Wednesday, November 5, 2014










ISLA DE OMETEPE, NICARAGUA 

Sunday 5/24/15 - Saturday 5/30/15



Join us on a 7 day, 6 night retreat to the Isla de Ometepe in Nicaragua, Central America. Ometepe is a 19 mile long island with twin volcano peaks,  Concepcion Volcano and Maderas Volcano that rise out of the immense Lake Nicaragua. The island is rich in fertile volcanic soil, 100 ft. waterfalls, pristine natural springs, unspoiled beaches and a diverse wildlife population -from howler monkeys to parrots and rare butterflies.

The full-immersion experience is undoubtedly life changing. We will partake in daily Naam Yoga* and Breathwork** practices, travel to sacred sites and enjoy outdoor adventure in this tropical paradise.

The majestic Isla de Ometepe has a rich spiritual ancestry and once served as a sacred Indian burial ground, with evidence of pre-Mayan civilization present in the thousands of petroglyphs and idols scattered around the island. The island fulfilled an ancient prophecy of the Nahuati Indians, who traveled from the North in search of a paradise where twin volcanoes emerged from a freshwater sea.

Concepcion Volcano (active) and Maderas Volcano (dormant) are Fire and Water Volcanos which symbolize the balance of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine. This is a energetically powerful land that will awaken and initiate divine Balance and Harmony in your life.

We will also spend 2 days exploring the colonial city of Granada, considered one of the most beautiful cities in all of Central America. 


Retreat Includes:
  • 6 nights accommodations 
  • 2 local, organic meals per day
  • All ground transportation
  • Daily outdoor Naam Yoga* classes
  • Daily Breathwork**, Meditation and Circle practices
  • Hikes to sacred waterfall, ancient petroglyphs and Volcano Maderas
  • Relax on the beautiful beaches of Lake Nicaragua
  • Horseback riding and kayaking
  • Volunteering with the local community. 
  • Roast your own organic coffee
  • Make your own chocolate from the raw cacao bean
  • Explore the beautiful colonial city of Granada, and more!
Retreat does not include:
  • Airfare from your city to Managua, Nicaragua.
  • 1 meal per day (appx. $10)
  • departure taxes from Managua to the home country
  • tips for the staff in the restaurants, hotels, cab drivers, etc.
If you enjoy Yoga, Adventure, traveling Simply, Connecting deep within yourself and to Nature, then this is the trip for you.

ALL AGES AND ABILITIES WELCOME! Every Activity is OPTIONAL.
No previous yoga experience necessary.

Early Bird Special: 
$1,695 when paid in full by April 1st, 2015
$1,995 paid after April 1st. (payment plans available)
*$500 deposit required by April 1st to secure your spot. 3% credit card processing fee. No refunds of any amount issued after 5/1/15.

Led by Bethany Joy Hard (www.bethanyhard.com) and Alicia Kathleen Gervais

For more information contact Bethany at naamnashville@gmail.com, (615) 772-3528.
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*What is Naam Yoga?

Bethany will lead us daily in a Naam Yoga and Meditation practice. Naam Yoga is the practice of opening the heart, increasing intuition, and stimulating self-healing of the body and mind. Your Naam Yoga practice will cultivate the fearlessness to face negativity and transmute it into positivity for yourself, others and the situations that you face.
Naam Yoga is a dynamic fusion of Eastern yogic wisdom and the Western practice of Divine Spiritual Wisdom, or Universal Kabbalah. It incorporates the practice of divine sound (Naam) with yogic movement, stretching postures, breathing, mudra and meditation. Through the practice of Naam Yoga, the self-healing mechanisms of the body are activated, restoring health, youth and balance. www.bethanyhard.com/naam-yoga/.
**What is Breathwork?  
A FULL HOUR of connected, conscious breathing will be led daily by Alicia Gervais, a gifted teacher of the Michigan Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Breathwork is a practice of conscious, connected breathing that systematically excavates buried emotions and memories relating to traumas held deep in the psyche. It is said that the intensity of one Breathwork session can equal years of traditional therapy. Conscious, connected breathing opens us up to be more radiantly alive, clear, and connected. Through this deep and continuous way of breathing, your usual and unconscious ways of holding reality are relaxed & what flows is a personal experience guided completely by your subconscious & spirit. 

