By Silvia Mordini
With the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and desert beneath your feet, Prana del Mar is the perfect place to escape for a tranquil eco-luxe yoga retreat.
Off the grid and entirely solar-powered, your best option is to completely unplug during a stay here. The stylish rooms are adorned with travertine-tiled floors; custom-made teak furniture; pillow-top mattresses; 300 thread-count organic sheets and bath towels; large terraces and balconies with ocean views; and organic personal care products.
Prana del Mar is committed to environmental stewardship by existing in harmony with the natural environment, earning five stars by Eco Hotels of The World (they’ll even apply your carbon offsets toward a spa treatment!). All electricity is solar-powered, the vegetable and herb garden is organic, the pool is solar-heated, and wastewater is treated on site and reused for the xeriscape gardens. There are no lines in, and no lines out.
The “Sun” Studio, the largest room used for yoga practice, is 1850 square feet, allowing plenty of space to comfortably practice on new bamboo floors. All props are provided ““ including thick, Manduka mats, both bamboo and alder blocks, blankets, bolsters, straps, sand bags, and silk eye pillow, so no need to pack any of your yoga gear unless, of course, you want to. There is a brand new, intimate Moon Studio for more restorative practices along with dedicated meditation rooms.
Needing a break from yoga on a particular day? Take surf lessons. Go whale watching. Ride horses on the beach. Enjoy a hot stone massage or a sea salt body scrub. Take a siesta in a hammock. Visit the quaint artistic community of Todos Santos. Ride a dune buggy. Hone your culinary skills with a cooking class from chef extraordinaire Manolo. Enjoy a walking meditation in the labyrinth. Lounge on the roof deck with a 360-degree view of the mountains to the east, the ocean to the west and the desert all around.
“There’s a tendency to assume that off-grid and ecologically-friendly equates to rustic and spartan. While that may be true elsewhere, we have demonstrated that comfort verging on luxury is not inconsistent with a sustainable, ecologically-sensitive design,” says Founder and Director Erik Singer.
“Yes, it requires a greater initial investment, but renewable energy sources allow us to run the conveniences of modern life – from the saltwater swimming pool and hot tub to the jacuzzi bathtubs in our guest rooms to the ice makers that ensure that your margaritas are frosty cold. Admittedly, it requires more work and expense and there are always trade-offs, but we feel very strongly that we can provide a deluxe experience for our guests without compromising the integrity of our environmental commitment. It is entirely possible to enjoy the best of both worlds.”
Single and double rooms range from $1,500 to $3,400, depending on time of year, who’s leading the retreat and what other activities are included.
Enthusiasm to love your life is contagious around Silvia. Her expert passion connects people to their own joyful potential. Silvia lives her happiness in such a big way that you can’t help but leave her classes, workshops, trainings and retreats spiritually uplifted! Born in Ecuador, raised traveling around the globe, she is an enthusiastic citizen of the world and spiritual adventurer. She has over 10,000 hours and 15 years of teaching experience, owned a yoga studio for 9 years and after being run over by a car used yoga to recover physically and emotionally. Silvia leads Alchemy Tours Yoga Retreats and Alchemy of Yoga RYT200 Yoga Teacher Training. Join her on Twitter to keep inspiring greater happiness by answering the question #YRUHappy. Connect with Silvia on Twitter and Facebook and learn more about her story at www.alchemytours.com or www.silviamordini.com.