Aspen Yoga, Meditation, Hot Springs Adventure Retreat
with Mary Susan Stults
(for all levels and all students - co-ed retreat ~)

Locale:
Aspen, Colorado

Dates:
December 9th -12th, 2021

Contact:
Email Mary Susan at floatandflowllc@gmail.com

This winter enjoy an alpine retreat in Aspen, Colorado. 4 days to nourish, practice, relax, create, explore, connect, soak, and return to our true nature.

A moment to slow down and celebrate life and the beauty of our being, just as we are. We'll ground and enjoy daily yoga and meditation practices, we'll explore and get out and into nature in the area, we'll nourish with a visit to the hot springs for soaking and swimming, and take time to connect with other wonderful kindred sprits, ourselves, and the beauty of Mother Nature dripping in abundance everywhere that meets our gaze. We'll be staying at the beautiful hotel in Aspen, Colorado that features a heated pool, hot tub, restaurant and bar, fitness center, and more.

***Retreat will include 1-2 yoga practices each day.

Shared lodging will be included with the retreat, however private lodging is available at an extra cost.

We will not be including meals in this retreat with exception of one dinner and one lunch to keep this retreat priced more affordably as lodging in Aspen is more costly, and for ease of meals and interactions around Covid and the pandemic.

Email us any questions at floatandflowllc@gmail.com and we'll see you in Aspen, Colorado this winter for 4 incredible days together on retreat in one of the most beautiful and scenic areas of Colorado and the U.S.!

Pricing:
$1049 for shared lodging (2 queens)
$1579 private lodging

Deposit:
$500 per student

Includes
-3 nights/4 days shared lodging in Aspen, Colorado (2 queen beds per room, 1 person per bed)
- Daily yoga (1-2 practices a day)
-Daily Guided Meditation
-Adventure and trip to the Hot Springs outside Carbondale, CO (everyone will carpool/drive themselves)
-Lunch at historic Woody's Tavern - Tavern/Bar/Restaurant where Hunter S Thompson used to write and hang out
-One Dinner Out Together in Aspen
-Yoga Nidra
-Art Workshop/s (painting)
-Writing/Journaling
-Nature walk
-Access to all amenities at hotel (heated pool, hot tub, etc)
-Tea
-Wifi
-Incredible Community
-Retreat Gift 

Aspen, Colorado 

Aspen. Defy Ordinary.

Aspen is a place where every day holds an opportunity for greatness. It is a collection of remarkable moments that can’t be duplicated. It is an opportunity to break free from the “norm” and find inspiration in nature or around the corner. You can find this and more in our welcoming mountain town whose culture fuels the soul. Aspen’s enriching experiences will remind you just how great life is -- and can be.

Nestled in the heart of the White River National Forest and surrounded by the peaks of the Elk Mountains, Aspen is well known as a ski destination, but the town’s history and offerings go much deeper.

Originally inhabited by the Ute Indians, Aspen became a silver-mining town during the mining boom of the late 1800s. Following the devaluation of silver, Aspen experienced a cultural renaissance in the 1940s with the arrival of Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke. The Paepckes brought a vision for the community that focused on the mind, body and spirit, called “The Aspen Idea.” This idea drives the character of Aspen. Forget what you think you know about our mountain town; come and experience “The Aspen Idea” for yourself.

Aspen lives up to its winter reputation. Four ski mountains make up the terrain for the world-renowned Aspen Snowmass resort. Aspen Mountain, locally referred to as Ajax, rises up directly from downtown, bringing a whole new meaning to ski-in/ski-out. Buttermilk Mountain, home of the Aspen X Games, is a kids' and beginners' paradise. 

Aspen Highlands boasts the legendary Highland Bowl, and Snowmass offers the largest acreage and diversity by having something for everyone. Aspen’s beautiful scenery and open space also lends itself well to other types of winter recreation, such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, fly-fishing and even hot-air ballooning. After a hard day of play enjoy Aspen’s legendary après ski scene, or head out for dinner at one of our world-class restaurants. Top off the night by enjoying a show at Belly Up, Aspen’s 500-person live music venue featuring renowned artists. Aspen’s big-city cultural institutions, well known for their summer programming, have plenty of events throughout the winter months as well, leaving you inspired.

Now’s the time to Defy Ordinary.

Check out Aspen's Events Calendar: 

https://aspenchamber.org/events

YOGA
We will be practicing once some days, and twice on most days and will be explore breath work, precise alignment and energetics of postures, the blueprint postures, meditation, reading and seeing bodies, the 8 limbs of yoga and living our yoga off the mat, restoratives, and more. We will begin most days with a morning practice and meet back on the mat in the afternoon for a workshop and asana lab to dive into and break down the asanas and practice in greater depth.

MEDITATION
We will enjoy guided meditation and will explore the style of Vipassana meditation also known as insight meditation. Within this style we will explore a variety of methods including breath meditation, and heart meditations including a compassion meditation and a metta or living kindness meditation. We will talk about the basics of meditation, finding a comfortable seat, and the roots of mindfulness.

