Inner Wisdom, Iyengar Yoga & Healing Arts in Oak Park, Forest Park, River Forest, Chicago, Illinois (IL)

Beat the winter blues by joining us for an exotic get-away in Montezuma, Costa Rica. It’s a perfect week of sun, wildlife and rainforests, great food, beautiful beaches and quality yoga, Iyengar style. What more could you ask for?

How about snorkeling, surfing, body work, chanting, meditation, monkeys, waterfalls and incredible meals with your toes in the sand.

We (Mary Fran Matichak and her husband Steve) have been traveling Costa Rica for the last 5 years and we’ll be happy to help you with any questions or extensions of your yoga vacation to other areas. Montezuma is our ‘home away from home’ and we are looking forward to sharing it with you.

ABOUT MONTEZUMA : Montezuma is a quaint ocean side village with eclectic shops, a great selection of fresh food eateries and some of the most beautiful beaches Costa Rica has to offer. It is NOT a resort area… its’ a colorful and simple seaside village with lots of wildlife and natural beauty which includes a hike up the mountain along the stream to swim in clear pools under the falls. You can also tour the rainforest by zip line. Located on the east side of the Nicoya peninsula conditions for swimming are great. Some of the finest surfing is just 30 minutes travel across the peninsula to the western shore.

Montezuma is just like our yoga practice. It takes us into new terrain in which to explore. For more information on Montezuma and extended stays in Costa Rica visit. www.zumatours.net and www.montezuma_hotels.com

DEPOSIT: $300 non-refundable deposit – asap to hold your space

Full retreat amount due by January 1, 08 but feel free to join us even after that date.

All classes are taught by Iyengar certified teacher Mary Fran Matichak of Inner Wisdom Yoga & Healing Arts, 708.712.4787, www.iwyoga.com

Our practice is on a wooden open air pavilion with the scent, view and sound of the Pacific surf close at hand.

The retreat begins Sunday night with a late afternoon yoga class. There are a.m. and p.m yoga sessions daily. (M,T,TH,F) Wednesday is a free day. Check out is Saturday morning February 9th.

AM YOGA CLASS – 2 hour active class with a different focus each day

PM YOGA CLASS - Afternoons include restorative work along with meditation / chanting

I have found the energy and serenity of Montezuma a perfect setting for all of our yoga work/practices. It’s something to experience.

Meals included with the retreat
BREAKFAST : A hearty breakfast with your choice of several options such as fresh fruit and yogurt, eggs, galo pinto (beans/rice/eggs costa rica style), pancakes etc and beverage- Included every morning except Wednesday- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

of course Costa Rica has great coffee and incredible fresh fruit shakes.

DINNER: We will dine as a group right on the beach, toes in the sand, at Café Artista

Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday evenings.
You will experience incredible fresh food Mediterranean style. Our master chef from Rome Italy prepares wonderful varieties of tastes beginning with appetizers and followed by a creation from the fresh catch that day. There are also plenty of other offerings for those vegetarians and meat lovers among us. It is a true feast of flavors and beauty. The many offerings, including scrumptious deserts, are a gastronimical delight.

Tuesday and Wednesday nights you are free to explore some of the other great culinary treats of the village.

Wednesday is a free day.
This gives you a day on your own with no set schedule. If you’d like you could choose from the following activities or just kick back.

Costs ARE NOT included in the retreat fee.

Warm and rustic wooden bungalows set apart in a charming mango grove welcome you and your roommate. If you are traveling alone and wish to be paired with a yogamate please let us know. Single accommodations are available.

Each bungalow has it’s own porch and hammock/rocker, individual bathroom and mini fridge. Set back from the road the setting is serene and tropical with views of the pool and the pacific. Howler monkeys travel the grove at dusk. You’ll soon understand how they received their name! Yoga scriptures say under a Mango tree is an auspicious spot for yoga practice!!

Brick walkways connect the bungalows, lovely pool and yoga pavilion. The location is great. Just a short walk from town with the pacific ocean a stone’s throw across a dirt roadway. For more information and pictures visit www.hotellosmangos.com

TRAVEL: AIR - We have found traveling the redeye via Taca airlines to be great. You arrive in San Jose around 9am and can travel on to Tambor via Sansa www.flysansa.com or NatureAir www.natureair.com airlines. Local flights run about $125 round trip. Taxi’s await to take you on to Montezuma. ($25 for a car full so ask to share ride with another traveler)

All major airlines now have flights into San Jose so shop it around.

From most major northern cities flights run $400-600. Don’t put off getting your flight. As the warm weather wanes air fares heat up.

