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RETREAT OVERVIEW

 

Sat. March 11th – Sat. March 18th, 2023

Venue: Kijani House, Lamu, Kenya

Offerings: Daily Yoga; Interactive Thai Massage; Partner Stretching; Snorkeling; Dhow Ride; Channel Swim; Tour of Historic Lamu town; Spa Treatments; Visit Giriama Cultural Center

Description

Greetings all, Salim Rollins and Francisco Morales-Bermúdez, Co-Directors of Synergy Yoga, are delighted to invite you to the Synergy Journeys Lamu retreat. Synergy Journeys is our retreat series which creates connections and experiences with the local culture; offers instruction in wellness practices including yoga, Thai massage, and partner stretching; nurtures a safe space where guests can step outside of their day to day experience and celebrate life within a caring community! The pristine island of Lamu is an ideal location to unwind; experience the beauty of traditional Swahili culture; and spend time in stunning nature by the Indian Ocean. 

 

 

Registration Includes:

●  Accommodation

●  Meals – the retreat includes breakfast or brunch and dinner as we recommend that guests eat two meals most days. If desired, lunch can be ordered directly from the hotel – Kijani has wonderful smoothies and fresh juices for those who want a light lunch!

●  Airport transfers from the Lamu airstrip to the hotel

●   Interactive Thai Massage & Partner Stretching Workshops

● Snorkeling

●  Daily yoga classes 

●  Sunset Dhow Trip

●  Tour of historic Lamu Town

●  Visit to Ubunifu Lamu cultural center

●  Plenty of free time to simply enjoy the magical island of Lamu

Not Included:

●  Airfare to Lamu

●  Spa treatments * Guests are encouraged to book spa treatments through Natural Lamu Spa or one of the recommended therapists who specialize in Thai massage; chakra activation; and ayurvedic massage at their leisure.

 

 

Location

Lamu lies on the north coast of Kenya, in the Indian Ocean. Lamu is the first Swahili settlement in East Africa and to this day, the primary mode of transportation is boats including traditional dhow boats since there are no cars on the island. In addition to its Bantu roots, Lamu was historically influenced by Arab, Persian, Chinese, and Indian people who participated in the spice trade. In turn, the primarily Muslim island incorporated these influences into its food, language, and culture. As a result of the island’s rich history, Lamu is a UNESCO world heritage site – a hidden gem with a warm, beautiful and welcoming culture.

Our venue is the stunning Kijani House, which sits on the beach of the Indian Ocean in Shela Village amongst swaying palms and makuti roofs. Kijani House has a freshwater pool; a rooftop restaurant; beautiful gardens; traditional Swahili architecture and design; and one of the best kitchens in Shela with organic produce from their own garden. The open-air yoga studio has a panoramic view of the ocean. The newly developed Natural Lamu spa is a three-minute walk from Kijani House, where guests can receive a wide range of spa treatments including a range of massage treatments; body scrub & neem bath; and facial treatment among other offerings.

Schedule

 *Time  and details are subject to change 

 

Price in  USD

Shared Room   $2,800

Single Room   $3,600

Cancellation Policy

If a participant needs to cancel prior to the retreat we offer partial refunds according to the following schedule:      

• 4 weeks before the event:  75% refund
• 3 weeks before the event:  50% refund
• 2 weeks before the event:   25% refund
• 1 week:                                no refund

 

What to pack:

●  Sunscreen

●  Swimming apparel

●  Yoga Mat

●  Bug spray

 

Your Hosts

Salim Rollins

Salim Rollins has dedicated his professional life to empowering communities through wellness and cultural arts programs.  He’s the Co-director of Synergy Yoga, a registered Yoga Alliance school that offers international yoga teacher training; retreats; Thai massage certification; and online wellness programs. He has maintained a dedicated yoga practice since 2000 and studied with several master teachers throughout India and the U.S.  including Jhon Tamayo (New York), Ullas Kumar (Kerala, India), and Sudhesh Chandra (Mysore, India). Salim has curated numerous wellness festivals and retreats including Synergy Journeys Peru; Feel Good In Zanzibar; Nairobeing: The Wellness Experience; the Divine Feminine, Sacred Masculine series in Kenya; and Yoga on Dub among others. For four years he taught at the Lamu Yoga Festival and held ongoing classes at Acacia Studios in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2005 Salim conducted extensive research on yoga philosophy through a series of filmed interviews with scholars, yogis and saddhus in various regions of India. In addition to his work with Synergy, Salim is a Contra-Mestre of the Afro-Brazilian martial art, Capoeira Angola, an art form that he has been practicing since 1995.

For more than twenty years, Salim has managed and taught youth empowerment programming. He is the founder and director of Kibera Rising – a community program that uses Capoeira Angola, breakdance, and an empowerment program for teen girls to impart critical life skills and expanded choices to youth in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Salim’s focus as a facilitator centers on community upliftment; self-accountability; liberation from pain; cultivating an intuitive practice that enables students to find the source of their healing within; and ultimately conscious reconnection with the divine self. Salim deeply values his mission of sharing healing practices and curating wellness spaces with communities throughout the world.

Francisco Morales-Bermudez

Francisco Morales-Bermudez, is a healing artist from the coast of Peru. The ocean and mountains of his home country remain profound sources of inspiration for Francisco. Over the years, Francisco has studied with several master healers and martial artists in various regions including South America; Asia; Africa; Europe and New Zealand. For years, Francisco studied with the renowned yoga teacher, Dharma Mittra, assisting with trainings and workshops. Dharma’s philosophy of creativity; grace; and yoga as a tool for spiritual development has deeply influenced Francisco’s pedagogy. Francisco’s exploration of healing arts led him to the practice of Thai massage and its principal of metta (love and kindness). Under the guidance of master teacher, Kam Thye Chow, Francisco mastered the art of Thai massage. During his teacher’s passing, Francisco was chosen to carry the practice forward in the form of teacher training. In the early 2000’s, Francisco and a group of yogis and circus artists formed the practice which came to be known as Acro Yoga. Francisco’s exploration of the convergence of Thai massage, yoga, and anatomy and physiology greatly influenced the techniques that are used in the practice today. As the founder and Co-Director of Synergy Yoga, Francisco shares his teaching with international audiences through teacher training, retreats and wellness festivals throughout the world.

We’re excited to welcome you! In Community

                       ~ The Synergy Team