Wondering about our Maui Yoga Retreat?

Here's a video of Halli and Marisa talking a little about what to expect in our classes in Maui next month, what's important to us and what we hope everyone will gain...

Registration NOW OPEN for our annual Hot Spring/New Year retreat!

It's been a while.... we've missed you!  We have been busy making plans for our annual new year retreat in Truth or Consequences, NM.  There will be a few small changes this year that we hope will enhance your experience of relaxation and renewal, but one thing that won't make much of change this year is our pricing :-)

We do hope you will join us to Breathe New Life Into Your Life, January 3-5, 2014.  Visit (breathenewlifeintoyourlife.blogspot.com) to register for this coming year's retreat.  Space is EXTREMELY limited, so we recommend registering as soon as possible if you plan to attend.

What is it like to attend a Santosha Yoga Retreat?

Here's what Jon Cottin of Albuquerque, NM says (he's been on all but 1 of our retreats!)...


"Halli and Marisa have fashioned the best retreats I  ever experienced.   Having attended a large number of corporate gatherings designed to enhance morale or teach people to adhere to the company strategy and tactics, the Santosha retreats stand out to me as role models for the future.  Their teaching styles are relaxed and engaging.  They organize the programs offfered around the student-participants.  No question gets sloughed off or go unaswered.  The logistics planning behind each event makes every retreat run seamlessly.  They have thoroughly researched each of the terrific locations chosen for our venues.  No detail is overlooked; in many cases, the retreat site is selected because of its nearby cultural attractions: beaches, mountains, national parks -- they're all in the Santosha inventory, and the support staff are well-drilled in delivering first-class service to everyone of us.   These women have transformed the teaching of yoga from what anyone can pick up at the local gym into a learning and living experience."


Thanks, Jon!  This is truly what we strive for in every retreat we plan!  - Halli and Marisa

Simple Presence: Tips from Halli

The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.  ~Albert Einstein 

    

An unexamined past can keep us stuck in patterns of thinking and reactive behavior that limits the way we experience life. The future possesses a seductive lure that things will be better "if only..." and tempts us out of taking action that could change our life for the better. The present is the place of what is, where we can be in touch with our bodies, our thoughts, and the Truth of our unfolding experience. Dwelling in the present builds a platform for creation and teaches us how to access the sweetness of what life is offering, no matter how it appears.     

   

Try these four simple tips for cultivating present-moment awareness:  

• Deepen your breath.  Recognize as often as possible how deeply you are breathing.  Especially when you become aware of a feeling of stress, deliberately deepen your breath.  Deep breathing soothes the nervous system and can arrest negative thinking.
• Witness your life.  Recognize when you have become lost in your thoughts and pull back to observe what you were just thinking. Be curious. Over time, you will notice habitual patterns of thinking. Consider the possibility of changing your mind.  
• Limit multi-tasking.   When we are doing more    than one thing at a time, our minds literally become fragmented and then we are not fully present for any singular task. As much as possible, notice when you are multi-tasking, choose one task to focus on at a   time, and experience the wonder of focused attention.
• Tune into your senses.  When you find yourself idle, such as sitting at a stoplight or standing in line, notice the sounds, the smells, the sights, the physical feelings present in your body. There is always something worthwhile to notice and appreciate. 

For more on how present-moment awareness can enrich your life, contact Halli for a free 30-minute consultation for Self-Actualization Coaching at trueself@trueselfwellness.com or call(505) 249-4981.

Meditation with Halli

Curious about meditation, want to experience more?  Try this short practice with Halli - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsh1Ij1Gpwc

Halli has been an avid meditator for many years - it helps bring greater peace, clarity and discipline to her life.  We always include meditation in our retreat practices as it also helps us to integrate new experiences, helping our bodies and minds to remember, and even crave, the yoga, the breath and the new perspective on ourselves and the world that we find during retreat.  Enjoy and let us know what you think!