Just Be: Jivamukti Retreat to Belize Feb 18-25, 2017

Just Be: Jivamukti Yogawood Retreat to Belize

Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island, floating in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Join Jivamukti Yoga Teacher, Maiga Milbourne, assisted by Kevin Price, for a week of barefoot peace. We’ll be staying at Ak’bol Eco Resort, Belize’s oldest yoga retreat designed to be very low impact on this precious environment. Practice yoga twice daily on a pier to the sound of lapping waves. Dine on locally-sourced, healthy, and vegan meals three times a day on the beach. Between yoga and meditation practices experience as little or as much as you’re called towards. The more adventurous might snorkel in the second largest Barrier Reef in the world, only a quarter mile away, or visit the neighboring fishing village of San Pedro. Or maybe the sand and the sun is enough and you let yourself just be. Enroll here.

February 18-25, 2017

Ak’bol Eco Resort

Ambergris Caye, Belize

Tuition includes chosen accommodations, three meals a day (except for one evening free), and all yoga practices. All prices are person. If electing for a shared rate the student is responsible for finding their own roommate. Maiga is happy to make suggestions but we cannot offer a shared rate if the room is not shared.

Deposit: To hold your space pay a $500 deposit. This will be deducted from your total tuition. All tuition is due no later than Nov 1, 2016.

Not included: Flights to Belize, transport to Ak’bol (details below), alcoholic beverages, one night dinner on your own, tips (we suggest $50 per person for the week), and optional excursions.

Cancellation Policy: We realize that things happen. Until Oct 1, 2016 if you have to cancel we will refund your payment except $100 to cover administrative fees. After Oct 1, 2016 there are no refunds.

SOLD OUT!
Seafront Cabanas (3) shared rate $1,775, private rate $2,375 if paid in full by August 1, 2016. After August 1, the rates are increased by $150 per person.

Each of these thatched roof cabanas has a sea view, a queen-sized bed as well as a loft with two twin beds. Windows are plantation shuttered, the private shower is open air, offering a truly unique and authentic experience. Daily housekeeping will change towels every other day to conserve water and energy.

Garden View Cabanas (4) shared rate $1,675, private rate $2,225 if paid in full by August 1, 2016. After August 1, the rates are increased by $150 per person.

Each of these thatched roof cabanas has a sea view, a queen-sized bed as well as a loft with two twin beds. Windows are plantation shuttered, the private shower is open air, offering a truly unique and authentic experience. Daily housekeeping will change towels every other day to conserve water and energy.

Village Rooms shared rate $1,300, private rate $1,425 if paid in full by August 1, 2016. After August 1, the rates are increased by $150 per person.

Have you ever wanted to go to summer camp in the Tropics? Now is your chance. Simple island rooms with twin beds for those sharing or a queen beds for couples as well as communal spaces overlooking the lagoon. There are two shared bathrooms with plenty of showers, toilets, and sinks for all, as well as island details like mahogany sinks and conch shell faucets. This is sweet simplicity on the lagoon. Have fun with it!

Note on preserving the local environment

Ak’bol is an eco-conscious space. Please bring a reusable water bottle and enjoy the complimentary safe drinking water. Please conserve!

Ak’bol staff will change bedding and towels every other day and appreciates guests drying out their towels in between. This is to cut down on water and energy usage.

Islands have sensitive septic systems. Whenever possible, please put used toilet paper in provided garbage cans. These are ways of island living to soften our impact.

A healthy ecosystem has bugs. The gentle ocean breezes help keep a lot of critters away from Ak’bol but there will be bugs! This is the reality of a healthy environment.

Your yoga teacher

Passionate about healthy bodies, relationships, and communities. Maiga Milbourne is an E-RYT vinyasa yoga teacher, and she loves nothing more than offering amazing hands-on assists in yoga practice. As of March 2015 she is also an accredited Jivamukti teacher, after completing her training at Radhanath Swami’s EcoVillage outside of Mumbai, India, under the tutelage of Sharon Gannon, David Life, Jules Febre, Ruth Laurer-Manenti, and Yogeswari. She teaches yoga, officiates ceremonies, and makes people's travel dreams come true. Learn more at maigamilbourne.com.

After years of dedicated meditation practice, attendance on many yoga and silent retreats, and lots of study with senior yoga teachers in the Jivamukti lineage, Kevin Price, embarked on his own yoga teacher training. In April 2016 he completed 200 hours of rigorous yoga study at Yogawood under the direction of Beth Filla and Maiga Milbourne. In addition to his own practice and his practice of sharing these methodologies, Kevin runs a sustainable landscaping business. He implements environmentally-friendly measures on his own property, such as multiple composting systems and greywater. Kevin is also a musician, playing guitar, offering vocals, and many song compositions for the band, All the Forgotten. More than anything, Kevin loves a good adventure. In Belize, he’s your go-to guy when you want to get into it!

