Overview
This retreat will combine yoga with somatic bodywork. Soma exploration involves witnessing and experiencing the entirety of one’s organism. Much of our human experience has been carved into fragments of the whole self, where we’ve compartmentalized our being into the thinking vs. feeling self, conscious vs. unconscious self, physical vs. spiritual self. Somatic play aims to return us to a state of wholeness.
Alongside ALIGNment-based hatha/vinyasa yoga classes, somatic workshops will be offered to explore a return to wholeness via sensory entry points, including touch, breath, movement/gesture, and sound. Activities such as self-massage with oils, breath practices, and meditations to bring one into the present moment, movement exercises to encourage embodied awareness, and use of sound as a means of release and restoration from the habitual grips held in the body.
Each participant will also have the opportunity to receive up to two individual somatic coaching and bodywork sessions, as a means to AWAKEN to one’s deep yearnings and desires, notice how beliefs and emotions are held in the body, and learn tailored practices to implement upon one’s return home. The essence of Align + Awaken is to leave an impression of what it would be like to be wholly present in the moment and to one’s life unfolding.
Give back retreat
This retreat is part of our GIVE BACK initiative, where your host will donate at least 10% of profits to a humanitarian partner in the community where each retreat is held. Our partner in Marrakesh is PROJECT SOAR who works with underprivileged communities and young women to empower with design, clean-up projects, and creative ventures.
Surrounding area
Guests will not only enjoy the grounds of the hotel and the outdoor areas (including a lovely pool, patio, private terraces, and covered yoga platform), but the retreat also includes some amazing day-trips to surrounding sites. A guided day in Marrakesh will lead guests through an introduction to souks, artisans, and plenty of architectural sites to see.
A day will be spent exploring the desert outside of the city where we’ll experience camel rides on the dunes and a coursed tasting lunch! We’ll of course visit the famed Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum. During the week we’ll enjoy activities on-site such as a henna party, a poolside brunch, after dinner Moroccan entertainment, and an evening cinema under the stars. The final full day entails a trip to a famous hammam (a luxurious spa facility), where guests can be pampered to their heart's content with a full program of various treatments. What better way to wrap up a week of yoga than a day of pure relaxation.
Wellness
Daily yoga classes and somatic body work will be offered in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in their own personal practice. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced, and can range from gentle, restorative, and more vigorous vinyasa flow and ashtanga styles.* Style and class levels will be determined and molded to fit participating students' needs, and with a small intimate retreat class size, students will be able to get personalized attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice. Depending on each retreat location, classes will be held in a dedicated indoor yoga space and some also offer outdoor options as well for us to use if the weather is agreeable. There will be a time for yoga and meditation each day working through various themes in the week.
About
Gallery
About The Host
Aasia Lewis
Our group leader this week will be our collaborator, Aasia Lewis. Aasia is a yoga educator, certified somatic coach + bodyworker, and clinical speech-language pathologist (SLP), who is now based in Morocco. Recognizing that she could not “fix the mind with the mind,” Aasia’s journey into somatic coaching + bodywork stemmed from her own emerging awareness of how limiting intellectualizing and cognitive entry points were to true, embodied learning and transformation. Upon witnessing the entirety of one’s organism; their soma, and how its unification led to great equanimity and more radical- attunement, she completed an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accredited training in Body-Oriented Coaching from the Somatic School and a Somatic Bodywork Seminar Level One from the Strozzi Institute. Her practice of somatic coaching and bodywork encourages the coalescing of the body-mind through conversations around a person’s desires, yearnings, and vision for their life, coupled with movement and energy analysis to identify the stories and tendencies living in the tissues and muscles, for greater harmony within one's self and the world.
* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels are welcome!
Location
Things to keep in mind
FAQ
What if I'm not experienced in yoga, Is this retreat still for me?
We are for all levels of yogis. We've had many yoga beginners come to the retreats and many who found a new love (or renewed love) of the practice. One of the reasons we like to keep the number of guests so small is to better personalize the classes and yoga attention placed on each person. After seeing where each guest is in their yoga practice and level, the classes can be given on what best suits the group. Plus, there is a range of styles and levels taught throughout the week so you can choose the classes which best suit you. The most "advanced" yogi are those who are honest and true with where they are physically and mentally - which can mean holding back and taking it easy when you need rather than over pushing yourself to twist into that advanced pose.
Can I bring a friend/partner who doesn't want to participate in the yoga classes?
Absolutely! Non-participants are always welcome. All classes are voluntary and there is always plenty of activities (or total relaxation) that can be enjoyed in place of one of the yoga classes.
Do I Have to take every yoga class during the week?
Again, all classes (and activities) are completely voluntary. I always say to guests that the retreat weeks are for you...whatever you need. So if you need to take it easy one morning, then by all means, do what you need physically and mentally.
What type of yoga classes are offered, and what levels are welcome?
This is YOUR WEEK so you're encouraged to take the time you need, go at your own speed, and try and let go - whether that means diving in deep into the morning and evening classes for the week, or maybe it means needing to rest one day instead. There are usually a big variety of levels and we love that guests can attend and participate without feeling any pressure. That said, for a basic overview, we do a general vinyasa flow in the mornings about 60-75m and enjoy an evening class which is more restorative or themed (hips, heart-openers) for around 40m. There are various meditation times throughout the week with about 15m guidance of various methods and encouragement to take any free-time to explore further on your own if you wish. And this week is much more than just ASANAS (the physical movements of yoga). Hopefully it can be about finding something, letting something go, gaining balance in life, and enjoying many aspects of the holiday - from the cuisine, daytrips, a beautiful culture, and new friends!
What if I'm a single traveler?
Many of our guests come alone and we match up based on guest profile which has always worked out really well. All the rooms are spacious with separate beds and private bathrooms. Plus most guests find that they are mainly only in the rooms to sleep as most tend to relax in the common areas (salons, terraces, pool, etc) when we're not in class, on daytrips, or having meals. It's up to you if you prefer the single room, but it's not required if signing up alone as we will pair you with another guest. The locations and villas differ on policy as some have extra rooms to offer and we can accommodate a single supplement at a reasonable price upon request. A couple of our locations have very limited space with just enough rooms for the number of guests in the retreat, so supplements tend to be higher as it’s mainly covering the cost of another guest. All details can be given upon request.