A Hawaii Yoga and Surf Adventure Retreat on the Shores of Waikiki

with Mary Susan Stults Sassone 

Locale

Waikiki / Oahu, Hawaii 

Dates

May 14th-20th, 2023

Retreat to Hawaii this summer for a luxurious and enlivening Hawaii Yoga and Surf Adventure Retreat on the shores, waves, and beaches of Waikiki on Oahu.

Rise with the sun and follow the tides as we soak up 7 days immersed in practice, community, and a blend of nature and the vibrant city of Waikiki. 

Together we'll enjoy a nourishing and salty retreat week and beachside stay at the luxurious, beautiful, and historic Halekulani Hotel in the heart of Waikiki. Halekulani, an oasis on the beaches of Waikiki, is the perfect locale and home for our retreat week and island stay. 

We'll make the most of our days with daily yoga and meditation practices, surfing lessons and coaching for all levels on the iconic Waikiki waves and summer swells, art and creativity, time to relax and renew, and space to explore, thrive, and adventure. 

Join international yoga and meditation teacher and mentor, Mary Susan Stults Sassone and soak up a week on retreat in one of the most stunning locales and beaches in Hawaii alongside a wonderful group of fellow adventurers, yoga and nature lovers, surfers, and travelers. 

All levels of yoga students and surfers are welcome to join the retreat. 

Come as you are and treat yourself to an island yoga and surfing retreat in Hawaii and return home feeling connected, refreshed, and joyful! 

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Questions

-Email us anytime at floatandflowllc@gmail.com

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Retreat Deposit

-Non-refundable $500 retreat deposit to secure your space on retreat in Waikiki~ 

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Retreat Tuition 

-Shared lodging, two twin room: $4399 + tax 

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Retreat Spring Special

-Save $200 on your retreat with promo code: LIVELOVETRAVEL 

-Pay in full and save $250 on your retreat with promo code: TAKEMETOHAWAII

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Retreat Inclusions

-Shared Luxurious Lodging at Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki

-Daily Yoga Practices with Mary 

-Guided Meditations with Mary 

-Breakfast each day 

-3 Surf Lessons and Coaching with Local Surf Coaches and Instructors 

-Beachfront Stay and Access to Incredible Amenities at Halekulani

-Painting and Art Workshop 

-Four Dinners 

-Live Music 

-Retreat Gift Bag 

-Surprise Island Adventure TBA 

-Lei Making Workshop 

-Yoga Nidra Workshop with Mary 

-Free Time 

-Tea 

-City Exploration 

-Healthy Local Island Snacks 

-Private yoga or meditation lesson with Mary following retreat online or on Kauai~ 

-Incredible Community 

Yoga

-We will be practicing a strong, dynamic, and compassionate yoga practice and flow marrying together the traditions of Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. We will slowly and mindfully weave our way through alignment-based practices each day taking time to workshop asanas and come-see-come-look moments giving students the opportunity to demo postures as we practice. Expect longer holds, break-downs of alignment and postures, and a focus on the breath. Classes are appropriate for all levels from beginners to advanced practitioners and teachers. We ask students to be truly curious and expect to take a deep and joyful dive into the practice and your own inner ecology and wilderness. 

Meditation

-We will be practicing guided Vipassana and Mindful Meditation during the retreat including breath meditations, heart meditations such as the Loving Kindness/Metta Meditations, and compassion meditations. 

Art/Create

-We will enjoy a more-free style art and painting workshop with acrylic paints. 

Surfing 

-We will be heading our for surfing lessons with a local instructor during our retreat and will also have some free time to surf more or add additional lessons. We will surf on the north shore most likely on Hanalei Bay, but swell dependent. 

Waikiki is one of the most well-known spots and iconic spots on the island of Oahu and in Hawaii, and we'll enjoy plenty of surf time on friendly waves in warmer waters. 

The waves will be wonderful for all levels of surfers from beginners to advanced. 

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About Oahu 

-Welcome to Oʻahu

Sometimes called “The Gathering Place,” Oʻahu certainly lives up to its name. 

The third largest Hawaiian island is home to the majority of Hawaiʻi’s diverse population, a fusion of East and West cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the Native Hawaiian people. It’s this fundamental contrast between the ancient and the modern that makes discovering Oʻahu — from bustling city life to laidback surf towns — so enjoyable. 

You'll find plenty of different options for exploring Oʻahu's different regions, the island's many activities, its eclectic restaurants and accommodations.  

About Waikiki

-Located on the south shore of Honolulu, the world-famous neighborhood of Waikīkī was once a playground for Hawaiian royalty. Known in Hawaiian as "spouting waters," Waikīkī was introduced to the world when its first hotel, the Moana Surfrider, was built on its shores in 1901. Today, Waikīkī is Oʻahu’s main hotel and resort area and a vibrant gathering place for visitors from around the world. Along the main strip of Kalākaua Avenue you'll find world-class shopping, dining, entertainment, activities and resorts. Waikīkī is famous for its beaches and every hotel room is just two or three blocks away from the ocean (if it’s not directly on the beach). With Mount Lēʻahi (Lēʻahi Head) as your backdrop, the calm waters of Waikīkī are perfect for a surfing lesson. In fact, legendary Hawaiian waterman Duke Kahanamoku grew up surfing the waves of Waikīkī. With other renowned Waikīkī Beach Boys, this Olympic gold medalist in swimming taught visitors how to surf at the turn of the century. “Duke” was instrumental in sharing the values and sport of surfing to the world and came to be known and respected globally as “the father of modern surfing.” 

