Kootenay Yoga School
- Email address verified
74 reviews
Jun 9 - 13, 2024
Group size: 1 - 25
Time For Change: A Yoga Retreat Benefiting Midwives For Haiti
Isla Mujeres, Q.R., Mexico
Kootenay Yoga School
- Email address verified
74 reviews
Jun 9 - 13, 2024
Group size: 1 - 25
About this trip
Are you ready to take time for yourself to reset, energize and transform, while also making a difference in the lives of women and babies in Haiti? Join us on beautiful Isla Mujeres, the sanctuary for Ixchel, the Maya goddess of the moon, fertility, medicine and happiness. Start your days with an energizing yoga practice accessible for all bodies. Explore the rich history and beauty of the island. Connect with yourself and tap into your inner power to drive change for yourself and the world around you. Nourish your body with gourmet local vegetarian cuisine, and enjoy the unique beauty of Isla. Slow down, connect with new friends, and find joy in the adventures or relaxation available to you.
Midwives for Haiti
Midwives for Haiti is a grassroots, community led organization located in Haiti's Plateau Central. While Haiti has the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the western hemisphere, MFH's staff of 68 Haitian midwives and support staff work tirelessly to provide safe, compassionate care for pregnant and birthing women.
At Midwives for Haiti we deal in optimism. We believe that people are inherently good, that human life, regardless of where we live, has value, and that love will win out in the end.
However, it gets harder and harder to maintain this confidence, as the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate. Almost 5000 people were murdered in cold blood last year, and almost 3000 were kidnapped for exorbitant ransoms, including our own Head Midwife.
Profits from this retreat will go to support our 10 community clinics, two rural birth centers, and a maternal waiting home in our town of Hinche. With your help, we can continue to provide, safe compassionate care for our sisters in Haiti. For more information, please go to www.midwivesforhaiti.org
What’s included
- MeditationSunrise and Sunset meditations
- MealsAll meals, made in house featuring regional and seasonal best offerings **with exclusion of one afternoon & evening we will be out exploring Isla** (all dietary modifications available)
- CeremoniesSound Bath and Cacao
- Caribbean Sea5 minute walk to the mesmerizing ocean
- YogaDaily movements: Tata, Vinyasa, yen
- Pool & Jungle PropertyUse of all facilities
- Island of WomenExploration of the beautiful Isla Mujeres, the goddess Island of Women
- Healing CenterYoga class + meditation at local healing center Punta Sur
- Mandala MakingGroup Activity
- Release CeremonyAt La Joya beach
- Beach WalkWalking Meditation
- Island Golf Cart TourExplore the island by golf cart - lead by KYS team
What’s not included
- Travel InsuranceTrip Payments Are Non Refundable - By Submitting Payment You Agree To Final Payment Policy
- Alcohol
- Transportation
- Flights
- Whale Shark / SnorkelWhale Shark Snorkel / Reef Snorkel Excursion
- In House MassageMayan Massage
Available Packages
Available options
Round Trip Transportation
$150
This includes the transfer from the airport to the ferry, ferry ticket, and taxi from ferry to the school. Both ways.
Mayan Egg Massage with Marta
$85
Itinerary
Sample Day ✨
Schedule for Isla Retreat
6:00-8:00 Guided Sunrise Meditation
8:00-9:00 Move / Meditation / Guided Journaling
9:15-10:30 Breakfast In House
10:30-12:30 Guided Beach Walk / Shell Collecting
12:30-14:00 Snorkel Excursion
14:00-16:30 Explore Isla
16:30-18:00 Move / Meditation
18:00-20:00 Dinner Out / Explore Isla
20:00-22:00 Watch Sunset / Sound Bath
Your Organizer
Kootenay Yoga School
74 reviews
In the heart of our journey, Kootenay Yoga School was created from a profound belief in holistic well-being. Recognizing the challenges of modern life, where daily routines can become repetitive cycles of wakefulness, nourishment, work, and rest, we felt the need for a sanctuary that transcends the ordinary. Our vision materialized as Kootenay Yoga School, an embodiment of holistic living.
Reviews
AJ
My 200-hour YTT at Kootenay Yoga in Joshua Tree was seriously unforgettable. The food, cooked by Addy and Gael, was amazing—fresh, nourishing, and perfect. Not once did I go hungry or unsatisfied. Addy kept everything running smoothly and made sure we were always entertained with fun craft activities!
Marcia, our teacher, was so fun to be around. She made me feel super comfortable from day one and made sure we all walked away confident in our knowledge and ready to teach. Her knowledge of yoga philosophies and practices is truly incredible, and her passion for the topic was contagious.
The property was beautiful, really well-maintained, and the team was quick to fix any little thing that came up. The whole program was really well-structured, with a great balance between learning, physical practice, and downtime. Plus, the location in Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley was stunning—it just added to the whole experience! No matter time of the day, it was so incredible.
Other than the learning, my favorite parts were all the fresh fruits and veggies, the cold plunge, the outdoor shower, and getting to explore Joshua Tree.
I learned way more than I expected and had such a transformative time. I’d 100% recommend Kootenay Yoga to anyone looking for a fun, supportive, and enriching YTT experience in a relaxing and inspiring setting!
By Anna J for Inspired Yoga Teacher Training Joshua Tree/ 200HR / Sept 1 - 15 on Sep 17, 2024
A wonderful, happy, grounding experience.
Super set up. Great teachers (Marcia for us). Yoga practice out of this world. Unexpected special Christmas extras (this review comes too late!!). Food epic (oh so epic). Massage on site (unreal).
