Retreat! Retreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaat!
A week of serious destuckification.
By which I mean seven days of stuck-zapping making-stuff-happen let’s-do-this-thing fabulousness.
Genius habit-shifting techniques. Big results. Hot buttered epiphanies. Hanging out with my duck.
And the reason all this destuckification is so important is that you can’t really biggify without working on your stuff.
So we’re going to make sure that you know exactly how to deal with your stuff so that it can stop tripping you up while you’re trying to biggify.
And that you’ll be able to do it in a way that feels safe and do-able and un-scary.
What we’re not doing:
Facing our fear. Leaping off metaphorical cliffs. Motivational blah blah blah flippity blah. Therapy-ish exercises.
We’re going to interact with our stuff, yeah, but we’ll do it in a really safe, really gentle, really intelligent way.
Bravery is so not a requirement.
Also, no one is going to say things like “No negativity! I don’t want to hear you say stuff like that!” We’re not going to be judging each other.
What we are doing.
Figuring out where we get stuckified and coming up with personalized strategies for destuckifying on command.
Learning how to access the things you need to feel comfortable biggifying. Like the sovereignty thing. And what to do about shoe-throwing. And how to get clarity when you need it.
Coming up with a non-scary plan, a support system and a way to make sure it happens.
There will also be mad epiphany-generating brain-training where we try to do it badly, and stuff like Old Turkish Lady Yoga, which is totally optional but really fun.
Why you’re not going to go completely crazy if you Retreat with us.
This is where I have to talk about The Panicky Jitters.
Because I need to go all reassurance mouse on you, but first you should know that the Panicky Jitters are very, very normal. Almost depressingly normal. I get them too.
The Panicky Jitters part. This is soooooo important.
Every time I go on someone else’s retreat (or when I taught at Jennifer Louden’s retreat), I kind of go into freakout mode.
In my head it sounds like this:
“You’re not going to like anyone. And then you’re going to be stuck there with all these horrible people. Ohmygod. That’s exactly what’s going to happen.
And there will be nothing for me to eat. And I’ll spend the whole time thinking about food. Shit. I’m doing it right now!
And they’ll all be real writers (or real business-people or real yoga teachers) and I’ll be the outsider, as always.
And, not only will it be awkward and uncomfortable, there won’t be anywhere to be alone. And I won’t get free time. And I’ll cry. And I won’t have anyone to talk to. And it will be a huge waste of time and money.
And and and … what do I weeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar?!
And I’ll be the only person who talks to herself. And can’t even decide on first, second and third person while doing it. Which is just stupid.”
If you’re going through anything even slightly similar there are two things I want to say.
- Hug! I so identify with this!
- The next section is the Reassurances Section, which will totally make you feel better and give you details. Because personally? I like knowing the details.
Reassurances.
What if the people suck?
I worry about that too. A lot. And I have to say, every single time I’ve gone on a retreat, I have made friends and I have had wonderful things to eat and I have been able to give myself what I need.
But you know what’s even better than that?
This particular retreat is full of my Right People. Which means that not only will there only be people there that I like, but it will be the kind of people that you — as one of them — will also have a ridiculous number of things in common with.
But I don’t know what to wear!
You definitely don’t have to worry about the what-to-wear dilemma because I will be sending you both a packing list and a description of exactly what I’m going to be wearing. Maybe even pictures.
Though you will definitely be better-dressed than me because I pretty much wear the same thing every single day. Even Selma changes clothes more often than I do.
Gah! Foods!
Oh yes. There will be lots and lots of good things to eat, because hello, I have jewish-mother genes and need to feed everyone all the time. And because I personally need veggie options and sugar-less options.*
* No worries for the meat-eaters and sugar-eaters — plenty of yum foods of the kind that you like too!
What if it will be really uncomfortable because everyone is a hippie vegetarian and I’ll be the only one eating meat or wearing leather oh god it will be so horrible and I’m all alone.
Yeah. People always think that my events will be full of yoga people or whatever, and it’s not like that.
