IMILOA PRESENTS
A 6-day immersive retreat to awaken, reflect, and grow through movement, connection, and Yoga
May 12-17, 2023
About The Retreat
Awaken your inner power to transform your life with the expert guidance of Susanna Barkataki and Blair Imani. Together, we will get smarter and explore the practice of yoga and healing from a decolonized perspective — creating the space to expand individually and collectively.
Join Susanna Barkataki and Blair Imani on a 5-day curated journey of self-discovery, adventure, and transformation. As creators of change, we will discover how to engage in the ancient practice of yoga from a decolonial, anti-racist, and inclusive mindset.
Through the art of movement, we will engage in mindful practices to expand our awareness, become grounded, and develop a deep curiosity toward understanding and healing the self.
With a yoga practice focused on interbeing, interdependence, and Samadhi, we will discuss how we intend to live in community outside of Imiloa–focusing on the concepts of Ujamaa and Ubuntu: cooperative economics and mutual respect. By understanding ourselves, we will open our minds to more deeply connect with our community and world.
Are you ready to decolonize your yoga practice?
Experience
Day 1 – Arrival
Day 2
Satya and Ubuntu: Truth and Mutual Respect
We will start with a morning yoga practice to ground ourselves at Imiloa and begin to understand the ethics of adopting yoga as a lifestyle. After a delicious breakfast, we will go on a guided nature walk to co-create a mindful relationship with our environment. After lunch and some personal time to relax and reflect, Imiloa's Chef Daniel will lead us through preparing our dinner before we have a mindful silent meal. We'll end our evening doing mindfulness exercises in the open air of the rainforest, listening to and observing nature and exploring our appreciation for the earth.
Day 3
Svadhyaya and Kujisomea: Self Inquiry and Self Study
Our day will start with a yoga practice focused on Svadhyaya: self-inquiry. After breakfast, Blair will lead us through guided meditation and identity mapping exercises to help us understand our place in our worlds and the people who create our community. In the afternoon, we will have a sacred Blue Clay experience at our private waterfall. You will explore communication without words as you enjoy the healing properties of the blue clay followed by a refreshing cleanse in the river. Our evening will be a deep relaxation activity.
Day 4
Samadhi and Ujamaa: Interbeing and Cooperative Economics
Now that we have a better understanding of ourselves, we can understand how we fit into community. We’ll start our day with a practice focused on truth and opening our hearts, followed by examining ourselves in relationships and understanding the ethics of relationships. An afternoon session of restorative yoga will lead us nicely into a relaxing evening watching a film.
Day 5
Building Our World
We’ll start our day with a yoga practice focused on interbeing, interdependence, and Samadhi. Then, explore the beautiful grounds as we look at the land and see them through an Indigenous view. After a delicious lunch, we will discuss how we intend to live in community outside of Imiloa, focusing on the concepts of Ujamaa and Ubuntu. We’ll celebrate our newfound community and the time we’ve spent together in the evening.
Day 6 – Departure
What You Will Learn
- Re-examine how you understand the world and decolonize your mindset.
- Understand yourself and the space you want to occupy in the world.
- Learn how to build deep and impactful relationships with your community.
- Understand your own power in building the world you want to live in.
What You Will Gain
Your Hosts
Susanna Barkataki
Susanna Barkataki, (she/her) is an Indian yoga practitioner and founder of Ignite Institute for Yogic Leadership and Social Change, Known for her work in decolonizing and embracing the roots of yoga, she runs 200/300 Embody Yoga’s Roots Yoga Teacher Training programs that are changing the face of yoga today.
