Yoga & Writing Retreat in Mexico

About the Retreat

Creating Waves: The Alchemy of Insight

In this retreat, we learn to write from our whole being by moving our bodies through yoga poses, stilling our minds in meditation, and letting go of the inner critic in a safe and supportive writing circle.

As we begin to inhabit our bodies more peacefully through yoga and meditation, letting go of tension, our writing begins to flow and the creative spirit is unleashed. We learn to banish that voice that sounds like our older brother or our teacher telling us how our writing is somehow not right.

As we write and do yoga together, we find inner silence and ultimately, space for our stories to emerge. These stories are both uniquely our own and, because they speak to our real lives, truly universal, serving to connect us with one another.

When we write from this centred space – whether we write poems, short stories, non-fiction, or family anecdotes – we write the truth of our lives. In this retreat we write together, and we write what is true now, however it emerges, be it a country and western tune, a play, a journal entry, or a story about our fifth-grade teacher. This close attention to what is in our writing and the support of a fun and accepting writing community enriches our yoga practice. As we allow our writing to emerge just as it is, we can also begin to accept each yoga pose as it is at the moment – this morning’s Triangle Pose, or this evening’s Mountain Pose.

This diving-into-the-heart-of-the-moment is crucial to the practice of yoga. As we learn to live in the present moment, we unleash our creative potential in all aspects of our lives. By bringing yoga and writing together, we enrich both practices and find new ways to nurture our creative spirits.

Michèle will provide a gentle yoga practice that focuses on breathwork and on finding inner stillness through a meditative yoga practice. While we will sometimes work hard, we will play with our yoga poses as well, learning to be at ease in our own physical forms. Exploring the ways in which our emotions are connected to our bodies, we will see how our spirits are affected by different movements – standing poses, gentle back bends, simple balancing poses, restorative forward bends, and so on. We will focus on maintaining a healthy alignment of the body, an alignment that will help us to breathe easily and move freely throughout our lives.

Please Note:
No experience in either yoga or writing is necessary for this retreat. The retreat is suitable for everyone, from beginners to experts.

Space is limited register today!

Retreat Website

Schedule

The retreat will begin with gentle yoga at 5:00 p.m. followed by dinner on Saturday, with check-in any time after 2:00 p.m.; it will end at noon the following Saturday. We will alternate sessions of writing with sessions of yoga and meditation. All sessions are optional; if you choose, you may wish to go for a walk along the sandy beaches, continue your own personal writing, take a rest, or engage in some other activity during the retreat. This is your retreat. Do whatever nourishes your body, your spirit, and your own creative soul.

About the Teachers

Michele Gunderson

When we practice yoga with writing, we allow this physical tension to release – and with it, the voice of the editor begins to dissolve, losing its hold on our lives. What a relief it is to breathe and live more freely. Combining yoga with writing allows us to access our innate creativity. It gives us a sense of our own limitless possibilities. The practices of yoga and writing provide so many benefits. Many students have found dramatic changes in their health, their relationships, and their sense of well being. To find out what others are saying about how these practices have made a difference. When you work with me, your Language of Yoga teacher, at a retreat, in a weekly class, in a weekly or monthly teleclass, at a workshop, or in a private coaching session, I will be there to gently guide you, providing inspiration and support along the path. You will learn how to move in safe and beautiful ways through the proven methods of Iyengar yoga. In writing circles, you will discover that wonderful spark within, so that your own words begin to flow. You will learn how to tap into the very best within you. And when this creative spirit flows into the whole of your life, the possibilities are endless. As many students will attest, yoga and writing practices can enrich your self, your relationships – the whole of your world. Please feel free to browse through this website to learn more about how you can move from the graceful movement of yoga to the beauty of the written word.   Namaste, Michèle Gunderson languageofyoga.com