It’s just full of my right people. There might be a few who are as tree-huggy as I am. And a lot of happy caffeinated carnivores. It’s never a big deal, I promise.
What if I get overloaded? What if it’s too intense? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh?
Oh honey. I know. Retreats can be unfairly exhausting.
So I want to assure you that we will definitely be doing this in a way that doesn’t end up being all self-abusive.
There will be free time every day. And optional activities that you can skip when you want to. There is choice. There is space.
Every day there’s going to be a period of time that is for Creative Working On The Stuff You’re Working On. We’ll destuckify first and then you’ll get to go write, brainstorm, plan, etc.
(And I’ll be around for hand-holding if you get stuck)
And there is also Time Just For You built in. To chill, run away, process, walk, take a bath, nap it up or whatever you need. This is your retreat.
And Selma and I will be available throughout the week for talking, reassuring, destuckifying, hiding and goofing off. Yay! Reassurance mouse!
But the awkwardness! Total strangers!
Even before we all arrive at the retreat center, we’ll have been hanging out online.
We’ll be learning foundational stuff that we need. We’ll be talking to each other. We’ll be sorting out our travel arrangements together.
So it’s really going to feel like a reunion. A fabulous Fluent-Self-ified reunion of Right People. And we’ll be able to do deep work together and get huge results.
And what if it’s really great while it’s happening but then I go home and forget it all?
Yeah. The retreat-ing experience is really intense. It’s really important to me that you get the support you need after the retreat so you can easily keep going with the genius stuff we’ve started.
Because what’s the point of making all these changes without being able to know that you can keep them alive, right?
Support network! We’ll have a follow-up teleseminar. We’ll have a place to check in with each other. We’ll have material from the retreat written up so you can keep learning from it and working with it.
We will watch out for you and hold your hand when you need it and leave you alone when you don’t. Promise.
I don’t know what to bring!
We’ll give you a packing list. Main thing is gigantic notebook and something to write with, because there will be much scribbling.
But I need to have my own bathroom.
Got it. Yours.
Will I have to be all disconnected from the world and stuff?
Of course not. You might end up choosing to, as part of being all retreat-ey. But you don’t have to. There’s good cell coverage there so you’ll be able to reach people if you need to and when you need to.
And — of course — internet access. Do you think I’d maroon us somewhere with no internets? Not this time!
When it is.
Saturday, January 23 through Friday, January 29, 2010.
Awesome. Starting the year right. You can peek at the schedule too.
Where we’ll be.
It’s called Asilomar (translation: refuge by the sea) and it’s freaking gorgeous.
On the California coast, just outside of Monterey. Which means: outrageously beautiful and just kind of magical.
Some of the really great things about where we’re staying. Exclamation points!
- The food is amazing and fresh and California-ey (emphasis on local, sustainable, simple and yum).
- The rooms are beautiful. And some have fireplaces. Mmmmm.
- Can I just say one hundred and seven acres of protected beachfront? We will go on the most amazing walks ever. I mean, you don’t have to. But it’s there.
- Buildings designed by Julia Morgan. Swoon!
- Seriously? This is one of the most beautiful places ever … in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Anything I could add would be a huge cliche so I’ll just say wow.
Who gets to come.
I’m assuming that if you’re reading this you’re one of my Right People.
You hang out on the blog. You’re into the stuff I teach.
This is an intimate group. There is only room for sixteen people.
Admission is by application only, and I may also end up interviewing you personally by phone.
You also probably want to keep in mind that my programs sell out insanely quickly, sometimes within the day I announce them.
And again, you can peek at the schedule to get all excited with me about Old Turkish Lady yoga.
What you get. In “the hard”.
Like, literally. Bottom line stuff.
