a place to return home
NEW YEAR BLISSFUL RECHARGE
AND SOULFUL ADVENTURE for women
february 2-9, 2025
san jan del sur, nicaragua
lead by julianne aiello
supported by emily laskelle
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
“Julie facilitated a fabulous week in Costa Rica and I feel unbelievably grateful for the safe and inviting space they created in a very magical part of the world. I didn't know a single other participant taking the trip and found that there were many other women in my shoes who joined the retreat. There was an incredible age range and women who had a wide variety of job types and life experiences to share. We all got along so so well and Julie did an incredible job teaching yoga classes to match student's needs. Our time together went far beyond yoga classes. Dance and barre classes were offered and beautiful, heartfelt and tender chants were sung together at the yoga shala with a harmonium and those songs filled my soul in a powerful way. I will for sure attend another retreat with Julie in the future!!”
— Marina V.
welcome! ❤️
“This yoga retreat was definitely food for the soul. I highly recommend to those who want to spend a week where you nourish your body and spirit, through quiet, movement, and even some dance/ surf! Most of us woke to greet the sunrise; there was silence until 9:30 am, meditation at 7:30 followed by a yoga or strength class. In the afternoons was another class, usually more restorative or hypnotherapy. Julie Aiello is a fantastic instructor and leader, she is gifted in the craft of creating spaces that heal and inspire. Most of us were strangers to each other but we quickly connected to create an inclusive and beautiful circle of friends.”
—Gretchen C.
“I can honestly say this retreat changed my life. Julie helped me reawaken a self love and self care that I had been ignoring for many months, and brought together such a beautiful community of people and teachings that are helping me continue this positive change back home. Thank you!!” — Elizabeth H.
I’m thrilled you are considering a most delicious, nourishing retreat for yourself with us!
I have been hosting a week-long retreat each winter, usually in February, for almost 10 years. It’s a great time to get warm, create some extra space for slowing down in winter time. In the astrological calendar, end of March is the New Year, when Spring comes, and winter time is a time for rest, replenishment, emptying out, beginning again with a fresh new start.
I feel so fortunate to continue to carve out this this sacred, sweet, spacious time with and for you. Joining this retreat is creating conditions for you to slow down, reconnect to your body, feel taken care of from beautiful meals and intentional classes, so you can rest into the simplicity of life and connect back to your intuition, joy, and innate wholeness.
We retreat for the sake of our own wellbeing, with the understanding that how we treat ourselves is how we treat the world, and vise versa. Our self-care, renewal and inquiry can uncover the peace and joy within our own hearts and bodies, so that it can ripple out far and wide, creating ripples of peace and love in our families, in our extended communities, and in the world.
I bring the many aspects of study I have embarked on- yoga, buddhism, reiki, somatic therapy, and call forth the gifts each of us bring to amplify the collective wisdom. We renew our curiosities about ourselves, how to release and re-pattern old habits, and utilize the unique and powerful energy that comes from gathering intentional women together in community.
Please read on, explore, and reach out anytime with questions. Feb is a popular time to get away, so this retreat usually fills up. Advance sign ups are recommended.
xoxo Julie
Read many more reviews here.
OUR RETREATS ARE for women of all ages
to come play, rejuvenate and celebrate life!
The psyches and souls of women also have their own cycles and seasons of doing and solitude, running and staying, being involved and being removed, questing and resting, creating and incubating, being of the world and returning to the soul-place.
- Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Running with the Wolves
What you can expect:
Experience wild + rugged BEAUTY that is southwest Nicaragua. Nicaragua on the whole is still very beautifully undeveloped, rich in biodiversity, and is home to some of the kindest people. The earth hums with vitality and raw beauty.
Reconnect to your body and a healthy RHYTHM. Start the day with morning silence (often a favorite time of day). We practice meditation at 7am, and from there move into a daily morning movement practice at 7:30am, with nourishing breakfast to follow. Late morning, head out for a surf, swim, chill time or adventure tour. Return back to the group for late afternoon practice or workshop, intentional communal dinners, and deep rest. (The whole day may sound a bit early, but when the sun sets at 6pm, you easily settle into a rhythm waking at dawn, sleeping at dusk.)
Experience the wild BEAUTY that is YOU. Just by creating the time and space to be in wild nature, with time and space to unwind, and practices to reconnect all of us back to our essence, who we are outside of all of our roles and identities… the layers of busyness, figuring out, having to be someone.. fall away. We come a little closer to remembering childlike wonder, curiosity, and to the unencumbered, free souls we are! We create the space to unwind and listen to the whispers of your body and heart.
