Dates
June 16 – 22, 2023
The Alchemy of Fire & Water ~ Creativity, Rejuvenation & Expansion Retreat
Celebrate the Solstice & Renew your Life force with a inspiring and healing week of Yoga Practice, Chanting, Breathwork, Ceremony, Community in the natural beauty and power of Yelapa, Mexico!
with Saul David Raye & Special Guests
June 16 – 22, 2024
SUMMER SOLSTICE RETREAT & GATHERING
3rd Annual Summer Solstice RetreatThe Alchemy of Fire & Water ~ Creativity, Rejuvenation & Expansion Retreat!
Celebrate the Summer Solstice in Yelapa, Mexico!
June 16 – 22, 2024
Hello Friends ~ I invite you to join me for a very special summer solstice retreat as we return to the magical land of ‘Yelapa’, where the jungle meets the sea in Mexico. This is our second summer solstice and 5th retreat in Yelapa, we love it so much here. Yelapa is rare gem, a small picturesque cove & fishing village at the southern most end of the Puerto Vallarta Bay The retreats have been such a wonderful experience, people coming from many places, backgrounds and walks of life and practicing together. The shared practices of yoga, meditation, breathwork, music, ceremony and community together create a powerful space for healing & transformation. So I’m very excited to host this summer solstice gathering, if you are a returning student, you may join via deposit and that will save your space. If are a new student, meaning you haven’t done a program with me before, please give me a short email just introducing yourself.
Please watch this beautiful video on Yelapa and the retreat center –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGVoJYt_4UU
Please see some of our retreat testimonials further down on the page. If you would like more info please email to [email protected]
Pura Vida Pool + Ocean
Sunrise Colors over the Pacific
Morning Chanting
“…sometimes life brings us experiences that change our body, mind & soul for the rest of our lives!! things happen within us that have no words to describe them! the healing, self-love growth and heart-expanding community connection were beyond magical and anything i could have ever imagined! i could not be any more grateful for this experience i had with saul and all the beautiful souls that i met at yandara! If you are thinking of coming, think no more…the answer is YES!!”
“What a week! To come to this retreat was not an easy decision for me, as I am in sorts, a single parent with a kid, pets, a business, and lots of plants to take care of. Not mentioning cash-flow is not on my side right now. With all of this, I am so grateful I followed my gut and heart. I really knew no one personally; not even Saul, but I had taken a few classes online and that was enough for me to take the decision to go to this retreat. I arrived there exhausted from my personal life, burned out from my work, depressed from the world situation, and feeling completely alone after two years of the pandemic. Just one week shared with like-minded people, living in nature with the 5 elements, and full days of meditation, pranayama, yoga, art and creativity, plus Kirtan, was very healing and brought hope and so much joy! I am now living with a heart full, and hope to share the love further, to everyone we meet. Did I mention we had a lot of fun? Jokes, kidding around, loosening up, good music, chanting our heart out, and dancing. What a blessing! This short week has given me hope again for a better world. Love, acceptance (as we are, with all of our baggages and short comings), gratitude for mother earth and the 5 elements, bring us all back home. This was probably one of the most powerful weeks I have ever lived. Thank you, thank you!”
“This was truly a beautiful experience and have found an opening in my self through it all. At moments I felt the energy of the land vibrating through me. My mind was calm & my body more spacious. The Om Tare mantra touched a part of me on Friday and I recognized it is important for my healing, along with medicine Buddha and all of the others! The return trip home has provided me with many opportunities to return to my heart home. Mantra, breathing & chanting has been sooo helpful . I’ve been able to to observe myself, my reactions & stories & to respond with a more open heart.”
Retreat Information
The Alchemy of Fire & WATER ~ Creativity, Rejuvenation & Expansion Retreat
The summer solstice is a powerful time to renew and deepen our life practice. A time to celebrate life, align with the seasonal rhythms and the peak of light. During this inspiring and healing week, we will focus on practices that support the elements and the specific alchemy of fire and water. Fire, representing the force of light, creativity and passion and water, representing flow, emotion, and resilience. The other elements will, of course be present, but play a supporting role to this week as we focus on the beautiful alchemy of fire and water. Daily yoga, meditation, lots of chanting, snorkeling, relaxation by the pool, trip to the waterfall, delicious food, a powerful Temescal fire sweat lodge ceremony and the raw beauty of Yelapa will make this an amazing summer solstice week.
