Why a Retreat?
This month I was fortunate to go on a manifestation retreat alongside eight other women with big dreams, committed to their self-development. It was a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by such supportive, accepting and badass entrepreneurs that are leveling up in their lives. I decided to go on a retreat instead of a vacation because I knew I needed the space to learn some new skills and step into a new chapter of my life with intention (and it was hard to say no to Costa Rica!). What really sealed the deal for me was when I was offered the opportunity to teach yoga at this retreat- a literal dream come true!! Offering retreats is something I plan on doing for the future of Ashley Napoli Yoga and this one set the bar VERY high. Here are some highlights of this experience:
The property and hospitality. Synergy Retreat Center is a beautiful property in Uvita, CR, about a 4 hour drive from the San Jose airport. When you enter the grounds of Synergy you are immediately welcomed by lush gardens, aesthetically beautiful spaces, and the warmth of feeling like you’re coming home. We had an amazing retreat Mama who took care of our every need and had so much to offer on a spiritual level. We were served 3 organic, mostly vegetarian meals per day and every meal was absolutely delicious. I’ve traveled to a lot of places and eaten many meals, but this one tops them all. Every meal was made with love and shared together as a retreat family. Some of my favorites include: homemade turmeric waffles with slaw and fresh guacamole, homemade mango passion fruit salad dressing and banana, coconut cacao ice cream. My mouth is watering thinking about it.
The Workshops. This was hands down my favorite part of the retreat. I’ve been on retreats before. I love meeting new people and doing yoga every day with some planned activities. There’s usually a theme and intention behind every retreat and this one was for manifesting. Now that this concept has become more mainstream, there are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation about manifestation. However, Alexis brought the heat. She is a no bullshit facilitator who gives you the goods and holds you accountable. Each and every workshop was thoughtfully designed and structured to make the most impact. Alexis’ method is not for the faint of heart. She uses tried and true methods that allow you to clear limiting beliefs that may hold you back from getting what you desire. If you are ever looking to dive deeper into manifestation, Alexis is your girl! You get great value for what you invest. She is having another one this winter. Hop over to her website to get on her waitlist.
The Excursions. We hiked to Nauyaca Falls and jumped into the natural waterfall. It was a semi-challenging hike with monkey sightings along the way and the payoff was so worth it. We had a clay ceremony at Whale’s Tail beach where we painted each other with ceremonial clay that has healing and exfoliating properties. We jumped in the ocean and washed it off and then walked the length of the beach. The last day was the one I was a little scared about, but that day was all about Empowerment so I did the thing I didn’t think I could do- ZIPLINING!!! It turned out to be so much more fun than I expected. It helped me to grow by facing my fear- something we all have to do more of: Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable - another theme of this retreat.
The Group. Last, but certainly not least, was the group of women who showed up. I have been leading women’s groups for quite a few years now- 16 to be exact (Ahh!) and when women show up in their vulnerability there is definitely a little bit of magic that happens. I will not soon forget the amazing bonds created on this retreat which made it as special as it was.
Travel has the power to teach you more about yourself than you can imagine. These experiences are so dear to me and I hope to create similar offerings for you in the near future! Stay tuned for some exciting opportunities coming soon. In the meantime, join my virtual women’s group by signing up for my newsletter or send me an email to get on the list! ashley@ashleynapoli.com