Who is Leading this Retreat?

Allow us to introduce ourselves….

Maria Connolly.  I’m a Somatic psychotherapist and coach. I coach with the body in mind, which means understanding the way we have embodied ways of being, the way we move, walk, operate, and respond to others and events based on our earlier experiences. I also weave my Feldenkrais – “Awareness Through Movement” - training to support the mind-body connection, to move and perform more deliberately and resourcefully. I’m also an NLP master practitioner, integrating these skills and tools to help people achieve profound and lasting transformation. I’ve co-led women’s retreats in Europe and South America and am excited to continue adding new locations around the world to support women on the journey of self-leadership.

Louise Santiago.  I’m a leadership coach and the founder the Center for Learning Leaders, where leadership is intentional. I believe that leadership is innate in all people so I work to purposefully develop exceptional leaders. I’ve found many people simply need a little support to bring forward their internal leader. I love leading purpose-centered leadership events for both emerging and experienced leaders. I’m also a Reiki Master, integrating the belief that we have the tools to care for ourselves and others, we simply need to identify them and intentionally integrate them into our lives. I co-led the first annual Women: Wisdom, Presence and Flow with Maria in South America and am thrilled about our next adventures!

Louise & Maria met in 2016 at a coach development event – Coaches Rising, Power of Embodied Transformation. We were inspired by the quality of the program, excellence of the presenters, and depth of emotional intelligence. After this transformational experience, we continued our connection with each other and became great personal and professional friends. We came to realize, that in collaboration, we have a lot to offer. In fact, that is true of most women.

This retreat allows us to bring our collective experience and wisdom forward and give you the space to explore ways of being, your inner leader, and how you can show up more powerfully in the world. It’s been carefully designed to empower women to move forward both individually and collectively. For 2019, we are partnering with Niina Gullsten, a certified intuitive coach who, like us, is passionate about supporting leaders and developing each person from a strengths-based model.  

Guest Facilitator, Niina Gullsten. I’m a marketing intelligence consultant and positive psychology coach. As a coach, I specialize in supporting my clients as they tap into the wealth of information, peace, and clarity available within their own intuition. I have intuitive practitioner certification from Sonia Choquette, as well as Reiki level II certification. With a background in engineering, I also like to base my work in science so I follow closely what is being discovered in positive psychology and intuition research. I help my clients connect to a deeper appreciation and understanding of their intuition through coaching sessions, workshops, and retreats. I am very happy to have the opportunity to co-host the Grand Canary retreat for women with Louise and Maria on this beautiful, sunny island!

What Will I Experience During this Retreat?

This retreat gives you the freedom to experience five days of exploration, clarification, commitment, and embodiment. We will explore what got us here, what calls us to growth, and how we can commit to change in our daily lives.

Using the practice of somatic skills, which opens the door to a deeper awareness of your mind, body, and spirit, you will...

• fortify your own present awareness,
• update your beliefs,
• identify your values,
• cultivate a sense of community, and
• create alignment to support your development.

Our practices will be highly experiential and transform your lived experience into an embodied commitment so you’re in a position to create an actionable vision of the future. You will benefit from gathering activities to help your focus your journey of discovering solutions or next steps toward your goals. You will also be empowered by centering, journaling, and hands-on activities that will deepen your sense of presence, wisdom, and flow. Ultimately, you’ll walk away with life-long tools to help you tap into your wisdom and develop both self and professional identity.

LOCATION

This year the retreat will be held at the peaceful Canary Wave Villa in Maspalomas, Grand Canary Island. This estate is located on the sunny southern coast of the island one hour from the vibrant city of Las Palmas. This hillside villa with nearby orchards is the ideal location for people who enjoy the tranquility of nature while being a few minutes away from shopping, restaurants, and sandy beaches.

TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, AND FOOD

Included in the cost of the retreat is your ground transportation (you are responsible for airfare), delicious meals, and 6 nights of lodging at the charming Canary Wave Villa in the city of Mas Palomas on Grand Canary Island.

ACTIVITIES

Most of our group activities will take place during the day. In the evenings, or if you choose to extend your stay, you can enjoy a variety of relaxing and rejuvenating experiences in the local area:

Options in the area include:

• Massages
• Yoga/pilates/other personal training
• Group activities such as lessons in dancing, cooking, singing, or Spanish
• Beauty treatments such as facials
• Reiki and other alternative treatments
• Outdoor activities: hiking, bicycling trips, horseback riding, windsurfing, surfing, scuba diving, whale and dolphin watching, etc.
• Visits to vineyards, rum distillery, aloe vera plantations, restaurants, shopping  

KEY DATES

June 20 - Arrival date. Our time together will begin that evening so if possible, we recommend that you arrive before 3:00 pm.

June 23 - We will be attending the annual Solstice Festival of San Juan. This will be an amazing opportunity to participate in an annual ritual of joy, hope, and purification that has been celebrated for centuries!

June 26 - Departure date.