Summer Solstice Yoga + Chanting Rejuvenation Retreat

A Week of Practice, Connection, Ceremony + Community

June 15-21, 2025 / Yelapa, Mexico

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Prana Yoga • Chanting • Breathwork • Live Music • Meditation • Ceremony • Community

With Saul David Raye & Special Guests Brenda McMorrow & Prem Vidu

Dear Friends,

I invite you to join us in Yelapa, Mexico for our annual Summer Solstice Retreat in beautiful Yelapa, Mexico. Each year we gather as a community for a playful, nourishing and restoring week of healing yoga practices, chanting, music, dynamic meditations, connection, community, ceremony and the healing power of the nature. A week to reset and rejuvenate as we slow down to the rhythms of the elements and natural light. Reset the nervous system with deep practice and immersion into nature [yelapa has no cars]! Retreat is a time to become deeply present with ourselves, with each other, with nature, with life. Some highlights from the week are beautiful morning chanting + meditation sessions, a trip into the local fishing village, a powerful temescal fire ceremony and cacao ceremony. Evenings of satsangh and chanting as well as delicious home cooked meals, daily yoga practices and relaxing at the oceanside pool and smoothie bar enjoying the incredible ambiance and beauty of Yelapa.

Yelapa is an amazing place, just south of Puerto Vallarta accessible by only boat [on the mainland]. It is a stunningly beautiful place that is still a little wild, off the beaten path and full of elemental healing energy. We will be staying at the fabulous Pura Vida Eco retreat, one of my favorite places for rejuvenation and connecting back to the rhythms of nature and the elements.

A week of practice to support your inner creativity your heart expansion, relaxation and joy.

~ Daily Yoga, Meditation + Chanting Practice
~ Afternoon Transformation Sessions
~ Evening Chanting
~ Ecstatic Dance
~ Cacao Ceremony
~ Tesmescal / Traditional Sweat Lodge Fire Ceremony
~ Delicious Fresh Local Food [ Mostly Organic]
~ Smoothie Bar + Massages + Watsu
~ Relaxation by the oceanside infinity Pool
~ Visit to Local waterfall
& more …

Retreat Testimonials

When I said yes to the invitation to a Summer Solstice Yoga Retreat in Yelapa, Mexico little did I know that I was saying yes to six days of tropical paradise where I would re-meet my soul, discover its purpose and relearn to re-treat my SELF. Words are utterly inadequate to begin to describe the transformative journey that Saul (aka and pronounced“Soul – source of unconditional love”) David Ray took us on. In over 30 years of practicing yoga never have I experienced the depth of the wisdom Saul infused into my body, mind and soul. The spiritual bathing he showered us in over the week to nourish our beings as humans came only in part from yoga; other parts include the singing, chanting, meditation, dancing, hiking to a cascading waterfall in the middle of the forest we swam in, a private beach we boated to next to dancing dolphins, the ceremonies – Temescal / fire ceremony and the delectable cacoa one were just some of the highlights of this wonderful week! I am eternally grateful Saul and am counting the days to the next opportunity to journey with you and the “beauty-full” family/tribe who surround you to the next retreat!!!!
~ M. Soloway J.D., C.P.E

My wife and I attended the summer solstice retreat in Yelapa with Saul. The Pura Vida retreat center is beautiful and created the perfect setting for the unfolding which took place over the coming days. Saul shares an intuitive, heart centered energy practice that allows the individual to open in a way where the focus isn’t about how perfect you are doing an Asana, but how you embodying it, giving space to allow a deep personal experience. We began working with with our Energy/Chi/Prana on a daily basis with awareness and intention through movement, breath work and our voices… the result was softening and vulnerability with my brothers and sisters from all over the world and an overwhelming presence of LOVE As we return to our home I have the feeling of present connection to you all, only needing to follow the breath back to the energetic flow where we and dance and sing in the ONE….
Love and Gratitude, Galen Evans, Canada

About the Teachers:

Saul David Raye

Saul David Raye has been a student and teacher of yoga, mysticism and the healing arts for over 25 years.

Deeply influenced by his study and practice of Hatha Yoga, Bhakti, Tantra, Thai Massage, Pranic Healing, Shamanism and Music, Saul’s heart-centered approach to yoga and healing have influenced many students and teachers around the world. He is able to bring alive the ancient wisdom teachings for modern seekers and create a safe space for students to connect deeply with their own authentic power, spirit and truth.

For the last 3 decades, he has taught at conferences, festivals & retreats both in the USA & internationally and has presented alongside many luminaries in the Spiritual world. Saul is also a musician, sound artist and songwriter. His first album 10,000 Suns! Music for Healing, Peace & Awakening’ reached #3 on the iTunes world music charts.

He continues to write and perform conscious music that inspires peace, healing and connection. He has taught and performed at festivals and healing centers around the world and continues to share his work through online programs, workshops, sacred journeys + retreats & sacred music.

