Book a 60-minute individual session with Eva and Gretchen to practice authentic movement, intention setting, and processing.
About Eva
Eva believes there is no such thing as advanced yoga and that we wake up in a beginner's mind every day, thankfully. She teaches that the physical portion of the practice is a vehicle to arrive back at the space in which we began, and it's our responsibility to deepen that journey over and over again, as life often pulls us in the opposite direction.
Her teaching focuses on breath, movement, and meditation. Her overall intention with teaching is to build a moment-to-moment awareness that pain and suffering are as transformative as joy and that light is always present no matter how dark things may seem.
Her classes have a core grounding in breath and flow, yet they are safe and supportive for those working through physical challenges. She received her 200-hour teacher training certification from Prema Yoga Brooklyn and is also a graduate of Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal's Therapeutic Yoga Training Program at Integral Yoga in NYC as well as numerous other trainings and immersions.
Eva’s personal practice has guided her through breast cancer, an eating disorder and trauma related to family addiction - experiences which have profoundly influenced her teaching style and her belief in the metamorphic power of yoga. Her priority is to create a safe space for everyone, every body, and each experience that students bring to class.
Eva is excited to join Gretchen for this offering in the exploration of female embodiment in all forms.
She currently lives in Brooklyn with her two amazing sons and teaches at Prema Yoga Brooklyn.
About Gretchen
Gretchen is a Psychotherapist in private practice in New York City. After receiving her MSW from New York University, she worked for five years providing psychotherapy to crime victims at the New York County District Attorney's Office, Special Victims Unit. In addition to private practice, she has taught undergraduate courses in the field of social work at NYU.
Prior to her career as a therapist she received an M.A. in Women's Spirituality in which she explored spiritual practice and ritual art as a path to healing. Service to the divine feminine and energetics influence her approach to healing.
She has also spent over a decade in the embodied practice of Authentic Movement. This practice has deepened her understanding of the wisdom and information held in our bodies. She has come to know intimately that there is no ease or healing before rebuilding a relationship to the body and the sensations that live within us.
In addition, she has completed Level 1 and Level 2 of Relational Life Therapy at the Relational Life Therapy Institute. Building deeper and more intimate connections with self and our partners is at the heart of Relational Life Therapy. Through the lens of RLT, we are able to see ourselves more clearly as well as develop an understanding of ourselves in relationship to our partners.
In her free time, Gretchen enjoys spending time with her 10-year-old, exploring the city, cuddling with her dog, and taking road trips. She is currently writing a book about her own healing journey and the therapist and therapeutic interventions that saved her life and guided her to live an empowered and relational life.
To be human is to feel and connect. Practices like Yoga, guided meditation, and authentic movement encourage the integration of the mind, body, and spirit. These embodied rituals can help us listen to our own guiding voices and the hope is we develop an inner north star - a deep, unconditional acceptance of ourselves.
We’ve designed this retreat to utilize these practices, and the beautiful surroundings of Costa Rica, to hold space as you explore, move, breathe, and rest. No experience is necessary in either the physical practice of yoga or authentic movement. This is an LGBTQ inclusive space and all women are welcome.
’Movement , to be experienced, has to be “found” in the body, not put on like a dress or coat. There is that in us which has moved from the very beginning. It is that which can liberate us.’ — Mary Whitehouse
- Through the practices of authentic movement and yoga, we will play, explore, deepen and connect - with ourselves, the landscape around us, and each other.
- We’ll share sounding circles, altar building, and fun nights of sacred music and dance in the moonlight!
- We’ll also explore the energetics of pain and how to work with it somatically as an essential component of emotional freedom and intimacy.
Your retreat days will include:
- Authentic Movement
- Vinyasa/therapeutic/yin/restorative yoga
- Altar building
- Sounding Circles
- Daily afternoon free time to explore
- Options for private add-ons of Authentic Movement and yoga (see below)
- Sacred dance parties
In service to the embodied feminine, Eva and Gretchen will hold space for the opening and unfolding of the innate power that lives within you.
Upon landing, board a transfer to Pagoda del Loto Azul. Perched on the verdant mountainside of Escaleras, the town has an open view of the South Pacific.
Once everyone has settled in, we will gather for an opening circle. We’ll spend time getting to know each other and you will be introduced to a few practices of embodied consciousness. Dinner is provided.
Rise and shine! It’s our first full day. We will start with breakfast, then a morning circle, followed by a yoga flow session and, if time allows, a nature walk to begin our altar building. After lunch you will have free time where you can rest or head out for an afternoon adventure. Connect with each other over dinner before an end-of-the-day session of Authentic Movement with Gretchen. You will have a chance to draw cards, sit with the altar, dance and share in the group circle before Authentic Movement.
Breakfast, morning circle and a yoga flow led by Eva. Enjoy a delicious lunch before heading out for your own afternoon adventure! Afterwards - dinner followed by a yoga asana warm-up and then an optional facilitated sacred dance party.
Midway mark - besides morning yoga practice, the schedule for today is kept clear so you can decide what you want to do. Explore the tranquil grounds of Pagoda del Loto Azul or go exploring. Pagoda del Loto Azul offers activities like ATV tours, surf lessons and kayaking, so take your pick! If you’d like to continue reaching within instead, let Gretchen and Eva know, and they will meet you for an individual session to practice yoga and Authentic Movement. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided, with free time beginning after morning yoga. Lunch and dinner at the retreat center are both optional.
After breakfast, we will sit together again in circle, and connect about how to integrate our retreat as we prepare to head home . As before, yoga flow before lunch and then a final optional afternoon adventure before dinner. We’ll end our final evening with a session of Authentic Movement followed by a closing circle.
We will meet for breakfast one last time before we check out and head to the airport. Take care, and don’t be a stranger!