IMILOA PRESENTS
December 7-12, 2022
About The Retreat
This retreat is an invitation to joyfully share life through dance and authentic connection with ourselves and others.
In the depths of the Costa Rican Jungle we will dive into the world of Brazilian Zouk (no experience or partner needed) while rising above the dual nature of masculine and feminine and discovering our multidimensional beings.
It’s a place to unleash your creativity, enhance your interpersonal communication and surrender into an incredible flow of two (or more) people dancing together.
*(No previous experience needed)
This retreat is for people seeking connection, expression and evolution through their bodies. People who have explored movement from yoga to contact improv or simply exercise and know that there is yet more to discover about their body, mind, and spirit.
Through this flowing and dynamic partner dance, we can reach untouched realms that we only can reveal with each other, learning and embracing who we are and bringing a positive change into our lives and society.
Brigitte will guide you through embodiment practices that move you into a journey inside of your body that cultivates awareness and sensitivity of your own emotions and stories. In a safe and loving environment, you can “Embrace the Flow” of partner dancing to release ourselves from the confines of gender roles and societal expectations.
Join us for an experience of dance, play, and joy that creates personal growth and transformation in human connection.
What You Will Learn
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How to unlock the body and bring it into flow
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Principles of movement
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Sensorial awakening
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Partner dance fundamentals
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Brazilian Zouk flow
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Nonverbal communication
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Consent and authentic relating
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To connect with and dive into different emotions
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To be present and listen with your body
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To create authentic movement
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To empower your intuition
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Tools for Creativity
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Alignment of Body-Mind-Soul
What You Will Gain
- Apply Dance Principles to Life
- Confidence to Move
- Freedom of Expression
- New Relationships & Community
- Remember Human Connections
Your Hosts
Brigitte Wittmer
Human being, facilitator, space-holder, dancer, performer, thinker, visionary, and artist.
She connects her knowledge in contemporary dance, Brazilian social dances, somatic education, contact-improvisation, Yoga, Gyrokinesis, and transpersonal psychology to guide people on their path to embodied movement and expression.
Brigitte, originally from Switzerland, spent seven years studying and teaching in Brazil. She got her license-degree in dance from the renowned Faculdade Angel Vianna in Rio de Janeiro and a certificate in Transpersonal Psychology.
As part of her research in partner dance and Brazilian Zouk, she developed Liquid Leading & Following. This practice in which body dialogue transcends traditional gender roles and dance is distilled into an expressive language for each member to share his or her story with another.
Using dance as a tool for awareness and expression, Brigitte melds the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual together. Doing so offers a place to play, experiment, live, adapt and create different realities.
Instagram @b_moving
www.b-moving.com
Zan Lowe
As a co-creator in dance and partner in life, Zan joins Brigitte as a facilitator of this transformational journey. Having studied and taught Brazilian Zouk for over five years, Zan finds unique depth in the dance’s versatility of expression. From the structure of traditional steps to the freedom of fluid play, Zan encourages an exploration of interpersonal energy through the flow of Zouk.
Outside of dance, Zan works with human-centered tech startups on strategic partnerships and venture investment. His focus on biofeedback companies (including sensors for music and movement) seeks to give us a better awareness of and communication with our own bodies. Whether through tech enablement or experience creation, Zan is passionate about augmenting human health and happiness.
We are grateful to be able to re-engage with movers from around the world and look forward to dancing with you soon!
Testimonials
Having never danced with a partner before, the whole conversation of dance was completely new territory for me. After just two weeks, I’m completely obsessed. Dancing has so many lessons for interpersonal communication, especially between the masculine and feminine.
Watching this video now, my favorite part is seeing Brigitte’s super intuitive leading style, how she communicates her intentions and desires for me to follow, while tuning to me to make sure I’m with her every second.
Sharing the dance with you is so nice and unusual to have no dance be the same. I always discover and feel something new in every exchange and lead. Thank you for showing me beyond the obvious.
I have always been kind of afraid of dancing, not ever sure what to do or how to look doing it. Like many people I would be totally in my head the whole time. Working with Brigitte was amazing, she is so in tune with her own body and able to feel the energy of others. In the first session we did, I found myself actually moving in rhythm with her, feeling into my body and sensing the cues she was giving me. I actually felt the beautiful language of dance, rather than thought it. 10/10 would recommend it.
Ticket Pricing
Triple
$2,769
PER PERSON
Triple occupancy in a Geodesic Dome with views of the jungle
Double
$2,996
PER PERSON
Double occupancy in a Jungle Bungalow or Geodesic Dome with views of the jungle
Single
$3,492
PER PERSON
Single occupancy in your own private, 200-Year-Old Balinese suite with stunning views of the jungle and ocean
VIP Single
$3,986
PER PERSON
Single occupancy in your own private, 200-Year-Old Balinese villa with a private deck and stunning views of the jungle and ocean
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 and COVID PROCEDURES
- 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)
- COVID tests for entry and exit requirements to your home country can be done on site. We have an on-call physician that can come to the property for testing and results sent in English.
- 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.