Brenda McMorrow

Brenda McMorrow is a Canadian Devotional Chant artist who is known for her unique and warmly embracing style of mantra medicine music, in which she blends elements of acoustic folk, world rhythms, and ancient Indian chants with a sweetly introspective singer-songwriter’s sensibility.

With Sanskrit Mantra and Kirtan (call and response singing) as the basis, Brenda weaves in the power of Latin American Medicine songs and her own inspiring English lyrics to create a healing and uplifting tapestry with the audience.

Yoga Journal describes Brenda as having “a knack for expressing the deepest realizations in the sparsest lyrics”. As spiritual teacher Ram Dass has said: “Brenda has a gift”, and her music has been touching people’s hearts worldwide.

https://brendamcmorrow.com

Prem Vidu

Prem Vidu is a sacred music artist whose journey began in a home filled with harmony, rhythm, and the magic of barbershop chords. Though he started singing at five, percussion soon became his heartbeat, leading him to explore global rhythms and earn a BFA in Percussion Performance & Jazz Studies.

His music carried him across the world—from Broadway’s Blast! in London to the steel pan rhythms of Trinidad & Tobago and beyond. Yet, it was the deeper call of music as prayer that truly transformed him, guiding him into devotion, shamanism, and plant medicine. In a sacred vision, he received a message that changed everything:

“There is no shorter umbilical to your soul than singing.” At 35, he returned to his voice, blending decades of musical experience with his spiritual path. Now, through The Band of Now, he leads kirtans that invite all to sing, heal, and awaken together.

https://premvidu.com

“…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!!
~ Christy D. ~ Yoga Teacher / Studio Owner Testimonial

“The retreat was fantastic. I made many friends and connected

in a way that I don’t always do. Being outdoors the whole

time was wonderful. I arrived at the retreat feeling physically

and emotionally knotted and spiritually depleted.

You helped me get unknotted and reconnected in 5 days You’re

an amazing guide to physical and spiritual healing.

You touched many people and helped them

during the retreat — including me. Thank you again.” ~ J. Burg

J. Burg ~ Educator, North Carolina

Cost / Exchange

Prices start at $1300 for the week [does not include airfare]

Price includes – Full program tuition, Accommodation, Food
All rooms have a private bathroom and beautiful views.
Accommodation Options Shared Rooms or Private Rooms / Simple, beautiful Open Air Room or A/C rooms

For a good views of the rooms you can visit – Pura Vida on Trip Advisor

Room Options:

Community Room / Shared – 3 to 4 people – Open Air / $1300 per person
Beautiful extra LARGE Open air room with large stand up loft. Private bathroom. Amazing view of Pacific Ocean.
Open Air / Shared Room [2 people} / $1700 per person
Open air room, 2 queen beds, spacious, private bathroom
A/C Double Room – $1750 person
Larger A/C rooms, 2 queen beds, ocean view, small balcony, Private bathroom
•• Single price if available – $2100
$1800 / Private Room – Open Air
Smaller Private open air room, queen bed.
Private A/C Room – $1800
Smaller Private A/C Room, queen bed, small balcony, private bathroom.

Meals

Healthy Vegetarian Food with Vegan, Egg or Fish Option / Gluten Free options available too
Food is fresh, delicious local food, mostly organic. Vegetrian, gluten free options and fish option 1 x day.

Sample Breakfast: fruit, granola, yogurt, toast, boiled eggs, coffee, tea.
Lunch: Salads, rice or quinoa, tortillas, beans, fish or eggs
Dinner: Fish or Tofu, veggies, rice, soup, tortillas
Smoothie Bar open on site – delicious smoothies, snacks, about $5 per smoothie

If you have any specific dietary needs or concerns, please contact us. Vegan,
All meals ~ 3 meals day / except 1 meal out at local restaurant ( about $20)

Retreat Registration

Please send us an email to check availability – [email protected]

If you are a new student, please tell us how you heard about the retreat.

Deposit ~ $500 to hold your space / Space is limited
Deposit is non-refundable. However it is transferable to another Ritam program with Saul if you are not able to attend.

You can choose a payment option through our payment portal.

Payment Portal Here

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!
Gaëlle L. ~ Yoga teacher

“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.”
Julie Todd

“This was my second year attending the solstice retreat with Saul and music family and soul family! Truly with all sincerity, it enriched my life so much each year. I could feel my Spirit filling from my feet through my head…. lightening up my body, heart and mind. I felt a true sense of Freedom, Joy, Love, Connection and Heart-Filling Healing while at the retreat and post-retreat. The deep connection to nature, community, music, FUN and support was truly magical and reminded me that we truly are all One… on our own path, yet somehow all walking alongside each other. The depth of support that was created in the container of love was exactly what I needed at the end of a very challenging year. THANK YOU, Saul, every musician, Yandara staff, every participant/soul friend and THANK YOU, GOD.” ~ Jill Duncan, Bhakti Warrior and Farmer :)

Jill Duncan ~ Yoga Teacher, Farmer :)