Today, surf instructors in Waikīkī perpetuate Duke’s legacy by teaching visitors how to surf and canoe. The Duke Kahanamoku Statue, located on Waikīkī Beach, has become an iconic symbol of Waikīkī and the surf culture of Oʻahu.

But there’s more to Waikīkī than just the beach. Attractions of Waikīkī like the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikīkī Aquarium offer fun for the whole family. You can learn about the history of Waikīkī by reading the surfboard markers along the Waikīkī Historical Trail. Among the various things to do, high-end boutiques, shops, and restaurants can be found all along Kalākaua and Kūhiō Avenues and at gathering places like the Royal Hawaiian Center, the Waikīkī Beach Walk and the newly transformed International Market Place. After the Waikīkī sunset, the fun continues with amazing nightlife and live music. Best of all, Waikīkī is within a half hour of a variety of Oʻahu attractions, including Pearl Harbor, ʻIolani Palace, the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Nature Preserve, a marine life conservation district. Other notable points of interest nearby include Ala Moana Center (a massive outdoor shopping center), the local neighborhood of Kapahulu and the arts district of Chinatown. 

From Hawaiian royalty to Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine, Waikīkī continues to be an evolving expression of the ancient spirit of aloha. On these famous shores, the past and the future are uniting in fresh and surprising ways.

Retreat Lodging

-Halekulani Hotel "Hawaiian Luxury on the Beach" 

https://www.halekulani.com

AN OASIS ON THE SHORES OF WAIKIKI

Discover serenity and elegance in the midst of Waikiki

One of the first and finest hotels in Hawaii, Halekulani has welcomed guests to these tranquil beachfront grounds for more than a century. 

We believe in anticipating your needs and making sure you want for nothing. Top-tier service, award-winning cuisine and unique amenities are all here for one reason: You. 

We look forward to welcoming you to our House Befitting Heaven.

Our award-winning chefs use the freshest local ingredients at our open-air and ocean-view restaurants, wine bar and cocktail lounges. Enjoy casual al fresco dining, unwind with a glass of wine or a craft cocktail, or indulge in a romantic dinner at our elegant AAA Five Diamond and Forbes 5 Star restaurant, La Mer.

WELLBEING

A respite for mind, body and spirit

SpaHalekulani takes a holistic approach to your spa experience, incorporating Pacific healing traditions into your wellness treatments and salon services.

Retreat Guide and Host

-Mary Susan Stults Sassone~ 

--More information at: https://www.marysusanstults.com/

Been hanging on the mat since 1991. 

Senior yoga and meditation teacher, mentor, and educator Mary Susan Stults Sassone came to the path and practice of yoga as a child and young teen with her mother at home practicing for over 30 years, with over 13 years experience of teaching. 

Her love of movement and the arts began early with ballet and tap at three years old and grew with each passing year. 

Mary Susan is a 500+ E-RYT Yoga, meditation, SUP Yoga, and SUP teacher, practitioner, and business owner who moved to island of Kauai from the mountains of Boulder, Colorado. 

Mary teaches a knowledgeable, dynamic, refreshing, and compassionate alignment-based yoga practice that intelligently weaves together the traditions of Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Vinyasa. Many describe her energy as contagious, finding her nurturing, wise, soulful, & patient style of teaching to be welcoming, transformative,  & supportive to all. 

Up until her teacher and mentor's passing in 2019, when not teaching herself, you could often find Mary Susan attending or assisting a teacher training or Yoga intensive with her forever teacher & mentor, Maty Ezraty.  Mary's teachings and practices are reflective of her primary teachers and influences, Maty Ezraty, Sri K Pattahbi Jois, Richard Freeman, and BKS Iyengar.

Mary Susan teaches yoga, meditation, and sup yoga retreats, workshops, intensives, events, and trainings internationally, in the US, and at home in Hawaii. She offers mentoring for yoga teachers and students, yoga education and offerings, as well as guided adventure trips. 

She infuses her Yoga, SUP, and SUP Yoga classes, workshops, and retreats with her grounded yet light-hearted nature. For Mary, being a student of the practice of yoga is as important as being a teacher - we are students first, and teachers second. 

Mary Susan wholeheartedly believes that Yoga, Meditation, and Stand Up Paddleboarding, and SUP Yoga are for everybody, and is passionate about sharing these gifts, as well as her love of nature, adventure, travel, living well, environmentalism, ocean conservation, and the outdoors with all ages and all folks. #liveyourpractice

Travel Tips:

-Book your flights early-It is required to pre-arrange your transport upon arrival at airport to destination ahead of travel-Do purchase a travel insurance policy -Let your banks know that you'll be traveling -Let your phone carrier know you'll be traveling -Make sure your passport is up to date-Do reach out if you have any questions or would like a suggestion for flights 

Suggested Travel Insurance Companies: 

Allianz Travel Trawick International AIG Travel Guard 

Questions

-Email us anytime at floatandflowllc@gmail.com

See you in Hawaii this May for an island week in the heart of Waikiki, xo