Why do people go on Yoga Retreats?

Retreats are more than a vacation, they are an opportunity for you to reclaim yourself, renew your life goals and recommit to them.

 In SoulSister Women Retreats, my focus is on helping you with your goals for refreshing your perspective in regards to your overall wellness, especially in the stage of life Midlife and beyond…. You know, the fun years when we are mostly done with our responsibilities of parenting young children, more established in our careers..but maybe noticing our own health, fitness and wellness could use a rehaul. I specialize in retreats for women over 50.

But let’s back up a bit.. let me tell you how I got to the point where I wanted to offer retreats and why!

…it was through participating in several retreat experiences myself, and having a transformation…every TIME!

I had the opportunity on my first retreat experience back in 2008, to India to do some soul searching with the guidance and support of like-minded others. I came back and started to change the direction of my life. It was through taking the time to work on self-discovery, and having deep conversations with people like myself, at the same stage of life that I was in, that helped me transform my life.

On another retreat I went on to Italy, I was in full fitness mode. I was brand new to road biking and I jumped into an experience that required me to push myself to new limits, this time with the guidance and support of expert cyclists to help me.

I came back with new knowledge of how to fit cycling into my life and fitness plan in a doable way. I learned how to improve women’s fitness over 50.  I also was the group’s yoga teacher and led practices in yin yoga, guided meditation and relaxation after the rides.

 Then I went to Greece. Yes, we practiced some yoga (this was a yoga retreat), but mostly we learned from each other. We had a wonderful teacher who made it easy for us to relax and enjoy the country, all while taking the time also to renew some yoga practices and learn some new ones.   We were able to go to the beaches, do some snorkeling, hiking and of course exploration of the ruins.  It was a great escape and get-away for solo women travelers.  I didn’t know anyone except the group leader prior to the retreat!  Solo trips for women are sometimes a bit scary, but it was worth it.

 I came back from that retreat with new knowledge and experience that I used in my work as a yoga teacher and therapist.

 So I began hosting yoga adventure retreats myself with Yoga Club back in 2013. We went to local nature areas, Crowder’s Mountain, Greenville, Asheville, Tybee Island.

These retreats were targeted to all ages, men and women.  We focused on having fun, learning a little about yoga, having a few adventures and relaxing.. But I knew there was more to be gained by the participants because I had experienced that transformation myself.

We practiced and I taught yoga teachers all types of yoga, restorative yoga, vinyasa yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Guided Meditation and more.  We were more about the yoga education on these retreats and it was great,  but I knew there was more to be gained by the participants, because I had experienced that transformation myself.  I wanted to lead retreats that allowed connection and growth for women, because when I went to India, that was what made that retreat stand out as one of the best yoga retreat vacations I had been on.

I also attended two retreats to Bali Indonesia!  The first experience was an exploration of various types of yoga, and we were able to explore the local culture of the island.  I traveled with a good friend and met many amazing people at the retreat, many of whom I still keep in contact with.  They came from all over the world, Australia,  Europe, the US to retreat together.  On this retreat we did a service project by visiting Bali Children’s Project.  We taught them yoga and brought them supplies.  Giving Back was a new addition to my retreat experience and DEFINITELY something I received much joy from doing. 

In 2017 I retreated again to Bali to SoulShine Bali with Michael Franti for a Yoga and Music Retreat.

That is where I came up with the inspiration for the name my retreats.. SoulSister Women Retreats.  Michael Franti and his wife hosted the retreat with Gina Caputo as the yoga leader.  We had a purpose which was to Reset our Lives.  I was so inspired from my retreat there that I came back and booked a mission trip to Haiti to provide physical therapy to children in a medical clinic… talk about changing your life!

So as I was contemplating my own “next chapter” during COVID, I realized I was ready to offer a deeper experience for women, through a retreat AND I wanted it to be in one of my favorite places, the Virgin Islands.

I had visited the Virgin Islands with my life partner the year before and fell in love with them. I now had a network of family and local support on the islands, so that would make the process more seamless.  That is where SoulSister Women Retreats was born!

But enough about my experiences.. let’s talk about YOUR experience.

Women in our stage of life are many times are looking to have a fun girls trip, a holiday, but when they go on a retreat, they usually come away with a transformation. Some come looking for it… and are ready to take that deep dive the minute they arrive.  But one thing that always happens, they return to their lives saying things such as:

“I didn’t plan on having a transformation, but I did.”

“How I fit in with my family and friends is now different, I feel more like myself, more confident, more clear and ready to live my best life”.

‘Wow, a retreat feeds every part of me.  I came to just enjoy a nice holiday, and I left with so much more. ..it was life changing.”

“I am not really a yoga practitioner, so I never considered a “yoga” retreat.  But it was so much more than practicing yoga poses, it was practicing a new life perspective.  I am now hooked.”

This retreat is designed as a Joy After 50 Retreat! (but you can certainly come if you are not 50 yet…cause one day you will be!!)     In this yoga retreat in 2022, we will have the opportunity to move through a process together of exploring a yoga retreat in the Caribbean,while also exploring ourselves and who we want to be in the second chapter of our lives.  We will enjoy wellness for women in their 50’s and beyond, nutrition for a healthy body, fitness and yoga that is gentle to the body, but effective!

My goal is for you to enjoy exploring the Virgin Islands, relaxing on the beach, sailing the blue seas, enjoying delicious, plant-based holistic food but also leaving with a reset and a plan for when you return home of living a healthier, more vital and full life.

I will be hosting this retreat with my life partner, Renaldo Turnbull.  He is a native of the island and he and his family are assisting me to ensure you get a real local’s taste of life in the VI’s.  No touristy stuff for us.  Just down-home, authentic experiences. 

If this is you, and YOU are ready to ReClaim yourself, ReNew your commitment to health, fitness and wellness and ReLax and enjoy a beautiful Carribean paradise at the same time..then check out all the deets at FitYogaTherapy.com 

Better yet, email me at fityogatherapy@gmail.com and ask to join the retreat email list.. details to be coming out in Mid September 2021.   Waitlisters will receive first dibs on booking and exclusive discounts/perks.  

Hope this helps bring you to this opportunity to change your life…for the better!  I would love to be a part of it.

Warmly,

Chrys