Brazil Yoga Retreat

Discover the Healing Powers of Yoga and Nature during a 6 day/6 Night Immersion Course with Kimberly Johnson & Chrisandra Fox in Brazil!

Reconnect and Awaken to New Beginnings!

(Nov 29 – Dec 5, 2009)

Exotic Island Paradise: Gota do Mar, Ilha Grande, Brazil

Immersion Dates: November 29- December 5, 2009

Dear Friend,

2009 has been an intense year filled with massive changes on so many levels—personal, financial, and career.  As the corporate and banking powers of the world collapse and leadership changes, all of us are called now more than ever to return to our inner resources and strengthen them. We are reminded that we cannot rely on what felt like external stability, but instead have to create and reinforce our internal stability- finding our personal and collective center.

So Chrisandra and I have created this immersion specifically for that reason… to lead you in an experience of connecting to yourself and to nature in the most conducive setting possible—an untouched island paradise in Brazil.

It’s time to remember who you REALLY are and move back to that place with clarity of intention and ease of heart. This immersion course is about getting in touch with your true self through the practices of yoga.

We’ll delve deep into yoga asana (yoga exercises), pranayama (breathing exercises), we’ll meditate, share, and dance. This course offers you the rare opportunity to take a step outside of your normal life and take a big step inside your body, mind, and heart.

I’m talking about a personal retreat from the busyness of daily life where you’ll walk away alive to new perspectives and ready to embrace change with clarity on all levels of your being- body, mind and heart.

Maybe you’re yoga practice has been irregular because you have had so much on your plate, maybe you need to renew your connection to yourself which has been obscured with all of the changes in your life the past few years, maybe you have goals that you set this year that you haven’t quite reached.  If any of these scenarios sound like yours, this is the perfect opportunity to return to your practice and yourself.

Here’s why this course is so unique:

The location we’ve chosen is a dreamlike paradise. There are no cars, no pollution, and no more excuses. It is the perfect environment to step away from our usual routines and establish new ones that support a vision of wholeness and health.  The vibrance of the island assists in a natural letting go of what is not useful in our lives.  The life force of the rainforest is palpably powerful and healing.  Cradled by incredible support in a potent, lush and untouched environment, we will deepen our yoga, meditation, and renewed sense of purpose in our lives.

You will have two, not one, yoga teachers there specifically to provide insight into your practice and your life.  This retreat will be a highly personalized experience.  You will have two teachers who are dedicated bodyworkers and yoginis and have been living and teaching the path of yoga for their adult lives. Both Chrisandra and Kimberly will be there to teach you, to adjust you, and to help you bridge the gap between insights from the intensive and how to incorporate what you discover and learn into your regular life.

We scheduled this course at the end of the Brazilian spring when the bromeliads promise to be in bloom and the island will be really warm. The soft, humid air and warm temperatures are perfect for yoga practice and the combination of dynamic yoga practices with hiking, kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling is sublime.  You cannot help but return to your life feeling alive, awake, healthy, and transformed.

This intensive provides you with choice.  While there is a basic structure to the day, it is up to you how you want to spend it. Tune into your own inner rhythms and listen. You decide if lying on the beach and reading a book or going on a rigorous mountain hike is best for you. We will have enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable guides available to tailor the excursions to the difficulty level and length that is right for you.

Your Brazilian Yoga Intensive Includes:

• Sunrise and sunset yoga classes with Kimberly Johnson and Chrisandra Fox
• Explorations into meditative practices for truly examining the nature of your mind
• Simple, everyday routines (dinacharya) for optimizing health through Ayurveda
• Skillful techniques for refining your practice physically and mentally
• Sound healing with Tibetan bowls, chanting, kirtan
• Personal body assessments with feedback for adapting postures and practices for each individual
• Recreational time for guided hikes, kayaking and lounging on the beach
• Delicious vegetarian (fish optional) meals in the idyllic, tranquil, lush setting of Ilha Grande

A Typical Day

7am -9am: Sunrise yoga

9am -10am: Breakfast

10am – 4pm: Lunch and Recreational time including:

• guided hiking,
• kayaking,
• snorkeling,
• lounging in the hammock,
• reading,
• lying on the beach,
• having a massage,
• Everyday Ayurveda, and
• personal body assessments

4pm – 6pm: Sunset Yoga

6pm – Dinner

7:30pm – Evening massage, kirtan, or cultural activities (capoeira or samba)

About Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande is an island sanctuary and wildlife preserve that boasts more than100 beaches and no cars. It is part of the 5% of Atlantic Rainforest left in the world, thereby existing as one of the largest remaining “Mata Atlantica” ecosystems left on the planet.

Ilha Grande is truly a paradise on earth! Ilha Grande is home to mushrooms that require zero pollution to grow, butterflies the size of dinner plates, howler monkeys, bromeliads that blossom freely in springtime, and mile- long beaches with not a single hotel chain!

Just 100 miles south of Rio de Janeiro in the district Angra dos Reis, Ilha Grande is a beloved part of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Google Maps click here).

Rooted in the Krishnamacharya lineage, Kimberly Johnson has deeply explored Viniyoga, Iyengar yoga, and Ashtanga yoga, and finds the heart of practice to be a continual return to self-inquiry. She brings her clear observations, honed through rigorous studies in dance, Structural Integration, Feldenkrais method, Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit and an incurable love for India and yoga tradition to her teaching. She will guide you to the experience of your own wisdom through discovering the most direct and powerful path of intention, movement and action. She has taught in New York City, San Diego, Chicago, Boulder, Thailand, Malaysia and Rio de Janeiro.  She credits Ilha Grande with a reawakening of the feminine within, which led to the birth of her daughter, Cecilia, who is now 2 years old.

