ALL THINGS CHANGE WHEN WE DO-
Kukei
August is a great time to let the last warm rays of summer soak deep into your bones. Let’s make the most of this transition from summer to fall by taking some “ME” time. Taking time for your self is not self-indulgent, actually it restores you so you can be your best self for others.
When you change your thoughts or feelings to excited, happy, fulfilled and peaceful ones the people, places and things around you change too and that creates situations that are aligned with the excited, happy, fulfilled, and peaceful YOU. That then generates more excitement, happiness, fulfillment and peace.
You can see why HOW YOU FEEL is really important. Wayne Dyer says "NOTHING is as important than that you FEEL GOOD"!!! Everything that comes to you is in direct relationship to this inner energy so.. why not stop for 5 minutes and give yourself a reward for being you! This time does not need to be a week-long retreat or a day long seminar or anything out of the ordinary. It is taking your normal ordinary day to do what you love or what makes you smile. As Mary Oliver says, "Let the soft animal of the body love what it loves." First thing in the morning I invite the sun to fill my body as I breathe in the warm light. Sunlight and fresh air are health-giving and uplifting and what's more they are completely FREE!! Follow the rest of the day with quickie small indulgences that remind you you are special. They can change your focus instantly from blah to Yee-ha! A dab of rose oil on your heart chakra, whipped cream in your coffee, wildflowers for your bedside table (get them quick), a glance of a photo of your loved ones, the Victory pose in the bathroom mirror, all are simple ways to invoke the inner smile.
Take time to gather your repertoire of ME treats this month, just as the squirrels are gathering nuts. By the time winter rolls around your good energy factory will be in full production. Not only will the vitality and serenity within yourself keep you healthy it will rub off on those around you. A little selfishness can be the most generous act of all!
We have a few retreats this fall if you need some playtime or a chance to restore your core
We have 5 retreats this fall to help you get back into the Groove.
1. Vermont Adventure Retreat, Sept 13-18th
2. Colorado Horse Adventure Retreat, Sept 28-Oct 2nd
3. Toscana Creativa Painting Retreat in Tuscany, Sept 25-Oct 2nd
4. Co Ed Wine Country Cycling Adventure, California, Oct 18-23rd
5. Mexico Yoga retreat in Maya Tulum, October 31-Nov 7th
6. Venus de Miles “Women’s Only” bike ride, Aug 30th
Vermont Adventure Retreat
Stowe Vermont
September 13-18, 2009
Cost $1,695
Vermont may just be the most magical place in the world to celebrate the Autumn season, and we have crafted the perfect retreat to restore your core- and build your energy from the deep well of pure nature. Come take advantage before winter sets in!
This is an adventure-filled retreat suited to all ability-levels, and includes swimming in fresh-water lakes, mountain-biking, hiking, trail running, kayaking, yoga, wine tasting (and Ben & Jerry’s, too, of course) as well as deep relaxation.
Come experience the profoundly restorative and rejuvenating effects of daily yoga on the swimming dock or the sunny lawn, dance sessions in the lodge’s great-room, or just relaxing in a rocking chair with a good book and listen to the murmur of a nearby stream.
Our home for the week is the exclusive Trout Club, a historic, private fishing club with world-class, healthful cuisine and acclaimed hospitality. The rooms are basic but the charm is outrageous.
Hand-hewn beams and rustic fieldstone, uncomplicated by TV’s and other disruptions of natural rhythm, you will find that nothing is missing.
We will witness the world-reknowned spectacle of the colors 
changing to brilliant reds, oranges and golds in the forests on our daily outdoor adventures, whether on land or water.
We provide expert guidance and instruction in all activities, suited
to all ability and experience levels, in a supportive, non-competitive
environment. So no matter if you are a complete newcomer to
mountain-bikes, yoga, kayaks, or anything else, or if you are a
seasoned pro at all of them, we will have staff to guide you in the
company of others of your ability. Take time for yourself, and enjoy
the company of new friends. Come play with us at the Trout Club in
Vermont!
Click here to learn more.
Fall Toscana Creativa Painting Retreat
Trequanda (Tuscany), Italy
September 25- October 2, 2009
Cost $3,000 (airfare not included)
Our summer Creative Retreat in Tuscany was so much fun that we’ve added another incredible week of painting, yoga, and enjoying “la dolce vita”-with a cultural flair, for this fall season!
Come celebrate this magical time in Italy with us, where the world is bathed in honey-colored light and the wine harvest is in full swing.