You can travel by land via mini-van, ferry and land again for $35 reserved ahead. If you need to stay in San Jose overnight let us know for recommendations. It’s easy and they include breakfast and airport transport. We are experienced with travel to this wonderful land so don’t hesitate to ask.

Looking forward to making new friends, connecting with old and creating a treasured experience for all.

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Extended Weekend Yoga Retreat in Oak Park, Illinois

Thursday May 1st – Sunday May 4th

Who said you can’t escape in the city!! Join us for a 4 day yoga getaway in the picturesque village of Oak Park, just a 20 minute train ride to the heart of Chicago. Our retreat will include daily meditation, Iyengar yoga classes including pranayama, yoga sutra discussions and chanting.

Oak Park is a beautiful village filled with grand Victorian homes and some of the finest architecture in the world. Home to world renown architect Frank Lloyd Wright and author Ernest Hemingway, Oak Park is a walking town with diverse local shops, eateries, galleries, antiquing and museums under the canopy of turn of the century Oak, Elm and Maple trees. For the more adventurous the Metra and/or local elevated CTA trains make easy access to the many tourist attractions of Chicago. If you have never been to Chicago you will be glad you came with access to the finest museums, architecture, restaurants and one of the most beautiful lakefronts in the country.

For more information visit
www.chicago.com
www.visitoakpark.com
www.oprf.com

FEES
$175 including the retreat and one group dinner

TO HOLD YOUR SPACE - Please send a $100 non-refundable deposit to:

Mary Fran Matichak
%Inner Wisdom Yoga
816 S. Oak Park Ave.
Oak Park, Ill 60304

Total Fee due by April 15th, 2008

Thursday
Asana Class 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Pranayama 5:30 – 6 p.m.

Friday & Saturday
Meditation - 8-8:30 a.m.
Asana Class 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Restorative Class 4-6 p.m.
NOTE – GROUP DINNER SATURDAY NIGHT

Sunday
Pranayama & Meditation – 8-9 a.m.
Asana Class & ending chant - 9-11:15 a.m.

ACCOMODATIONS: Choose from local Bed & Breakfasts & Vintage Inns

All under a 1 mile walk to the studio. Visit www.visitoakpark.com for listings and information. BOOK EARLY!!

FOOD - A great array of ethnic and continental dining from inexpensive values to fine dining all within walking distance

Spring in Oak Park is lovely….. warm, colorful and welcoming!
Hope to see you.

Experience Maine in its raw fundamental beauty during our late summer retreat of Iyengar Yoga, meditation, chanting, contemplation and stillness on the lovely Isle of Springs Maine. Enjoy fresh, delicious, gourmet meals including local organic produce prepared with love.

Our destination is Isle of Springs, Maine, a scenic and quiet Maine island a stone’s throw from the popular resort village Boothbay Harbor. The private island of lush pine forests, beaches and rocky Atlantic coastlines houses turn of the century cottages, wildflowers & country gardens, fresh water springs and local wildlife in abundance. It’s truly a step back in time to experience simplicity and tranquil times.

The island is a very short ferry ride from the Boothbay region mainland and a 10 minute car or taxi ride to the quaint village of Boothbay harbor. The region is 1 hour 20 minutes northeast of Portland Maine on its own peninsula. The retreat allows time to explore the popular resort village of Boothbay Harbor to enjoy it’s waterfront including shops, boating, dining, Botanical Gardens and other attractions.

For More Info visit
www.boothbayharbor.com

SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY!!

COSTS
$435 including retreat, all meals, private bedroom in shared cottage
$395 if $200 non-refundable deposit received before May 1, 2008

PLEASE NOTE
$200 non-refundable deposit to hold space as it is limited

Total fee due by August 15, 2008
Please make checks payable to: Mary Fran Matichak

Friday & Saturday
Breakfast in Cottages
Meditation 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Asana Class 8 – 10 a.m.
Group Lunch 11:30 a.m.
Dinner 6:30 p.m.

Sunday
Breakfast in Cottages
Meditation 7:30 – 8 a.m.
Asana Class 8-10 a.m.
Brunch 10:30

All meals will be hand prepared with fresh organic ingredients, including desert!! Please make us aware of any diet restrictions in advance.

ACCOMODATIONS - Shared charming turn of the century 3&4 bedroom New England style summer cottages. Enjoy your own private bedroom with shared bath and kitchen. Wonderful, comfy front porches in which to breath in pine air and ocean views.

SPECIAL NOTE
Please bring your own linens for twin bed plus toiletries. Pillows and blankets are provided. Please bring your own yoga props.

Isle of Springs is a hidden treasure in which to enjoy our retreat surrounded by the awesome natural beauty of the Maine Coast. If you have never experienced coastal Maine you do not know what you are missing. We welcome you whole heartedly!!!