We look forward to your registration! You are in excellent hands!
Moab Utah is in the southeastern section of Utah. It has an amazingly unique geography that harbors artifacts of ancient peoples, impressive geologic formations, and intricate sandstone layers. Surrounded by national parks such as Arches and Canyonlands, Moab is both a surreal and energetically amazing place. Whether you’re a dedicated yoga enthusiast, or a more casual Yoga practitioner--whether you’re an avid mountain biker looking to up your game or a cycling newbie who wants to get started right, this weekend is for you!
While the mountain biking in Moab is known as some of the best in the world, it also carries with it some unique challenges: namely slickrock & sand. These take time to get to learn how to ride, and thus we will begin gently, with hands-on guidance and expertise. We will work up to bigger rides that can challenge even the most avid cyclist. You will have the option to choose from a plethora of options that will suit your unique needs, no matter what experience level you have.
Yoga classes are designed with YOU in mind. We will be sure to include poses that will help you on the bike and can be applied to hiking and running too!
Classes include Meditation. There will be plenty of time to relax, unwind, and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the area.
Not Included?
Airfare to and from the trip, lodging before and/or after the trip if you are coming early or staying later, gratuities for your guides, special services at the Resort such as a Spa andother activities not listed and personal items purchased during your trip. Some meals are not included during this trip to allow you the opportunity to explore the cuisine on your own.
TIPS AND GRATUITIES
Gratuities for your guides may be given at your discretion in response to their leadership and professionalism throughout the trip. We suggest 5-10% of the trip price per individual to be divided between the guiding team as an industry standard. Gratuities for all restaurants, hotels, transportation and local events are paid for by the retreat organizers.
Day 1 – Saturday, April 16, 2011
Afternoon:
12:00 Meet in the lobby of the Grand Junction Airport for lunch & shuttle to Moab
2:00 Arrive at Moab Lodging for light snack and brief logistics talk
3:00 Deplane Yoga Practice Warm-up
4:00 Head to Arches National Park
4:30 Hike to Delicate Arch
6:00 Sunset Yoga practice under Moab's most famous Arch
Evening:
8:00 Social Hour and Dinner
9:00 Orientation, Dharma Talk
Day 2 – Sunday, April 17, 2011
Morning:
8:00 Breakfast
9:30 Yoga practice
Afternoon:
12:00 Lunch on your own, Shopping in Moab
1:00 Depart for Arches National Park
2:00 Park Ranger Guided Fiery Furnace Hike!
Evening:
6:00 Yoga practice
8:00 Dinner of your choosing
Day 3 – Monday, April 18, 2011 (FULL MOON!)
Morning:
7:30 Yoga practice at downtown Studio
8:30 Breakfast
10:00 Mountain Biking: Skills Clinic & Tutorial
Afternoon:
1:00 Packed Lunch
6:00 Parkside Yoga practice and Slack lining
Evening:
8:00 Social Hour and Closing Dinner at Desert Bistro
Day 4 – Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Morning
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Closing Yoga practice
11:00 Check out and depart for Grand Junction, Colorado
12:30 Lunch in scenic downtown Grand Junction
2:15pm Depart for Grand Junction Airport
**Please note that scheduled itinerary is subject to change due to the ebb and flow of life!
You can pay with check, direct bank deposit, or credit card or Paypal on line but we most prefer checks. Please send checks to Total Body Yoga Retreats, 210 Terrace Drive, Mundelein, IL 60061. Contact us at retreats@totalbodyyoga.com or call if we can answer any questions. Click to pay by credit card.
Early-bird discount: $100 discount to those who register before December 21st, 2010!
Deposit: A $500 dollar deposit will reserve your space. Balance must be received by February 15th, 2011, 60 days prior to retreat
Moab is located 100 miles (about 2 hours) west of Grand Junction. If you choose to drive to the trip start, we recommend taking the UT scenic byway 128, one of the most spectacular stretches of road in the States. To get there, take highway I-70 West from Grand Junction. After about 47 miles, take exit 212, turn left to go under the highway, and then turn right toward Cisco. After Cisco, about 8 miles down the road, turn left onto Hwy 128 west and enjoy the next 41 miles of scenery. The road ends at Hwy 191 where you turn left to drive the last 3 miles into the center of town.