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Seven days of destuckifying in every way. Processes, techniques, concepts, tricks, practice. |
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Learn how to talk to your monsters and your blocks, plus how to deal with every form of internal and external critic while rocking the sovereignty thing. |
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Wacky yoga brain training and Old Turkish Lady Yoga taught every day. Whooo! |
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A beautiful room with your own bathroom (we have a few double rooms available, so if you’re up for sharing one with someone, grab it fast) |
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Three delicious meals a day (they’re super accommodating at Asilomar so if you have food issues, we can handle it). |
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Lots of out-hanging time with me and Selma, and personal help from us. |
| bonus! | After the retreat: awesome teleseminar to follow-up and process, and make sure you have a smooth transition forward. |
| bonus! | An ebook — with some of the most useful notes, concepts and exercises from the retreat, with worksheets. |
What you get. In “the soft”.
In other words: in your heart and in your body and in your head.
That is, aside from the actual “spending a week destuckifying and biggifying it up with me, Selma and an amazing group of people” part…
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You will leave feeling seriously hopeful. Like, this is possible and I’m doing the right thing. |
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You will leave with pages of scribbled genius ideas, and both the desire and the ability to go ahead and do something with them. |
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You’ll get brain-zapping goodness and several excellent epiphanies. |
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You’ll feel both confident and light-hearted, knowing that you can use this destuckification magic when you need it so you can do what needs to be done without doubting yourself. Good stuff. |
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We will laugh so much. The goofing off will be quality. |
How much this costs and how to apply.
This is important: You save almost a thousand dollars by doing the Early Bird option.
Technically you can do this through December 13th. But that’s not really going to happen because my programs fill up insanely quickly — usually within a day or two.
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Single room $5900
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Single room (early bird!) $4935
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Shared room $5500
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Shared room (early bird!) $4535
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How signing up works:
STEP 1: The Deposit.
You make a $500 deposit now, just to be able to apply. You get this back if it turns out during the application process that we’re not each other’s right people. And if you get in? It counts towards your tuition. Yay!
STEP 2: The Application.
You’ll get sent to the application page when you make your deposit. Plus you’ll get a sweet note from a bot who sounds a lot like me. You email your application and you’ll hear back from my First Mate (Marissa) within a week. Once you’re in, we take care of Step 3.
STEP 3: Payment Stuff.
If you like (and you’re not using paypal), you will be able to pay for the rest of the Retreat tuition in three automatic payments. We give you a month until the first one (from the day of your deposit). We’ll explain more when you apply but if you have questions, send them to Marissa.
STEP 4: Rejoicing.
And there was much rejoicing! We send you informations and we turn cartwheels and we start getting you ready. The fun part.
Update! As of December 14.
We’re full!
If you haven’t heard back about your application yet, you will be hearing really, really soon.
Do not sign up for this if you’re in my Biggification 2010 program* because it’s included in that.
* If you’ve forgotten the password it’s redvelvetrope
The Destuckification Retreat is SOLD OUT. Sorry sorry sorry.
If you want to be put on the waiting list in case someone backs out, talk to Marissa. If a space opens up, we’ll be able to still give you that person’s early-bird rate.
But if you’re getting on the waiting list, get on it soon. Because even our waiting lists fill up fast. Thanks!
Cancellations? What if I pay and then it turns out I can’t make it?
I know, sweetie. Hard. I know stuff comes up. And I want to be as understanding as possible, while still meeting my commitments to my pirate crew and the space we’ve rented.
- If you cancel more than a month before the event begins, and we can fill your spot, we can totally refund everything except for the initial deposit.
- If you cancel less than a month before the event begins, and we can fill your spot, we can refund half of everything (not including the initial deposit).
- If you cancel less than a month before the event begins, and we can’t fill your spot, we just can’t help you out, even though ohmygod we really, really wish we could.
That’s because we need to be able to honor our commitment to the place hosting the event and our contract with them, as well as all the other various and complicated arrangements we’ve made to make this thing happen.
But it would be kind of unfair not to tell you that the last four programs I’ve done sold out within 48 hours. Sometimes in less than a day. Which means you kind of have to just decide. Because I don’t do a lot of live events, and they’re tiny so they don’t stick around.
Again, I’m not saying that to “create urgency” or be all marketing-ey. Because blargh. I’m saying that because I know what happens when my people miss out on these things, and they’re all sad and then I feel bad. Which sucks.
