Back to Bliss Yoga Adventure/Retreat in Guatemala with Jen & Harriet Antigua & Villa Sumaya, Lake Atitlan March 7-16, 2019

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Back to Bliss Yoga Adventure/Retreat in Guatemala with Jen & Harriet Antigua & Villa Sumaya, Lake Atitlan March 7-16, 2019 Stress slips away and your true nature returns, bringing you Back to Peace,

1 Back to Bliss Yoga Adventure/Retreat in Guatemala with Jen & Harriet Antigua & Villa Sumaya, Lake Atitlan March 7-16, 2019 Stress slips away and your true nature returns, bringing you Back to Peace, Back to Nature, Back to Bliss! Join Jennifer Brooke and Harriet Alterowitz for a fun winter getaway at Villa Sumaya, an exquisite retreat center seductively situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Villa Sumaya is an eco resort with full services for adventure travelers wanting to hike, kayak and explore. There is also plenty of time for reflection, rest and relaxation. This romantic retreat center offers elegantly decorated private rooms, spacious grounds, hot tub, sauna and natural refuge gardens. Yoga classes are open to all levels of experience. Non-yoga spouses, partners and friends are welcome to join us! Upon arrival to Guatemala, we will spend 2 nights in Antigua, a place of rare beauty, major historical significance and vibrant culture. It is a must see destination! Our hotel is close to the city center to allow for leisurely walking, visiting museums and familiarizing yourself with Mayan culture prior to our departure to Lake Atitlan. This trip requires the physical ability to walk easily on uneven terrain and stairs and to be able to get in and out of a small boat.

2 Our home for a week...villa Sumaya Guest House & Retreat Center Map of the grounds.

3 Details What is included??? Antigua Two nights lodging in Antigua with two breakfasts included at our delightful downtown hotel just one block from the central city square. The arches to Antiqua City Jen just outside our Antigua hotel

4 Eating lunch at our favorite Antiqua restaurant Antigua Catholic Church during Easter week

5 In-country transport is included: Ground and water transport from Antigua to Villa Sumaya on March 9 and from Villa Sumaya to GUA airport on March 16. Group transport tips are included. From Antiqua we will take a 2-½ hour drive to Panajachel and have lunch and then hop on the boat to Villa Sumaya. Riding the boat to Villa Sumaya Mysterious Lake Atitlan

6 Villa Sumaya Dock

7 Seven nights at Villa Sumaya in a luxury room with private bath and gorgeous view View from Maya Rose room Deluxe Lotus House room

8 Cuisine Three delicious vegetarian meals daily at Villa Sumaya with optional chicken or fish available at an additional charge Snacks and special drinks; wine and beer available also The food is fantastic!

experiential manner and for all levels of students. We will celebrate each sunrise at Villa Sumaya with silence and meditation.

Our afternoon practice will include pranayama, meditation and a gentler asana practice including restorative yoga.

9 Yoga with Jen and Harriet of course! Jen and Harriet formed Back to Bliss Yoga in 2004 with the intention of teaching classes that integrate all eight limbs of yoga in an experiential manner and for all levels of students. We will celebrate each sunrise at Villa Sumaya with silence and meditation. Jen and Harriet will expertly guide you in hatha yoga practice with a focus on asana for all levels to get you ready for the day. Our afternoon practice will include pranayama, meditation and a gentler asana practice including restorative yoga. We will include some special evening practices such as Yoga Nidra and insight into yoga philosophy. The yoga shala offers exquisite views of Lake Atitlan s three volcanoes and is well equipped with props for your comfort. View from inside the yoga shala with Harriet and Jen Harriet Jen

10 Exploring the Chakras...Our special theme for the week Beautiful panels depicting the Chakras Yoga Shala fully equipped with props

We will participate in the ceremony, which includes building a fire in the age-old

11 Mayan Fire Ceremony A Mayan spiritual guide will share a traditional Mayan Day Fire Ceremony with our group. We will participate in the ceremony, which includes building a fire in the age-old Mayan tradition using herbs, chocolate, colored candles, cinnamon, myrrh and copal. Fire Ceremony Wendy, the owner of Villa Sumaya with the Shaman

Excursions One group excursion is included in your retreat fee and you will have the opportunity to add another excursion or more to your schedule.

