IMILOA PRESENTS
A 5 night immersive retreat to reawaken your body with Qoya Inspired Movement. Enchant your spirit with nature's beauty, open your heart with ritual, ceremony and altar magic within kind compassionate community.
JANUARY 7-12, 2024
About The Retreat
Begin 2024 with a commitment to nourishing your life force energy. Cultivate ways of seeing clearly that illuminate the courage next steps on your path. Gather together in community, to expand each person's capacity to receive inspiration and support. Feel the place where the call inside your heart to express your essence and gifts merges with the place in the world that you can be in service to collective well-being.
You are invited to come as you are. With compassion, we honor the way that life is woven with grief and gratitude. Honoring our difficulties is necessary, and it is equally essential to practice strengthening our capacity to attune to the beauty our days offer us and express the genuine feeling of appreciation for life. As we develop the art of our attention to be able to stay in connection and relationship with what is nourishing, supportive and strengthening, this is not to bypass the real world challenges of living. It is to position ourselves to be resourced to meet them with a clear mind, open heart, energized body and loving spirit. To reverently embrace our wholeness.
We live in times of accelerated change. For so many of us there is a strong sensitivity to feel the pain of the world, of a room, of a moment. One of the gifts of a somatically oriented approach is that we can approach our experience from a place of sensation, to notice if the body is in contraction or a place of allowing. Without non-judgmental awareness, we can practice being with the sensation, noticing what it needs and offering it our compassionate presence. Although it is a simple practice, simple is not always easy. It takes time to build trust again with ourselves, our bodies, each other and the world. Together, we will practice attuning to the beauty that is also present in the world, in the room, in a moment.
As a community, we will gather together to expand our capacity to be with the intimacy of life. As we come into a place of embodied presence with morning movement sessions, we will introduce practices that can be integrated into our daily lives at home. The retreat is intentionally curated to reset our physical body with movement, breathing fresh jungle air and with the nourishing meals that supports our body's physiology to stay regulated with a menu that is truly extraordinary.
We will place an emphasis on art and ceremony to support each of us in attuning to greater wholeness. Each day we will explore the practice of altar-building as well as nature offerings. Altar practice offers us a beautiful gateway back to a higher love through physically making space for our wholeness. The very essence of altar making requires us to bring together many different parts and rediscover their divinity through relationship. Learning to attune to divinity through artistry allows us celebrate loving our messy, beautiful human selves. What if your humanity was the altar? How would your life change?
This retreat is an inner and outer adventure! Traveling into the warm jungle of Costa Rica, traveling into the heart of your heart.
When you choose to commit to this retreat, you will experience equal parts inspiration and accountability. In addition to the daily Qoya Inspired Movement Sessions, rituals and community connection in person, you will receive two private sessions with Rochelle and two group calls both pre and post-retreat to support you in preparation and integration of your experience.
Gift yourself spaciousness to nourish and embrace your wholeness.
What You Will Learn
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Awaken your intuitive body with daily Qoya Inspired Movement.
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Deepen your personal connection with the consciousness of nature.
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Reconnect with your heart through daily rituals that honor the individual and collective transformations of this time.
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Make offerings to Nature and Life to offer gratitude and invoke support on the path of embracing wholeness
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Create a daily movement practice for you to integrate practices nourishing the art of attention for the year.
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Receive inspiration and accountability to live into your vision for the new year.
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Rekindle the fire in your heart alongside warm-hearted community.
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A Journey Through Altar Artistry; Attuning to Greater Wholeness.
bringing movement, ritual, community and pilgrimage together to embody our essence that is wise, wild and free.
What You Will Gain
Cultivate intentional approaches to embody the art of attention for you with inspiring movement, extraordinary meals, restorative time in the majestic beauty of nature, and warm-hearted community connection.
Ceremonially honor the transition from one year to the next. Invoke clarity and commitment to show up in your life to be in devotion with the vision you are holding.
Melt layers of inhibition and confusion to connect with the clarity and resilience of your journey and the ways your life can contribute to the collective.
Be witnessed, heard and supported in brave action as you prepare to make the best next steps in your life.
Your Hosts
Rochelle Schieck
Over the past 20 years, Rochelle Schieck has traveled around the world as a student and teacher. Through her journey, she has led over 4,000 movement classes, trained hundreds of Qoya teachers in 20 different countries, and taken women on over 80 retreats across the globe. In the last two years, she has deepened the travels inside herself and reemerged with a simple invitation, “what is possible when you listen to your body?” She believes that movement is medicine and when we are willing to make time to connect, there are infinite opportunities to learn, grow and serve with love.
Sarah Charlesworth
Sarah Charlesworth is an oracle, an artist and an altar priestess. For the past eight years she has been following her spiritual calling as a modern day keeper of the altar, building sacred art altar instillations, sharing the messages gathered through her meditation practice and teaching the altar arts as a gateway to spiritual connection. As a black, queer woman Sarah’s passion for social activism and community change is integrated in her teachings. Her recent journey through cancer has awakened in her role as community elder and the necessity of sharing wisdom. Part of this wisdom is never forgetting she is always still learning. You will find her at her altar each morning laying down praise for being alive.
Qoya is based on the idea that through movement we remember. Through movement, we remember our essence is wise, wild and free. Wise, wild and free draw reference to the movement forms we practice in a class. Wise calls on the wisdom traditions of yoga, meditation and contemplative practice. Wild calls on the opportunity for authentic expression in dance. Free invokes the power of choice in sensual, flowing, intuitive movement. There’s no way to do Qoya wrong and the way you know you’re doing it right, is that it feels right in your body.
Testimonials
This retreat has motivated me to continue practicing Qoya every day and stay connected to my body, my heart and my soul. I learned how to continue exploring more into emotional sensations and follow my intuition. It also helped me notice again and again the beauty of the nature and the elements, the beauty of life! The magic of Qoya in this amazing place, delicious food, connection with the truth of the body, a supporting and kind group, simplicity of the facilitation — all those factors created something unique and extraordinary!
Ticket Pricing
SHARED
DOME
$3,300
PER PERSON
Double occupancy in a Geodesic Dome with views of the jungle
PRIVATE
BUNGALOW
$3,500
PER PERSON
Single occupancy in a Jungle Bungalow with views of the jungle
PRIVATE
BALI SUITE
$3,700
PER PERSON
Single occupancy in a Bali Suite with views of the jungle
PRIVATE – VIP
BALI VILLA
$3,900
PER PERSON
Single occupancy in a 200-Year-old Balinese villa with a private deck, plunge pool and stunning views of the jungle and ocean
Included
What’s Not Included
Flights to SJO, Spa Services
It's time to regenerate.
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
LUXURY TRANSPORTATION
Included in your retreat ticket is a privately charted plane from SJO to Imiloa as well as luxury ground transportation to from the airstrip. For more details and information on transportation please email our team at welcomehome@imiloainstitute.com
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.
Team
Location
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.
