Come! Journey to mystical Peru, a land where the old ways are carved into the landscape and are embedded and alive in the heart of the local culture. Join our yoga teacher trainings Peru to experience a synergistic blend of the shamanic customs of the Americas and the ancient art and science of Yoga.
Our voyage takes us approximately 15 km north (as far as the condor flies) from the historical Incan capital of Cusco, along the Vilcamayo River, revered as sacred by the early peoples for how it weaves its way through the rock, mirroring the correlation of Milky Way in old Grandfather Sky…
As Above, So Below
Nestled deep within the foothills of the Andes, our retreat is set in a warm cocoon of a region known as El Valle Sagrado de los Incas (The Sacred Valley of the Incas). Under the powerful protection of these majestic mountains, away from the tourist trail and thrill seekers, you’ll experience an intimate and powerful personal transformation as the real journey of our yoga teacher training retreat begins…
As Within, So Without
This deeply nourishing 10 day, all-inclusive retreat and 100 hour advanced YTT draws upon a synergistic blend of the shamanic customs of the Americas and the ancient art and science of Yoga. These practices profoundly connect us with ourselves in raw and experiential ways, bringing to the surface our sub conscious, habitual thought patterns and behaviours that often can dominate our day to day lives.
Working in ceremony with Ayahuasca and Huachuma (San Pedro) will help inform how to live our yoga rather than simply “do” it, while our yoga practice serves to deepen and keep us centered during our journeying with the Plant Teachers for us to discover glimpses of our place within it all.
Ayahuasca, Huachuma and Yoga Nidra have long demonstrated their profound healing abilities and during this retreat you will be given tools to transform what arises as well as space to restore, rejuvenate and connect with FLOW and your own potential, so that you can live a more authentic and meaningful life.
In compliment to the more traditional Plant Medicine ceremonies we will invoke and offer blessings with a Native South American ‘Despacho’ ceremony by a local Shaman and participate in a Native North American ‘Temazcal’ (a sweat lodge purification). The multicultural custom of “Council Circles” will also play a significant role, prefacing and following all shamanic ceremonies to deepen our understanding and integrate our experiences.
Our bodies will be nurtured by delicious home grown vegetarian meals, while our minds and souls will be nurtured by daily Vinyasa/Hatha, Yin and Yoga Nidra practice exploring and inspired by the elements and nature, led by our wise yogini and Soul Guide Simone MacKay. As well as talks about Yoga Nidra, the Koshas and native Medicine wheel and 7 directions teachings, we will be guided through teachings of the Andean Cosmology as we hike to a local waterfall in the foothills of the Andes. Star-gazing and the sharing of medicine songs and poetry by sacred fire as well as floral baths and the practice of mauna (inner quietude) will also serve to deepen our connection with ourselves, our fellow voyagers, the land in which we will journey together and ultimately to Source.
This immersion will keep you engaged from morning until evening with some ceremonies running well into the night. The schedule will vary, depending on the flow of the days, as well as the needs of the group. Due to the nature of this event, much of it will be touched by the natural and organic flow and inspiration of Spirit and guided by Heart.
- Accommodation (based on shared occupancy)
- Homegrown, chef prepared meals
- Daily asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra and Yoga Nidra practices
- Workshops on Yoga Nidra
- Guided mountain / waterfall hike and teachings of Andean Cosmology
- Floral baths
- Peruvian Despacho Ceremony
- Ayahuasca ceremony x 2
- Huachuma ceremony x 1
- Rapé offerings
- Saunas
- Mauna (yogic cultivation of inner quietude, including a day of silence)
- Temazcal / Sweat Lodge purification
SIMONE MACKAY
LETICIA TIKA QANTU SIDERIS
PAUL TEMPLE
Our seasoned yogini, Simone MacKay, will assist us in exploring the higher levels of Yoga. This will include dynamic Vinyasa/Swara, Yin and Yoga Nidra practice inspired by the 5 elements, nature, drawing upon the 7 directions, as well as exploring the Koshas and native Medicine Wheel teachings.
Experienced and trusted Medicine keepers Leticia Tika Qantu Sideris, and Yogi elder Paul Temple will contribute to holding space alongside Simone during the retreat (as even when not directly under the influence of the Medicine – its spirit continues to work its profound magic and mystery through us).
Open to practitioners of all levels and experiences, this event meets all Continuing Education (CE) requirements as required by Yoga Alliance for all registered yoga teachers, and also counts as one of three 100-hour modules for those moving towards an advanced 300-hour training (500 hour certificate).
