Akasha Ellis: New Years Bhakti Yoga Retreat

Celebrate the New Year and your “New Beginning” with the Adventure of a Lifetime
Yoga & Meditation Retreat Dec 27 2019 – Jan 3 2020 
This winter journey with us to the highlands of Guatemala and let the long winter months of darkness drift away as you play along the shores of Lake Atitlan, “the most beautiful lake in the world” as quoted by novelist Aldous Huxley when he visited Guatemala. The climate is fantastic. Warm during the day and cool at night. It’s the “closest thing to Eden on Earth” (Lonely Planet). 
Villa Sumaya at Lake Atitilan is an ideal setting to reflect, heal, rejuvenate and welcome in this New Year together.  We will fill our days with yoga and other activities like hiking, swimming, kayaking and massage. We will set our intention to heal ourselves, those around us, and mother earth.  Love to all, light to all, and peace to all
Open your heart and expand your confidence for the New Year with yoga for your body, mind, and soul as Akasha Ellis and friends present a wonderful Bhakti experience you’ll never forget.  Strengthen your body & mind practicing Ashtanga and Kundalini yoga and Open your heart and rejuvenate your soul through beautiful chants.  
 
Mornings will begin with a group Kundalini Sadhana (kirtan/mediation and kundalini yoga set) followed later by a led Ashtanga or Mysore session that will leave you feeling enriched and re-energized.                             During the day we will explore and enjoy the amenities of Villa Sumaya and local Mayan villages or just relax and enjoy your surroundings. The center offers a solar hot tub, sauna, pool, places to hike, a beautiful lake to swim, kayak or paddle-board and villages to explore on a nice day trip by foot or by boat. You will have access to a broad range of talented and wonderful healers. Their expertise includes intuitive energy healing, reiki, massage, tarot reading, feldenkrais, ayurveda and more. There are also plenty of serene places to nap, relax or read a book. 
Most afternoons we will meet once again to practice a restorative kundalini set, guided meditation, or explore Somatic Yoga as taught by Thomas Hanna. The evening session will leave your muscles relaxed, hearts open and mind and body ready for a restful night.
This retreat is open to all levels. No experience is necessary and we typically have a wide range of experience levels from beginner to teacher to lifetime practioner. 
More about Akasha: Akasha became a student of the renowned master teacher of Kundalini yoga, Yogi Bhajan, at the age of 11. In his twenties, while living and working in India, Akasha began studying Ashtanga yoga with Pattabhi Joi’s nephew, Vishwanath.  Akasha currently offers classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher training all over the world. He is owner of Birmingham Yoga studio. Akasha believes “a teacher must teach what they know” and this retreat will reflect his personal approach and will include the traditions of Kundalini, classical Ashtanga and Somatic Yoga for a heart-centered experience that will leave the student toned, stretched, centered and open, from the inside out. To learn more about this retreat email akashaellis@gmail.com. To learn more about Akasha’s background click here Scheduled Activities: This is a tentative schedule. All sessions are optional. Morning: 5:00 – 7:30 am Morning sadhana (kundalini yoga, pranayama and meditation/chanting) 8:30 – 9:30 am Breakfast 10:30 – 12:30 pm Led Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow Afternoon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch 1:30 – 4:30 pm Free timeLate Afternoons and Evening:5:00 – 6:00 pm Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Somatics 6:30 – 7:30 pm Dinner
 
We will also schedule at least one half day excursion and have the opportunity to visit some of the local villages in the area. There are 16 villages mostly accessible by boat. Registration and Fees:                                                                                                                                                          Space is limited and we expect to sell out! In order to reserve, please pay 50% deposit. 
Rates 2019-2020:

Tier 1 Pricing – Save $200 if deposit is paid before Jun 1
Tier 2 Pricing – Save $100 if deposit is paid before Sept 1

After Sept 1, prices as follows:

Triple $1,350.00
Double $1,475.00
Private single rooms $2,075-$3,200 (subject to availability)

Each room will be assigned based upon registration on a “first come” basis.  You can request your roommate or one will be assigned.                                                                                                                                                                  Payment options: Pay in full or pay in two installments.  First installment due at registration and remaining balance is due Oct 1. We will continue to accept reservations until all rooms are full, however if registering after Oct 1 full payment is due upon registration.
Price includes:

Lodging for 8 days and 7 nights.
3 gourmet vegetarian meals a day (chicken and fish available at additional charge)
All yoga classes
Unlimited tea and coffee service
Filtered water

Our retreat begins after 3pm Dec 27 with dinner and ends Jan 3 mid morning after breakfast.
Passports are required for travel to Guatemala from the US. A visa is not required.