Those wanting to get quickly in & out of the area before and after your adventure will likely want to stay in Grand Junction. If you have a rental car & time to explore the area, Fruita (10 miles west of Grand Junction & ranked as one of the top 20 cities in the US for cycling) has more character and makes a good home base for exploration. Grand Junction gets its name because it’s near where the Colorado (once called the Grand) River joins the Gunnison River. The Colorado River is responsible for carving out most of the local geography, and giving the valley its rich fruit-growing heritage—thus “Fruita.” To the east of the valley, the grand mesa rises to an elevation of over 10,000 feet. To the west is the uplift that holds the Colorado National Monument and the Black Ridge Wilderness study area. The High Plateau to the southwest is the Uncompahgre Plateau, which stands at over 9,000 feet high. The north edge of the valley is bordered entirely by the Book Cliffs. If you like deserts and/or challenging singletrack, and epic hikes then you’ll love this area.
You will be guided by Jacob Young and Silvia Mordini.
Jacob is an avid cyclist, runner, and lover of all things outdoors, involving people. With over 10 years of guiding experience, beginning on Mt. Rainier, he has broadened his horizons by transitioning to guiding cycling trips around the world. He has been living in, and exploring the Olympic & Cascade mountain ranges of the Pacific Northwest for the past 11 years, and can often be found cycling, trail running, hiking and skiing in the greater Seattle area when not practicing yoga indoors. Jacob is a Certified Carmichael Training Systems coach and is CPR/First Aid certified, but his real experience comes from his passion for showing people new places and exploring along with them.
Your Yoga will be taught by Silvia Mordini whose loving Anusara-inspired Vinyasa Flow teaching style is influenced by more than 10 years of Hatha yoga study. She studies primarily under Shiva Rea. With over 7,500 hours of yoga teaching experience, as a nationally recognized Experienced Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT) she owns and teaches at Total Body Yoga, a 3,900 square foot Chicagoland yoga center with over 200 monthly classes and countless weekly workshops as well as for a fifth year teaching a Nationally accredited 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. Silvia also enjoys working privately with athletes of all ages applying her knowledge of therapeutic yoga to aid healing old injuries or preventing new ones. Silvia’s dedication to her students makes her classes upbeat and fun, serious and informative, supportive and authentic.. When her students leave class, they have been inspired to be good to themselves and thereby kinder to others. Silvia finds healing in the beauty and stillness of Moab and considers nature and the relationship of human spirit her greatest teachers!!
Arrival Location:
You will need to arrive by noon in the lobby of the Grand Junction Airport in Colorado
Departure Location:
At the end of your trip, you will be shuttled back to Grand Junction. The shuttle will depart Moab at 12:30pm and will arrive at the Grand Junction airport at 2:30pm. Please do not schedule a flight before 3:30pm. (There are 4pm, 5:15pm, and 7:10pm redeye Flight options from GJT to ORD - Chicago).
You can either fly directly into Moab, or rent a car at the Grand Junction Airport (a 2-hour drive from Moab). If you plan on doing some site seeing on your free time, or if you plan on staying a day or two before or after our trip, then we suggest renting a car either way.
Desert Solitaire | Edward Abbey. A vivid non-fictional account by the author, who worked as an Arches seasonal park ranger during the 1950s,that describes living in a harsh—spectacular—land threatened by today’s onslaught of tourism. A classic, relevant story.
Mastering Mountain Bike Skills | Brian Lopes & Lee McCormack. This book is packed with pictures and pointers illustrating how to handle any terrain from cross-country to freeriding and even urban skate parks. It provides clear, easy-to follow tips on braking, cornering, wheelies, drops, jumps, speed and everything in between.
