A Note from Kerry...

Happy Monday,  Collective!

This weekend, I spent a lot of time sharing glimpses of our upcoming Bali experience on social media, and I was overwhelmed with questions about the amount of yoga involved in a Yinsa retreats. Many of you asked whether you needed to be “prepared” in a certain way before joining us. I thought this would be the perfect moment to address this and share a deeper understanding of what yoga truly is—especially as it relates to our retreats.

First: Yoga is NOT exercise.

It’s also NOT a workout. It’s NOT about headstands, crow poses, backbends, or balancing. These are all asana postures that represent more advanced stages of yoga, but they’re not where we begin. So, let me start by telling you what yoga really is:

• Yoga is noticing.
• Yoga is observing.
• Yoga is reflecting.
• Yoga is breathing.
• Yoga is serving.
• Yoga is learning.
• Yoga is connecting.
• Yoga is meditating.
• Yoga is eating whole, nourishing food.
• Yoga is healing.
• Yoga is gently moving our bodies and honoring where we are today.

There is no prerequisite for yoga on a Yinsa retreat, especially those focused on HEALing. If you’re concerned about your “fitness level” or think you need to be at a certain level of flexibility or strength to participate, I want to assure you that’s just not true. Yoga is a journey, and where you start is exactly where you need to be.

To give you further insight into what the Yinsa retreat experience truly offers, I wanted to share some thoughts from Kerry D., a devoted member of the LiveYinsa Collective since 2019. Kerry has taken two trainings and attended three Yinsa retreats with us, as well as taught her own workshops on the platform. This fall, she participated in a retreat hosted by another teacher—a practice I encourage all collective members to do to broaden their opportunities for learning and healing. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

"...I’ve been on two LiveYinsa retreats, and I’ve also spent a week at a well-known Ashram and recently traveled with a prestigious company that runs yoga vacations. Here’s the difference: while all experiences were good, the LiveYinsa retreats are special because, aside from yoga classes, there were also many workshops during the week focused on healing and/or creating joy and bliss in your life.

In addition to daily yoga classes, we learned so much. Whether it was about the power of crystals, Ayurvedic cooking classes, womb healing sessions, Reiki, meditations, mud baths, sound healing, journaling, medicinal herbs, and more—the LiveYinsa experience is not a vacation. It’s an investment in your complete well-being.

Yes, the locations had aspects of a 'vacation'—poolside, seaside, excursions, beautiful accommodations—but there were also times when it felt uncomfortable as we stepped outside of our comfort zones to deeply reflect on our lives and identify areas in need of healing. It was in these moments that we could start to manifest the lives we truly want.

The Ashram experience was wonderful, the Yoga vacation was also great with one or two yoga classes a day and excursions. But the LiveYinsa experience was much more all-encompassing—it was truly life-changing. It’s not just a yoga vacation. It’s magical. I highly recommend it."

Kerry’s experience perfectly captures the essence of what we offer at LiveYinsa—a transformational experience that goes far beyond yoga classes. It’s about holistic healing, growth, and the creation of joy and bliss in every aspect of your life. The yoga and healing exercises are tools, but the journey is so much deeper.

So, if you're considering joining us in Bali from August 1-10, 2025, know that you’re not signing up for just another yoga retreat. You’re embarking on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and connection. No need to “prepare”—just come with an open heart and a willingness to step into something transformative.

I can’t wait to see you on a future retreat and share this magic with you.

With love and gratitude,

Daniele 

P.S. If you’re curious about any details for upcoming retreats, or have more questions about yoga or what to expect, feel free to respond to this email. I’m here to help you step into your next chapter with confidence. 💫