SKIING/HIKING
Aspen is the perfect base camp for skiers, boarders, hikers, and adventurers.  We will be staying at the base of a ski mountain in Aspen with a variety of other mountains to ski and ride within a few minutes drive away. Also, within 5-15 minute car travel, there are at least 8-10 trailheads that feature easy to difficult hikes.  To name a few; Maroon Bells, Snowmass Trails, Avalanche Creek, Perham Creek, East Creek, Placita Trail, Raspberry Ridge, Carbonate Creek…. All beautiful, Rocky Mountain hikes. If it is snowing which is likely, attendees are welcome to bring their own snowshoes or rent some and we can snowshoe.

COVID 19
I care deeply about the well-being of every student, of our communities, and of humankind in general so we will be taking precautions to ensure the most safe, nourishing, easeful, and meaningful retreat experience for all.  We will be staying on top of how Covid progresses in Colorado, the CDC suggestions, county Covid policies, and will be asking that everyone attending the retreat either provide their proof of vaccination OR take a Covid test within 72 hours of attending and provide negative results so that we can move through the retreat more safely and with greater peace of mind.  We will be wearing masks when out and about in town, or when we cannot distance from others, social distancing, taking on-your-honor daily temp checks individually, washing hands frequently, and will make sure to be careful in the days and weeks leading up to the retreat, as as we travel to and from the retreat.  Thank you and I look forward to practicing with you soon in the mountains, xo

Lodging:
Hotel/resort in Aspen, Colorado at base of ski-hill. Specific hotel will be shared upon request and with those attending.

UPDATE: Hotels in Aspen, Colorado are requiring proof of vaccination card now to stay. 

Retreat Leader: Mary Susan Stults http://www.marysusanstults.com/

Been hanging out on the yoga mat since 1991.

Born in Fort Payne, Alabama, I was raised in Cedar City, a town in southwest Utah about an hour from Zion National Park. An avid nature lover, I grew up exploring the many hiking trails, rivers, rocks, mountains, canyons, and the endless outdoor beauty of Utah and Colorado with my family and friends. Despite growing up landlocked I grew up with a deep love and appreciation for the ocean and water and that passion has only grown with each passing year. After moving to Boulder, Colorado in 2001 to attend the University of Colorado-Boulder, I made Colorado my mountain home for over 20 years until I traded the mountain life for the island life and moved to Hawaii in 2018 to the Garden Island Kauai.

My yoga and meditation practice and path began with my mother as a child at home in 1991 and continued in the studio at the age of 14 in 1997 with the practice of Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Sri. K Pattabhi Jois. I practiced Hatha, Ashtanga Yoga, and Iyengar Yoga as taught by BKS Iyengar throughout highschool and early college and in 2002 began practicing at Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor's studio, the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado.

Years later I had the blessing and great fortune to be introduced and led to Master and Mentor-Teacher Maty Ezraty with whom I studied intensively, mentored with, and assisted until her recent passing. Over thousands of hours and many years of study, mentoring, and practice, Maty influenced my practice and life on and off the yoga mat greatly and will forever be my greatest teacher and influence. Maty encouraged and influenced me to delve deeper into the yoga practice and approach both the daily practice of yoga and life from the subtle body. Over the years I have had the opportunity to practice and learn with many wonderful yoga and meditation teachers aside from Maty including Dharma Mittra, Judith Hanson Lasater, Richard Freeman, Seane Corn, Peter Doobinin, Carrie Owerko, James Brown, Jack Kornfeild, and many others. I look forward to studying with Chuck Miller and Dona Holleman in the future.

I teach internationally and in the U.S and am a certified 500+HR E RYT Yoga & Meditation teacher, educator, and practitioner, a WPA/Paddle Into Fitness Certified Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) and SUP Yoga teacher, certified Kids Yoga teacher, certified Adaptive Yoga teacher, and am known by all for my enthusiasm, heart, and positive outlook. I teach a knowledgeable, dynamic, refreshing, and compassionate alignment-based yoga practice that intelligently weaves together the traditions of Iyengar Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. Many describe my energy as contagious, finding my nurturing, wise, soulful, & patient style of teaching to be welcoming & supportive to all. For me being a student of the practice of yoga is as important as being a teacher, we are students first, and teachers second.

Expect the teachings to be greatly reflective of Maty Ezraty, Sri. K Pattabhis Jois, and BKS Iyengar, as well as from my near 30 years of practice, and classes are open to anyone ready to explore more deeply. I invite all students to let go of expectations, to be truly curious and compassionate, and to embrace and befriend an explorer's mindset within our own inner ecology. I approach and understand yoga as a spiritual practice and discipline and a healing art. We learn to trust our own intuition and innate wisdom, "we do not learn to be intuitive, we already are." The Yoga practice is a re-remembering and recognition of our wholeness and of the truth that we are always evolving, transforming, and are under constant construction; there is infinite room for learning, progressing, and creative expression. The practice offers a moment to awaken and a continuing opportunity to return home to the beauty of our own being and self. As a friend says, "This practice intends to provoke us & to inspire the bigger questions triggering one’s own awakening…the truth is-It is never complete, it is never finished, it’s infinite."

I wholeheartedly believes that Yoga, Meditation, and Stand Up Paddleboarding, and SUP Yoga are for everybody, and am passionate about sharing these gifts, as well as my love of nature, adventure, travel, living well, environmentalism, ocean conservation, and the outdoors with all ages. 

Contact: Email Mary Susan at floatandflowllc@gmail.com