Chrisandra Fox has been practicing the art of renewal through retreat for more than a decade in California, Mexico, Europe, and India. She is a student of hatha yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, and Tantric philosophy. She is dedicated to helping people transform and illuminate their lives through simple refinement of relationship to practice, nourishment, nature, and community. She has modeled extensively for Yoga Journal, including the cover, and can be found practicing in Gravity & Grace with Peter Sterios and Paul Grilley’s Yin Yoga DVD. She is the Web Correspondent for Yoga Journal TV

Kimberly and Chrisandra met at a Yoga Journal Conference in Estes Park, Colorado in 2003, and have been yoga sisters ever since, traveling parallel paths in different parts of the globe. They are thrilled to reunite on this magical island paradise to weave their teachings together for this very special week.

Meals:

This exotic and delicious vegetarian-based diet combines the harmony and benefits of natural foods with the fantastic flavor of Brazilian cuisine.

Savor fresh tropical fruits, organic vegetables, regional grains, and locally-caught fish (available upon request).

We will feast upon a celebratory dinner on the final night of the retreat.

Getting There:

Flights to Rio de Janeiro International Airport (Airport Code: GIG) are available from major US, European and South American cities. Book your flights now because there are some very low fares and the sooner the better.

The intensive begins on Sunday. Plan to arrive to Rio International Airport Sunday morning before 11:30 at the latest. We will meet you at your arrival gate.

We have scheduled the retreat so that it backs up to the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. If you have time, we recommend that you enjoy Rio for a day or two before the retreat.  If you are already in Rio, we will pick you up at your hotel.

The program ends Saturday, and we will transport you back to the airport by 5 PM Saturday evening.

Please e-mail your flight itinerary so that we can organize your transportation.

Your Intensive includes:

• Two full-body massages!
• Six nights of accommodations with private bath and veranda overlooking the ocean!
• All meals, juices, fresh filtered water and snacks (natural spa cuisine, developed by on-site nutritionist)
• Two 2-hour yoga classes daily with world class teachers
• Airport transfers
• Daily outdoor activities (trekking , kayaking, snorkeling) supervise by professional guides/trainers
• Brazilian cultural events

Here are some FAQs/ frequently asked questions:

How will I get to the island?

We will pick you up at your arrival gate in Rio.  We will transport you by van down the beautiful Brazilian coast to a local port where we will transport you by boat to Ilha Grande.

What are the best times to arrive and depart?

We suggest that you land in Rio International Airport on Sunday morning between 10 AM and 11:30 AM and that you plan to depart the following Saturday anytime after 7 PM. We will pick you up from the airport Sunday morning and provide your transportation back to the airport Saturday afternoon. You should be back at the airport roughly around 5 PM.

Is Brazil a safe place to travel?

Statistically, Ilha Grande is one of the safest places on the planet.

What if I am new to yoga?

The great thing about having two teachers is that we will be able to help each person work to their potential.  If you are new to yoga, we will guide you through the right practices for you and then at times you will probably observe and rest while we continue into more difficult options for the experienced practitioners. Intensives are an awesome way to jumpstart your practice and it can be very inspiring to practice with all levels of practitioners.

How many people will be at this intensive?

The intensive will be limited to 25 students.

What if I want to come to Brazil a couple of days earlier, or spend more time in Brazil after the Island Experience?

Coming to Brazil a couple of days earlier is a great idea.  Rio has a lot to offer. We will pick you up at your hotel on Sunday to transport you to the island.  If you are staying in Rio after your Island Experience, we will provide transportation to your hotel on Saturday.

What is the weather like on Ilha Grande in December?

The tropical weather is hot and humid.  The medium temperatures of the air are between 72F – 84F.  The medium water temperatures are between 65F – 75F.

What kind of clothes do I need to bring?

Think tropical.  You could probably get by at this event with a bikini! You will want yoga clothes, t-shirts, mostly short sleeved, but one or two long-sleeved, tank tops, shorts (for hiking and swimming), hiking socks, tennis shoes or hiking boots, bikinis, sunglasses, hat.

What do I need to bring besides clothes?

We recommend you bring a camera, a journal, toiletries, anextra pair of contacts if you wear them, insect repellent, and sunscreen.  If you plan on hiking, we highly recommend you bring a 70 oz. Camelbak.

Do I need to bring my yoga mat?

You are welcome to bring your own mat.  We will have yoga mats that you can use.

If you have any other questions, we would love to talk with you. You can call Chrisandra at 415-845-8265 or Kimberly at 303-819-2265.  Or you can shoot us an e-mail us at yogaretreatsbrazil@gmail.com.  We look forward to talking with you.

To register:

• Download the Registration Form

• Make a payment.  You can pay with check, direct bank deposit, or credit card/Paypal invoice (subject to a 3% service charge within the USA/4% international). Contact us for more details.

Your space will be considered filled when we receive your registration form and your payment has cleared.

Contact Chrisandra with any questions at yogaretreatsbrazil@gmail.com or 415-845-8265.  We look forward to speaking with you.

Investment:1595 USD

Payment Policy:

Early-bird discount: 10% discount to those who register before October 31st or register with a friend!

Deposit: A $500 dollar deposit will reserve your space. Balance must be received by October 31, 2009. All payments are non-refundable.