Rejuvenate, connect with nature and co-create beloved community for two nights and three days in the hidden gem of Pescadero in Northern California. Nestled among the eco-systems of coastal wetlands and majestic redwoods on unceded Ohlone, Ramaytush, and Muwekma land, Venture Retreat Center is a refuge for rest, transformation, and building community. We will have the entire 22 acres to ourselves with free time to swim in the pool, take a dip in the hot tub and explore the land.
Our central theme will be to explore the intersections of vulnerability, belonging, and authenticity. Embark on a journey of self-reflection, movement, and community building that unearths our capacity to be vulnerable and honest with each other. Practice embodying ahimsa or non-harming as sacred ground to connect to your body and navigate inner and outer conflict. Dive deep into the Yoga tradition with Asana (physical Yoga postures), meditation, pranayama, mantra, stories, and discussion for connection and deep soul growth. There will be Yoga asanas offered for all levels of experience: Hatha Flow, Tantra Yoga and Restorative Yoga. No Yoga experience necessary. Satya teaches in a radically inclusive way with an emphasis on therapeutics, alignment, and preventing injury.
Nourish body, mind, and spirit with exquisite farm-to-table meals from Chef Ashley.
This retreat is for all beings. Our intention is to welcome and celebrate folks from all experiences, 16+ in age, religions, abilities, immigration statuses, sizes, and sexual orientations. Our intention is to co-create a space that is pro-Black, pro-Immigrant, pro-Queer, and pro-Trans. We will co-create community agreements to embody these intentions.
Arrival: Friday, May 13th 5 pm
Departure: Sunday, May 15th 11 am
Attending the retreat means you are committing to the entire experience. We strongly discourage arriving late or leaving early.
FAQ:
1. Payment plans available
2. If you would like to arrange to pay by cash or money order, please contact Satya directly info@soulflowoakland.com
3. All prices are per person with the exception of the choice of the "Majestic tent cabin for 2" or "Yurt for 2."
4. All deposits & payments are NON-REFUNDABLE and NO EXCHANGES. This includes if the retreat gets canceled for reasons beyond the control of the organizers such as acts of God, Covid-19, or Mother Nature. Purchase of travel insurance is required to attend. Please make sure you purchase travel insurance that would cover a cancelled retreat or your personal need or emergency to cancel your retreat. Make sure to check fine print. Fear of travel isn't the same as not being able to travel. Another option is plans that cover up to 75% of your expenses if you cancel for any reason. In these unpredictable times, this type of planning is important to protecting your investment in the retreat. As a small BIPOC-run business, we are unable to assume the loss for your investment.
Travel insurance recommendations: worldnomads.com or www.allianztravelinsurance.com
Click here for Insurance policies where you can cancel for any reason.
5. All meals are included and lovingly prepared by Ashley Anderson of Lay Low Table. (laylowtable.com) Ingredients are organic with an abundance of vegetables, protein, and fruit. Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and other dietary needs are available upon request.
Location: Venture Retreat Center
201 Eden W Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060
Satya de la Paz August (she/her) is first and foremost a student of Yoga and life. She is also a a Queer, Multiracial, Black Womxn, trailblazer, healer, and community/joy/radical self-love advocate. Offering 14 years of experience teaching Yoga, dance, and meditation, she infuses dynamic alignment, chanting, storytelling, and community-building into her classes. Satya offers Yoga as a means of collective and personal liberation and decolonization: accessing our innate healing capacity through therapeutics and compassion, meeting media-driven body shame through mindfulness and affirmation, freeing the heart of resentment and blame, and healing the mind of ableist and hierarchical ways of moving and acting. Multiple expressions of poses are offered as students are encouraged to listen to their own body wisdom and access needs. Satya is deeply grateful for her mentor, Abby Tucker, as well as all of her dharma and movement teachers, Sally Kempton, Rob Preece, and Sianna Sherman. Honoring the traditions of Hatha Yoga, Tantra Yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism, she empowers multiracial, multi-gender, and multigenerational groups to awaken their true nature of awareness and bliss. Off the mat, Satya is active in social justice movements, gardens, and cooks.
Find out more about Satya and her offerings at soulfowoakland.com
Sabrina Davidson (she/they) is Soulflow Oakland’s Creativity and Communications Director. She is an artist and meditation practitioner whose work explores pleasure, community, and healing through play.
Anuja Bhuta (she/her) is an artist, healer, baker, and musician - using her hands to create, relax, and energize. Her massage practice began in 2006 and continues to ebb and flow in concert with her other passions which include pottery, painting, fiber arts, baking, piano, and aerial arts.
