La Manzanilla Yoga Retreats 2010

Mexican retreats start from picking you up at the airport, its good if folks fly in a day ahead of the retreat into Manzanillo Airport ; a 45 min drive north to La Manzanilla. Air Alaska has a good rate for flights from Vancouver to Manzanillo. We take you to your accommodation at Casa Marias and after getting comfortable we all go for dinner together and for orientation, where's the town, beach etc.

We start at daybreak on the beach with meditation, Qi Kung and breathwork/pranayama for 1.5 hrs followed by breakfast always fresh fruit, granola or eggs and local bread.

At 11Am we meet for yoga in the palapa for 2 plus hours, lots of instruction, resortative and beginner work. We hold an informal fun yoga practise geared to the group, partner work, no yoga knowledge is necessary, beginner mind and curiousity only. We explore prana (energy) relaxation and quiet mind.

There is a long break for lunch we often cook in, fresh salads, quesadillas, guacamole so we have more time to play and rest.The beach is few blocks from Marias casitas and the main part of town also a short walk. A few afternoons we'll do some side trips to local sites ie shopping in Barra de Navidad and to Tenacatita Bay for snorkelling and lunch. Other afternoons we'll meet back at the palapa for an afternoon yoga class, partner Thai massage and acupressure work. We plan a home practise that works for you.

Dinner will be mostly out at some of the great local restaurants, try out the taco stands and hang out with the local Mexican folks who are incredibly friendly. We finish after breakfast on the 7th day and so time for flights out that afternoon or stay a few more days to relax.

Days are lovely in la Manz temperatures average 28d and evenings cooler at 18 to 20. The ocean is usually very pleasant and there are very few non swimming days. There is safe surf and the beach is a lovely 5km flat, sand, easy for walking or biking. There is a crocodile sanctuary and a mangrove wetland wih many tropical birds. Optionally is a sunset canoe ride and bird tour.

A deposit of $600 holds your spot and the fee includes accommodation, food, yoga classes and airport pick up. Total cost $1200. $100 discount for shared rooms.
Check out our website at www.brendadempsey.com for our latest information, we just updated today.
I am still available for a phone call but hope this answers your questions.

Bali pics 09

Website changes

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Come back to this blog for updates to the calendar. More information will be forthcoming! Retreats are on!

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The next workshop at Read Island Retreats is happening and still has room so give Brenda a call 250-285-3054 or email

2009 Retreat Dates
August 13-18,
September 17-22

WEEK-LONG LA MANZANILLA, MEXICO
DECEMBER 5-11, 2009
JANUARY 2010

10-DAY BALI RETREATS 2010
March 12-22

Brenda is teaching Yoga on Quadra Island now!!!

Class schedule Tuesday and Thursdays 9-11 AM and 5-7 PM.

A Bali Testimonial from Sam

Finished the yoga retreat on Sunday and now there are five of us at the
North West tip of Bali in a place called Pemuteran. A traditional fishing village with just a few resorts on the beach. We are staying at a homestay for $20.00Us or 200,000 rupees a night which includes breakfast, all taxes and one hour of internet... The majority are on a budget because of circumstances but at least we have air/conditioning and hot water.. Ubud was fantastic with all that QI GONG and Yoga plus the cultural. We drove for about four hours to get here and we seem to be drawing attention as whites. Today for example got caught in a monsoon as we were walking back on the beach and this woman came out of her tiny shack on the beach and invited us inside for shelter. Very basic home, her husband is a fisherman.. She gave us Balinese coffee. One gal is an artist and sketched a picture for them of their family.. Then the beadwork came out and a few of us bought some necklaces that were very cheap.. So here we are in a fisherman's home, enjoying their hospitality and in two days we are invited back. The people here are super friendly and we have endeared ourselves to the young men who work at the hotel.. We are getting their prices (maybe) but definitely not hotel prices for taxis, etc.

The calamari, tuna and seafood are absolutely fantastic and indeed fresh. tomorrow night we will be eating at one of the men's family home and he is preparing a meal for us, very simple, fish, fresh tender corn and of course rice..

Really getting into the locals and enjoying the language.. the snorkeling here is unbelievable in the protected coral reefs. The fisherman used to use dynamite to fish and now that has been abandoned. There are now 40 large cage-like structures in the water and all the different types of colorful coral is coming back. The fishermen's boats are quite unique and we taken quite a few pictures. It would be neat to go out on one of these boats but they go out at night and use lanterns to fish at night.. The small boats have bamboo outriggers which I assume would support all the nets that they use.. I was just visualizing how these small men walk on the small bamboo poles. Actually the boats look like a trimaran but the two outside hulls are just bamboo.

We are going out to sea tomorrow to do some more spectacular snorkeling in this warm Bali Sea. Don't know what kind of boat but it does have shade. Adventures every day! We have decided to stay the entire week and leave here on Sunday for Sanur Beach which is close to the airport. The plus side is that there are no vendors here enticing us with their Balinese goods.. The common refrain is 'cheap', they start off very high and somehow end up lower.. Of course, we will bring them good luck if we buy from them..
Take care everyone! Will be home soon.
Love
Sam from Bali

Brenda Dempsey Yoga, Massage and Read Island Retreats

Welcome! Here is the place to get the most updated information about Brenda's activities. Right now its Bali...but soon back to Quadra and Read Islands.
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