Self-honoring as you adventure. Permission to be in the practice of connecting with your body and your intuition and honoring yourself, at all levels. Choose your adventure day to day, plenty of free time, and within the structure of retreat.
Nourishing, powerful, playful and restorative movement.
Morning Yoga Practice: The morning yoga practices offered will support all levels of practitioners. This is retreat is a soulful experience that seeks to deeply meet you where you are at in your body. Classes will alternate with all-levels yoga flow. On the alternating days, we will offer mindful strength and a slow foundations flow. We recommend using the retreat as inspiration to practice yoga at least twice a week leading up to this time.
Afternoon practice: Yoga labs, dance and restorative yoga will be offered in the afternoon! Both are blissful practices, and an opportunity to shake it, set your soul free and dance! As well as alternating days to really rest and soak in restoration.
Receive. Receive support and nourishment — from nature, from community, from yoga practice and us as your guides for the week. We create the space with enough structure and support so you can simply learn and experience. To truly allow ourselves to receive is such an important part of rejuvenating our feminine energy, vitality and creativity, and has been one of the ultimate teachings for me.
Radical love! To be held in radical love, warmth and kindness. The space we seek to provide on retreats is one where you can trust that you will feel welcome and celebrated exactly as you are. The
Beautiful community. To experience the kindness and support of community. While you will have plenty of your own time and space to do as you wish.. we share yoga, meals, and any other moments you choose together. The energy of feeling connected and seeing so much beauty around us — ultimately helps us remember ourselves and all we are.
Soulful home away from home.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions: julianneyoga108@gmail.com
Who is this retreat for?
Women of all ages, orientations, and backgrounds with a shared curiosity for connecting with yourself and to community in sacred space together. Sacred space simply means respect and kindness for ourselves and once another.
Women who love to feel connected to your body! Or, you want to love being in your body! We offer many modalities on the retreat to connect with your body as part of your intuitive intelligence. To rest, play, explore, practice yoga, dance and simply BE in your body!
On most retreats, we have women of all ages, from teens to 70s and every decade in between! One of the gifts of these retreats are that we offer practices for all abilities, so you can bring your mom, your daughter, friend.. We do offer a few “power” practices for more challenge during the week, as well as more gentle flows, to support the range of bodies and experience.
Women curious in deepening your connection to yourself, to your power, to your heart. Women in times of transition (work, kids, relationship) Women who are in a phase of ease and want to come bask in the ease and bliss of life. Wherever you are in your life, this retreat will nurture and inspire your healing and growth.
ABOUT US
JULIANNE AIELLO
Hello! ❤️
What to share? Hmmm, first that I am a LOVER of nature, of love and wisdom. Nature was my first true love, remembering we are all held my the great Mother Earth. The awe and beauty, the innate intelligence and cycles of life in nature captivate my heart and mind. I love practicing yoga outside and laying on the earth (beach, grass, etc) feeling the heartbeat of the earth and my own heartbeat. Laying under a tree on a warm day, surfing and just hanging out in the ocean, hiking in the woods.. this the energy I try to keep close in my mind and heart.
I have also found deep resonance with the ancient teachings of yoga. Yoga is a powerful tool to work with the mind, heart and body. Connecting to my body as my home, a source of information, strength and love, has been a big part of my journey. While I’ve always loved sports and being active, it wasn’t until my 20s and beginning a yoga practice that I realized I wasn’t really living in an “embodied” way. I was running a lot, literally and figuratively. So I was moving, but rarely found a source of presence, connection and wow.. relaxation in my body. In yoga we say that the mind is not just in the head, but in our entire system, and that every cell contains intelligence. Over years of study, I have learned many joyful practices to connect with the wisdom and gift of living in a body, and it’s a joy to share.
Practicing yoga is a simple way to unite mind and body and come home to a sense of full body relaxed alertness. From here, so much innate joy, wisdom, creativity and goodness flows.
I also draw on the contemplative traditions of Buddhism, I have studied and practiced Reiki for many years, my diet, lifestyle and classes are guided by the wisdom Ayurveda, and overall I teach and guide with an integrative approach to wellness and wholeness, to support you in the entire human experience. I also love to teach alignment-based yoga, so we can fine tune and get to know more about how our bodies move, how we can make more space, and how we can make new and familiar shapes that might offer us a new experience. How cool to be our age, whatever that is, and be having new experiences just by moving and breathing in our body!