12 Excursions One group excursion is included in your retreat fee and you will have the opportunity to add another excursion or more to your schedule. There is a wide variety of guided excursions including visiting Santiago or San Juan, kayak and hike tour, hike to El Pico de Cielo or go bird watching. Santiago Excursion This tour begins with a scenic boat ride across the lake to Santiago. See a variety of primitive paintings, beadwork and handcrafted woodwork as you learn the fascinating history of Santiago while visiting historic sites. This guided tour offers a rare and fascinating insight into this proud and independent village and the life of the modern Maya. Santiago woman we met in 2013

Explore the weaving and art cooperatives that this pueblo is famous for.

13 Santiago dock San Juan Excursion Take in the fine art of the naturally dyed and exquisitely handcrafted goods created by the talented Maya who inhabit this quaint, clean village. Explore the weaving and art cooperatives that this pueblo is famous for. You will visit a medicinal herb garden and a trendy leather shop. This excursion is an excellent shopping opportunity, as well as a change to learn about the artisan crafts of this unique village. San Juan Weaver & artwork

14 Immerse yourself in the local culture, history, art and people Local San Juan art Local family carrying firewood

15 What beautiful eyes! Harriet enjoying the local women

Walk around the village and eat your packed lunch.

16 Kayak Paddle & Hike If you choose this tour, you will begin from Villa Sumaya dock and paddle to San Marcos (1-1.5 hours). Walk around the village and eat your packed lunch. Then you can either take a public boat back to Villa Sumaya or take a moderately challenging hike back with the guide. Kayaking on Lake Atitlan Lake Atitlan

You can easily walk to San Marcos, the nearest village or you can take the

17 Hiking, walking and boating There are numerous hiking trails that are moderately easy to challenging. You can easily walk to San Marcos, the nearest village or you can take the public boat to any village around the lake. San Marcos is our nearest village to Villa Sumaya Jen walking to San Marcos San Marcos fisherman

18 San Marcos Church San Marcos Youth

19 Spirit Dog Boutique and Shopping The gift shop at Villa Sumaya offers an abundant selection of unique, locally made handicrafts and other fair-trade treasures. You will have plenty of opportunity throughout the trip to collect beautiful hand-made items. Artisan Market at Villa Sumaya

What else can I do??? Harmony Spa...The onsite wellness center offers an abundant array of therapeutic treatments provided by skillful therapists.

20 What else can I do??? Harmony Spa...The onsite wellness center offers an abundant array of therapeutic treatments provided by skillful therapists. Give yourself a gift of healing treatment to promote relaxation and powerful transformation. You can also take a sauna, hot tub or pool. Do not overlook the benefit of reading, journaling, meditating or just hanging out and integrating all these new experiences. There are lush gardens with hammocks and lounge chairs for your pleasure. Harriet knows how to relax! Better yet Should I extend my trip??? Absolutely! If you desire to extend your trip you can do it either before or after. In previous years, Harriet spent a week in Antiqua and attended a two-week intensive class at a Spanish school and had a blast! Other participants have traveled to Tikal. Tikal is the crown jewel of Mayan ruins in Guatemala. Though it has many of the same beautiful temples as its well-known counterparts in Mexico, Tikal stands apart because of its location deep in the jungle. You can easily book an excursion tour from Guatemala City to Tikal after our retreat. What is the weather like and what should I pack??? Packing light is always advisable and essential on this trip where you will be negotiating your luggage on shuttles and small boats. You need to be able to easily negotiate your own bags at all times. You can always have some laundry done if needed at Villa Sumaya. The weather at this time of year is warm and sunny and dry. Mornings and evening are cool so bring a sweater. Don t forget your swimsuit. Lightweight travel type clothing and layers are a good choice. All dress is casual!

