you are planning to share a room with a specific roommate, please help us make the booking process as effective and easeful as possible by entering their name in the area provided on the sign up page (amansalaresort.com/ocean) and encouraging them to make their booking request and payment on the same day as you.
• Paying in full at the time of booking is preferred and welcomed, but if you prefer to pay in two installments, the first payment/deposit is due by November 15, 2011 and the final balance is due by December 10, 2011 as below:
> Shared Triple Room – 2 Payments per person of $632.50usd
> Shared Double Room - 2 Payments per person of $728.75usd
> Standard King Room – 2 Payments $737.50usd (if SINGLE) or 2 payments per person of $575usd (if SHARED)
> Deluxe King Room - 2 Payments of $935usd (if SINGLE) or 2 payments per person of $770.00usd (if SHARED)
*** Full payment of the entire retreat at the time of deposit is encouraged if possible and the amounts due upon booking would be as follows –
Deluxe King Room
$1870usd per person (Single) or $1540usd per person (Shared) Standard King Room
$1475usd per person (Single) or $1150 per person (Shared)
Shared Double Room
$1457.50 per person
Shared Triple Room
$1265 per person
• Payments must be made with accepted credit cards (Master Card or Visa only) using this link...
• A full explanation of extra activities & the group schedule for them will be given in person at the welcome meeting in Tulum on opening night. For your convenience you may wait to get the full details in person before you sign up for any excursion you are interested in. The price of the tour/s you participate in can easily be added to your room bill to be settled upon check-out, along with any spa treatments you enjoy or any extras you partake in (alcoholic beverages, etc).
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
These items are some of our favorites in the area! Participants may sign up for activities once they are in Tulum. We ask for at least 12 hours advance notice when booking excursions and spa services. Payments may be cash or credit card (Master Card or Visa only)…
Round-trip Shared Airport Transfers
$40 usd per person for one way or $80 per person round trip:
Transfers to be coordinated upon flight confirmations. Price is based on having up to 10 passengers per van with a minimum of 6. If at all possible please try to arrive between the hours of 10 am and 5:00 pm on the first day of the retreat and to depart in the afternoon on closing day - both from Cancun International Airport (CUN) – to try to have at least 6 passengers in your van. If you arrive at a time when nobody else is, we will help arrange for a private or semi-privat shuttle; we'll inform you of that necessity once we discern who is arriving when. Nadia can provide you with prices, companies and further information as needed. Transportation must be paid in cash upon arrival please so please plan accordingly. Airport Transfers must be arranged prior to arrival.
Cenote Snorkel Trip - $35usd per person:
Guided Snorkel trip to explore a fresh-water cenote, sacred to the ancient Mayans. Transportation, expert guide & equipment provided. An essential tour while in the Yucatan peninsula!
Mayan Ruins & Nature Tour - $90USD per person (minimum of six participants necessary):
Secluded Mayan Ruins of Muyil day tour, including local guide, boat tour through lagoons & lazy river float through the mangroves of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere. A lovely day trip with great bird watching, pristine nature, & full of rich Mayan history.
Traditional Mayan Temazcal (sweatlodge) - $65USD per person
(minimum of 6 participants necessary):
Includes a traditional Mayan purification ceremony led by a shaman. This spiritual journey unifies the body, mind, and spirit to reach a deep connection with Mother Earth. An authentic experience not to be missed!
Mayan Ruins tour to Coba ruins - $90 per person:
Includes transportation to and from the more far away, but spectacularly large, Coba ruins (approximately 45/50 min from Amansala), entrance fee and guided tour.
Stand-up Paddleboarding
Rental available at Amansala - $35 per hour:
This great sport is fun to try and easy to do right on the beach of Amansala. The resort has 2 boards for rent, so give it a shot – it is fantastic and complements the core work of yoga nicely!
Massage & Spa Treatments
60 minute massages or spa treatments @ $85usd each
90 minute massages or spa treatments @ $120usd each:
Full spa menu available is available at resort; a copy will be provided upon arrival to choose from. Days and general hours for massages will be incorporated into the week's itinerary. Participants can pre-book massage appointments at the time of registration or once on premises at Amansala. Specific times for massages will be scheduled upon arrival. The therapists at Amansala are truly excellent so all are highly encouraged to include some serious pampering into the retreat experience!