Thinking of booking? Just don't hesitate. The training here with Kootenay is beyond brilliant. Huge shout out for connecting such a wonderful group and allowing us all to meet friends forever!
By Sarah-Jane D for SJ Dyke/Single Occupancy / Inspired RYT200 Program-Isla Mujeres on Sep 10, 2024
Absolutely amazing experience. To start, the island is beautiful and the location of the training was perfect. On one side you walked 2 mins and had the cliffs overlooking the ocean with a beautiful sunset every morning and the other side was a path to the water for swimming and an amazing sunset view. I met the most amazing people from all over. Our training was lead by Stacy and I couldn’t fit all the great things I’d like to say about her in one review. Her knowledge of yoga was inspiring to us all. She was patient when the group asked her a million questions (because we wanted to soak it all in) but kept us on track ensuring we learned everything we could in the 2 weeks. Stacy’s understanding and empathy really got us through the times we felt homesick or discouraged. She made practices fun even when we felt tired. We truly learned from the best. I 100% recommend this course to anyone who wants a fully immersive and authentic teacher training. The food was truly delicious and the chefs couldn’t have been more kind. The staff always was there when you needed anything at all. I felt safe and taken care of entirely. I really do not have anything negative to say other than things no one can control (like the heat and mosquitoes). If your considering this training just make sure to prepare yourself physically for long days in the heat. I can’t thank Kootenay enough for the experience.
By Sarah F for Aug 6 - 20, '24 // Inspired RYT200 Program - Isla Mujeres on Sep 02, 2024
Omg! I don’t know where to start! My YTT was AMAZING ✨, way much better than I expected… at first I wanted to do my training in India or Bali in order to have a more authentic experience. But I couldn’t be away for a month, so I looked for a YTT closer to home (Montreal, Canada). My final choice went to Kootenay yoga school on Isla Mujeres and I am sooo happy that the « destiny » put this on my path. Stacy, our teacher ( The Best 💙) has a wonderful background, her vast experience, wisdom and knowledge are very impressive… no need to go to India ;)
Our training was very complete, I did learn so much more than I expected about the Yoga science, philosophy and history. It is a really immersive experience, a life changer 🫶🏻. But be prepared, it is very intensive!!! So many things to learn and practice in 15 days. So you need to be focus and rested. The days start at 6 am and finish around 9 pm. And keep in mind that it is very hot and humid (no a/c !) there are mosquitos (!) don’t forget your bugs repellent 🦟 ! That’s said, it’s impressive how fast our body adapts … after 6-7 days, you’re fully acclimated, re-energized and the daily routine gets pretty easy.
Many thanks to the two wonderful cooks who created excellent veggie meals to keep us healthy and energized 🫶🏻🥒🍅🥗🥭🥝🍉. Also thanks to Kevin for coordinating everything and make sure our stay goes smoothly.
I definitely recommend this YTT….my only comment would be regarding the length, I think it would have been great to have 2 more days to go deeper into anatomy, alignment and sequencing asanas.
Thanks again to all Kootenay team for making this experience so fulfilling and exciting. 🙏🙏🙏.
Looking forward to my 500H YTT 😉.
By Marie-Piere P for Aug 6 - 20, '24 // Inspired RYT200 Program - Isla Mujeres on Aug 30, 2024
My 15 days at Kootenay Yoga School on Isla Mujeres was nothing short of a lifetime learning experience. I'm deeply grateful to the owner, Lisa Clemens, for giving me the opportunity to explore spirituality in a profound way. Much like the eight limbs of the Yoga Sutras, I learned eight invaluable lessons during this 200-hour yoga teacher training course. These teachings, imparted by a great teacher and amazing fellow students, have become guiding principles for my future journey.
1. "Do not be swayed by the canard of superiority; truth lies in unity, not division."
2. "A feckless heart fosters ignorance; let your actions be rooted in wisdom and love."
3. "To defenestrate prejudice is to open the door to enlightenment."
4. "Discern the light in every soul, for discrimination blinds the eye to truth."
5. "Do not let the world’s harshness leave you jaded; remain open to the beauty of every being."
6. "In pensive reflection, discover the strength to rise above ignorance and spread compassion."
7. "Put the kibosh on double-faced intentions; let your practice be as true as your teachings."
8. "Fractious minds breed discord; find harmony by embracing diversity with an open heart."
These lessons will continue to shape my journey, both on and off the mat.
By Zahid A for Aug 6 - 20, '24 // Inspired RYT200 Program - Isla Mujeres on Aug 28, 2024
References
I had the best time here and felt so taken care of. Shout out to Marcia, Kevin, Addy, and the amazing crew. The food was so delicious. On hot days we had lessons in and around the pool to stay cool in the Mexican heat. The classes were very thorough and I feel confident in my ability to teach yoga now. THANK YOU & namaste! <3
By Amelia K on 20 Jun, 2024
Attending Kootenay Yoga School was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! It was such a transformative program full of so many beautiful souls. Marcia was THE BEST!!! She is so informative and a natural teacher. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to expand their yoga practice.
By Carissa C on 18 Jun, 2024
I did my yoga teacher training on Isla through Kootenay in 2022 and it was an amazing experience. The location is beautiful and you do get some free time to explore the area. Michelle was an amazing instructor and I genuinely learned so much and was able to deepen my practice and build confidence creating flows and classes. They made most meals for us, which were delicious and healthy. They also even had entertainment some nights like a live band and fire dancers. I still talk to the other students that I did the program with sometimes and met up with one girl when I was in her town a year later! Overall a transformative experience where I made memories, learned new things and met really cool people.
By Madison W on 15 Jun, 2024