Align with autumn to access  inner calm, meaningful connection & expansive courage and  creativity in uncertain times (plus interactive travel to Peru!) 

Autumn is a time to reflect upon what you’ve sown and grown as you  harvest and savor the nourishment. A time to wind down, stabilize, turn  inward, and nurture. A time to connect your heart to supportive  community.

We invite you to join us in this 3-day virtual journey specifically  intended to connect and support highly sensitive people. You’ll  experience the heart of Peru with our guides from the comfort of your  home while syncing with the season and accessing your own inner refuge  and resources in transitional times.

Highlights of this virtual retreat include:

Nurturing yoga to calm your nervous system, tend to your caring heart, access mental clarity, and unfold your innate courage.

Highly sensitive community to co-regulate and connect with as we learn and listen to another.

Peruvian ritual offering to ground in gratitude and connect you to the earth.

Grounding sound session to access deep relaxation and restore emotional balance.

Ancestral wisdom and creativity to inspire as you navigate the current times.

Seasonal recipes to warm, nourish, and cozy up in autumn.

Bonus care package to soothe your soul this season. 

And more…

We’ve designed this retreat to support you in creating a sensitive sanctuary within your home, body, and mind this fall. 

One of my favorite aspects of our  retreats is collaborating with my international retreat partners who are  passionate about sharing their unique skills and cultural wisdom.

The pandemic may have brought our in-person adventures to a longer halt than we’d like, but the connection and community can continue when we adapt.

This is a chance for an interactive, accessible glimpse into the beautiful heart of Peru.

Melissa Noel Renzi is a licensed social worker and trauma-informed yoga teacher who weaves her skills together to help highly sensitive people transform deep-seated anxiety, uncover their innate strengths, and engage in the world as empowered agents of inner and outer healing. Melissa aims to challenge the perception of modern yoga as fitness by guiding her students through self-paced movement, gentle postures, and breathing techniques while carefully weaving yoga philosophy throughout in order to illuminate the purpose of yoga. At the forefront of her teaching is making yoga approachable to all and creating an environment that is healing. Pre-pandemic, Melissa was leading global adventure retreats for introverts and highly sensitive people in order to provide group travel experiences that also allow for the unique needs. Though she looks forward to the day when in-person travel can return, she is currently using her creativity and partnerships to provide retreat experiences in the comfort of your home. 

Valentin Baca Baños is the founder of Valentin’s Pachamama Journeys in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Valentin grew up on a farm in the Sacred Valley and began working as a porter on the Inca Trail as a teenager. He then went on to study tourism and has been guiding experiences in the region for the last decade. Valentin goes above and beyond in sharing his knowledge of the history of the Incas, agricultural and cultural wisdom and practices, and stories from his youth that led him to his commitment to education in his community. In this retreat, he’ll share his knowledge and lead the group through a Peruvian ritual of gratitude for mother earth. You’ll also have a chance to hear his personal story and how he perceives the current challenge and how we can cope. 

Flor Bocangel Zuñiga was born in the jungle of Peru and moved to Cusco as a child. She studied tourism and gastronomy and has worked as a tour guide for seven years. Flor is passionate about ice climbing and hiking because she enjoys seeing the world from the top of the mountains and being in nature puts her in touch with the religion of her ancestors. In the spirit of caring for nature, she spends her free time reusing recyclable materials in creative ways. Flor enjoys learning languages and taught herself English. After suffering an injury in 2019 and now the pandemic, Flor has shifted to teaching Spanish and Quechua lessons online. Flor loves connecting with people and introducing her culture, traditions, and knowledge from her  ancestors with the world. She's excited to share some of the creative ways she keeps wisdom from her ancestors alive.

Gonzalo Basavilbaso is a musician, luthier, and researcher of sound and its therapeutic uses. He studied music and music production in Buenos Aires and has  developed himself as a musician of distinct styles. Ten years ago, Gonzalo learned of the therapeutic use of sound and was captivated forever. He has dedicated himself to exploring the potential of sound both in individual and group sessions, through the manufacturing of therapeutic instruments, and exhaustive research to understand the benefits of sound on a physical and psycho-acoustic level. Gonzalo will lead you through a sound session to disrupt habitual thought patterns, rest the active mind and enter a deep state of relaxation, unlock old  emotions in the body, and restore body, mind, and emotional balance. You will be amazed by how powerful the sound is even in the virtual realm. 

