Energy Healing Retreat in Lake Lure, North Carolina - September 3 thru 6, 2021
We enjoyed a wonderful small-group retreat in this beautiful setting over Labor Day weekend with guided gentle yoga, meditation, hiking, healthy, delicious meals, group coaching sessions, and one-on-one holistic health and energy healing sessions.
If you long for a personal timeout from life’s daily demands, support on your healing journey, joyful time with likeminded women, and spiritual guidance, come along for the next trip.
Venue
Lake Lure, NC
Accommodation
Program
hands-on cooking classes
We will enjoy fresh pressed, raw juices and practice gentle yoga, breathwork, and journaling every morning.
As a bonus, HRV BrainTap sessions are offered. Experience the powerful effect of BrainTap brainwave entrainment on your physical body and psychoemotional state.
Enjoy group coaching, delicious meals made from scratch, one-on-one energy healing sessions, guided evening meditation, and a bonfire cacao ceremony together.
Activities
Our venue offers free use of kayaks, a bonfire place, and a hot tub. The retreat fee includes a guided hike to Hickory Nut Falls (and a hike up Chimney Rock for those who enjoy more challenging hikes). Spa services are available for an additional fee (can be scheduled as in-house treatments or as a visit to a nearby spa).
Did you know that about 70% of the average modern-day American diet are empty calories and that such a diet sets you up for weight gain while being malnourished? Did you know that with a non-organic diet, you eat 3 to 5 pounds of chemical food-additives each year?
Clean eating is not a diet. It's not about losing weight at every price and it's not about going hungry.
Clean eating is about
restoring the gut flora - thus reversing symptoms of IBS and boosting the immune system,
replenishing nutrients such as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements - thus keeping the endocrine system, bones, teeth, and muscle tissues healthy,
rebalancing the nervous system - thus supporting long-term brain health and good memory, eliminating brain fog, ensuring restful sleep, and improving mood,
resetting the hormones - thus ensuring proper thyroid metabolism, blood sugar control, stronger muscles, neurotransmitter balance in the brain, and optimal weight,
restoring long-term health by reversing early symptoms of dis-ease and reducing inflammatory processes in the body.
This 10-day program offers you:
a meal plan with precise instruction and timing and protein-carb-balance
easy yet tasty recipes
list of local restaurants that offer healthy options
action steps on how to change habits/overcome cravings and more
daily email support: motivation and education
learn how and which amino acids can support weight loss, brain health, strength building, and much more
learn how enzymes can support proper digestion, reverse IBS symptoms, reduce allergies, boost immune strength
learn how intermittent fasting can reset your digestive fire (appropriate hydrochloric acid production for complete digestion)
why eating organic is imperative
how to stay youthful longer: take control of your blood sugar, cholesterol, hormonal balance (yes, this is important for men too)
learn why gut health and liver cleansing are so important and which foods and supplements are good and which ones are a waste of money
yogic/ayurvedic teaching about healthy eating
yoga poses that support digestion, blood pressure, detox, stress management, mindfulness.
Heck YES, this program is actually providing specific information for men and women with regard to metabolism, endocrine balance, and nutrients.
I partner with Dr. Alan Hopkins for blood/lab work and with Dr. Daniel Amen/Amen Clinics for brain health assessments. If you are interested in a more comprehensive consultation, let me know, and I'd be glad to talk to you in more detail.
Women Empowerment Retreat in Belize - May 31st thru June 5th, 2021
Are you thinking about going on retreat, and trying to find the right one for you? Get a glimpse of this beautiful place and the program I offer here (the photos below were taken during a retreat in 2019).
Are you ready to register? Pay a deposit of $500 to reserve your spot here!
THE VENUE- Copal Tree Lodge - a little piece of heaven
breakfast with a view – seriously, green trees as far as one can see
hummingbirds visiting very day
the lodge main building
aerial view
the bar and lounge area – always friendly, welcoming service, always warm cookies and chilled drinks
the lobby
Dinner al fresco
lobby and bar area
one of two pools
view from the path leading up to the yoga palapa
386 stairs leading down to the river – also known as the butt-hill
kayaks and canoes available all day long
Lovely orchids everywhere
laughing howler monkeys everywhere
The lodge is located in the middle of a 12,000 acres wildlife refuge right on the banks of river Rio Grande. The terrain is quite steep but there are both steps and an elevator tram. During our last retreat, we had two ladies with prior knee-surgery participating and they had no problems getting around. Everything is tastefully furnished, in harmony with nature, sustainably built and managed.
Amenities:yoga palapa, pool, spa, boat deck, fire pit, restaurant, hiking trails, jungle gym, kayaks and canoes, bicycles.
THE ROOMS - at this lodge various categories are offered.
