Emerald Isle Retreat

October 10-14, 2024
Hosted by Angela, Macarena, & Lisa

Your deeper self is calling.

Underneath the to do lists and the roles you play and the responsibilities you hold, there is a wild and free heart that is longing to be heard. Join us for a curated weekend of yin and yang practices, mindful meditations, sound bath experiences, delectable food, meaningful connection, and stunning nature.

This is more than a vacation. It’s an opportunity to meet and love yourself all over again.

WEEKEND OVERVIEW

• Check in on Thursday afternoon or evening. Unpack, unwind, and spend some free time getting settled.

• Reacquaint yourself with your body, heart, and soul with structured sessions Friday through Sunday. Move your body through daily physical practices, including Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, and Myofascial Release, with hands-on assisting offered at each practice. Tap into your own deeper healing with daily mindful practices, including guided meditations, journaling prompts, sound bath experiences, breathwork, and Reiki. Each session will be led by Lisa, Angela, or Macky. Sessions are intentionally planned to build toward a deeper understanding of yourself, with room to explore, grieve, celebrate, and process.

• Check out Monday morning, or stay later through the day on Monday for beach and relaxation time.

MEALS

Food can be so much more than just fuel. Savor unique and nutritious meals as a time for nourishment, joy, and connection. Daily fare will be provided by Chef Sonia Rondeau, including four breakfasts, three lunches, and four dinners, as well as snacks, smoothies, coffee, and tea. Meals will be vegan and vegetarian friendly, with animal protein available; other dietary needs can be accommodated as well. Plus, enjoy a special interactive cooking session led by Chef Sonia, perfect for both experienced cooks and novices.

Accommodations

We'll be staying in a beautiful home (both sides of a duplex), on Emerald Isle, North Carolina, just 3 rows from the beach. Two stories of expansive decks provide plenty of sunny lounging and beautiful ocean views. Prepare to relax, with room to both socialize and embrace solitude. Enjoy warm days (average high temperature is 74 degrees in October!) and cool nights with quieter beaches and less summer crowding.

The beach is a short 2 minute walk away, or take one of the bikes to explore around town.
Retreat activities will be held on the beach, deck, and/or onsite private studio.

Emerald Isle is approximately a 2 hour and 40 minute drive from Raleigh-Durham Airport and approximately 55 minutes from New Bern Airport.

Pricing

Retreat pricing is based on double occupancy, with shared King or Queen bed, unless otherwise noted. Shared bed options are suggested for familiar participants - experience the retreat with your partner, meet up with a good friend to reconnect, or spend the weekend with a family member. For single occupancy, an additional $700 will be added to the base room rate.

• King with ensuite bath - $1,700

• Queen with ensuite bath - $1,600

• Queen with shared bath - $1,400

• Single bed/bunk bed with shared bath (double occupancy only) - $1,000

Your $500 deposit secures your spot. Deposit is non-transferable and non-refundable. Retreat must be paid in full by Monday, September 30, 2024, or your spot may be released to another guest.

Or take advantage of the early bird discount! Pay in full before Monday, July 1, 2024 and receive 10% off the base room rate. (The 10% early bird discount does not apply to the $700 single occupancy charge.)

Ready to book? To save your spot, please submit the form below. If a room choice does not appear in the drop-down menu, it has already been booked by another guest.

Meet your retreat guides

Macarena Gallardo
E-RYT 500, Reiki II, MFT

Macarena began practicing yoga years ago when she realized that working multiple jobs and going to school full-time was taking a toll on her mind and body. Living in such a “go go go”
society and making it hard to slow down, she experienced intense emotional distress. The solutions offered to these issues were just band-aids to overcome the situation. That’s when she was introduced to yoga. She quickly figured out that slowing down wasn’t a bad thing, and it didn’t equate to being lazy or something being wrong. Taking care of her whole self – mind, body, and spirit – was now her priority. Yoga was a moving meditation that allowed the movement of the body with the breath and the quietude of the mind to all intersect. She started off practicing in the Ashtanga lineage, which brought some structure to her life and familiarity.

She became certified at the 200-hour level in the spring of 2012. She later completed certifications in Hot Yoga (flow-less sequencing) and Hands On Assists with Hot Asana Yoga University, as well as Yin Yoga, Restorative, Y12SR (Yoga for 12 Step Recovery), Prenatal/Postpartum Yoga, and Yoga for athletes. After moving to New York, she continued her training with YogaWorks and completed an extra 500 hours of training.

Macarena is also a Reiki practitioner levels I & Usui/Holy Fire III level II and a Marriage & Family Therapist, really bringing her two worlds of passion together, on and off the mat. Her classes are filled with life experiences, ongoing education, lots of love, and some challenges, suitable for those who have never stepped on a yoga mat and the seasoned practitioners looking to deepen their practice. To learn more about Macky, find her on Instagram @Macarena.MFT

Angela Tara Hsu
E-RYT, YACEP, Reiki Master

Angela began practicing yoga just as a means to complement her skydiving career. Competing in the discipline of freestyle (which is like dancing and acrobatics in the sky), flexibility and strength helped to create interesting and dynamic movement for competition routines. However, yoga quickly became much more than just an aid to reach her skydiving goals. In addition to the physicality of yoga – the mental and spiritual benefits quickly came to light – and has been an integral part of her life since.

Completing her first YTT in 2011, Angela has since accumulated over 5,000 hours of teaching. She is a featured yogi in the documentary Why We Breathe, a Lululemon Legacy Ambassador, and was also featured in ORIGIN Magazine as part of their “Women who eat impossible for breakfast” series.

Angela is also a certified Reiki Master and sound healing practitioner. As a result, her teaching style is an alchemy of her experience, modalities and ongoing education that create a uniquely nourishing experience for all. She offers a wide range of classes, workshops, and trainings accessible to everyone – incorporating various styles of yoga, Reiki, myofascial release, sound healing, meditation, breath work, and more. 

To learn more about Angela visit, AngelaTaraHsu.com or find her on Instagram @AngelaTaraHsu.

Lisa Rischitelli
E-RYT 500, YACEP, Reiki I

Lisa has been teaching yoga for 13 years, having completed her 200-hour certification with YogaWorks in New York in 2010 and her 300-hour certification with Grace Morales in North Carolina in 2014. She is currently registered with Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT 500 and YACEP and has logged more than 2,000 teaching hours both in person and virtually. Over the years, Lisa has led multiple 200- and 300-hour teacher trainings, taught at yoga festivals and retreats, led numerous workshops, and filmed on-demand classes. 

In her teaching, Lisa prioritizes: cueing physical postures in a way that’s inclusive and adaptive for all bodies; helping students feel empowered in their bodies and in their minds; being honest and transparent about her own journey and experiences on and off the mat; and offering any tools or knowledge that might help students to make their own authentic choices.

To learn more about Lisa visit, LisaRischitelli.com or find her on Instagram @LisaRischitelli.