Collaborating with Tina Nance Yoga Therapy, five unique and diverse advanced yoga teacher trainings are available to choose from in order to complete a 300-hour certification and take one’s practice to the next level.
Each module is powerful in its own right, and can be taken individually, and/or a specific combination of three of the five modules may be completed together (over a 3 year period) to gain accreditation with Yoga Alliance at the 500-hour level (all three modules are registered as one curriculum with Yoga Alliance). The final certificate, upon completion of all three modules, will be granted by SOSA.
For complete information about our collaborative 300-hour advanced program with TNYT (TinaNance.com) please contact us at SOSA at info@schoolofsacredarts.net.
Where to fly into: Cusco (CUZ) is the closest airport.
Transfers from Cusco and the surrounding area can be arranged through the retreat center, which you can contact Munay Sonqo directly regarding.
Visa: Please check your visa requirements ahead of departure for Peru with your local embassy as these can vary from country to country.
Altitude: Arin and Pisaq are at an altitude of 2,800m (9,500 ft high). This will strongly affect the pace of our yoga practice and often requires a good adjustment time. Supplements are strongly recommended.
Weather being weather, it is unpredictable, especially at this altitude. Though the dry season brings with it more sun it also brings colder temperatures, rain is always a possibility. Dress warm and keep dry!
Extra info:
- Only drink bottled/filtered water. You can buy it everywhere.
- Dollar exchange rate: USD $1 (American dollars) = approx. 3.29 soles (July 2019)
- There are at least two functioning ATM machines available in Pisaq town. (Please be advised, most ATMs in Peru will only dispense $200 (about 650 soles) at a time.
- Credit cards are normally accepted in hotels, restaurants, and stores in the city of Cusco and Lima—but not in Pisaq.
- Electricity: 220 volts. (2 pin round and flat travel adaptors are common)
“THE LONGEST JOURNEY YOU’LL EVER MAKE IS FROM THE HEAD TO THE HEART.”
MAYAN PRAYER
May the Heart of Earth
Flow to the Heart of the Heavens
Through my Heart
And may our Hearts together
Be the Heart of all sentient Beings
May the Heart of Father Sky
Flow to the Heart of Mother Earth
Through the Heart
And may our Hearts together
Be the Heart of all Earthkind.
Somah Team
LETICIA TIKA QANTU SIDERIS
MEDICINE GODDESS
A 5th generation member of a shamanic tradition from Chachapoyas, Leticia has studied, trained and practiced with various indigenous tribes in Venezuela, Columbia and Peru for close to a decade. She now holds medicine as well as sweat lodge ceremonies for the Sacred Valley Tribe, with strong, motherly energy, a blooming feminine wisdom and exquisite music.
Leticia is a Moon Dancer and pipe carrier in the Mexican tradition of Teotiuacan. She holds Women’s Circles around the pipe arising the prayers for sisterhood, care and love for Mother Earth and all sentient beings.
Leticia also assists people individually, helping them to integrate the plant medicine ceremony experience, (using shadow work and the reprograming of old patterns) with presence, integrity and a loving heart.
PAUL TEMPLE
HUMBLE YOGI, WISE ELDER, MEDICINE GUIDE
With degrees in botany and education, Paul, an avid rock-climber and secondary-school teacher, emigrated from England to Canada in his youth before travelling to India, where he lived in an ashram for the better part of the next fourteen years, studying yoga, meditation and Sanskrit.
Arriving in Peru in 1999 to explore the shamanic use of traditional plant medicines, Paul now owns and operates the Hummingbird Retreat Centre (together with his partner Suzanne) based on the principles of sacred geometry and designed to support the ceremonial use of Huachuma (San Pedro Cactus) as well as the integration of this ancient tradition into contemporary life.
SIMONE MACKAY
SOUL GUIDE
A nomadic Canadian raised and educated in Switzerland, Simone worked as a counselor working with women affected by violence, before adopting the simple, free and romantic life of a traveling Yogini, studying and teaching yoga throughout the greater Asian realm for many years before establishing the School of Sacred Arts in Bali and SOMAH, an off-shoot in the direction of her deeper passions.
Increasingly drawn to nature-based spirituality, Simone passionately utilizes both yogic and shamanic tools in support of growth and transformation, holding space with gentle grace in SOSA/SOMAH’s trainings, workshops and retreats around the world.
