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MARKETS, MAGIC & MOUNTAINS, Escape to Shape with Elizabeth Rossa

May 8-15, 2022 | Marrakech, Morocco

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Join ESCAPE TO SHAPE and Elizabeth Rossa on an exclusive journey to magical Marrakech, Morocco. Experience the vast wonders of this exotic city – a combination of luxurious accommodations in a private desert Kasbah, results driven, fun and sweaty fitness classes, rich Arabic traditions, chaotic marketplaces, hidden treasures of the souks and breathtaking natural beauty – from the desert and the garden of YSL to the majestic Atlas Mountains. Along with the cultural and natural wonders, guests will enjoy an invigorating yet relaxing hammam, meandering through the marketplace, belly-dancing lessons, a camel trek through Berber villages and a cooking class detailing how to prepare traditional Moroccan cuisine, plus many other cultural surprises.

What makes this Unique: In addition to daily practice and nourishing meals, there are several aspects of this “Escape” that make it unique.

Our own private Kasbah. Complete with private staff, chef, guides & drivers, this Morocco-meets-Modern villa provides plenty of opportunities for lounging between activities.

The opportunity to join us at a local Berber school to donate supplies & small toys, spreading joy in simple ways, and giving a bit back to the local people of the area.

In depth and insider access to designers, artisans, and boutiques in addition to the markets!

Includes:

• 7 nights luxury accommodation in an exclusive Moroccan Desert Villa. Each luxurious room is spacious with an en suite bathroom, terrace, air conditioning and deluxe amenities.
• 3 delicious & healthy meals & snacks reflective of the region & the season provided daily. Meals will be enjoyed in the private villa and in some of Marrakech’s chic restaurants & cafes. Alcohol is available at an extra rate, based upon consumption.
• Yoga & Meditation
• Fitness Training
• Morning Power Walks
• Guided hike and Berber picnic in the Atlas Mountains
• A guided walking historical tour of the ancient Medina
• An ‘insider access’ guided shopping tour of the Medina & French Quarter
• A camel trek through a berber village
• A visit to the famed Majorelle Gardens (YSL Gardens)
• Cooking demonstration focusing on healthy ways to enjoy the foods of the region at home
• Group hammam experience
• Free time to relax poolside or enjoy the private villa spa
• Round trip ground transportation from the Marrakech Menara airport (RAK) to the Villa
• Additional Cultural Surprises
• Tax

The Accomodations: While in Marrakech guests will stay in an authentic Moroccan desert style home, perfectly situated between the majestic Atlas Mountains and the exotic Medina. The Kasbah-style villa is uniquely decorated with a crisp modern twist, cleverly combining traditional Moroccan colors, textures and fabrics with a modern play of light and comfort. Each suite is spacious and airy with a private en-suite bathroom, terrace, air conditioning and amenities, decorated in a traditional Moroccan meets modern style- from antique furniture carved out of solid walnut to leather club chairs and carpets from the Middle Atlas region. The expansive property is complete with a heated pool, jacuzzi, a traditional Berber tent, ideal for afternoon tea or post dinner conversation and an exquisite rose garden that splashes color throughout the property. Additionally, the property is host to a variety of unique indoor & outdoor spaces, ideal for inspiring each yoga & fitness class.

 

SALLY KEMPTON  RETREAT WITH ELIZABETH ROSSA

Life as Practice: A Deep Meditation Immersion Retreat
Dates To Be Determined

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The In-Person Mount Madonna Retreat dates are to be determined: This retreat will focus intensely on deepening our approach to sadhana—our active practice of living an awakened life.  It’s open to students and practitioners who want to immerse themselves in retreat practice.

The Content: The retreat will include periods of silence, on-going self-inquiry, personal and group discussion on what it means to deepen meditation, mutual meditation practices with a partner, active and meditation-focused asana practice, and several short and long (45 minutes to one hour) sessions of meditation each day. Elizabeth Rossa will also be providing dynamic and contemplative Hatha Yoga.

Sally will present a wealth of material, including an in-depth overview of meditation as a practice and as a way of life. You will:

• explore with complete openness what a long-term meditation practice entails, and create processes for self-assessment that can help us realize the impact of our practice;
• discover how to do self-inquiry into your practice, and determine which forms of meditation to be practicing at particular times;
• hold space for genuine recognition of our own temperament, and therefore the work that needs to happen emotionally and ethically for our full wholeness to emerge.

In addition, we’ll challenge some of the myths around meditation. We will practice intensely and deeply, exploring and examining several powerful approaches to meditation, including Eastern and Western heart-based practice, Vedantic and Tantric Awareness practices, body-based meditations, visual and subtle body practice (including deity practice and devotional practices), active meditation, and of course, mantra practice.

The Emphasis: Along with deep practice of different types of meditation (including active, moving meditation, and meditation for insight and creativity), we will emphasize three things.

First, deeply exploring the stages and processes of meditation-based sadhana, through experiential practices as well as lectures and discussions.

Second, exploring how meditation and non-dual philosophy combine with intelligent and careful shadow work to allow us to keep going deeper into the self.

Third, satsang—that is, communicating your own experiences and issues in meditation in small groups, and opening past blocks into a truly sustainable and creative practice.

The Accommodations: Mount Madonna is a beautiful, well-supported, and spiritually powerful center in the coastal mountains near Santa Cruz, California, overlooking Monterey Bay.  Offering vegetarian meals, walking trails, spa treatments, an Ayurvedic center, and several types of accommodations, it is a perfect backdrop for a deep retreat experience. You can check out their site at http://www.mountmadonna.org.