For my retreats, I reserve the Jungle Suite Cabanas - charming and spacious cabins with private bathrooms (single-/double-occupancy). As much as I love to travel with a group, I respect that there are times when we need our privacy. These rooms offer just that - your own space. The rooms are exceptionally clean, the views extend the space into the jungle for those who like to communicate with trees and listen to the vast diversity of birds. If you prefer any other category, just let me know.
THE FOOD - organically grown, always fresh, seasonal farm-to-table meals
Farm-to-table lunch – sooo good.
hands-on cooking classes
Come and experience for yourself what difference a week of clean eating can make for your health.
YOGA - complete guided practice every morning, guided meditation or Yin Yoga every night - for all who love yoga
Love, love these women
Like everything else at the lodge – the sign is made with love
Debra – a lioness of a woman
Teri – what a blessing to meet this big-hearted, smart lady
It gets dark quickly, but every night we were surrounded by fireflies, creating the most magical atmosphere for our practice
Every day fresh – water, cups, flowers – couldn’t ask for better service
The yoga palapa – located on top of the hill – great views, quiet and tucked away from the “party”, providing all that we need
Hi, this is me
Kasia – this fierce woman and energy healer had bone cancer in her femur and look how strong she is standing her ground
My sweet Teri – would I tell you her age, you would want to pay her for her forever-youthful secret
Yes, just be still, Savasana – the river is so peaceful in the early morning
Helping each other while roothing down deeply
the beautiful yoga palapa
This is how we do it – fresh, chilled, green coconut served after each yoga class
And sometimes you just have to turn your viewpoint upside down
Hmm, breathe.
New friendships – because your vibe attracts your tribe – you may just meet a new person who just gets you because they are somewhat like you
In addition to the daily morning and evening practices, there will yoga posture clinics, chanting sessions, pranayama sessions, and one-on-one sessions offered.
THE FARM- this has been a farm for generations - honoring the soil, loving nature and growing food in harmony with its cosmic cycles.
Starfruit tree – blossoms and fruit
Who wants to hold a lamb?
Dragonfruit blossom – looks like three flowers in one
Baby cacao pot with blossoms, directly on the stem
Orchids
Vanilla plant
Vanilla pots and flower bud
Vanilla drying, almost ready to unfold its fragrance…
Edible ginger
Allspice
Breadfruit tree
Cashew nut – this kind and knowledgable man, Elon, is in charge of the organic farm, the spice farm, and the educational projects surrounding it
Black pepper
Mr. Beu
Some see a field of sugar cane, some see a field of rum growing 🙂
For those interested, tours of the on-site spice farm and chocolate factory are offered.
GETTING THERE - let the adventure begin
Book your international flight to Philip Golson International Airport in Belize City. I will update any regulations regarding COVID-19 and travel as we get closer to May 2021. As of now, Belize is open for travelers from the U.S.. Negative COVID-19 tests are required for all entering the country. Passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months.
Amazing Rio Grande from above
Say hi to your pilot
I just love flying small planes
Breathtaking Belize
It’s like riding the bus – brief stop in Placencia
Lovely Placencia
Flying down the coastline
Pristine Rio Grande – yes, we went canoeing down there, and yes, there are crocodiles down there
Welcome to Punta Gorda Airport, Terminal 1
Our ride into the jungle
One-On-One Coaching/Energy Healing - this is my purpose - to meet you, yes you, where you are and hold space for your healing because I believe that you were created to live life to your fullest potential
Cacao ceremony – ancient heart opener ceremony
Love, love these women
(Re-)Connecting with Mother Earth, the gift of the cacao plant, following this Mayan recipe for a thick wonderful drink
Daily healing and coaching sessions to help you win clarity, remove blockages, create positive affirmations and action steps.
Perfect ambiance for aroma therapy, Reiki healing, deep hypnotic trances, past life regression, and herbal treatments.
Yes, I bring my crystals too
As a board certified holistic health practitioner, I offer one-on-one health coaching starting with a thorough intake session, and customized energy healing sessions including Reiki, homeopathy, and acupuncture accompanied with hypnotic trances.
TOURS - Mayan Ruins
Have the ancient warriors from India influenced Mayan culture? Learning at Lunbaantun
The Ball Court – the ancient Mayans played a ball game with only noble families and high ranking priests watching, the winner was sacrificed in the end
keylock stone – you remove these two, the entire pyramid will collapse
So much to learn and take in
Xunantunich – the great lady castle
Castle at Xunantunich
Originally all architectural structures were covered with stucco – detailed with mystic figures
Originally all architectural structures were covered with stucco – detailed with mystic figures
Originally all architectural structures were covered with stucco – detailed with mystic figures
Inside – on our way up
Did you take the picture yet?
Overlooking the entire site
Well deserved lunch – cooking a Mayan meal with this sweet woman who welcomed us into her home
Well deserved lunch – cooking a Mayan meal with this sweet woman who welcomed us into her home
TOURS - Blue Creek
"This feels so free." - Annabel; Best compliment ever!
