Dear fellow grievers, I would like to share with you a little about myself and how this special retreat came to be. In December 2016, my heart and world shattered before me as I spent two traumatizing weeks in the ER with my husband and had to leave without him. The year leading up to this had been our best yet as we had both matured after 14 years together to a place where we brought out the best in one another and supported one another's passions and interests. He loved surfing and bicycling of all kinds, and he was a volunteer at local parks building bridges on the paths there. I had a passion for mentoring and supporting the healing of others since I was a teen, and this coupled with my love for yoga led me to study for my yoga teacher certification. As hard as it was after he "left", I continued to complete my RYT and sought out multiple life coaching and yoga certifications to "live each day to the max" as he commissioned me to do upon his death bed. I went on to become an international board-certified yoga therapist, which is a comprehensive holistic therapies graduate. The populations of people I enjoyed serving broadened as my own life experiences expanded my empathy and passion for those who are faced with similar traumas and grief. Yoga philosophy taught me that everyone experiences traumas and grief/ losses in their lifetimes, usually many. It also taught me that we are a whole being fully equipped to not just survive but to emerge transformed and thrive despite all the tragic life experiences we are faced with. This in no way takes away from the pain we feel and the reality that grief is a life sentence, yet it reminds us we have a lifelong friend to hold our hand through it all. Practicing stillness and inner-listening also took me deeper into spiritual relationship with my most empowering friend of all, my higher power whom I call "God" or "Spirit" as in the one, connected Spirit of Love. I also believe it everyone's personal privilege to approach and define this relationship and their spirituality for themselves. Yoga also taught me that there are ancient practices that just like meditation and prayer are not religion-specific but instead are intentional ways that we can facilitate deeper connection within ourselves, for we are spirits in bodies after all. Practicing every means of connection to the spiritual within me, my faith and its integrated weaving throughout my mind-body-soul, led me to rediscover more deeply my passionate soul's purpose that my angel husband has always been in support of. Your well-being is my passionate purpose, and my heart goes out, especially to the grieving hearts. I'd love to share these healing, holistic practices with you! Spirit laid upon my heart the motivation to organize this holistic & yoga therapy retreat for healing grieving hearts in early August, the mutual birthday month of myself and my deceased husband. Maui was the first place to come to mind as it was our favorite place. Just a week later I heard of the fires, and I knew that this was an affirmation that I must move forward with Maui as the location of this retreat. The symbolism and the aloha spirit that makes Maui a special and resilient community add to the divine organization of this retreat, a truly special, supportive and transformative experience. My certifications as a CIAYT therapist, trauma and grief specialist, and multi-certified transformational life coach also add to this unique offering, and I am including both the group workshops AND 1-1 sessions with me as part of this retreat. I love synchronicity and must share another affirmation that just came to me today. The date that this retreat ends, 4/16 is the anniversary of when my angel husband and I became a couple. I had no idea when I was deciding on the dates! I now know this will be the day that I will find a place to volunteer on Maui. We will not be volunteering as part of this retreat due to the time being limited; however, I encourage those extending their stay in Maui to consider volunteering. It will be very special if we could all bring or get a gift item to donate as part of this retreat, and items such as towels and wash cloths, toothpaste, shaving supplies, and like-new work clothes are all great things to donate. When I lost my husband, the insensitivity at my workplace caused me greater depression. I couldn't believe that everyone thought two days was sufficient to grieve my lost love and life, the most important part of it suddenly gone. A manager thought I may like more challenging work to distract myself. Friends tried to be there for me but grew weary after a little time. There came a point where I needed a break from the routine my life had become to grieve more fully and to reconnect with my soul and heal so that I could truly live again. I took more than one of these sabbaticals because the first was so enlightening, uplifting and healing that I needed to make it an ongoing routine of its own. So much so that I began to facilitate retreats myself and give others experiences that last a lifetime by facilitating a support community and providing a healing oasis and guided, therapeutic practices that restore and renew us mind, body and soul. I would be so honored if you would join us in Maui!