Imagine… Medieval villages, art cities, luscious countryside,
delicious food--- and we absorb it through all five senses. Art-making and art history; cooking class, wine and olive-oil tasting; art for the soul: ancient abbeys, gregorian chants; rejuvenation for the body: yoga every morning, and time for walks or runs on the trails, or lounging by the pool. Fabulous food, laughing and enjoying La Dolce Vita--the sweet life!
Immersed in the most beautiful landscape in the heart of Tuscany, we will paint each day, learning time-honored, plein-air techniques in oils, watercolor, journaling and sketching. Full instruction is
offered and this retreat is suitable for all levels of artists- from
beginner to the accomplished painter seeking a week of magnificent inspiration and opportunity.
Stretch your creative legs in this motherlode of art—and emerge with wings! We will have you painting freely and joyfully, and keeping a beautiful, personal journal of your retreat, with exercises designed to unleash your creative spark, techniques to get you started, all in a supportive, individualized environment.
This retreat will be a week-long celebration of art and the art of
living, Tuscan-style. We will lodge at the beautiful villa of an
ancient wine-estate in the heart of the most magical area of Tuscany,
with endless painting inspiration all around. Excursions to sketch and explore in neighboring villages including Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano, and a full day in stunning Siena, with a native
art-historian.
Come for art-making, yoga, ancient abbeys, Renaissance masterpieces,
the food, the wine…for the unequalled atmosphere of Tuscany! And
return with a map of your own imagination, a bundle of paintings, new insight into your heart’s desire, and an experience to treasure!
Space is limited at this retreat to 7 participants in order to offer
the finest, personalized instruction.
• Price does not include airfare.
Click here to learn more
Women’s Quest Horse Adventure
Gold Lake Resort
Ward, Colorado
September 25- October 2, 2009
Cost $1,800
Yee Haw!! If you have ever dreamed of riding horses in the Rocky Mountains, grab your hat and join us this Fall for the Fall colors on our tenth annual WQ Horse Adventure. This is the real deal, where we all get to be Cowgirls for a week, plus with plenty of pampering!! We'll ride each day in the heart of the Rocky Mountains; along streams, through high alpine forests with golden aspen trees and meadows full of late blooming wildflowers. You'll also learn natural horsemanship each day to help you become a partner with your horse plus one on one time with your horse called Horse Talk.
Horse Talk adds a brand new dimension to our Horse Adventure. You will be guided with our special techniques to understand a message meant just for you. Through sensitive exercises with your horse you will gain a broader understanding of your heart’s desire and the horse’s remedy for how you might manifest it.
We'll top off each day with yoga, spa treatments, a well deserved soak in the hot tubs overlooking Gold Lake and gourmet meals. It does not get much better than this!
Base Camp for this trip is the exclusive Gold Lake Resort in Ward Colorado. We will be staying at this eco-friendly lodge with thousands of acres of raw Colorado right out your door. We will ride the horses in the Arapahoe National Forest and the James Peak Wilderness area. This lesser-known wilderness in the high country has unpopulated basins with pristine waterfalls, blankets of wildflowers and fabulous trout-filled streams. In addition to your WQ staff we will be accompanied on our adventure by experienced guides from the stables to make each day a unique and inspiring adventure.
If you have never ridden or are an experienced rider, come out to Colorado this Fall and experience the inspiring grandeur of horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains. This is one of the great adventures you've promised yourself.
Still on the fence? Ask yourself what Annie Oakley would do.
Click here to learn more.
Co Ed Wine Country Cycling Adventure
Healdsburg, California
October 18-23, 2009
Cost $1,695
Come join us to celebrate fall wine harvest and the art of living in gorgeous Sonoma County wine country!
We’ll combine the outdoor adventures of cycling, hiking and running (optional) in the beautiful Sonoma Valley with the heavenly delights of the local food and wine, plus grounding adventures for the soul, like daily yoga which will make this trip an experience you will never forget.
A well-deserved reward for your senses, this retreat offers you a relaxing and rejuvenating time that will enliven your body, mind and spirit and renew your zest for the art of living.
Here are just a few treats we have in store for you at the Wine Country Retreat:
*Incredible cycling along the quiet, winding, backroads of the beautiful Sonoma, Alexander and Russian River valleys-- we will see it all from spectacular views of the ocean to ancient redwood forests, and the prize-winning Sonoma vineyards.
