Anza-Borrego Wellness Retreat
Date & Time (the event is three days):
Friday, November 15, 2024 5:00 p.m. – Sunday, November 17 1:00 p.m.
Location:
UC Irvine Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center
Cost: (includes dorm-style accommodations, all food, and all instruction)
Non-members: $599 /person
Members: $549 /person
Student: $275 /person
*Your registration fee goes to support the work of Anza-Borrego Foundation, the official non-profit partner of the State Park, and the work we do to directly support Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We do our best to keep registration fees as low as possible, while simply reflecting our own costs for running this program.
Description
Join us for a transformative wellness retreat in stunning Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where the serene beauty of the desert becomes the backdrop for a journey of self-discovery and healing. This immersive experience includes daily yoga sessions by Borrego Springs’ resident yogi, Santosha Yoga, designed to quiet your body and mind and set against the vast, open landscapes of the park. Complementing this, sound baths will guide you into deep relaxation, using the resonant tones of crystal bowls, and you’ll connect with the land through mindful hikes and meditative practices that deepen your appreciation of this ancient, sacred space.
In addition to physical wellness, you’ll explore the rich history of Anza-Borrego and the sacredness of the desert through a workshop led by UCSD’s Professor Matthew Herbst. You’ll also explore emotional intelligence and mindfulness in a workshop with Rossy Sanchez, an experienced local teacher in Borrego Springs and the founder of Yellow Woman Ranch. You’ll learn practical techniques to stay present, manage stress, and cultivate a deeper understanding of your emotions, all within the supportive environment of a like-minded community.
Whether you’re looking to reset, reconnect, or simply take a break from the hustle of daily life, this retreat offers a holistic approach to well-being, blending the power of nature with the wisdom of ancient practices.
Tentative Itinerary
(*subject to change)
Friday, November 15
- 5:00 – 6:00pm Check in, meet and greet
- 6:00-8:00pm Dinner, Presentation, Intention Setting, Sound Bath
Saturday, November 16
- 7:00 a.m. Yoga
- 8:00 a.m. Breakfast
- 9:00 a.m. Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness with Rossy Sanchez (includes lunch break)
- 2:00-5:00 p.m. Free time
- 5:00-6:00 p.m. Sound Healing
- 6:00pm-8:00 p.m. Dinner and Presentation
Sunday, November 17
- 7:00 a.m. Yoga
- 8:00 a.m. Breakfast
- 9:00 a.m. Pilgrimage and Sacred Journeys in the Colorado Desert with Matthew Herbst (lunch in the field)
- 2:00 p.m. Head home
Important Notes:
- Participants drive their own vehicles or carpool with others to excursion locations. We’ll take into consideration all vehicle types and skill levels of driving.
- Lodging is included and is dorm-style at the Research Center. Participants are also welcome to camp on the picturesque grounds surrounding the Research Center (included in price) or book their own accommodations elsewhere (not included).
Please register in advance. Space is limited and will sell out! Register Here
For any questions about registration, please contact [email protected]
About the Presenters:
Paul Penners is a Yoga and Meditation Teacher, born and raised in the Netherlands-Europe. After a successful career in the corporate world, Paul decided to follow his true love and teach yoga. Paul has completed hundreds of hours of yoga training all over the world, including a 4-year Yoga-teacher training in the Netherlands with Hans ‘t Hart, “Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training” in Neuville aux Bois-France, with Yogrishi Vishveketu in India, with Tom & Trisha Kelly in Encinitas, in Yoga Nidra at the California College of Ayurveda, in Yin Yoga with Bernie Clark, Advanced Anatomy with Bernie Clark. Paul is continuously learning. Along with Hatha Yoga, Paul has been practicing “Kriya Yoga Meditation” with Self Realization Fellowship. Paul Loves to share his enthusiasm for Yoga & Meditation with his students, and as a musician, he loves to lead Kirtan Chanting. For more about Paul’s offerings, visit www.yogasantosha.com/
Matthew T. Herbst is a professor at the University of California San Diego, where he serves as director of the Making of the Modern World (writing and world history) program, co-director of Classical Studies, and faculty co-director of Study Abroad. Dr. Herbst specializes in the pedagogical leadership of academic programs and experiential learning opportunities and has led programs in Asia, Europe, Oceania, Turkey, the American Southwest, and the deserts and mountains of Southern California. His academic interests include experiential education, environmental humanities, ancient history, world wisdom traditions, sacred traditions of the desert, early Christianity, Byzantium, disability, and writing pedagogy. For more on his work see: https://ucsdherbst.org/bio/
Rossy Sanchez is a writer/editor/photographer, and creator of 3+ Things I Love About Myself, a photojournalism project she started in 2019 to help women introspectively acknowledge themselves as beautiful beings worth celebrating. More recently, she married that project with her self-discovery workshops based on emotional intelligence and mindfulness, which she’s eager to share with the local community. Rossy, who was born in Cuba, has morphed from a consummate beach bum to a passionate desert lover who’s elated to call Borrego home. You may have seen her around town with her mother, Gloria, her partner, Hector, and sometimes with her beloved pooch, Bella.