A Naturalist’s Guide to Canyon Country | David Williams. Published by the Canyonlands Natural History Association, this guidebook is an excellent introduction to the region’s geology and ecology. It includes detailed drawings and descriptions of many of the popular flora & fauna found in the Moab area.
Arches National Park: Where Rock Meets Sky | Nicky Leach. This book’s large format lends itself to wonderful imagery of Arches National Park. In addition to a vast number of photographs, it is filled with valuable information about the geology of arches, the history of the park, and field guides to plants and animals.
Hidden Utah: including Salt Lake City, Park City, Moab, Arches, Zion & Bryce Canyon | Kurt Repanshek. This is an invaluable guide to all the beauty, diversity and recreational resources Utah has to offer. It describes less-traveled spots in Utah, providing details on scenic drives, parks, Indian reservations, fossil quarries and plenty of outdoor activities.
www.discovermoab.com This is the official site of the Moab area travel council. It is very comprehensive with a lot of useful tourist information about Moab and the surrounding area, including a daily weather update, as well as a number of maps.
www.moabhappenings.com This is the online site for the free local newspaper that details current Moab events.
www.poisonspiderbicycles.com Website for a favorite bike shop in town.Trail descriptions, bike rental information, great souvenirs and Moab area specifics from a biker’s point of view. www.moab.net Similar to an online yellow pages, this site is another great resource when preparing for your trip to Moab.
What if I have to change or cancel my trip?
We understand that life happens, so If you must cancel your trip more than 90 days prior to departure, there is no cancellation fee; between 61 – 90 days prior to departure there is a cancellation fee of 25% of the original trip price; between 31 – 60 days prior to departure there is a cancellation fee of 50% of the original trip price; Unfortunately, we cannot offer a refund if you have to cancel less than 30 days prior to departure.
If you choose to change your trip to a different date or location more than 90 days prior to departure, you may do so with no fee. From 61 – 90 days, there will be a $500 administrative fee. If you choose to change your trip within 60 days of the original trip start, the cancellation policy outlined above will apply. Please be aware that it is only possible to move to another trip within one year of the original trip departure date.
If I book a trip, can I be guaranteed that it will run?
We need a minimum of six people to run most of our trips (although some trips require a minimum of eight people). As long as we meet our minimum requirement, then our trips are guaranteed to run. If a trip must be canceled due to low enrollment, we will make every effort to do so at least 45 days prior to the trip start and a full refund will be issued. Trips will not be cancelled due to low enrollment within 30 days of the trip start.
What is the weather like on Moab in April?
Moab is a high desert. The weather is moderate and dry: the perfect time to visit! The median temperatures of the air are between 60F - 75F, though it can get down to 40F overnight.
What kind of clothes do I need to bring?
You will want yoga clothes, t-shirts, mostly short sleeved, but one or two long-sleeved, a lightweight jacket, shorts (for hiking and swimming), hiking socks, trail-running shoes or hiking boots, swimsuit, sunglasses, hat. For Mountain Biking we recommend the following items: Mountain bike shoes and pedals (if you have them) or sneakers/trail runners will work fine; Cycling gloves (if you have them); Cycling shorts; a breathable, wicking shirt of some kind.
What do I need to bring besides clothes?
We recommend you bring a camera, a journal, toiletries, an extra pair of contacts if you wear them, sunglasses and sunscreen. For hiking, be sure to have a lightweight backpack to carry your personal belongings. Helmets, water bottles and flat pedals will be provided, along with tools for adjusting, etc.
Do I need to bring my yoga mat?
Yes please bring your own mat.
What about Mountain Biking?
We have a great relationship with the best bike dealer in town: Poison Spider Bicycles. In advance we will need to know the following details: Your height and weight; Your skill level (1st timer, beginner, intermediate, advanced, Lance Armstrong, etc.); Your desired level of challenge (some could say scare-factor). 1 is none, 10 is cliffs on both sides; Please specify if you are bringing pedals/cycling shoes otherwise we will have flat pedals on your bike for you.