Chef Ashley (she/her) began her career as a chef after being influenced by world travel and living in Hawaii for seven years. She was inspired by watching the way different cultures come together around the table, and how they use their natural resources. Her belief in using food as medicine has driven her ultimate decision toward a career in food.
One of Chef Ashley’s favorite culinary experiences is working at The Center of Discovery in upstate New York during the holiday. During this time, she worked on the farm by completing chores, caring for the animals and harvesting vegetables which ended in preparing a holiday dinner for 800 using all of the farm’s fresh ingredients and raised turkeys.
Chef Ashley is originally from Chicago and has lived in California for three years. When she is not in the kitchen, she can be found staying active, exploring the outdoors, or traveling to new places.
Please note that this retreat will go on regardless of the state of Covid-19. Some retreat activities will be inside. Purchase of travel insurance that covers Covid-19 and other emergencies is required. Covid-19 test is required for all participants regardless of vaccination status within three days of the retreat start. Feel free to reach out with any concerns or questions about safety.
Some work trade positions available. They are available for solo camping or shared rooms. The participant still needs to pay $250-450 to participate and will need to arrive early and stay late. Apply through the link below by April 1st. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUW_pjL6F5Xp4psyAsVMwWMsU4Sro-xyYwM1cF6dtqscrLtA/viewform?usp=sf_link
The drive from the Bay Area is about an hour and half. We organize carpooling and make every effort to support those who need a ride. In 9 years leading retreats we have never had someone who has needed a ride not be able to get one. However, we can't guarantee a ride to the retreat.
For those of you coming from outside of the Bay Area you can fly into San Jose, Oakland or San Francisco. We will help you connect with carpooling. You may want to fly in the night before or play to arrive before 12 pm May 13th.
Venture Retreat Center
201 Eden W Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060
Connect to the land and the sounds of nature. Must bring all your own gear: tent, sleeping bag, pillow, sleeping pad or blow up mattress. Be prepared for as low as 40 degree temperatures at night. Short walk to outdoor bathrooms and showers.
Shared room with a double or twin bed in the main lodge. The room is shared with 3 other people. The bathrooms and showers are indoors and shared with other folks in the lodge. There are three bathrooms total.
If you are coming with someone click "shared room" and then select two as the quantity. If you'd like to pay separately sign up separately and then email us who you are sharing a room with.
Twin or queen bed in cabin shared with 1 other person. Bathrooms are inside the main lodge a few steps away. There are three bathrooms and showers in the main lodge shared with other retreat participants.
If you are coming with someone click "shared room" and then select two as the quantity. If you'd like to pay separately sign up separately and then email us who you are sharing a room with.
Private room with a queen bed in the main lodge. Bathrooms shared with other retreat participants except campers.
Retreat to your own private abode. This luxurious tent cabin has lots of space to relax and stretch out. Includes a king bed, fold out couch that turns into a full sized bed, mini-fridge & dining room table, private bathroom & shower next door.
Connect to the land and the sounds of nature. Must bring all your own gear: tent, sleeping bag, pillow, sleeping pad or blow up mattress. Be prepared for as low as 40 degree temperatures at night. Short walk to outdoor bathrooms and showers.
Friday
Arrival 5 pm
Early arrival is not permitted
5:45 pm-7 pm
Evening Gentle Yoga & meditation Session
7-7:30 pm
Dinner served
7:45-9:15 pm
Welcome, community agreements and orientation
Saturday
7 am
Guided Meditation
7:30 - 9 am
Gentle - moderate Hatha flow
9 am - 9:30 am
breakfast
10 am - 11 am
Lecture, discussion, journaling
11 am - 11:20
meditation
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Art Therapy or Vulnerability/Trust exercise
12:30 pm
Lunch
1:30-4 pm
excursion to hiking and beach
4 pm - 4:30
Beach meditation & ritual
5:30 pm - 6:30
Restorative Yoga
6:30-7 pm
Dinner
8 pm - 8:30
meditation, discussion & journaling
8:30 - 9:15 pm
Partner Thai massage
Sunday
7 am
Meditation
7:30 - 8:45 am
Moderate to vigorous Hatha flow
8:45 am-9:15 am
Brunch
9:45 am - 10:30 am
Discussion and pair work
10:30 am
closing circle
11 am
Travel home
Recommend extra rest, journaling, minimizing technology time, etc.