You may experience tingling sensations, surrender, forgiveness, and emotional surges as you raise your vibration. Creative ideas often flood in at quantum speed! Limiting core beliefs which are normally unconscious become clear. All cells are infused with prana (life-force) raising our vibration and perspective. As the illusory walls of separation melt away, a deep sense of Unity occurs.

"I was incredibly moved by the deep release of emotion I didn't even know was in me, the profound sense of unity and connection I felt with myself and those around me, and a true sense of compassion and forgiveness like I've never felt before in my life. All simply by the power of my own breath. I was blown away. It's so simple, it's so beautiful."
-Breathwork Participant

Thursday, October 30, 2014

DAY 1: Sunday, 5/24

Every single activity is optional!















Fly into Nicaragua's capital, Managua. From here we will drive 45 minutes to the picturesque city of Granada, Nicaragua, which is located along the coast of the Lake Nicaragua (aka Lake Cocibolca, meaning "sweet sea"), one of the largest lakes in the Western Hemisphere.


Granada is considered the most beautiful city in Nicaragua and is alive with the bright colors and warm ambiance of Central America.


We will stay in the lovely Miss Margrit's Guest HouseThis beautiful boutique bed and breakfast was restored in full Colonial style, complete with a beautiful internal courtyard and lush garden. Voted #1 in Granada on Trip Advisor!

We will start our journey together with a Circle exercise and meditation to harmonize the group and awaken our intentions for our transformational week together.



Day 2: Monday 5/25

Morning Naam Yoga led by Bethany on the shore of the immense Lake Nicaragua.

Explore the city of Granada in the morning and lunch here.



Ferry to Ometepe

One hour car ride to see the landscape of Nicaragua and the one hour ferry ride from San Jorge (Rivas) to Mayogalpa on the Isla de Ometepe. From the ferry we have a 90 min car ride to the remote spot we will be staying at. Ometepe is a spiritual vortex recognized by spiritual leaders and shamans throughout the world. We are very blessed to be visiting this sacred place on our planet!!!


Evening Breath work and meditation overlooking the volcano led by Alicia.


Overnight at Finca Mystica (Mystic Farm).



Day 3: Tuesday 5/26


We will open our first full day on Ometepe with morning Dream Circle/Sharing and Naam Yoga in the outdoor pavilion at the magical Finca Mystica where we will live simply and immerse ourselves in nature.

Finca Mystica (Mystic Farm) is a lovingly created  farm tucked away in the foothills of the dormant Maderas Volcano on Ometepe Island. The farm sits on 25 acres of lush protected forest with amazing views of Lake Nicaragua and the mountains of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Hundreds of fruit trees and wild monkeys abide here.

The food at Finca Mystica is "the freshest food you have ever eaten", everything is made from scratch -from organic coffee to raw chocolate- and harvested directly from the farms on the small island.


Finca Mystica is within walking distance to beautiful beaches, the waterfall of San Ramon, ancient petroglyphs, hiking the cloud forest of Maderas Volcano, kayaking through the Rio Istian, horseback riding, motorcycle rental and much more.  You can also enjoy many activities right on the farm, such as classes in roasting your own organic coffee, as well as making chocolate from the raw cacao bean. 




"Finca Mystica was truly a paradise. The whole place was magical. Between the dozens of fruit trees and plants across the property, the walk through the woods with Howler monkeys above us, and the beautiful sunset over the water with the volcano behind us, I could not have imagined a more picturesque spot. You can go hiking, swimming, horseback riding, or lie in the hammocks and read with a delicious fruit smoothie. This place is well worth the trek across the island, and the hosts are incredibly gracious, friendly, and helpful!" -Jennifer W., TripAdvisor, July 2014.
Rustic cabins at Finca Mystica


All the cabins on Finca Mystica were built using Cob, an ancient technique using soil, sand, rice straw, and horse manure found or grown on our land or within a half of mile: "We take these materials and mix them all together really good with our feet and sculpt the cabins onto the solid foundation that is reinforced with rebar. The wood was harvested from our land or from our neighbors in a very sustainable way. We use recycled bottles into our walls for light and design. These cabins were built with lot's of love and sweat by Ryan, Angela and our wonderful local workers and friends!"



