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Nataraj Yoga Retreat
Jungle Bay, Dominica
January 17-22, 2009
Explore new territories on your inner journey by joining us on an outer one – a Nataraj Yoga Retreat to Jungle Bay Resort & Spa, located on the Caribbean island of Dominica. Started by Samuel and Glenda Raphael, Jungle Bay Resort and Spa’s is an eco-resort with the following mission-- to enhance the natural environment and improve the livelihood of surrounding communities so that the region is improved in a sustainable way, while providing quality, comfortable nature-based experiences for our guests.
Joanne and Drew will alternate teaching classes in the morning and afternoon each day. Fill up the rest of your time with exploring, relaxing, enjoying a spa treatment or just being.
The costs below include 5 nights accommodation in private cottages, all meals, two scheduled group excursions, evening presentations (some nights), all room and sales taxes, and of course, yoga. Airfare, airport departure taxes and staff gratuity is not included.
Double Occupancy $1450 per person
Single Occupancy $1900 per person
To reserve your space, we will need a non-refundable deposit of $350 per person. Feel free to follow up with us by e-mail or phone 516-859-1542.
Find out more about Jungle Bay Resort at http://www.junglebaydominica.com.
Our first yoga retreat to Tulum in December of 2005 was an amazing experience. Here's how we recall that excursion:
Nataraj Yoga Retreat
- December 2005At Amansala in Tulum, Mexico
Recap and Pix
In early December 2005, we headed down to Tulum, Mexico with a band of intrepid, bright eyed yogis for what promised to be a week filled with something, we just weren’t sure what. Hurricane Wilma had her way with the Tulum area in late October, leaving extensive damage in her wake. In addition to the actual damage to the area, there was a logistical mess to contend with. Since the roof had been blown off of the yoga studio and dining area of our original destination, we needed to switch to a new one – enter Amansala, an “eco-chic” resort along the coast. Additionally, as flight after flight was being canceled or rescheduled, we needed to make constant changes to arrival times and travel from Cancun to Tulum-- a huge thanks to Erica at Amansala for her unbounded patience through the whole process!
By the time we were heading down, we had done the most yogic thing we could do – let go of any expectations and stay open to whatever came our way. Between early morning and late afternoon yoga, awe-inspiring sunrises that we could watch from our palapas (huts) within a stones throw of the water, excursions to the Mayan ruins and cenotes – freshwater springs formed within caves, lounging away parts of each day, group meals, especially dinner where we would linger and bond long after the last helping of grilled apples or bananas or papaya had been served and just plain checking out from the real world (or was it actually checking into the real world), suffice it to say that the experience far exceeded any expectations we would have set!
As for Amansala itself, even more than the stunning views, sounds of the ocean and simplicity, the people there were absolutely the most accommodating, easy going and selfless group of hosts we could have hoped for. Thanks to Matt, Samantha, Cecilia, Steve, Daisy and the rest of the Amansala staff!
Many of us associate yoga strictly with asana and meditation, but if you strip it down to its core, yoga is union, non-separation, connecting with everyone and everything around us. And in that respect, there was even more yoga practiced off the mat than on it.
Namaste,
Joanne and Drew
Namaste
I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells.
The place which is of love,
Of Light,
Of Peace,
And of Truth.
When you are in that place in you,
And I am in that place in me,
We are one.
Namaste
A special thanks to Rich Nerzig and Shari Thompson for their photo contributions.
Sun Celebrations with
Jasmine Tarkeshi - March 2006Recap and Pix
A big thank you to Jasmine for making the trip out east to share her practice, wisdom, energy and enthusiasm with our yoga community!
Going well beyond celebrating the sun, Jasmine’s workshop was a celebration of our connection to everyone and everything around us. A time to give pause and send goodwill to friends, loved ones, strangers and even the more challenging people in our lives (by the time it was over we were actually having a hard time remembering exactly who these challenging people were).
I CELEBRATE myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you…
With those words from Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself, Jasmine initiated an inspiring, jazzy and prana-filled practice. Her words were poetry, and with them Jasmine gave each of us permission, in fact, empowered us to celebrate ourselves heartily and without judgment. To make our practice a “Self-abration” of sorts-- a chance to bask in our perfections, find contentment with our imperfections and to play. To rise up out of the muck and mire as that shining, aromatic lotus, as an expression of the divine. Not just in our asana practice, but our life practice, as well!
The divine in us bows to the divine in you, Jasmine. Namaste.
Find out more about Jasmine and her wonderful studio at www.laughinglotus.com.
Click this link for a full copy of Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself (he was born in Long Island, by the way).
Mark Whitwell Yoga of Heart Workshop - May 2005
On Sunday May 22nd, 2005, Mark Whitwell came to share his teachings with us at Nataraj Yoga. In this wonderful workshop, Mark led us in an exploration of our breath and how to fully integrate it into our yoga practice. Most importantly, he sent a loud and clear message that your practice is your own and whether it's 5 minutes or 5 hours a day, it's still yoga and it's good enough. Special thanks to Louis Larocca and Lalita for helping to bring this event together! You can find out more about Mark at http://www.yogaofheart.com.
We are happy to share the following pictures with you. Thanks to Joseph Palma for his keen photographic eye and enabling us to share the photos, below.