I so look forward to having this retreat time with you, as it allows us all to sink into the experience, and feel into new ways of experiencing being alive (!!)
Come join in the sweetness! See what I’m up to on IG @julianneyoga
EMILY LASKELLE
I am a dedicated yoga teacher and aspiring somatic, dance, and movement psychotherapist, deeply passionate about the transformative power of both intentional movement and rest. I found yoga shortly after my collegiate volleyball career came to an end, at a time when I was extremely disconnected from my body. Yoga has been my greatest ally in coming back home to my body. I truly can't get enough of practices that root and presence us back in the body because I deeply believe that is where all the magic happens; right here, this moment, this breath. My experiences, exploration, and endless fascination with the mind-body connection led me to pursue my masters in Somatic Psychology at CIIS.
My approach to teaching is rooted in passions for restful stillness, mindful movement, and cultivating a compassionate witness within one's self. As a historical lover of movement, and a newbie (within the last 5 years) lover of rest, I believe that the body, heart, and mind can transform and thrive by integrating the efforts of moving, resting, and the practice of self-compassion.
My classes are intentionally crafted to be safe and inclusive spaces where students can express themselves freely, explore their physical and emotional boundaries, and embark on a journey of self-connection. Through my nurturing presence, I foster a supportive environment where students feel empowered to listen to their bodies and honor their own pace and rhythm. You can expect my classes to be rhythmic, nourishing, grounding, and fluid.
My hope is that our time together will remind you of your innate wholeness, and leave you feeling empowered, held, and present to the magic of your aliveness.
gorgeous yoga shalas for spacious mind and heart.
home to gentle, profound moments of joy, release and REMEMBRANCE.
DAILY ITINERARY:
6AM - Coffee, Tea and Light Breakfast Available
7AM - Meditation + Pranayama (guided breathing)
7:30am - 9AM - Movement practice. The days will alternate with all-levels vinyasa yoga practice, and mindful strength (similar to barre) practices with some cardio! On days Julie teaches strength, Emily will offer a stretch class as well in the morning. This is so that people of various abilities can partake.
10AM - 1PM - Activity option
1PM - Lunch
4:30PM - Afternoons will include restorative yoga, free dance (think 5 rhythms), reiki and singing workshops. All are blissful practices, and an opportunity to shake it, set your soul free and dance! As well as alternating days to really rest and soak in restoration. I recommend using the retreat as inspiration to practice yoga at least twice a week leading up to this time.
6:30PM - Dinner
While it sounds like the day starts early, you will settle into a natural, early to bed rhythm here! Nearly everyone does.. the sun sets at 6:30pm (we are near the equator) and rises around 5:30am, so you will likely rise early, and get to enjoy the incredible peace and quiet of the morning time. We have morning silence in place on this retreat, so there is no talking until 7:30am, which really tends to be more like after yoga around 9:30am, and allows you to take in the beauty and stillness of the morning. Sometimes people go on a sunrise swim or beach walk, or just sit in the chairs and drink coffee, watching the sunrise.
CLASS OFFERINGS
MORNING SESSIONS:
3 FOUNDATIONAL FLOW CLASSES - Foundational Flow classes focuses on practicing one category of movement, like twisting, hip openers, or backends. It’s a well-rounded class, with extra emphasis on creating a strong foundation to build your yoga practice.
2 POWER FLOW CLASSES - For practitioners who have a yoga practice, and desire more flow and less instruction. An opportunity to drop into a strong and mindful flow. These classes are 2 out of 3 on advance scale, not super advanced, but a familiarity with yoga is helpful.
2 MINDFUL STRENGTH CLASSES - Barre style classes with some cardio. These classes are intentionally designed to target small muscle movement, increase body awareness and strength, and offer great all-around cross training for all the ways you love to move your body. They are some of my favorite classes to teach and take, and I’m excited to offer these classes to you!
LATE AFTERNOON SESSIONS:
2 YOGA ASANA LABS - Learn how to breakdown key postures, with time dedicated to foundational postures as well as a few more advanced ones. You’ll learn by doing, and by assisting someone on the retreat with instruction. Students love these workshops.
1 REIKI WORKSHOP - Learning the foundations of reiki, universal healing energy. Practice giving and receiving reiki in this workshop. Reiki is a subtle and powerful practice that empowers us to remember we are all healers, and with intentional, compassionate touch we can be of great service to each other.