The program:
Daily Practice Sessions
• Sacred Sunrise Breathwork, Meditation + Chanting
• Morning Yoga + Pranayama Practice for health, vitality and Longevity
• Afternoon Deep Relaxation + Restorative & Yin Yoga Practice + Om Chant
• Daily Chanting + Kirtan/ Guidance in Mantras + Chanting
• Evening Chanting + Music • Satsangh / Dharma Reflections + Teachings, Exercises to support Creativity, Passion + Purpose + LOVE
And …
Through the Week
• Traditional Temescal Sweat lodge Ceremony
• Excursions to waterfall, Boatride to a deserted beach; snorkeling + picnic lunch
• Cacao Ceremony • Oceanside Infinity Pool + Hot Tub + Smoothie Bar
• Soul Art Sessions • Personal Healing sessions; Massage, Watsu, Emotional Release work
• Free time to rest, swim, snorkel …
Sample Daily Schedule:
6:30 am Coffee / Tea
7:00 am Sunrise Meditation & Breathwork
8:15 am – Light Breakfast Fruit + Granola + Yogurt + Toast
10:00 Yoga Practice
12:00 pm Hearty Lunch
Afternoon free time / healing sessions / Excursions
5:30 Afternoon Session
7 pm Dinner
8:30 evening program, chanting, music, stargazing Sleep to the sound of the ocean and jungle :)
Accommodations + Prices:
Yelapa Rooms * All rooms are unique, beautiful and well appointed. Very comfortable. See website for pictures. * Open air – means non enclosed and air flows though. There is privacy and secure private door, and open to the ocean or jungle view. * There are mosquito nets in every room * Enclosed rooms with AC – there are a few rooms that are enclosed ( no open air) and have AC. * All rooms have private bathroom except room 15 and bathroom is right outside.
* For shared rooms, you can register with a friend or we will match you with a new friend.
Accommodation Options:
Option 1) $1350 per person
Shared Space Room 1 This is a big beautiful room with 4 beds in it. It has a bathroom and amazing views. Open air with mosquito nets.
Option 2) $1650 per person for double / $1950 for Single
Open Air – These are my favorite:) OCEAN VIEW / Open Air Rooms Open Air Rooms with Private Bathroom + Ocean View. The rooms are
Open air with mosquito nets, they are very private and have a safe in the room. 1 or 2 queen beds in each room. Ideal for Single or a Couple or Friends to share.
Option 3) $1750 Double Occupancy per person / $2050 for Single {if Available}
Private Enclosed Rooms with A/C + Private Bathroom & Ocean View
Enclosed Rooms with Private Bathroom + Ocean View or partial ocean view and A/C 2 types Available Larger Rooms – 2 queen beds in each room.
Private Single A/C Rooms ( 17 + 18 ) $1750 Single only
These rooms are closest to the ocean, they are enclosed, have a private patio overlooking the water and have a/c but are small. Good for One person for private space.
Option 4 – $1350 Double Occupancy
Open Air Jungle View with Private Bathroom ( Partial Ocean View)
Spacious Room with 2 queen beds, and private bathroom, jungle view. Partial Ocean View.
Open Air Room with Hammock & View :)
Private A/C Room
Open Air Room w/ hammock + View
About Yelapa
About Yelapa: The name “Yelapa” is believed to derive from an old Native American word meaning “where two rivers meet the sea.” This seaside town is a quiet fishing village that makes up one of the lushest bio-regions in the world. Yelapa is an incredible secluded town near Puerto Vallarta, complete with waterfalls, jungles, and some of the best food in the region and considered one of the safest places in mexico. There are no roads, no cars, and no ATMs, and infrastructure is minimal. It’s like a beach community frozen in time, and that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. The community was founded by four families about 150 years ago. Today, it remains one of the few communities on Earth that’s still owned, inhabited, and maintained by the original residents and their descendants. Only about 1,500 people call Yelapa home, and it remains unsullied. more info on yelapa – here
What to do in Yelapa: Besides being on a fantastic yoga retreat, there are many activities like snorkeling, waterfalls, hiking and the old cobblestone streets of Yelapa town to explore. The retreat center has a salt water swimming pool, hot tub, infrared sauna, various healing modalities and plenty of places to relax and rejuvenate. Food Starting with Dinner on June 16th through Breakfast on June 22nd all meals are covered except for 2 dinners in town. The food at the retreat center is mostly organic, delicious vegetarian food with a options for fish each day. Plenty of fruit with organic coffee and tea available through the day. The dinners in town are a wonderful evening out at some of the local restaurants. There is also a poolside fresh smoothie bar that has organic treats open each day and a small gift shop with crafts from around mexico. This shop supports artists in Mexico.