Author of #1 International Bestseller in Yoga, Nov 2020 Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice. Susanna’s yoga trainings are currently shifting the paradigm of what yoga looks like in the West, with a commitment to diversity and culture. She educates in Yoga Teacher Trainings and beyond as the founder of Yoga Class Curator, a year long training to deepen beyond YTT. She is an E-RYT 500, Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). With an Honors degree in Philosophy from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Education from Cambridge College, Barkataki runs programs that change the world with authentic yoga. Her gift is storytelling from the roots of yoga and making complex philosophical topics down to earth, practical and implementable for students of all experiences. Learn more at SusannaBarkataki.com and join her on social @SusannaBarkataki
Blair Imani
Blair Imani (she/her) is the creator of the viral web series Smarter in Seconds. She is the LA Times Bestselling author of Read This to Get Smarter and Head of Education at Feminist for All. She is also the author of Making Our Way Home and Modern HERstory. Her scholarship spans intersectionality, gender studies, race and racism, sociology, and United States history. As a public speaker, Blair Imani has presented at universities including Oxford and Harvard. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Tegan and Sara Foundation. The New York Times praises Blair Imani’s unique ability to create “progressive lessons with vibrant visuals and a perky, quirky delivery.” She lives in Los Angeles, California.
Her work centers women and girls, global Black communities, and the LGBTQ+ community. As an educator, influencer, and semi-retired organizer, Blair Imani is dedicated to making the world less terrible and amplifying the voices and work of those fighting the good fight.
Learn more about Blair Imani by visiting blairimani.com and joining her on social media @blairimani.
Testimonials
Susanna’s work is a crucial addition for every yoga practitioner.
Ticket Pricing
TRIPLES
$2,595
PER PERSON
DOUBLES
$2,995
PER PERSON
SINGLES
$3,595
PER PERSON
Included
A completely private campus; available to your retreat group only. Access to a private waterfall, nature paths, incredible flora and fauna, and an ocean view infinity pool. Also included is a dedicated team of 20+ local professionals to coordinate everything for your enjoyment, from touch down to take off.
Private transportation from the International airport to our campus; a private driver and transportation to our campus in Imiloa Mountain.
What’s Not Included
Flights to SJO, Spa Services
THE VENUE
You will be immersed in a 22-acre jungle oasis in Dominical, Costa Rica.
This enchanted mountainside jungle venue is ten minutes from the beach and it is the perfect setting to experience deep healing, embraced by nature, yet completely luxurious.
While staying at Imiloa you will enjoy our nature paths, our private waterfall, our salt-water pool, stunning views and delicious and nutritious meals by our five-star vegan chef.
Accommodations
Included in each accommodation is the comfiest mattresses, 850 thread count sheets, storage space and dry rooms as needed, fiber optic internet, daily cleaning service, private en-suite bath, indoor/outdoor design for every accommodation with a focus on nature and being your private refuge, and full service, thrice-filtered private well for drinking water throughout the property.
BALI VILLAGE
Bali Village is perched 1200 feet about the Pacific Ocean, on a ridge line of flora, fauna and wildlife every direction you look. These 5 accommodations are 160-200 year old homes imported from Bali. Each with their own en suite bathrooms, the homes bring you back and create a self space for rejuvenation and transformation.
BALI MASTER SUITE
200 Year Old Homes from Bali. Imported from the Java Islands, these homes boast outdoor showers, full kitchen access, surreal vista views to the Pacific, their own salt water plunge pools and hand-carved art that is as old as the houses.
JOGOLO HOUSE
Perched on the edge of the cliff, at the furthest end of the property, sits a 170 year old home from the Java Islands we call Jogolo. Complete with a writer’s desk, outdoor Balinese shower, hand-carved architecture that will transport you to another land and time, Jogolo is teeming with history and comfort. Your cold plunge pool is adjacent to a warm bath, both outdoor. Full kitchen, too.
POTOO HOUSE
This two-floor imported home from Bali will have you wishing you’d never leave. Complete with a King Bed and a twin in the corner of the 180 year old home, Potoo has modern luxury with 360 views of the Pacific. On the lower level, a plunge pool and private spa. Potoo also includes many outdoor chairs, hammocks and a full kitchen, too.
BUNGALOW HILL
Six Jungle Bungalows built on the side of the mountain on the pathway to our very own private waterfall. Bali inspired, the interiors feature natural finishings and a gorgeous exposed shower and bath tub.
DOMELAND
Six Buckminster Fuller inspired Geodesic River Domes, among the best made in the world and partially powered by solar energy, sit perched on the edge of our private river with the fresh, flowing water feeding up to the domes. Experience the soothing sounds of relaxing and sleeping next to flowing water. Amazing!
