☆ TAOS: LOVING AWARENESS YOGA RETREAT  ☆

“This journey is a journey of paradox for the intellect and a journey of return for the heart.” 
- Baba Ram Dass

In June (8-13th), we're heading to the high desert of Taos, New Mexico for an unforgettable experience!  A spiritual hub with captivating landscapes, Taos is known as the "Land of Enchantment." It is filled with artists and indigenous culture against a background of dreamy desert hues, mountain views and healing hot springs. Of note, it is home to a Hanuman temple built via the direction of Baba Ram Dass.

It's no wonder creatives & Bohemians have flocked here, including Georgia O'Keefe who said that at sunset the Taos desert looks like an ocean and "if you ever go to New Mexico, it will itch you for the rest of your life."

If you've been on a retreat with me, you know I search high and low for really unique places. We'll be staying at a historic property with a mission to support mindful living and greater connection. And, I've carefully curated all of the details for you including classes, excursions, meals and transportation. You'll make lifelong memories and feel the inherent awe and joy in the world when we take an incredible hike, visit the Hanuman temple, and deepen our yoga practice.

Over this 5-night retreat you will experience the luxuries of nature, yoga, community, exploration and incredible food:

+ Connect to natural wonder on a hike through Plaza Blanca. Weaving around these natural canyons and otherworldly towering rock spires is unforgettable. It’s so freeing to remember we are tiny beings in a huge world and an even bigger Universe. 

+ Experience the joys of yogic spiritual life and a taste of India! Taos is particularly special to me given my Bhakti-yoga orientation: it is home to the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram & Hanuman Temple where we’ll visit for aarti and kirtan. The teachings of Neem Karoli Baba were simple and universal: he taught a path of love and most often said "all one" (we are all connected). His devotee Ram Dass carried the message of "loving awareness" forward.

+ Luxuriate at Ojo Caliente. These relaxing and calming hot springs are said to cure the soul.

+ Feel the energy of sacred land and spiritual community and enjoy the view where mountains meet desert. Absolutely every square-nook is breathtaking.

+ Discover new capability in your yoga practice with Sandy through daily vinyasa classes. The retreat center has a full size yoga studio with Manduka mats & props available. 

+ Lounge in the pool, sauna and hot tub with exclusive use of the retreat property.

+ Immerse in the thriving culture & crafts at local shops in Santa Fe.

+ Let all the good stuff Integrate through a mix of restorative yoga, short guided meditations, as well as a crystal bowl sound bath with a reknowned sound healer. (We'll make good use of the beautiful yurt space :)

+ You will also have time to unplug: watch the desert sunset, walk the meditation labyrinth, gather round the fire pit, gaze at the millions of stars, or take a bike ride.

+ Be nourished by great food. Our chef grew up on the land of rural New Mexico and creates delicious, wholesome meals from organic, locally-sourced, wild-crafted ingredients - often incorporating harvest from her personal garden. Think flavorful grain bowls, cozy quiches, and inspiring salads. I got to meet her in person and try some of her food: she's awesome, and your tastebuds will be blown away.

ABOUT MY RETREATS: I am an experienced yoga teacher, traveller of the world (mostly in realms off the beaten path), and explorer within spiritual communities - and I love to create unique yoga experiences to share with others. "Barefoot luxury" tends to be my vibe, where nature and beauty and comfort meet. I don’t use third-party retreat planning services, which means you don't pay any extra costs and you get a one-of-a-kind trip. It is also a priority of mine to ensure that locations have a proper space to practice vinyasa yoga. And, I believe that travel, community, sacred places and time spent with Mama Earth all reinforce the wisdom within ourselves to support us on our path.

  
CONSCIOUS TRAVEL: As yogis, we aim to live mindfully, compassionately, and with an understanding of our interconnectedness to all that's around us. I try to uphold a light footprint by considering sustainability and responsibility at all levels - accommodation, food (vegetarian), the surrounding community, the wisdom-teachings I offer, the land, and the local economy.

Enjoy browsing the photo gallery at the bottom of the page. Please also review the FAQs/Notes below.

I hope you'll join me on this "journey of return for the heart" through the practice of yoga. Be rejuvenated by community & the beauty of the world!  

In service,
With love, 
राम राम....
Sandy

Where is this located?

Taos, NM is "off the beaten path," approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Albuquerque Airport (ABQ). A group shuttle bus to and from the airport is included: specific times TBD, but most likely departing ABQ ~1:30pm on 6/8, and arriving back to ABQ ~noon on 6/13. If you need transportation outside of the specified pick-up and drop-off time, then you'll need to make your own arrangements. At the time of writing this, flights are quite reasonable at $300-400 roundtrip from Boston. If you depart with the group, then you'll probably get home rather late on Saturday night, so you'll appreciate having Sunday to rest & regroup. Or, you might want to consider staying one more night in Santa Fe. There's just a two-hour time difference between EST (Boston) and MDT (Taos). 

Flights:

Please do not book your flight until I give the final go-ahead (~Jan/Feb).

Climate: 

The weather should be beautiful! Average highs in Taos for June are 75-80 degrees. Evening temps in the desert drop into the 50s-60s.

What will the daily schedule be like?

The schedule will vary each day, but here's an idea:

* 7:30am - Vinyasa yoga

* 9am - Breakfast

* 10:30am - Posture workshop (x2 during the retreat)

* 1:00pm - Lunch

* Afternoon - Group excursion or free time

* 5:30pm - Depending on our excursion, some days there will also be an evening session (like restorative yoga)

* 7:00pm - Dinner

What are the yoga classes like?