Sample Itinerary subject to change

Saturday February 18

Arrivals throughout the day - check in is 12 noon

6:30 pm Welcome Dinner and Orientation

Sunday February 19-Friday February 24

7-9 am light breakfast buffet served at the beach bar

9:30-11 am Jivamukti Yoga

12-1 pm lunch on the private palapa

Optional activities can be organized by Ak’bol, such as scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, kite boarding, kayaking, visiting Mayan ruins, cave tubing, zip-lining, getting body work from a local practitioner, swim in the pool etc. There are also daily guided snorkel trips from 1-3:30 pm.

5-6 pm Yin or gentle yoga

6-6:30 pm seaside Meditation practice

6:30 pm dinner on the private palapa

8 pm some nights optional satsang including chanting or conversation

Saturday February 25

7-9 am farewell breakfast

Check out 12 noon

Getting there and Away: Fly into Belize City or airport code BZE. If flying from the US East Coast you may want to search flights out of Newark (EWR) or JFK for cheaper and more direct flights. We suggest purchasing travel insurance with international flights.

Ambergris Caye is an island off of Belize’s mainland. You are responsible for getting from the Belize City Airport to Ambergris Caye. To get to Ambergris Caye you have the following options:

Tropic Air: This is the quickest, simplest way to get to Ambergris Caye. This is a small flight (affectionately known as “puddle jumpers”) that get you to the town of San Pedro in 15-20 minutes. These flights run 40 minutes after the hour with the last flight daily departing at 5:40 pm. You can book this flight through www.tropicair.com or directly through Ak’bol by emailing yogawithkirsten@gmail.com and paying upon arrival. Upon arrival in San Pedro you will take a taxi to Ak’bol for about $17.

Water Taxi: From the Belize Airport you need to get a taxi to the water taxi port in Belize City, which will be roughly 25 minutes and $25. Catch a water taxi to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, which will take about an hour and a half and cost $15. At the San Pedro port you can catch a second water taxi directly to Ak’bol or catch a land taxi, which is easier. The water taxis to Ak’Bol run periodically for about $5 or you can charter one for about $20. You can visit www.sanpedrowatertaxi.com or https://belizewatertaxi.com for more information.

WHAT TO BRING

A current passport.

Two color photo copies of your passport.

Many in Belize accept US Dollars though Belizean currency is the Belize Dollar. There are ATMs in San Pedro-- remind your bank that you will be in Belize! You can also run a tab at Ak’bol and pay by credit card when checking out.

Your own reusable water bottle.

Medications with their prescription.

Your yoga mat if you’re attached-- there are mats to use at Ak’bol if you’d rather not travel with your own mat.

Small towels for sweaty practice.

Clothing for twice daily yoga practice. There are places in San Pedro to get your clothes laundered, if you’d like. You’ll want to allot two days to receive your clean clothes.

Clothes for day time adventures-- if you plan to wear anything other than your swim suit! Ambergris Caye is VERY CASUAL!

Some layers for cooler evenings, like a pair of yoga pants, sweat shirt, and long sleeve shirt.

Flip flops.

If you plan to be adventurous, a good sports sandal like keens or chacos. You may want sneakers if you plan to go to the Mayan ruins.

Swim suits.

Beach towels.

Beach gear-- sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, hat, etc.

Books and music.

There are no hairdryers at Ak’bol but remember they try to conserve energy and that we think you look beautiful as you are.

Reading lamp, flashlight or headlamp. For some reason, flashlights and headlamps are amazingly helpful when traveling.

If you have snorkel gear, bring it! If not, you can use Ak’bol’s.

$40 for the exit fee to leave Belize. You pay at the airport with either US cash or credit card.

Communicating with family back home

If you have a good international cell phone plan, great! Know signals are often dodge-y in remote places like tropical islands. Consider turning off your cellular data once you fly out to Belize. Once you have wifi, you can use the connection to Facetime with friends and family.

In the event of an emergency, your family can reach you by calling Ak’bol: 011 (501) 226.2073

FAQs

Ak’bol can exchange USD into Belizean dollars. You likely won’t need much money.

There is free internet in the on-site wisdom garden but it is not always consistent. There are a few internet cafes in San Pedro.

No need for adapters as outlets are the same as in the US.

You can read the CDC’s recommendations for traveling to Belize here: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/belize. Please consult your doctor to take the appropriate precautions for your health.