March 10-17, 2018 – ISHTA Yoga Retreat with Aino Siren & Mikaela Soldan
Ishtayoga
Please join Aino Siren and Mikaela Soldan for a week of transformational healing in the warmth of Playa Troncones in the Pacific side of Mexico! Aino and Mikaela have been leading many retreats together and this one marks the 8th one. Troncones is the perfect setting for you to put your worries behind and focus simply on being one with yourself and the surrounding nature.
Stay in a uniquely designed bungalow, enjoy organic meals, spend the day at the pool or beach, sunbathing or engaging in various activities such as surfing, waterfall hiking or sunset horseback riding.
Each day begins with uplifting morning yoga & meditation and in the afternoon we will ease into the luxurious world of yin/restorative yoga, on an open air yoga deck that looks right into the ocean.
Playa Troncones was discovered just about 20 years ago and it is known for its tranquil and untouched environment, with the ability to walk the stretch of the beach without running into many people. The landscape is beautiful, open and hammock laden, with a few eco-lodges and restaurants strew about. Close by, there are two sea caves called Troncones and Majahua and a waterfall called Cascadas Artesianas. A true oasis.
Sample daily schedule:
-8-10am Yoga & Meditation
-10am Gourmet Breakfast
FREE TIME
-4:30-5:45pm Restorative/ Yin & Yoga Nidra
-6pm Dinner
-6:45pm Watch the sunset from the beach restaurant
FREE TIME
What is ISHTA Yoga:
ISHTA has a twofold meaning. It is an acronym of Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda. It also means that which resonates with the spirit.
Hatha: From ‘ha / tha’ or ‘solar energy / lunar energy’ in Sanskrit, originated in the Tantric period. Hatha Yoga is the physical practice of asana, or yoga postures. Hatha also refers to the science of strengthening the weaknesses in an individual and removing the stress blockages in our systems.
Tantra: From the root words ‘tanoti,’ expansion, and ‘trayati,’ liberation. Tantra is the belief that our essential nature is divine, perfect as it is, part of the universal consciousness, and filled with bliss. The practice of Tantra increases our awareness of this state of total liberation through acceptance of ourselves and everything around us. Tantra gives us many tools to achieve the understanding of our true selves. In the ISHTA practice, we focus on asana, pranayama (breath work), kriya techniques and visualization meditation, as our primary tools.
Ayurveda: From the words ‘ayur’ which means ‘life’ and ‘veda’ which means ‘science.’ This ancient Indian tradition teaches that we each have a constitution, or prakriti, that is unique like our fingerprints. According to ayurvedic thought, the ideal practice begins with understanding the individual’s unique prakriti and their needs based on the interplay of that constitution with their current situation. For example, stress, injuries, or changes in life or work all impact what practice is ideal for you at a given moment. Ayurveda in the ISHTA practice encourages self-exploration and an awareness of the impact our circumstances have on our physical, emotional, and energetic states. We seek to understand how to best create balance in our lives and accept who we are.
Testimonials from past retreats:
“I’ve been doing Yoga with Aino for the last 5 years and her classes and private lessons have gotten me through some of the toughest times in my life. Aino’s back ground of dance shines through in her her poses and watching how beautifully she moves inspires me to be stronger, and move into the same poses more deeply. Her healing hands carry magic so her adjustments always feel like bolts of lightening that make there way up to my brain and reinforce me to relax and enjoy the moment even” more. The obvious thing to say about Aino would be how incredible she is as a teacher because she truly is incredible, But for me it’s the mindfulness she brings of making everyone feel at ease, no matter what age, strength or bendy factor you bring to class you will never be judged it’s not in her DNA. It’s rare to find that in today’s world in the purest form that Aino radiates. Her retreats are equally as divine as her classes with no detail left out. I’ve been on two now and look forward to the announcement of the next destination. Aino was born to do this. I feel privileged that I get to take her classes and have her care about my well being.. she is light she is love.”
-Claudia Drakes
“I attended Aino’s lovely yoga retreat in Tuscany. It was my first retreat, and I enjoyed it so much that I immediately asked her to hold a place for me on a retreat next year! The week was a combination of fantastic yoga classes, delicious & healthy food + optional excursions to explore the beautiful region. She puts a lot of thought into selecting retreat locations – our retreat center was fabulous! A couple of important notes: Aino is a very intuitive teacher so her classes & retreats are great for all levels. Also, she draws wonderful people so don’t hesitate to attend a retreat by yourself – our group was terrific, and we made new friends from around the globe.”
-Becky Bowler
Accommodations:
All 11 bungalows have an indigenous palapa thatched roof, hand-crafted in the Mexican tradition, and are furnished with a pillow top queen-sized bed, luxurious 400 count cotton bedding and a canopy of white linen.
Pricing:
Single room – $2790 EB/ $2990 regular
Single occupancy in a room with a queen size bed with a private bathroom.
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Double room – $1950 EB/ $2150 regular per person
Double occupancy in a room with 2 twin beds and a private bathroom.
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Triple room – $1850 EB/ $2050 regular per person
Triple occupancy. These rooms have one queen bed and 2 twin beds as well as a private bathroom.
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*Spa treatments, adventure tours and excursions are not included, but easily booked upon arrival.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due to hold your spot. To guarantee early bird pricing, pay deposit by December 1st, 2017. Prices vary upon accommodation, for more information email us at yogaretreats.info@gmail.com.
What’s included:
- Morning and afternoon yoga each day in an open air shala
- 8 days/7 nights Ocean-view private or shared bungalow luxury accommodations at Present Moment
- 2 large organic fresh meals a day (breakfast and dinner, excluding one dinner)
- Miles of unspoiled beachfront perfect for surfing, sunbathing, kayaking, swimming, horseback riding, snorkeling and more.
What’s not included:
- Air fare to & from Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo (ZIH) and Airport transfers ($95 RT)
- Optional excursions
- Optional Raindrop, Reiki and Massage Treatments
- Lunches and one dinner
Early Bird:
I want to sign up and get the Early Bird pricing, what do I do? Email us at yogaretreats.info@gmail.com, and pay the $500 non-refundable deposit by December 1st to secure EB pricing. We accept:
-Checks
-Venmo
-Cash app
-Credit Cards (3.5% fee)
When is the rest due by?
First half of the remainder is due by January 15th and the second half of the remainder by February 15th.
Where do I fly to?
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport. It is 30 minutes from the Present Moment Retreat center.
The leaders:
Aino E-RYT 500 Senior ISHTA Yoga Teacher
Aino grew up in Finland and moved to New York in 1999 to pursue a dance career. She included yoga as a complement to her dance training, felt a connection immediately, and has been a devoted practitioner ever since. Aino’s desire is to help you connect with the teacher within, to live your yoga everyday and every moment. She is known as a passionate, creative and kind teacher and she is particularly loved for her healing hands on adjustments. Aino is a Teacher Trainer and Mentor in the ISHTA Yoga Teacher Training in NYC and Finland, and she hosts Yoga Retreats around the world 2-3 times a year. She is also a Raindrop Technique practitioner and trainer as well as a Reiki Master.
Mikaela RYT 500 ISHTA Yoga Teacher
Mikaela is an ISHTA Yoga teacher currently based in New York City. She is also originally from Finland, where she teaches on her visits. She is known for her fun and inspiring classes, combining flowing asana, yoga philosophy and delicious hands on adjustments. Mikaela co-organized the first 200h ISHTA Yoga teacher training in Finland with Aino Siren in the summer of 2017.