• (14) total hours of live & prerecorded sessions with Melissa & international collaborators
• Pachamama Ceremony: An interactive Peruvian ritual with Valentin
• Ground in Sound: A nourishing sound healing experience with Gonzalo
• Reviving Ancestral Wisdom with Creativity with Flor
• (4) 75-min gentle yoga sessions specifically designed to support HSPs (prerecorded, 2 of 4 also offered live)
• (2) 15-20 minute yoga nidra (yogic sleep) audio recordings to facilitate deep restoration (prerecorded)
• (4) HSP facilitated discussions to connect in a supportive space (opening, closing, and 2 reflection circles)
• (3) simple, nourishing recipes to support your well-being this autumn
• A step-by-step Vedic method for intention setting (writing exercise given pre-retreat)
• Open “Zoom Hangout” hours to connect with other participants outside of scheduled sessions

BONUS: Sign up by September 28, 2020 and receive a mini care package.

Friday

12:00-1:00    Opening Circle: Intros, Intentions & Group Agreements

6:00-7:00    Supporting Your Sensitive System & Reflection Circle

7:00-8:00    Calming Yoga to Soften Your Senses (pre-recorded & live)

Saturday

Morning      Enlivening Yoga for Mental Clarity & Focus (pre-recorded for self-practice)

11:00-12:30   Pachamama Ceremony with Valentin

1:00-2:00     Reflection Circle

4:00-5:00    Open Hangout

5:30-6:30    Calming Yoga for Sensitive Hearts (pre-recorded & live) 

6:30-8:00    Sound Healing with Gonzalo

Sunday

Morning      Enlivening Yoga for Embodied Engagement (pre-recorded for self-practice)

11:00-12:30   Ancestral Wisdom for Navigating the New Normal with Flor?

1:00-2:00     Closing Reflection Circle  

How does participation in this retreat work?
This online retreat is will take place via Zoom.  You’ll need a smartphone, tablet, or computer to participate, as well  as solid internet access. You’ll receive a link and password, as well as a list of tips for how to prepare your space and any items that you may  want to have accessible.

Will a sound healing really translate online?
We were skeptical too! But Gonzalo has mastered his sound equipment and  technology in such a way that delivers a profound, high-quality  experience. Plus, you’ll learn about a variety of unique instruments and  their benefits on your overall well-being. Headphones that cover your  ears or external speakers will offer you a better experience than ear  buds or computer/phone speakers. More info will be provided.

Will the whole retreat be recorded?
All (4) yoga classes and (2) yoga nidra recordings will be prerecorded  in an aim to accommodate varying time zones and schedules. The two  evening yoga classes will be offered live as well for those who want to  participate. All workshops with our international partners will be live,  recorded, and provided to you after they’re held. The opening circle,  closing circle, and reflection circles will not be recorded in order to  observe confidentiality.

Will this mean I’ll be sitting in front of a screen for hours?
Being glued to a computer screen is not our idea of a retreat. So, while  you will need to connect for some of our interactive offerings, we’ve  included ample free time to spend in nature, yoga classes that can be  followed through listening, and a sound healing experience. The  reflection circles and two workshops with Valentin and Flor will be the  only time when you’ll likely be more connected to the screen.

What if I can’t make all the sessions?
While we encourage you to attend as much as you can live, we understand  this may not be possible for everyone. We do ask that participants plan  to attend the opening circle and closing circle in order to begin and  end as a group.

What will the yoga be like?
All yoga will include gentle, accessible movement and poses designed to  release tension and access inner calm, curiosity, and courage. Evening  practices will be calming and morning practices will slightly  energizing. Classes may include several of the following: dynamic  movement, still holds of āsana (poses), prāṇāyāma (breath regulation), dhyāna (meditation), śavāsana (guided relaxation), and yoga nidrā (yogic sleep). You  do not need to own a yoga mat or special props, but you will need to  have a space to move, chair without arms, blanket, and some throw  pillows. More info will be provided.

At the forefront of Melissa’s teaching is creating a  supportive environment that fosters personal agency, accessibility, and  inclusion while honoring the roots of yoga. Melissa’s aim is to teach in  a way that reflects the purpose of yoga–to discover the innermost,  already whole Self. Thus, she invites students to explore slow,  self-paced movement and varying shape options in order to discern what  feels beneficial to individual bodies and nervous systems. She believes  that by teaching non-harming, wise action on the mat, students will be  more inspired to engage with the surrounding world in way that is  non-harming (ahimsa) and upholds that which is purposeful and just  (dharma).

Can I share this retreat with a friend?
Yes, please share, but please ensure your friend registers as a  participant and please do not share links or materials with those who  have not registered.

Are scholarships available?
This retreat is being offered at a low price already when you consider the number of presenters and abundance of offerings. We encourage those who have the means to pay full price. However, we don’t want anyone turned away due to lack of funds. If you are experiencing  financial struggle, please email info@melissanoelrenzi.com to discuss options.

Due  to the many logistics involved with organizing an online retreat and  requiring a minimum number of participants, we will not be offering  refunds for this online retreat. If for any reason you are unable to  attend, consider that most of the retreat will be recorded. You may also  gift your retreat spot to someone else. Please reach out in the event  you need to cancel.