5 Reasons to Retreat in the Valle de Guadelupe

Namaste

The new year is a great time to get clear on our intentions and desires, and to let go of things that no longer serve us. However, January can also be an extremely busy time of catching up after the holidays and keeping up with our new routines. That is why I decided to organize a weekend getaway for the end of January as a way to pause, reflect and reset.  The Love Life Yoga  Retreat (January 30-February 1) will be held in the lovely Valle de Guadelupe, the heart of Mexican wine country located just 90 minutes from San Diego. This is a magical region of beautiful rustic countryside, culinary sophistication, and extraordinary wine. Here are 5 reasons to retreat to this premier food and wine destination. 

1. The Food-  According to chef Diego Hernandez of renowned restaurant Corazon de Tierra, "Here in Baja, we have a palette of flavors like a painter."  And USA Today calls the region the "Napa of Mexico." The Valle offers a deep connection to the land,  biodynamic farming, exquisite culinary taste, and the art of heart and soul in their cooking.  Check out the Sunset Magazine article for more info on the food, wine, and magic of this region. 

2. The Wine- There is a long history of winemaking in this region. Many of the vineyards here were planted in the 18th century by Jesuit priests. Today the Valle is home to over 50 wineries. The Wine Enthusiast voted the Valle de Guadelupe as #3 of the Top 10 Wine Destinations of 2014

3. Slower Pace - The Valle is a beautiful open countryside that presents an invitation to slow down.  Away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, the Valle offers quiet, open space, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. And at hotel La Villa del Valle, there is minimal wifi and cell service- a great place to take a break from technology and reconnect with ourselves and nature. 

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4. Love Life Yoga Retreat - This January I will be hosting a weekend retreat at the beautiful boutique hotel, La Villa del Valle. This is also the home of Corazon de Tierra, Vena Cava Winery, and the amazing Troika food truck. In addition to practicing yoga and mindfulness, we will be savoring the flavors of fine dining, wine tasting and enjoying life. This will be my last retreat before my 11 month retreat hiatus.  More Info 

5. Why Not? My husband's Tony's name spelled backwards is Y-Not. So this is his motto for doing the things he wants to do. I've adopted this motto, and it seems to work well for reminding me to follow my heart and and embracing the fullness of life. 

Below is a short great video on exploring the hidden gems of the Valle de Guadelupe 

Relaxed, Recharged and Ready for the New Year!

Namaste
I just returned from the Om for the Holidays Retreat in Sayulita, Mexico. Five days of living in nature- beautiful thatched huts, free from electricity and technology (yes, we lit our rooms with kerosene lamps and candles!), nourished by healthy delicious meals, daily active and restorative yoga, lots of hiking, gorgeous ocean views, and most importantly surrounded by an amazing group of conscious, caring, and fun-loving folks. My heart is full, mind more settled, and spirit recharged. I'm ready for the new year! 


How are you preparing for the new year? In addition to parties and celebrations, it's important to take time to be quiet, reflect, and get clear about our intentions. I'm not one for making new year's resolutions (which can often set us up for disappointment.) But I do like to look back at the year's journey- all the learning, growing, twists and turns. When we get so caught up in moving forward we tend to forget to honor and appreciate how far we've come. This reflection is key for practicing contentment along our the journey. And in preparing for future, instead focusing on how we "should" change and what we "should" quit doing, we can instead focus on getting clear.  Getting  clear about our visions and values, what makes us feel alive, and what direction we'd like to move towards, allows us to be less attached to how things to turn out and more open to possibility.  Writing, meditating, and taking a walk are wonderful ways to take this time and space for reflection.  Do you have any new year's rituals? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Om for the Holidays 2014 Memories. Much gratitude to Sarah Pham and Melanie Delgado for capturing these beautiful moments. 

Many blessings for a happy, healthy, new year!

Love & light

Renee

Sweet and Savory Moments

We had an amazing time on the Spring Savor the Senses Retreat. My dear friend and pilates instructor, Rebecca Raiza, and I had the honor of spending the weekend with 12 amazing folks at La Villa del Valle in Baja, Mexico. We practiced yoga and pilates, enjoyed amazing farm to table meals, toured the onsite Vena Cava Winery, relaxed by the pool... and relaxed some more. We had a fabulous group and enjoyed so many laughs and deep conversations. I'm feeling full and grateful for the experience. Stay tuned for our next Savor the Senses retreat in November. 

Nurture Yourself and Practice Gratitude this Holiday Season

"If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul."Rabbi Harold Kushner

Let me begin by saying thank you. I am so grateful to have so many wonderful people in my life, in my community. My heart is full of gratitude. But I am also human, so sometimes I forget and need to remind myself of all the things for which I am thankful.  Gratitude is a practice. And Thanksgiving is a perfect time to express our gratitude. However, sometimes the holidays can be emotional triggers that  stir up sadness, anxiety, frustration, and overall stress which can cloud our awareness of feeling grateful. Here are 5 ways to honor your emotions and shift your focus back to gratitude:

1. Take time to reflect and remember.  How have the holidays affected you in the past? If the holidays have previously been challenging, maybe while dealing with grief or difficult family dynamics, make a plan for this holiday season. Think of ways you can proactively nurture yourself. And put your well-being first. When we take care of ourselves, we have more love and energy to give.

2. Practice loving kindness for yourself. When you notice yourself feeling triggered or overwhelmed with emotion, practice observing yourself with a loving, compassionate heart. Allow yourself to feel what comes up, without judgement of good or bad. And then practice self soothing, the way you would nurture and friend. 

3. Focus on your breath. It's inevitable as humans that we will encounter challenging times, within ourselves and in our environments. Practice conscious breathing as a way to stay present and breathe your way through discomfort and pain. 

4. Make a gratitude list. Seriously, this works! Make a list of the things you are thankful for, and read your list again and again as a reminder. And in moments when you don't have the written list, you can make a mental list and quietly repeat in your mind. Visualize and embody the feelings of gratitude .

5. Practice being enough, having enough.  This can be a mantra, a phrase that you can silently repeat to yourself. "I am enough. I have all that I need." So even if you are in the middle of a big life transition, or feeling lots of uncertainty about the future, or mourning the loss of loved ones or the past, practice being whole and complete in this moment. 

Blessings for a beautiful holiday season. Namaste

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Mid-Week Retreat! Oceanfront Yoga

What an amazing season it's been sharing yoga by the ocean at the Inn at Sunset Cliffs. Tonight is our last class, and will also be a benefit for the Prison Yoga Project to support the yoga programs in San Diego prisons. Come out for a mid-week retreat to soothe your mind and soul, rejuvenate your body, and support the well-being of others. 

Also, I am truly honored that this oceanfront class was featured recently in SanDiego.com. Check it out HERE

 

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Confessions of a Serial Yogi

Recently I was interviewed by my friend Paloma Barron Neuman, or My Dharma Yoga and Retreats, for her blog "Confessions of a Serial Yogi."  It was an honor to share some of my reflections about my yoga practice and life as a yoga teacher. I'd love to hear you thoughts about it!

About My Dharma Yoga: At  My Dharma Yoga Retreats and Events, we create unique yoga retreats with one important mission: to inspire you to connect within and gain deeper self-awareness. We carefully craft every one of our exclusive retreats with yoga, meditation, adventure and travel to provide you with an experience that will nurture the body, cleanse the mind and awaken the soul.

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Source: http://mydharmayogaevents.com/new-blog/201...