San Ramon Waterfall


After breakfast we will ride horses, and then hike the last mile to San Ramon waterfall, a beautiful 110ft cascade. We will be there during the dry season, so the waterfall will be quiet, yet this is a very powerful energetic spot where we will hold a cleansing ceremony and ritual to leave the past behind.


Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the island. You may choose to ride horses, visit the local town, rent motorbikes, kayak the Rio Istian or relax on the beach. 


We will re-convene in the evening for a Breathwork practice and meditation at sunset on the beach.


Overnight at Finca Mystica.




Day 4: Wednesday 5/27

Immediately after breakfast we will hike the Avatar-like cloud forest up Maderas Volcano, starting from Finca Mystica's private nature trail! Remember every activity is optional, some of the group has already chosen to not take this hike :).  It is a strenuous 6-8 hour hike.  There is a crater lake view at the top, and we will see beautiful views of Volcano Conception along the way, as well as wildlife and exotic plant life.  We will bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the top of the spectacular volcano.







Evening Breathwork meditation and Fire Ceremony. During the fire ceremony we will release and burn that which we do not wish to bring home with us!

Overnight at Finca Mystica.


Day 5: Thursday 5/28

Morning Dream Circle/Sharing and Naam Yoga. After breakfast we have the opportunity to volunteer in the local community.

Free afternoon to enjoy the island. You may choose to ride horses, visit the local town, rent motorbikes, kayak the Rio Istian, hike, or relax on the beach, etc. 

"Kayaking to the Rio Istian is one of Ometepe's highlights, if you are a nature lover.  It is a beautiful estuary where you can spot monkeys, caimans, turtles and hundreds of different bird species tucked between both volcanoes.  It is a stunning view on a clear day." 
Kayaking the Rio Istian
Evening Breathwork and Circle. 


Day 6: Friday 5/29


Morning Dream Circle and Naam Yoga on the beach. After breakfast we will visit a sacred site on the island to once again connect with this land that has supported our healing and growth. At this site we will perform a
ceremony of gratitude to the land, and to each other.

Remember,  the Isla de Ometepe has a rich spiritual ancestry and once served as a sacred Indian burial ground, with evidence of pre-Mayan civilization present in the thousands of petroglyphs and idols scattered around this tiny island! The island fulfilled an ancient prophecy of the Nahuati Indians, who traveled from the North in search of a paradise where twin volcanoes emerged from a freshwater sea.


Return to the city of Granada. Spend a free afternoon exploring this city of rich Nicaraguan culture.

Evening Circle and meditation to process and integrate the changes we have been through.

Overnight at Miss Margrit's Guest House.


Day 7: Saturday 5/30

Morning Naam Yoga and final group meditation as we give thanks to this beautiful land that has supported our Transformation in 7 short days...a transformation to awaken and initiate Divine Balance and Harmony at the very foundation of our being. 

Drive to Managua and fly HOME! 







Bethany Joy Hard is a certified Naam Yoga Therapist and has studied under the founder, Dr. Joseph Michael Levry (Gurunam) since 2004. She is eternally gratefulI for the transformative tools learned through Naam Yoga, most importantly how her heart has exponentially expanded since starting this practice 10 years ago.  It is Bethany's passion to support others on their path of self-healing, wholeness and vitality. She is also a Circle facilitator and the mother to three precious children.

Bethany is fluent in Spanish and has lived and worked periodically in Nicaragua since1999. The incredibly warm people, culture, food and sacred land are her second home and where her heart resides. www.bethanyhard.com




Alicia Kathleen Gervais is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She has a deep reverence for the seven generations who have come before her and is passionate about honoring native traditions in her life. Alicia is a certified Holistic Life Coach through Radiant Health Institute, a trained Breathworker, and a Circle facilitator. With her extreme sense of wonder, she is an open and clear channel to remind others that their true nature is love and joy.