1 ECSTATIC DANCE SESSION - This session will begin with guided instruction and after about 30 minutes, open up to free movement. This dance session can be whatever you want it to be - slow, sensual, wild, powerful, sweet, fun, playful, healing.. and maybe all of that. The music is a mix of tribal music, pop-remix favorites, and world beats.
2 RESTORATIVE YOGA SESSIONS - with guided visualization.
1 HEALING + CREATION WORKSHOP - A workshop to connect with our shadow and our light. What do we desire to tend in our hearts, mind and body, and what do we desire to create? A journal and discussion oriented workshop.
MORE RETREAT DETAILS ..
SANCTUARY SPACE - Costa Dulce is nestled on the southern coast of Nicaragua, offering a unique blend of tranquility, adventure, and community. Here, the gentle whispers of the jungle and the soothing rhythm of the waves invite you to a journey of self-discovery and connection. Whether you’re drawn by the allure of the surf, the tranquility of yoga, or the promise of wellness, Costa Dulce is your gateway to an unforgettable experience. Alongside being an incredibly beautiful eco-resort, there are opportunities to participate in cultural experiences like Cacao rituals, salsa classes, temezcal ceremonies.
Learn more about Costa Dulce here: https://www.costadulcebeach.com/
MEALS: Enjoy healthy fresh, organic, plant-based and gluten-free meals at Costa Dulce. Our food has consistently been one of our favorite features for guests, where most find our farm-to-table kitchen to be a highlight of their trip. La Dulce Cocina takes pride in serving you healthy and delicious local food. We pay extra attention to selecting locally grown fresh ingredients so our menu changes with the seasons. We consider food to be a pillar of well being. Good food not only means that it’s deliciously kind to our taste buds, but also that it is good for our body, our planet and our communities. A true nourishment for ourselves and our surroundings. We understand how important individual dietary needs in order to feel good and that’s our main goal.
SHARED ROOMS: Most people who join the retreat share a room with someone they haven't met yet! I consciously pair people based on my intuition and the information I receive from you. Sharing rooms is common on a retreat, and always works out beautifully. If for any reason your room situation doesn't work out, there is always another option we can work out for you.
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Just being here in the beautiful retreat energy, with wonderful people and a gorgeous eco retreat center is so much of the experience. However if you desire to connect with local activity and culture, there are opportunities to do so. On Friday nights there is a Salsa class, and there are activities you can book while you’re here.
TO BOOK: If this retreat is already feeling like an easy yes, great, jump on in! If you'd like to connect on the phone to see if it's a good fit for you, please email me at julianneyoga108@gmail.com with a few times that work for you to connect. I love meeting people and connect on the possibility for you to join this special retreat, to see if it's a good fit, and without any pressure to join.
How to afford going on retreat?
I have thought a lot about the value of retreat for the cost, and I keep offering them because I think they provide a tremendous amount of value. This is like a yoga teacher training, in a way. You learn a good amount, you will definitely deepen your practice and leave inspired! And it’s more restful, connective, playful than a training. You will be held in supportive, structured space by the teachers - myself and Emily in a way that I believe will be nourishing for you. The accommodations and food are amazing. We also support with all planning logistics. It’s a big gift to yourself that I think is really worth it, and of course up to you to decide for yourself!
If you know you want to come, and you’re not quite sure you can afford it, consider who in your life might be willing to help. If there are loved ones who want you to be well, to travel, etc, and who can possibly support you, you may consider asking for support.
If you’re financial situation is such that you won’t be able to join without a scholarship, please reach out. We have at least one partial scholarship space available every year, and possibly more.
If you’re financial situation is such that you have an abundance of resources, please consider contributing at a higher rate. Your support is so appreciated and will directly benefit someone else to join the retreat.
As a dedicated student of yoga for over a decade, I truly believe that nourishing ourselves nourishes all life. Investing time and energy back into ourselves is essential to remember we are not only here to be of service, but to know ourselves as divine and worthy of receiving as well. We will use the yogic philosophy of the 8 limbs of yoga as a foundational teaching of this retreat, and explore how we can use the limbs to experience the joy of the inner most self, and express that in our being.
Come join us! This retreat is a time for you to slow your roll.. to live in the present, be wonderfully pampered with delicious meals, transformative yoga, immersed in nature and open to all that possible for your life! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
My contact is: julianne yoga 108 at gmail dot com. I am happy to connect over email, or setup a time to talk. I love connecting with new people and sharing what we do, without any pressure to join us.
With love,
Julie and Emily.
