Southern Spain Anyone?

In just over six months, I’ll be back in Spain practicing yoga and meditating, taking siestas, enjoying tapas, meandering around old cities, watching flamenco and reabsorbing as much of the Spanish culture as I possibly can. Want to join me?

I’ve had this retreat planned for months but have been waiting for a little clarity around Covid protocols to make the announcement. And the time has come! 

Spain is the 2nd most vaccinated country after Portugal so lets hear it for the Iberian Peninsula!!! 

Spain also requires that visitors are vaccinated. This has me very optimistic about my ability to create a safe and relaxed environment.

Spain is officially my second home. The two years my family and I spent there were truly life-enhancing and I am so thrilled to return and to be able to share this amazing part of the world with you. 

This retreat is in Southern Spain on the edge of Grazalema National Park. It is magical. It is a window into another time, one where the day moves more slowly and there is space to appreciate food, the environment, and one another. And this spaciousness helps us to be more present - more embodied. Which is one of the many reasons why we retreat - to step more deeply into our present moment experience - to pay attention to all of our senses - to notice the images, sounds, smells, tastes and textures - and to notice how we are experiencing it all in our bodies.

This is what I valued most about my time in Spain. While my intention is always to shift my relationship to time (i.e. the feeling that there’s not enough of it) and grow deeper levels of embodiment (i.e. experience the world through my body and not just my mind), I don’t generally feel that intention supported by the culture I live in. 

When I lived in Spain on the other hand, I felt that the culture itself was beckoning me in that direction. When I tried to run one more errand, the shops closed in the middle of the day for siesta - when I found myself in a half-run, late for class, I looked around and saw that I was the only one rushing. When I arrived late to class with big apologies, I heard the words, tranquilla Raquel, 5 minutes is not late - and the one time I took a slice of pizza to go and attempted to eat while walking, I felt so ridiculous that I had to sit on a bench immediately and laugh at myself. 

To be more succinct:

Spain is a place that asks you to savor the moment - to let the moment nourish you.

Even as you read this, you might notice the quality of attention that you are bringing to this moment. Are you aware of the comfort and support of your chair, the slice of sun peaking through the curtain, or the smell of that soap you love on your hands? Are you reading with your full attention and maybe imagining what the Spanish sun will feel like on your skin while laying by the pool, or the taste of smoked paprika and safron on your veggies, or the subtle difference in how your body might feel in bridge or downward dog when you’ve been fully nourished by the day? 

This is savoring. Paying attention to beauty for just a little bit longer. And this savoring makes all the difference. It reminds us that there is time to notice what’s happening in our bodies and by taking the time to savor it, we are nourished, we are more relaxed and we are more content.

Shall we do this together in Spain? 

I hope you will join me next summer - June 27 - July 3. We’ll take a sensory dive into inner and outer landscapes - deepening our personal experience of embodied mindfulness while swimming in the sensory extravaganza that is Southern Spain.

Click here for more info.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Hoping our paths cross soon,

Rachel
 

Offerings and Ways to Connect:

Your Yoga: A Virtual Community - this the sweetest online community ever. We practice on zoom 4 times a week (vinyasa, restore and meditation) and all classes are recorded. You can get started with a free one-week trial.

Individual Yoga Therapy - I have a couple of available spots. If you'd like to talk about whether yoga therapy is a good fit, reply to this email or set up a discovery call here.

Virtual Coffee Date - I'd love to say hi. Reply to this email and let me know if you'd like to chat or just sign up here!

Your Brain on Mindfulness: 8 Weeks to Dissolve Stress, Build Resilience & Thrive begins Feb 2022. Click here to join the pre-registration list for updates and a special course discount.

Southern Spain Retreat: Yoga + Nature + Culture
June 27 - July 3, 2020
Save the date - details coming soon!