THE HOUSE OF MASTERS
The House of Masters, located in the center of the property, is a 2,000 square foot Balinese structure hanging 100 feet in the Jungle canopy. Adjacent are restrooms and a yoga storage room for mats, blocks and more. The space can be converted for any type of retreat, workshop or dance party.
THE HEART OF IMILOA
A sprawling 3,000 square foot space that is the “Heart of Imiloa,” our social space features loungy, multicultural inspired furnishings, couches, and 5 imported tables from Bali, all under a Polynesian style roof.
THE PATHS
Jungle paths connect the 20+ acres at Imiloa, with hand-made stairs and lighting, creating an immersive, easy experience for you and guests.
THE WATERFALL
Beyond the Jungle Bungalows is a path that leads to our own private waterfall. Descend into what feels like an enchanted jungle forest as you bask in the magic and beauty of the surrounding nature.
Food
Spa
Imiloa’s world-class spa is a curated, sensual and deeply moving experience. Choose from Ayurvedic massages and practices, to a shamanic masseuse from our team members who are from the Boruca indigenous tribe here in Costa Rica, to more traditional Swedish, relaxation or Thai yoga massages, body wraps and others. A full list of spa offerings and a link to book during your free time will be provided to you before you arrival.
LUXURY TRANSPORTATION
- Schedule your plane to arrive at SJO. In order to access your private plane charter, all guests must be at the Domestic Terminal at SJO San Jose, Costa Rica no later than 3PM on the arrival day.
- Once landed, proceed to customs and instructions will be provided to meet Imiloa concierge.
- Proceed to baggage claim with concierge and proceed to Domestic Terminal (3 minute walk from International Terminal). Please be at the Domesitc Terminal at SJO San Jose, Costa Rica no later than 3PM on your day of arrival.
- Private Imiloa plane will be waiting to fly you to Quepos.
- Private ground transport shuttles will pick you up in Quepos and bring you to Imiloa.
- If you are already in Costa Rica, ground transport may be coordinated from Quepos, Dominical or Uvita as inclusive.
- Please do not plan to drive to Imiloa on your own. It is not permitted.
- If you need to arrive the day before, please stay at the Hampton Inn across from the airport, or plan to be in the San Jose Domestic Terminal for private flight to Imiloa by no later than 3PM (instructions will be emailed).
- You will depart Imiloa at 9AM, and arrive at the landing strip at 9:30AM, with an estimated arrival to SJO airport at 10:30AM. The domestic terminal is a 5-10 minute walk to the international terminal at SJO. Typically, it is suggested to be at the international terminal 2.5 hours prior to your international departure. Please book your departing international flight accordingly, knowing that you will be at the airport at 10:30AM on departure day.
Questions? Email us: impact@imiloainstitute.com
Team
TRAVEL INSURANCE
- Imiloa has partnered with a comprehensive travel insurance provider that meets the entry requirements for Costa Rica and offers “cancel for any reason” plans to maximize coverage: www.globalrescue.com/imiloa (additional cost)
- We follow cleansing and sanitization protocols as per Ministry of Health to ensure a safe environment
- Staff and retreat participants are asked to follow and safety guidelines such as social distancing, washing of hands, and proper mask wearing.
Location
Imiloa is located in the jungle, at the top of a mountain, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Our lush retreat center is located adjacent to the second most biodiverse land on the planet.
Dominical, only 13 minutes away, is a beach town with surfer vibes, great coffee and plenty of shopping. Just north of our municipality is Quepos and to the south, Ojochal and Uvita, which is known as the Whale’s Tail.
Just 45 minutes east sits Costa Rica’s second largest city, San Isidro. Within an hour of Imiloa in all directions, you have access to airports, cafes, beaches, waterfalls, biodiversity and happy people ready to show you the lush, lovely area we call home.
You’ll arrive easily on our private plane, and your group will enjoy unlimited transportation to and from the beach, to and from the airport and throughout your stay with us.