So proud of these courageous women
jungle hike
laughing howler monkeys everywhere
just having a blast
just having a blast
cooling off in the Blue Creek
Awesomeness!
the cave, source of the blue spring, housing an amazing waterfall inside that we are about to see
first, we have to swim against strong current into the cave
I can't express with words how grateful I am for being able to do this kind of work, for the trust the women who choose to travel with me were and are giving me, the riches of nature, the friendliness of the locals, the guidance to do it and lead retreats. Namaste!
Are you ready to register? Pay a deposit of $500 to reserve your spot here!
"Ich liebe Yoga, Natur, und andere Menschen mehr zu einem gesunden Lebensstil zu ermutigen. Deshalb biete ich regelmaessig Workshops und Retreats an."
Manja Herlt Podratz, Ph.D.,unterrichtet Vinyasa, Ashtanga, und Yin Yoga.
Als sechsjaehriges Maedchen hat sie von ihrem Vater die ersten Hatha Yoga Uebungen gelernt. Er war es auch, der ihr Entspannungstechniken wie autogenes Training beibrachte. Von 1998 bis 2006 praktizierte Manja Kundalini und Schwangerschaftsyoga in Berlin verschiedenen Lehrern, und Hatha und Kundalini Yoga in der Tradition nach Swami Sivananda with Yoga Vidya in Deutschland. Im Jahr 2008 ist Manja in die Vereinigten Staaten umgezogen und absolvierte ihre 200-Stunden Ausbildung zur Yogalehrerin in 2014/15 mit Tracey Narayani Glover von Shanti Warrior Living Yoga School in Mobile, Alabama.
Manja erhielt ihr Diplom in Kulturarbeit und Kunstmanagement von der Fachhochschule Potsdam, und einen Doktortitel in Architekturtheorie von der Brandenburgischen Technischen Universitaet (BTU) Cottbus. Sie lehrte fuer 11 Jahre an verschiedenen Hochschulen in Deutschland, Italien, und in den USA und publizierte mehrere akademische Buecher und Artikel auf Englisch und Deutsch waehrend dieser Zeit.
Im Jahr 1999 erhielt Manja die Diagnose Unterleibskrebs, eine schockierende Diagnose, welche dazu fuehrte, dass sie ihre Ernaehrungs- und Lebensweise komplett umgestellte. Fuer zwei Jahre folgte sie einer Rohkost-Heilnahrung und seitdem ist sie Veganerin. Heute ist sie Mutter von drei wunderbaren Kindern, die alle natuerlich zu Hause geboren wurden. Manja ist die Autorin von "Das Leben kennt den Weg" - ein Ratgeberbuch zu natuerlicher Schwangerschaft und Geburt sowie veganer Ernaehrung.
Im Jahr 2001 verursachte ein Sportunfall die Fraktur von drei Rueckenwirbeln. Nach langen Monaten der Heilung, ohne Operation, kam Manja zurueck zu einer intensiveren Yoga Praxis. http://yogawithmanja.com/healing-from-spinal-injury
Heute arbeitet Manja als Yogalehrerin, als Brain Health Coach (zertifiziert durch Amen Clinics/Dr. Daniel Amen), zertifizierter Life Coach, zertifizierter Hypnotherapeut, und Reiki Meister. Manja hilft ihren Klienten, Trauma, Angstzustaende, Depressionen, Suechte und ADHS zu heilen auf koerperlicher, geistiger und emotionaler Ebene. Manja arbeitet zweisprachig auf Deutsch und Englisch, und ist ausgebildet und zertifiziert als Uebersetzerin. Regelmaessig arbeitet sie medizinische und juristische Dolmetscherin.
Manjas Lebensmotto ist:
"Wenn Dir viel gegeben wurde, ist es Deine Verantwortung viel zurueckzugeben zu Dir selbst, Deiner Familie und Deiner Gemeinde, zum besten Wohle aller."
PLEASE READ THE CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE BOOKING. Do not hesitate to contact me (manjapodratz@gmail.com) should you have any questions.
PAYMENT
In order to reserve your spot for this retreat, you may either pay in full or pay a deposit and then pay the remainder before or by August 15, 2018. Upon receipt of your payment, I will send you a confirmation of your deposit/payment.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Please note that there will be no refunds or discounts for arriving late, leaving early, flight cancellations, travel delays or illness. If you cancel your participation in a retreat for any reason, the cancellation policy below will apply, with no exceptions. I wish I could compensate people for unforeseen circumstances (injury, family emergency, etc), but I have costs already going into play when reserving retreat centers. I have designed the cancellation policy to be as compassionate as possible in the case that your plans change. But to protect yourself further, we strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance.
IF YOU CANCEL THE RETREAT
If you cancel more than 75 days before your retreat start date, 100% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat.