The vinyasa yoga will be intermediate level and physically challenging. I recommend that you are familiar with my public classes to have a sense of the style/level and whether this aligns well for you. I orient retreats towards dedicated yoga students with regular practices. You should be able to move through guided surya namaskar A's and B's (sun salutations) well, have a good understanding of basic poses/actions, and be eager to learn more. I believe wholeheartedly in increasing access to deeper study for all sincere yoga students.

Payments & cancellation Policy:

Please understand that these payment policies are necessary in order for me to offer the experiences that I do. The $500 registration deposit serves to reserve your place on this trip and is non-refundable for any reason without exception. The deposit secures your place on the trip and allows me to make necessary advance payments for accommodations and transportation. The remaining balance is due by March 8th, 2026, and you're welcome to log-in to WeTravel to make full or partial payments at anytime prior to that date. If you need to cancel before March 8th, 2026 then any additional payments towards the balance will be refunded (the deposit remains non-refundable). After March 8th, 2026 full payment for the trip is due and is non-refundable for any reason (including illness etc). 

What will accommodations be like?

The rooms are all decorated in neutral desert tones. There are a variety of single, double, and triple guest rooms with full, queen or king-sized beds (no twins). All of the rooms have their own en suite bathrooms (with hairdryer) and a micro-fridge. If you are coming with a buddy that you want to room with be sure let me know in the notes section when you register, otherwise you'll get to make a new lifelong friend! If the room you'd like is not available, please use the waitlist option because I've seen time and time again that such things have a magical way of working out. 

What amenities are there?

Our group will have exclusivity at the retreat center. The location describes itself as a one-of-a-kind property designed to support mindful living and meaningful connection. It is large historic home, renovated to preserve its beautiful adobe architecture and grounds. The property spans two acres of peace and quiet, with a pool, hot tub, sauna, shaded nooks, yurt, hammocks, meditation path/labyrinth, fire pit, and bikes/helmets.

Is there wifi at the retreat center?

Yes! :) But cell phone reception in the surrounding area is spotty.

The food: 

In alignment with yogic values, all food will be vegetarian. And, there will be no alcohol served at the retreat center to stay congruent with the intentions, but when you’re dining in town then please do as you wish & enjoy. These few days on retreat are a chance to 'try on' yogic culture & values - to explore spiritual growth, removed from our habitual patterns in daily life. If you have special dietary needs be sure to let me know on the registration page.

Avoid the credit card fee:

When you make a payment you'll see two options to pay: by checking account (ACH bank transfer) or by credit/debit card. If you pay by bank account there is no fee; whereas if you pay with a credit/debit card there IS a service fee (this is set by the credit cards, it has nothing to do with me) and those credit/debit card fees are non-refundable.

Is this the right trip at the right time for me?

I love community and connection and the diversity of human experiences! However, I am also not a mental health provider thus my retreats are not equipped to provide deep healing or mental health care. Please give some reflection as to whether being in a group retreat setting is right thing for you at this time in your life. I need to be able to trust that group dynamics will be safe and pleasurable for the whole group.

Drug & safety policy:

Though many plant medicines are legal in NM, there is strictly no use of illegal drugs, or mind-altering plant medicine during this retreat. No judgment if those things are a part of your life, but these few days are intentionally shaped around clear, unobscured minds. Excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, or any disrespectful/risky behavior will not be tolerated. This is a matter of safety and supports a peaceful environment for the group. If I become aware of drug use or any other unsafe behavior, you will be asked to leave the retreat immediately at your personal expense.

What should I bring?

A more detailed packing list will be provided as the trip nears, but here's an idea:

* Re-useable water bottle

* Weather-appropriate footwear and layers of clothing, including clothes for yoga and casual things to lounge in.

* A long sleeve layer for sun protection, the sun in New Mexico is serious. And in the desert the days can be hot, but evening temps can drop to the 50-60s.

* There will be plenty of food, but feel free to bring your favorite snacks in well-sealed packaging.

* Bathing suit for the pool and the natural hot springs

* SPF (the natural springs asks that you use oil-free SPF to protect the water)

*  A hat for sun protection

* Extra phone battery (I took so many photos, I was really glad to have an extra battery to recharge!)

* Flip-flops for pool/spa areas 

* Personal toiletries/medications 

(There IS a hairdryer in each room)

(No need to bring a yoga mat, they have Manduka mats available)

Over 20+ years Sandy has experienced a variety of yoga traditions that have uniquely shaped her course as a student and teacher. She is an E-RYT 200 yoga teacher, Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), certified meditation teacher, and holds a 500-hr academic certificate from the Yogic Studies school. In addition to teaching vinyasa classes, Sandy also teaches yoga philosophy and is on the staff of several yoga teacher trainings. 

Bhakti, sometimes referred to as the yoga of love & devotion, has become the heart of her personal practice and perspective. Sandy returns to India annually to deepen her commitment to yogic life and to learn from those living the path. She is a devoted Ram Bhakta, but also has a strong connection with Siva-Shakti traditions. With gratitude to Eastern traditions and her teachers, Sandy shares these teachings with precision, warmth and devotion. 

She sees yoga as an opportunity to illuminate and nurture the elements of insight, compassion and awareness - to ultimately act in the world with more love. 

Website: www.sandyklemmer.com 

IG: @sandyklemmeryoga