"Take time to nourish your soul and body, for this is
the essence of life."
- Debasish Mridha
Alex & Valery from Yoga on the Move are inviting you to start off the new year well and intentionally! Under the first new moon of 2025 we will gather for a rejuvenating week of wellbeing, yoga and communal living.
“Essence of Life” is a holistic retreat program connecting the practice of yoga including pranayama (breath work) & meditation with the art of heartful living to a transformative journey.
The retreat takes place in a beautiful traditional Moroccan villa in the Ourika Valley (30 km from Marrakech) on a magnificent property surrounded by olive trees and vast landscapes of nature.
We will spend a healing week connecting fully to the arrival of the new year, practicing yoga, finding peace in meditation and discovering the power of breath techniques. During the day we will enjoy refreshing pool dips and soothing hikes in the surrounding hill lands.
You can expect solar practices in the morning, like Vinyasa Yoga and more vigorous, vitalizing breath techniques and lunar practices in the evening, like Restorative or Yin Yoga to connect to the natural cycle of nature. The week will be sprinkled with insightful and inspiring specials by our teacher team which will give you the opportunity to try out different practices and connect in a new way to yourself and the people around you. The program is suitable for all levels of experiences. Our team will offer variations to all practices, so beginners are well guided and advanced practitioners are challenged.
Throughout the week we will be treated with vegan / vegetarian meals for brunch and dinner as well as a light snack in the afternoon (gluten free options are available).
Exemplary day at the retreat
08.30 Guided Meditation & Pranayama
09.00 90 minute Dynamic Vinyasa Yoga
10.30 Brunch
11.30 Free time to swim, relax or explore
14.00 Lunch
17.00 Restorative Yoga
19.00 Vegetarian wholefood dinner
WORKSHOPS INCLUDED IN OUR PROGRAM
Cacao Ceremony & Ecstatic Dance
New Moon Ceremony (29.01.)
Asana Lab
Zen Thai
Kirtan Circle / Mantra Chanting
Additional offerings:
Oil massages
Hammam
Private yoga with Valery or Alex
About the retreat home
Far away from the urban buzz, Bab Zouina has preserved an authentic and tranquil spirit that respects the environment; the buildings are ecologically designed with hewn stones and natural clay bricks.
The lush ornamental garden offers an oasis of meditation & peace, while you can catch both, the dazzling sunrise and sunset from the rooftop terraces, while the night reveals a clear starry sky framed by the Atlas Mountains.
Offering
Triple Room:
Early-Bird: 1.095 EUR / Full Price: 1.195 EUR
Twin Room (with shared bathroom):
Early-Bird: 1.350 EUR / Full Price: 1.450 EUR
Twin Room (with ensuite bathroom):
Early-Bird: 1.450 EUR / Full Price: 1.550 EUR
Single Room (with ensuite bathroom):
Early-Bird: 1.750 EUR / Full Price: 1.850 EUR
What is included:
accommodation for 6 nights, healthy & organic meals, yoga program, props & equipment as well as workshop material.
What is not included:
transport & additional bookings like private yoga.
About the team
The retreat is guided by Alex & Valery from Yoga on the Move. The two will guide you step by step through the practice independently of your level of experience.
Alex is a licensed medical doctor and Yoga teacher working and living in Berlin. He teaches yoga in a non-rigid and modern form based on a scientific understanding of movement and of the body. Having received his medical license, Alex uses his profound anatomical and physiological knowledge to adapt his guidance to the unique physiognomy of each of his students, herewith creating a safe environment for all to freely express their body wisdom through movement.
Valery is a 600hrs+ certified Vinyasa & Yin Yoga Teacher who perceives Yin Yoga and meditation to be great practices to balance the more active energy in the city.
Her 300hrs Advanced Vinyasa YTT in Mexico showed her that the focus on sound and bhakti yoga were the missing pieces in her practice. Connection to our heart center and operating from there is so much needed in this world. For her it is essential to create a space where everyone feels welcome. She strongly believes that through a regular yoga practice, we as individuals and eventually society as a whole are able to heal, change and find peace
Join us for a Holistic Yoga retreat under the Moroccan sun.
About the transport
Transportation is not included in the retreat price.
Arrival & Departure
We will organize group pick ups & drop offs for Saturdays from and to airport Marrakesh at extra cost. Just let us know if you are interested in taking this offer.