If you cancel 50 – 75 days before your retreat start date, 75% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat. You will forfeit 25% of the price of your retreat.
If you cancel 15 – 49 days before your retreat start date, 50% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat. You will forfeit 50% of the price of your retreat.
If you cancel 14 days or less before your retreat start date, you will forfeit your entire payment.
HOWEVER
You may TRANSFER your reservation to another person subject to the procedures in this paragraph. Such transfer must be made no later than September 10th, 2018. In order to make the transfer, the owner of the reservation must contact me and provide contact information for the person who receives the transfer. The transfer between transferor and recipient may be as a gift or as a sale between the two parties, which will be considered completely independent of Manja Podratz and Yoga With Manja. Transfers made without communicating it to me will not be manifested to the final attendee list and there will be no refund of the ticket price. To cancel, you must send an email stating that you wish to cancel to: manjapodratz@gmail.com
IF I CANCEL THE RETREAT
I have never had to cancel a retreat, however, if I do cancel a trip due to personal circumstances such as illness or death in the family, I will refund to you all deposits and payments you have paid. I cannot however compensate you for airfare or travel costs incurred. In the unlikely event that I must cancel a retreat due to weather, natural disaster or political upheaval, I cannot guarantee a refund – it will be depending on receiving a refund from the venue / tour operator I work with.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
To join the retreat you must have travel insurance. The best way to protect yourself from any unforeseen circumstance is to purchase trip insurance. Travel Insurance can protect you in case:
• you cancel your participation in the retreat
• retreat is cancelled due to weather, natural disaster, or not enough participants to run the trip
• lost baggage
• medical expenses and the cost of repatriation should you become ill or injured
Did you know that the best-preserved ancient Greek temples cannot be found in Greece but on the Italian island of Sicily and that numerous Greek philosophers lived in Sicily? To this day, this island is still a truly mind-opening place - you can't help but think and experience more deeply.
The next trip to Sicily is coming up in 2020! Join my email list to stay tuned.
We stayed at a beautiful, clifftop villa just south of Taormina, with breathtaking views over the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Etna.
Celebrated the Summer Solstice with a special guided meditation.
Explored the Ancient philosophical writings by Aristotle and Plato (who spent most of his life on Sicily). Study the Philosophy of Happiness and compare it to the teachings of the Baghavad Gita. These Greek and Indian teachings are about the same old and are remarkably similar in their approach to happiness.
This is a retreat that combines yoga, healthy living, positive affirmation of life, cultural studies, and spending time in nature. Besides visiting archaeological sites in Agrigento, Siracusa, and Taormina, you will also visit a fifth-generation winery and enjoy a fabulous Sicilian dinner!
Teatro Greco, Taormina, Sicily
Isola Bella, Taormina
Piazza Duomo, Siracusa
each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and access to the balcony with sea view
Villa Saracena, pool
clifftop view from our villa
al fresco dinner with sunset view behind Mount Etna
practice with the elements
pure, healthy deliciousness
Temple of Concordia in Agrigento
Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
olive harvest
Ancient Greek gymnast (or yogi?)
just Sicily
the famous “bikini girls mosaic” in Piazza Armerina
the westside coast of Sicily where we will be staying
sunset meditation
Every bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and access to the balcony. This venue allows the quietness and space for a yoga retreat. And it comes private access to swimming in saltwater or to seek a silent meditation spot.
The fee for this retreat includes
Accommodation in a deluxe single or double room for 7 nights: rooms can be furnished with two separate twin-size beds or one queen size bed - to your preference.
Daily maid-service, mid-week linen change.
Guided yoga practice twice daily.
Guided meditations and posture clinics to deepen your personal practice.
Three meals per day, Sicilian/Italian plant-based cuisine.
Transportation from and to Catania Airport.
Transportation to daily tours.
Visit of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento - one of the best-preserved sites of Greek Ancient temples in the world!
Visit of the Greek Theater and Isola Bella in Taormina.
Visit of the Neapolis and baroque center of Siracusa.
Visit of Roman archaeological sites in Piazza Armerina and Morgantina.
Talks about the ancient philosophy of creation, healthy living, honoring body and soul, and IDEAS OF HAPPINESS.
"The Secret Of Change Is To Focus All Of Your Energy Not On Fighting The Old But On Building The New." - Socrates
Manja erhielt ihr Diplom in Kulturarbeit und Kunstmanagement von der Fachhochschule Potsdam, und einen Doktortitel in Architekturtheorie von der Brandenburgischen Technischen Universitaet (BTU) Cottbus. Sie lehrte fuer 11 Jahre an verschiedenen Hochschulen in Deutschland, Italien, und in den USA und publizierte mehrere akademische Buecher und Artikel auf Englisch und Deutsch waehrend dieser Zeit.
