Join Karen Macklin and Laurie Sleep on their third Heart and Hand Yoga Retreat! Heart and Hand retreats combine mindfulness, compassion, and action in amazing corners of the globe. On this incredible trip to Panama, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in yogic practices, experience the beauty of the country and its people, and offer your services to the local community. It’s a unique opportunity not to be missed! 

Our Adventure

The trip begins in Panama City, a historical part of Latin America that boasts incredible architecture and vibrant local culture. Here, we’ll spend 3 nights and 2 days visiting the Panama Canal, touring the city, and working with Fundacion Calicanto and Enlaces, two nonprofit organizations that assist in improving the lives of local children and adults in underserved communities. We’ll have the opportunity to meet local residents and offer our time to a meaningful community volunteer project. We’ll also practice yoga and meditation daily, enjoy local restaurants and nightlife, and engage in cultural activities. Next, we’ll head to Sansara, a first-class yoga retreat center that sits on the jaw-dropping coast of Panama. Here, we’ll delve more deeply into our yoga practices, eat delicious local food, and take part in water and other outdoor activities.

Yoga and Meditation

We’ll practice yoga and meditation daily. Yoga will be geared toward all levels; newer practitioners will have the opportunity to learn the basics of yoga, while more advanced practitioners will have the opportunity to take their practices to new depths. 

Accommodations 

During our 3 nights in Panama City, we will stay at a modest local hotel near the city center. For our 5 nights at Sansara, we will be staying in luxury accommodations at a first-class yoga retreat center, where you can choose between a double, triple, or quad. (A single may be available upon request; please contact us for more information.)

* All accommodations in Panama City and at the retreat center
* Group ground transportation, including airport shuttles
* Delicious vegetarian meals at Sansara Resort
* Breakfasts in Panama City
* A donation to the organizations we work with
* All cultural activities in Panama, including visiting the Panama Canal
* One complimentary rental of SUP or kayak; unlimited use of snorkel gear; complimentary bicycles
* Two yoga classes per day, with teachings based on the principles of compassionate view and compassionate action
* Meditation instruction and reflective writing exercises
* Oceanfront saltwater pool, hiking trails, and a group bonfire

* Air travel (about $600, if you book early; we will advise the best times to fly in and out)
* Lunch and dinner in Panama City for 2.5 days (we’ll be hitting the town together, and your bill will be based on what you order)
* Additional optional activities at the ocean, which may include surf lessons and eco-adventures, depending on the group’s interest
* Massage and spa services at Sansara, as well as gratuities for staff, if you choose to leave them
* Ground transportation to/from airport if you arrive to or leave Panama earlier or later than the days and times for which we arrange the transportation​