Faith, Trust, and peruvian Pixie Dust (AKA Coca leaVES)
DECEMBER 20 - 30, 2019
Where do I even begin...
After a long year stateside, I finally added another passport stamp to my collection and headed to Peru for my first yoga retreat!
My journey started off a little rocky after some flight issues that resulted in me sleeping on a couch in the Miami airport and missing my Machu Picchu tour, buttttt I didn't let that stop me from visiting one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
Running on zero sleep and a whole lot of coca leaf tea, I jumped in a taxi the moment my flight touched down in Cusco and hopped on a train to Machu Picchu!
The train ride alone left me in awe of Peru's extraordinary ecosystem, but of course it was Machu Picchu itself that literally took my breath away (or maybe that was just the altitude)…and as the Incan gods would have it, I ended up running into my tour group almost moments after arriving at the sacred site.
After an magical day in the clouds, I headed to the Sacred Valley of Peru for my yoga retreat. The retreat took place at Samadhi Sacred Valley, a hotel designed specifically for yoga retreats. From bungalows each representing one of the seven chakra energy centers, to a yoga shala with a panoramic view of the mountains, Samadhi (Sanskrit for union with the divine) set the perfect tone for a week of rest, self-reflection, and celebration.
The retreat was led by a strict, yet incredibly sweet Greek yogi named Angelos. Our mornings began with seated mediation and vinyasa flows and our evening practices were spent chanting, dancing, and conducting ceremonies. We even had the opportunity to participate in a special ceremony led by a Peruvian shaman!
When the group wasn't practicing yoga we spent our time hiking, reading, cooking, painting, simply enjoying each others company, and exploring the nearby cities of Ollantaytambo and Picas.
There is so much I could say about Peru and my first yoga retreat, but I'll leave it at this - Thank you Peru for the opportunity to connect deeply, speak my truth, and grow as as spiritual being. I can't wait to see where this amazing world and practice takes me next!
Namaste!