Getting There: • Short flight to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) – Fly into PVR • 1 hour water taxi ride to Yelapa • We will have someone guiding and supporting each step of the journey.
Payment & Travel Info
Payment info – Please read
To reserve a space you can pay your deposit at the Ritam Payment Portal – Here
Deposits:
- Deposit is $600 to hold your space.
- Deposit is non refundable.
- 75% of deposit is transferable to another program with us.
Cancellations:
- If you have to cancel for any reason we will work with each person individually.
- Due to our current global situation we will work with everyone to support the best outcome.
Payment:
- No Fee
Zelle – [email protected]
Venmo – @soulnadi / saul david raye ( as friends)
Wire Transfer – email for details - 3% Fee
Paypal – [email protected]
Credit Card – please email for cc arrangments
Travel Info – Please read
Passport – You will need a valid passport with 6 months validity to fly to Mexico. For many countries no visa is needed, you will receive one on arrival, usually up to 6 months. PLEASE check to make sure – https://www.visatraveler.com/visa-guides/mexico-visa-requirements/
Arrival – Fly into Puerto Vallarta ( PVR) ! It is a fairly short flight from many US cities. We recommend Google flights, Sky Scanner, Southwest and Kayak, but there are many to find good tickets on.
Getting to Yelapa
• we will help coordinate everyone’s arrival and water taxi timing. Do you want to leave enough time so that you are not rushing.
After arriving at PVR airport, you will take a taxi (car) to either of 2 places to take a water taxi boat to Yelapa. Depending on Bible time we may be able to coordinate a shared taxi with other participants. The fee is about $25 to $40 depending on which pier you go to.
If share a taxi the fee will be less.
After you collect your luggage go to the authorized taxi window, there are three of them just before you exit the airport. There you will prepay get a receipt and go outside and get in the line for your taxi. This is also where you will meet anyone that you will be sharing a ride with.
Los Muertos Beach Pier
This is the shortest drive, it takes about 25 minutes to get the pier and then a 1 hour boat ride to Yelapa. This is a slightly busy area there are some nice restaurants arrive for your water taxi a half an hour before you are scheduled to go go onto the pier and you can buy a ticket. It is about $10 each way or 200 pesos per person.
*The last boat to yell Lapa leaves at 5 PM, so you need to be at the pier by 4:45 PM at the latest! If your plane gets in at a later time in, then you will go to Boca de Tomatlan, but do not worry we will help you coordinate. It’s easy.
Boca de Tomatlan Pier
This is a cute little fishing and tourist village about 40 minutes south of the airport. There are a few nice restaurants you can sit and have a drink or something to eat. It is a 30 minute water taxi ride from here to Yelapa.
*There is a 6 PM boat and also the last one leaving at 6:45 PM to Yelapa.
* Arriving in Yelapa we are the last stop – there are 3 or 4 stops in Yelapa. Tell the Captain, you want to get off at ‘Playa Isabel’. We will have someone there to help you with your bags and it is a short walk to the retreat center. Do not get off at the first stop, the main beach or the little pier, make sure Playa Isabel!
Water Taxi Schedule – https://www.go2yelapa.com/eng/transport.html
Weather – Weather in June in Yelapa is usually in the 80’s warm and days and warm nights. There is good sun and lots of shade available. Yelapa is beautiful.
Travel Restrictions – Currently there are no covid travel requirements or restrictions for Mexico or returning to the USA.
PLEASE CONTACT FOR MORE DETAILS:
Text for quicker response to 323.418.2862
Email – [email protected]
Retreat Registration
To Register for the Retreat:
• Deposit is $600 to hold your space ( deposit nonrefundable, but is transferable to another retreat or program) ~ Balance Due by June 6, 2023
• If you have done a program with Saul previouly, you can just send a deposit of $600 – Please specify – ‘Summer Solstice Retreat’ If you have not done a program with Saul previously, please send us an email and just introduce yourself.
If you have any questions, please send us an email [email protected]
Payments / No Fee – Zelle, Venmo ( Friends & Family), Wire Transfer
ZELLE – [email protected] – no fee
Venmo – @soulnadi – no fee if sent as friends
Wire Transfer – Email for details – [email protected]
Payments – + 3% Fee
Paypal [email protected] – Please add 3% fee
Credit Card Payment – Please email to arrange credit card payment + 3% fee
The fees are incurred by us using those platforms. Thank you.