*Hiking along scenic trails through wildflowers in the richness of this unspoiled corner of California. The trails are also wonderful for runners, so bring your shoes if you like trail hiking or running
*Daily yoga to help you Relax, Strengthen, and Center
* Wine tasting at 3 of the vineyards
* Fun Afternoon of shopping, or wine and olive oil tasting on the Healdsburg Town Square
*Combine physical, mindful and spirit-filled activities to rejuvenate and energize your entire being. Women’s Quest offers expert instruction in all activities, for people of all athletic abilities with our world-class, fun-loving staff. Come feast your senses in the California Wine Country with us this Fall.
Energize your body and refresh your spirit! Click here to learn more.
Mexico Yoga Retreat
Maya Tulum, Mexico
October 31-November 7, 2009
Cost $2,200
The ultimate quest is the pursuit of serenity and balance. The Women’s Quest Mexico Yoga retreat is the antidote for an overly-busy mind and the fast pace of the world. Relax, renew, and revitalize on all levels: body, mind, and spirit. Connect to your true nature and awaken your senses with the crystal-clear ocean, fresh healthy food, spa treatments and YOGA.
The complete Women’s Quest program at Maya Tulum is crafted to engage joy and clarity in both our outer lives and our internal world. With a focus on yoga, we will experience the genuine changes that occur when dedicating a week to practice—working progressively to melt areas of chronic tension and develop strength and alignment. In addition to the physical practice of the yoga, classes will incorporate yoga philosophy, discussion, personal reflection (journaling, creative exploration), and sharing.
In addition to yoga, we will journey to the jungle, experience the bliss of floating down a fresh water canal, steam out impurities in an ancient Mayan ritual, and also have time to experience spa treatments and the lovely beach at Maya Tulum.
This retreat, designed for women of ALL AGES, will offer a solid foundation in yoga—for the beginning student as well as experienced yoginis. Classes will challenge and nurture the body to release tension, gain flexibility, and learn to move from core strength. Discover a potent practice style that is lighthearted, strengthening, and creative--enabling you to deepen into stillness.
This retreat is led by Gretchen Spiro— a vibrant teacher known for her ability to motivate with genuine compassion, humor, poetic inspirations, and depth of calm. Each participant will receive personal attention to support alignment in the postures, and also techniques for working with the mind and emotions to cultivate a yogic perspective. A primary focus will be on developing a home practice so that each woman has the tools to continue yoga practice at home!
Maya Tulum is a renowned eco-resort, located on the beach of the Rivera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is the ultimate in simple luxury. Check out their website for a full tour.
It is an amazing retreat—true bliss for the body, mind and soul. Click on this link to the Women’s Quest website for full information, prices, and FAQ’s.
Chef Julia Child says, "It's a shame to be caught up in something that does not absolutely make you tremble with joy." This retreat will nurture joy in the body--from the sand on your toes to the length you will discover in your hamstrings!
Venus de Miles “Women’s Only” Bike Ride
Prospect New Town, 700 Tenacity Drive, Longmont, CO 80504
August 30, 2009
$79 before 8/26
$100 at event
Pedal Forward. Give back.
Colorado’s only all-women’s bike ride is back for its second year. With courses for every skill level, it’s the perfect ride whether your
bike collects sponsorship stickers or cobwebs. Select the 65-, 50-, or 35-mile course and put your mettle to the pedal.
After the ride, the celebration continues with a very unique festival featuring a “Wellness Station” with acupuncture, yoga, chiropractic and mini spa treatments, as well as a, New Belgium beer, a healthy lunch, live music and fun extras to entertain the whole family.
The ride is presented by and directly supports Greenhouse Scholars, a non-profit organization that supports high-performing, under-resourced college students. We’d love to have you join us as we try and beat the $35,000 we raised for Greenhouse Scholars last year. If you can’t ride, we’re always looking for enthusiastic volunteers. To sign up to ride or to volunteer, we invite you to visit www.venusdemiles.com today!
As kids we spent our summertime hours daydreaming, playing, running barefoot and half-naked, without a care in the world. It’s still summer and somewhere inside of you, no matter the intensity and depth of your responsibilities and commitments, you yearn to feel summer in your heart, in your skin, in your soul. To be truly empowered women we need to listen to our yearnings. Empower yourself today. Take a daydream break. Stand barefoot in a stream or on a cool evening lawn. Run around half-naked. It’s ok to be happy this summer day you have been given to enjoy. It’s totally ok.
You can follow Cindy on her blog:
http://SuccessPriestess.blogspot.com
See all her Priestess Empowerment products at: http://PracticalPriestess.com/products.html
