COMMUNITY // RETREATS & FESTIVALS
By Natalie Macamget out and practice
Written by Natalie Macam a Yoga Teacher who teaches locally at Malibu Beach Yoga: tigerwaveyoga.com- Self Love & Service
Rincón, Puerto Rico
March 22-
waveofblissmeditation.com/
retreat-details
This retreat offers an intentional
format. Each day, participants
will be led through two medita-
tion sessions and two yoga classes
designed to build on one another
for a deeply healing and loving ex-
perience. Participants will go into
town to shop at local businesses,
and will be lending hands and en-
ergies to those who are still in need
on the island by completing two
service projects as a group.
The retreat takes place in a villa
in Rincón, a small surfing town
on Puerto Rico’s West Coast. The
Casa Dharma, a 20-person villa,
overlooks the Caribbean Ocean. It
is a perfect place to meditate, prac-
tice yoga, eat fresh organic meals,
and enjoy massages.
Over 600,000 people in Puerto
Rico are still without electricity
and running water after Hurricane
Maria. The people of this magical
island of enchantment have been
working hard to rebuild, and they
still need support. Be part of this
event that will nurture your body
and spirit while giving back to
those in need.- Sat Nam Fest
Joshua Tree
April 11-
satnamfest.com/west
There is something special—even
magical—about hundreds of
people sharing practices from
the same lineage. By chanting the
mantras and practicing the kriyas
together, individual efforts are
amplified to create a beautiful and
powerful healing group energy.
Sat Nam Fest allows attendees
to immerse themselves in the joy,
transformation, and rejuvenation
of Kundalini Yoga, sacred chant,
and creativity.
This year, Sat Nam offers
the 21 Stages of Meditation in
partnership with The Kundalini
Research Institute. Participants
join the community for morning
sadhana, meals, and evening con-
certs; and spend days exploring
the depths of meditation with two
powerful guides, Krishna Kaur
and Nirvair Singh.
Sat Nam Fest is a family-friend-
ly event; children participating is
intrinsic to the festival’s life force.
The event welcomes both long-
time Kundalini Yoga students as
well as those who are just intro-
duced to the practice. Join other
practitioners and deeply connect
with each other by sharing yoga
practices in the desert energy of
Joshua Tree.- Shakti Fest
Joshua Tree
May 11-
shaktifest.bhaktifest.com
This annual celebration of the
Divine Feminine is a drug-and-
alcohol-free gathering at Joshua
Tree Retreat Center. The practices
include kirtan (call-and-response
chanting) and other sacred music,
yoga, workshops, meditation,
vegetarian food, and community.
Attendees can camp, glam-camp,
stay in cabins or dorms onsite at
the historic Joshua Tree Retreat
Center, or find local accommoda-
tions. This family-friendly festival
offers programming and opportu-
nities for kids.
Musicians at Shakti Fest include
Jai Uttal, Donna De Lory, Prajna
Vieira, Larisa Stow, Girish, Govind
Das & Radha, and Gina Sala.
World-class yoga teachers include
Shiva Rea, Mark Whitwell, MC
Yogi, Mas Vidal, Kia Miller, Jaya
Lakshmi and Ananda, Hemalayaa
Behl, Kristin Olson, and Brian
Campbell. Workshop leaders
include Dawn Cartwright, Jeffrey
Armstrong, Manoj Chalam, and
Sam Geppi. The Sound Dome
Presenters offer vocal meditations,
gong immersions, and sacred
soundscapes.
Shakti Fest is part of the nonprofit
Center for Spiritual Studies, which
supports charities across the world.- Rote Island Surf
& Yoga Retreat
June 24-
swellwomen.com
Rote Island in Indonesia is one of
the last places in the planet where
you’ll feel like you stepped back in
time and transported to a unique
untouched remote island paradise.
The Lonely Planet describes it as,
“A slender limestone jewel, with
powdery white sand beaches and
epic surf. Most report Rote as the
way Bali used to be, decades ago.”
Swell’s retreat takes place at
Nemberala Beach Resort, a mod-
ern facility that has been beauti-
fully crafted with local quarried
stone, exposed regional hard-
woods, and traditional Rotenese
alang roofs. The resort sits on the
edge of the stunningly blue ocean
with amazing sunsets.
Swell Retreats provides op-
portunities to connect with
likeminded women on immersive
adventures. This Rote Island ex-
cursion is co-ed. Immerse yourself
island-style with four meals a
day, surf lessons, daily yoga, and
transportation to more advanced
surf breaks, farmers markets,
palm sap forests, SUP and/or
SUP Yoga in the mangroves. The
package includes one professional
photo shoot capturing your surf-
ing highlights.