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Join us on the mystical island of Iona for a week of embodied exploration and soul-filling connection to yourself, to the land, and to Mystery.

This tiny island off the coast of Scotland, barely three miles long and one mile wide, has been a holy meeting place for thousands of years. It's often described as a “thin place”, where heaven and earth are said to press close together, and where the sacred melds seamlessly into the everyday. 

On this seven-day retreat, we'll deepen our connection to the sacred through yoga, dance, meditation, and other practices to invigorate the body, mind and heart. We'll walk the island together to experience its wild and spectacular landscape, to pray with nature, and to celebrate the beauty of this profoundly peaceful place. There will be time for rest and reflection, as well as connection with each other, with the land, and with the Exquisite Invisible.

For more details about our planned activities and daily schedule, see the Itinerary section below.

Jurian Hughes, E-RYT 500, YACEP, MFA, is a pathfinder. Through the gateway of the body, she guides students to connect with themselves in ways they had forgotten were possible, longed to revisit, or maybe never even knew were there. “I do my best to create a space in which people feel like they can be completely themselves. Through my own vulnerability, honesty and humor, I try to help us all find our way to greater joy.”

Hughes is founder of the Yoga of Voice;  co-creator of the Yoga of Yes; a Let Your Yoga Dance® teacher trainer; voice coach; personal mentor; writer; speaker; and theatre performer known for her passionate, playful and engaging teaching style. As a senior faculty member of the Kripalu School of Yoga for more than a decade, Hughes has led thousands of workshops and programs and trained more than 1,000 Kripalu yoga teachers. In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Hughes has a long theatrical resume spanning Broadway, off-Broadway, Europe, film, television and voice-over. Through her own study and decades of practice she has developed a deep understanding of the ways in which the tools of yoga, dance, voice, mindfulness and play can be used to cultivate greater self-knowledge, freedom and joy. She leads inspiring workshops, retreats and trainings at Kripalu and around the world that promote whole-being wellness, increased creativity, and the ability to thrive. Find out more at www.jurianhughes.com.

Linden de Voil, RH(AHG), is a practicing clinical herbalist and professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, the only accrediting body for herbalists in the U.S. A writer and educator in the field of plant medicine, natural health, and earth-based spiritual practice, her work invites us to strengthen our innate ties to the more-than-human, living world through curiosity, observation, and delight. A believer in practical magic, Linden uses somatic practices, simple ritual, and plant medicine to help find our path back into belonging and connection with the natural world.

with Guest Facilitators Simon de Voil and David Wallace

Rev. Simon Ruth de Voil was born and raised in Scotland, and knows the island well. He first came to Iona as a baby in his mother’s womb, and he spent much of his childhood roaming her rocky hills and beaches. Simon returned to live and work at the Abbey at Iona from 2006 to 2008. Simon says of Iona, “She is ‘my island’ because in some inexplicable way I belong to her, and I am in her service.”

Rev. David Wallace is a spiritual director, and formerly a dean and senior instructor for OneSpirit Interfaith Seminary. A graduate of St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, he has continued those studies as a lifelong student of the “great books” of philosophy and archetypal psychology. An active interfaith minister, David has been a regular guest lecturer at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and the Interspiritueel Seminarie in the Netherlands, and has taught at Integral Yoga in New York, the Esalen Institute, the Omega Institute, and other educational venues. Known for his deep and passionate teaching style, David has drawn a worldwide audience, offering seminars on the sacred texts of both the Eastern and Western spiritual traditions.

We’ll have exclusive use of Bishop’s House, a beautiful center built in 1894 that serves as a retreat house for the Scottish Episcopal Church—though you don’t need to be of any particular faith tradition to enjoy their warm welcome and hospitality!

Bishop’s House is a retreat house, not a hotel; it offers comfortable, simple accommodation including wholesome home-cooked meals, use of a library with open fire, access to a beautiful chapel, and a view of the sound of Iona. All bedrooms are up one flights of stairs, although a chair lift is available. Each bathroom is shared by several guests.

