Embodied Heart - Meditation, Yoga - A Vacation Retreat
with Melissa Berry Appleton & Suniti Dernovsek
January 22-29, 2022
REGISTRATION
$2090-$2590
This is Melissa & Suniti's second retreat at Ahki. There was so much creativity and belly laughter the first time, they just had to come together again.
Join Melissa and Suniti on a vacation retreat in Costa Rica, where we will seek to awaken and investigate the span of the heart and elemental body. Together we will examine what it’s like to feel and get close to our own experience. We will do so by engaging in a series of practices that encourage us to enter a dialogue with our bodies. Through movement and stillness, creativity and form, we will explore those places where we experience freedom. We will also guide our attention to those places that get parked, stuck or rigid, inviting greater openness and elasticity.
The incredible landscape that envelops Ahki Retreat Center in Nosara has a beautiful way of penetrating and awakening the human senses. The gentle wind, slow pace, kind people, warm sun, lapping ocean, fresh fruit and nutritious food encourage us to enter an enlivened state of perception and connection.
Breaking the regular patterns of daily life with a week of self-care practices enables us to Inhabit a Body and stretch our hearts in a fully embodied way. The renewal such practices offer supports our return home, allowing us to inhabit ourselves more fully and to enter a deeper mode of relation that includes all of life.
Melissa and Suniti
began working together when they led the first annual ENSO Zen Hike with Michael Stone in 2017. A new Dharma-Sister friendship was found and they continue to explore working together in varying forms.
Inclusivity
Melissa and Suniti are dedicated to continuously work towards inclusivity. We take care to build safety in the best way possible. This retreat welcomes race, religious and gender diversity. Please reach out to discuss if you have questions.
Accommodations AHKí RETREAT is a tranquil and enchanting facility nestled in 5.5 mountain acres, located near the Pacific coast, in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica and has been named one of five ‘Blue Zones’—where people are said to be healthiest and happiest. Imbued with lush green mountainsides, blue ocean waters and plentiful sunshine. As remote as AHKí feels, it is only minutes away from beaches, kayaking, horseback riding, surfing, zip-lining, nature hikes, shopping, restaurants and more. AHKí is a truly sacred space - built specifically according to the ancient science of Vastu Shastra, “the yoga of space”, invoking peace, wellness and harmony - with the environment as well as within one’s self. All the structures are built oriented in conjunction with the 9 directions, 5 elements, the earth’s vibrational grid, and the planetary energies. Nestled amongst the trees along a mountain ridge, are two beautiful and spacious cabinas with a total of 6 large guest rooms. The heads of all the beds are positioned to the south or east, a Vastu principle that helps to induce a restful night’s sleep. All rooms are decorated with handcrafted Costa Rican hardwood furniture made by local artisans. Rooms have large ceiling fans, large windows and doors, and plenty of overhead ventilation for optimal airflow. Each room has a private bath with a large unique, indoor/outdoor hot water shower, and patio decks that command stellar views of the mountains and valleys. Triple, double, and single occupancy are available.
The Benefit
This retreat will allow you to unplug from your stresses and responsibilities, from electronics and newsfeeds, and remember what is really important to you. You will get the time you need for introspection so that you can reset and come home to yourself. You’ll go deeper into your yoga and mindfulness practice and learn to create new habits. You will be awe-inspired by experiencing one of the most beautiful places on earth. You’ll also be part of an open and inclusive community of fellow spiritual seekers.
