Summer Solstice Retreat: Q&A with Daniella Cotreau

by Fredo on June 13, 2011 · 1 comment

On Saturday, June 18, 2011, Daniella Cotreau, an Anusara-Inspired Yoga Teacher, will be offering a one day retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains.  Lots of teachers are offering retreats these days, but there were a couple of really stand out things that caught my eye about this opportunity.  I took some to time to reach out to Daniella to find out more about her retreat.

backbend deck Summer Solstice Retreat: Q&A with Daniella Cotreau

Daniella Cotreau, Anusara-Inspired Yoga Teacher

Fredo: Hey Daniella!  So, tell me about what the day holds for retreat participants.

Daniella: The day holds a whole lot of love, play and magic. Two Anusara-Inspired yoga classes (morning and late afternoon), all accompanied by an amazing musician named Jesse Hendricks (you can’t really go wrong with a last name like Hendricks!). He plays an array of all kinds of instruments and will be gracing each yoga practice with sounds to support and usher each student into his or her practice sweetly and beautifully. Between classes, there will be time to enjoy the sunshine, meditate on the grounds, hoola hoop, go for a swim in the nearby creek, get a massage, have feather hair extensions adorned in the women’s hair, eat our meals together, soak in the hot tub and connect with each other.

After the late afternoon Anusara-Inspired Yoga with live music class, the yoga deck will be transformed into a dance floor, with festive lights, lamps, chill space and lots of room to dance to the Live DJ sounds of Jesse Hendricks all outside and under the stars!!

 

Fredo: That sounds great, will you also be offering any optional activities?

 

Daniella: The group swim to the creek is optional, as well as the massages. I have an incredible massage therapist named Lawrence Underwood coming to the event to nurture and assist any student deeper into their healing, letting go, whatever it is they desire. He has been my personal massage therapist for years now and his work is a perfect complement to anyone’s yoga practice. He is a dedicated practitioner. His massages, in fact, have helped me deepen my own practice and many of my students are also regular clients of his. Everyone loves Lawrence!!

 

Fredo: Now, in a kula known for women with unique and amazing clothes, you’re a stand out!  I see that there will be offerings along those lines?

Daniella: Yes, Margo of Leom Designs makes incredibly comfortable, creative and hip yoga clothes not just for women but for men too! There are not a lot of cool hip yoga duds out there for men, and Margo really makes a point to include them in this kind of market, so I am really excited and honored to have her there to offer her talent and art of clothing design for everyone!

Fredo: Food.  Gotta ask about the food.

Daniella: Since this is in the spirit of Summer Solstice, creative self-expression, and being in community, what I decided to do about the food is ask folks to bring either a dish to share that is an expression of themselves to share with the community or bring food to cook/prepare in the Villa’s kitchen. That way even our creative and playful selves can come alive as we not only eat together but make our meals together too! And to boot, this also was another way to keep costs down and keep the retreat affordable for all.

Fredo: What was your inspiration for offering this retreat?

Daniella: The theme is celebrating the Summer Solstice. My intent with this event is multi-fold. First and foremost, it is to create a space for all of us to come together in a beautiful outdoor setting, be in community, practice Anusara yoga, play, dance, and enjoy nature while being in good company. And also, to offer a festive yoga retreat during the summer that is low cost and close to home (no airfare) where you are on retreat but don’t have to go too far or spend too much money to do it. There are so many beautiful places to do yoga retreats right here in our beautiful Bay Area.

Fredo: What moved you most?  What are you most excited about for this retreat?

Daniella: I love leading retreats of any length and I am always moved by the students:  the magic that arises as I witness each person’s beautiful unfolding, transformation and reconnection to themselves and what really matters. And also how beautifully the students connect with each other. They create long lasting and deep connections with each other fostered by such a transformative and rejuvenating experience such as a yoga retreat. I love being a part of each person’s reconnection to themselves and their soul. It is truly beautiful. I am most excited about being together with everyone in one place, teaching yoga outdoors in the fresh air and dancing together outside under the stars!!

 

The deadline for registering for Daniella’s retreat is Wednesday, June 15.  To register, e-mail Daniella at daniella@bodytempleyoga.org; more details can be found at her site.

Related posts:

  1. Harvest of Love: Autumn Yoga Festival Retreat with Daniella Cotreau

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Daniella leads fabulous retreats that are so nurturing and fun as well.

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