Although Bishop’s House itself is just a short walk from the ferry, this retreat will require some walking over rough ground, short uphill walks, and muddy terrain. In order to participate fully in these portions of the pilgrimage, you should be comfortable walking up to three miles on uneven ground.

For those who aren't able to join these rambles — or simply prefer not to! — we'll offer suggestions for shorter walks and other ways to make use of your time on the island.

We recommend flying into Glasgow airport. (You can also fly into Edinburgh, though it is a longer train ride from Oban, and you will need to change trains in Glasgow.) From Glasgow Airport you can take a shuttle bus, taxi, or Uber into the center of town. Trains to Oban depart from Queen Street Train Station, and it’s just a few hundred feet from the Oban train terminal to the Mull ferry.

You can buy your train tickets in advance to save some money, or you can purchase them at the time of departure. It takes about three hours to make the journey to Oban by train. Although it is possible to take a bus from Glasgow to Oban, we highly recommend the train as it’s more comfortable, and a beautiful journey!  

From Oban, you'll take a 45 minute ferry to the island of Mull, cross Mull by coach, then take a short ferry ride across the Sound of Iona. Although this may sound complex, it's a very well-traveled route — the island bus and ferry schedules are timed to align, and you'll find it fairly easy to make your way. 

This handy website has curated all the information and links you'll need. (And if you plan to extend your stay on Iona, we highly recommend staying at the Green Shed on the lovely north end of the island!)

Here's our suggested itinerary for travel to Iona from Glasgow:

Aug 29: Arrive in Glasgow!

Spend the night in this delightful and bustling port city, rich with Victorian and art nouveau architecture. Choose a hotel near the train station for ease, or take a taxi / rideshare.

Aug 30:  Travel to Oban

Enjoy a morning wander and lunch in Glasgow, then take the 2:15 train from Queen Station to Oban. Enjoy dinner out in this lively and hospitable seaside tourist town full of wonderful restaurants. Spend the night at one of its many hotels or guest houses. (Choose one near Oban Station and the ferry pier for ease of travel.) You can purchase your ferry tonight at Cal Mac Station, located on the pier, if you like, or purchase as a walk-on tomorrow.

Aug 31: Travel to Iona

-  Take the 12:15 pm ferry to Craignure, Isle of Mull. Arrive 30 minutes early and join the other travelers getting in line. Jurian will be traveling at this time as well. Look for her in her bright yellow slicker! 

- When exiting the ferry on Mull, immediately board the bus to Craigure (departs approx. 1:29, in line with ferry). Buses are at the end of the walkway - you can't miss it! Purchase bus tickets as you board.

- The bus line terminates in Fionnphort, just a few yards away from the ferry pier. You'll board the ferry to Iona shortly after exiting the bus. (Ferries depart to Iona every 15-20 minutes.)

- Linden and Bishop's House staff will be waiting for you on the other side to escort you on a 5-10 minute walk to the retreat center. 

Note: Luggage will be carried for you on this final leg of the journey, but  you will be responsible for transporting it through transitions from boat to ferry to bus, etc. Keep this in mind when packing!

Alternatively, you may choose to travel all the way from Glasgow to Iona on Saturday August 31,  but you'll need to arrive at Queen Street station around 7:45 a.m. to catch the 8:21 departure — and it does make a long day of travel! 

Payment plans are available, and you may pay your balance due in part or in full any time between registration and March 1, 2024. 

The $500 registration deposit is nonrefundable.
Refunds (excluding deposit) are available until March 1, 2024.

In case of cancellation after March 1, your registration can be transferred to a friend or family member.

We HIGHLY recommend that you consider purchasing Travel Insurance. Travel insurance companies offer policies that insure your investment in case you need to cancel (including “cancel for any reason” coverages), coverages for expenses incurred due to to weather & travel delays, personal property loss and emergency travel medical.  Please review policies carefully to choose the coverage you need.