TRANSFORMATIVE YOGA THERAPY™ RETREAT 2008

It was a week of JOY from start to finish. We luxuriated in natural beauty, sunshine, delicious food, friendship, personal awakenings and the deepening of our yoga practice through the 7 chakras and 8 limbs of yoga. I am so grateful to this first group of beautiful people who made this retreat the first ANNUAL Stillness in Motion Retreat Adventure. Read on to share the fun and then check out next year's offering and come with us in 2009!

"Pure unconditional joy facilitated by your careful, compassionate, masterful teaching radiated from each individual in the group and circled back and forth throughout the week.  We received joy, we gave joy, and we found the texture in joy.  The structure of your curriculum, instructional presentation and giving style allowed each person to reap the benefits of the practice.  I was amazed at how tuned in you were to the group, allowing for silence, fostering open communication and feedback, challenging us when it was needed, and then following through with each of us.  You created a safe, trusting, secure culture in record time.  This is very difficult to do with people who do not know each other. But we immediately let down our guard, giving and receiving, opening our hearts and minds to the new experience – radiantly phosphorescent and luminous! I was amazed at the deepened level of the practice feeling as if it moved to the bone marrow and then into to the soul. The retreat far exceeded my expectations and intentions allowing release, stillness and deeper understanding of the practice in a contextual framework. This experience was a transformative treasure I will savor for the rest of my life.  Thank you, thank you, thank you."   ~Carolyn Davis 

See Pictures of the Retreat     

"I had such an amazing week and truly, truly want to thank you for how much care, organization, thoughtfulness, love, and dedication you put into each and every aspect of the retreat.  It was incredibly cohesive and holistic. The days matched the chakra we were working on and I felt a direct energy connection to the people and environment around me. I also felt so safe, so supported, and totally loved. I let myself go freely and it was magical. I got more deeply in touch with the love I hold for my daughter and my husband. It was a beautiful surprise to feel so connected to them while I was so physically removed from them. I also felt incredibly healthy every moment I was there, on every level. It was an incredibly nourishing experience and I am more aware of how to treat my body to feel as much joy as possible. It really was beyond my every expectation and I am so honored that I was a part of our group."  ~ Gwen Dumont                        

"The yoga within the retreat was personally challenging for me as a novice who had not attended even a single yoga class before.  I felt encouraged, supported, and invited to participate at my own comfort level, while understanding that in pushing myself to the edge, breathing through the sabotaging thoughts, and staying, I was able to improve my yoga skills during the course of a week. It was a wonderful lesson on many levels, a lesson I take home with me and apply to life as it is here and now. I'm proud to have participated in the retreat yoga as fully as I did.  My memories of the retreat are vivid still, and its impact on my life is palpable. The connections made among other participants was delightful and heartwarming. The beauty of Mexico is breathtaking. The kayaking, body surfing, bird watching, dancing, chanting, drumming, sleeping to the sound of the surf, deep tissue massages, sunrises and sunsets, and glimpses into the Mexican culture all continue to hold a wondrous place in my heart."  ~ Sally McCue

Comments about Present Moment Retreat Center:

 The location and accommodations were fabulous. The staff was wonderful. I have never felt so totally saturated in natural beauty and opportunities for self-indulgence. I loved the food, and it was nice to be able to go out and check out one or two of the local restaurants. The entertainment in the evenings was great as well. The staff who did the massages were incredibly skilled and sensitive and responsive to my needs. They took the time to find out where I was at and what I needed and in some cases set intentions for the session. They also gave me very helpful feedback regarding what they observed doing the massage & energy work with me and made recommendations for exercises and other strategies that I could do when I returned home. I can honestly say that the trip exceeded my (high) expectations in all respects.

 Present Moment has created a delicious oasis for us to retreat from the familiar and experience true magic... simply divine.

Everyone at Present Moment went above and beyond and made it a delightful experience – all customer service oriented, kind and friendly.

  www.presentmomentretreat.com

See More Pictures of the Retreat

What  other 2008 Participants Have to Say

" I think you did an amazing job putting the curriculum together for the week. The fact that it was interactive and experiential made the classes so much more effective and meaningful. You weren't just hearing about concepts - you were able to experience them. It also contributed to the powerful sense of community and bonding among the participants. It was great that you made yourself so fully available to everyone for individual sessions. Going into the retreat I aspired to live more in my body and less in my head for the week - and to try to be more attuned to my heart and to spirit. Through a combination of all of the things described above I was able to do that. I've had the experience of feeling truly grounded and of feeling energy move into and through my body. I feel that I've taken steps bringing me closer to a life of balance and joy. It's a journey but I came away with a sense of forward momentum. I have never cried so much in my life, but it all felt good - like a release. I need to keep moving forward - I want to experience the "so much more" I keep hearing about!"   ~ Yvonne Allard

 " Your guidance with different breathing techniques helped me to expand my own experience deeply while I was there and now that I am home.  For this I am so grateful.  The one on one exercise’s we did were beautifully prepared and executed.  I found them to be quite meaningful in helping the group to establish trust with one another.  My experiences on heart chakra day were profound as I could see how open my heart is at this time in my life and that I was able to be there for others who were not so comfortable.  This was a beautiful part of the retreat.  I also loved the one on one chanting and will never forget dancing with Jen in the rows with you like a joyful angel dancing around all of us….Water day and running into the Pacific Ocean holding hands with the others was pure JOY!  Sally and I stayed in the water for at least an hour, talking and diving and standing our ground to the waves or getting knocked around by them.  We covered a lot of personal topics while PLAYING and LAUGHING.  It was an amazing day. There is so much, Jennie. I had a perfect time.  I loved the retreat and I am grateful to have been a part of it.  Thank you, thank you."   ~ Janice Judd

 "The personal insights I gained were to be less abrasive toward myself and how to assimilate my true self including my shadow self. So in other words, I guess I am learning acceptance. My computer screen saver is a picture of the wooden plaque "bliss" (and the incense and the card you gave me and the chakra booklet) are all pleasant reminders of honestly- the best trip I have ever taken- spiritually mentally and physically- thank you."

 ~ Melanie Gompers

  "I went to the retreat for a few reasons: to get more physically, emotionally, and spiritually balanced - to check out of the constant pressure and schedule. The retreat was PERFECT for that! In the beginning you had invited us to stop living according to our head but rather tune into our hearts and bodies and let them lead. The place had everything I needed to do that: physical movement and nurturance (thank you to all those massages); good food; the ability to be perfectly alone or with others; the invitation to plum deeper into our hearts. What could be better? Oh yeah, the occasional margarita was great too."

 ~ Suzanne Dubus

 I loved learning about the eight limbs—because it very slowly dawned on me that “yoga” is actually a mode of living.  And that’s so cool I found I wanted to get more insight into that.  The option of having one on ones was really quite perfect—totally complemented the whole retreat. ~ Kristin Glasfeld

Sign Up for Next Year.....February 2009!!

Facilitator 

Jennie Lee is the owner of the Stillness in Motion Studio for Yoga & Wellness in Newburyport, MA. Specializing in Transformative Yoga Therapy™, Jennie Lee believes her purpose is to assist individuals in remembering their Divinity, beyond their human story and present experience. With this always at heart, she says she meets people where they are. 

Please visit the About Us section of the website to read testimonials and more about Jennie Lee.