21 How much will this cost and how do I register??? Prices range from $1825 to $2200 depending on occupancy and room. See registration form for options. All rooms are limited and filled on first registered basis. $500 is due upon registration and an easy payment schedule is included on registration form. Download and print registration form from our website Checks should be made out to: Back to Bliss Yoga and mailed to Harriet Alterowitz, 113 McLeod Avenue, Missoula, MT Credit card payment is available by request with a 3.5% fee and this is done over the phone with Jen using Square payment. Retreat space is limited to 25 participants for this intimate adventure trip. If you are a single we will match you with a roommate. We advise early registration to hold your space. Cancellation Policy: Deposits and payments are not refundable. Because of our inability to recover our deposits, our cancellation policy is firm. For your protection, we recommend complete trip cancellation insurance. We recommend or contact your travel agent. Comprehensive insurance needs to be purchased within 14 days of first deposit for most insurance companies. What is the money in Guatemala and do I need to exchange? The Guatemalan currency is Quetzals. It is a good idea to have local currency for purchases made in small villages and for local artisans. You can exchange money at the airport or ATM machine in Antigua. At this time 1 USD= 7.29 GTQ (Quetzals.) Put a currency converter application on your phone for convenience. What other expenses will I incur? Your taxi ride from GUA airport to Antigua is not included. When we are at Villa Sumaya all meals are included starting with dinner on Saturday and ending with breakfast the following Saturday. If you order fish or chicken at Villa Sumaya, you will incur a small charge. Meals are on your own while traveling and in Antiqua except for breakfast, which is included. All charges at Villa Sumaya including special beverages or food, extra excursions, items from the gift shop, laundry service and bodywork are payable by American cash or personal check. Villa Sumaya recommends bringing three personal checks to pay for incidental services or purchases while at the center. Credit cards will incur an extra fee. Small businesses or vendors in the communities do not take credit card. How do I communicate with family or friends? Wi-Fi for is available at Villa Sumaya for a small weekly fee. You should check with your own cell phone provider if you want to purchase a data package during your trip.

22 Synopsis of Itinerary: March 7-16, 2019 Wednesday, March 6: In most cases, expect to fly from the US the night before to arrive in Guatemala City by noon on Thursday, March 7. If your flight arrives in the evening on March 6, we recommend staying at a Guatemala City airport hotel and then transport to Antigua on the morning of March 7. You need to arrive in Antigua on March 7. It is a good idea to travel in daylight hours. Thursday, March 7: Your retreat package starts when you arrive in Antigua and check into our hotel, Posada de Don Rodrigo. Plan to arrive by 2:00 PM for check in. Our first group gathering is 4:00 PM. If you arrive earlier, there will be a storage area for our luggage if your room is not ready. The transport from the GUA airport to Antigua is a minute ride and the taxi cost will depend on how many in your group. The typical fare is $30 per car. Friday, March 8: Breakfast at the hotel is included and you will not be disappointed! Spend the free day exploring Antiqua. B Saturday, March 9: We will transport to Panajachel by private shuttle and have lunch there. Then we will take a short fun boat ride to Villa Sumaya to arrive by 2:30. Settle in and have a great dinner following by our opening yoga circle in the Blue Tiger Temple B, D Sunday through Friday: Enjoy early morning energizing yoga as well as our relaxing afternoon practice. The Fire Ceremony and one excursion are included in your retreat fee. You can add other excursions, rent a kayak, go swimming, hiking or relax. B, L, D Saturday, March 16: We will transport from Villa Sumaya at 11:00 to Guatemala City with a stop for lunch. Approximate arrival at the GUA airport is 3:30 PM. It is recommended to be at the airport three hours ahead for international flights so please plan your flight for 6:30 PM or later. There are many flights leaving Guatemala City at night. If you choose to take a morning flight you will need to make reservations for an airport hotel and depart on the morning of Sunday, March 17. If you are extending either before or after the retreat, plan accordingly. Just keep in mind our meeting time in Antiqua at 4:00 PM on Thursday March 7 and our arrival into Guatemala City airport on Saturday March 16 at around 3:30 PM. We recommend printing this itinerary page to help you with your planning flights etc.

23 Let s have another travel adventure together! Much love, Harriet & Jen Back to Bliss Yoga Contact information: Jennifer Brooke Jbrookemt@gmail.com Harriet Alterowitz hattieyoga@gmail.com

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