The yoga practices were both challenging and educational. And, oh, my…the hydro-therapy and massages were fabulous! Sunrise meditation on the beach was a dreamy as it sounds. WOW! What an incredible journey on my 5 day disconnect to reconnect! From making nourishing smoothies, to the peaceful yoga studio, to the comfortable bed, and the amazing teachers, Val and Ira! Through this journey, I was able to decompress and learn (and relearn) how to create space in my life for self care, space in my heart for extending grace and love to others and myself, space in my lungs and body for invigorating oxygen, space in my life, through the different breathing techniques to reduce my chronic illness symptoms. On one of our last days there, we were accussed of taking more food than we were “allotted.” This was extremely unprofessional and frustrating considering we did not eat their food and we spent $167 on our own groceries. My mom and I only made 3 smoothies out of the 7 days we were there, we mostly ate out and bought our own food. They moved us, but the process was a hassle and inconsistent. The light in our bedroom in the yoga house didn’t work, so we asked to be moved to the other house. I didn’t find the space to be very clean, they do not let you use the dishwasher they do not change the dish sponge when new guests arrive (super unsanitary during COVID times). Neither of the houses have a state-of-the-art kitchen as advertised. The yoga house desperatly needs renovations. The amenities and the program were quite disappointing. They didn't ask about injuries/conditions when I arrived in person or ask first if they could offer hands-on assists. Ira didn't teach much when I was there and Val did most of the work (teaching, cleaning, taking care of guests, etc) but the one class Ira did teach that I attended (he only taught the beginning) he stopped the class just to demand we were not listening, we were ALL doing it wrong, that we needed to listen to him, and restarted the sequence. Although walking back feeling so relaxed took a bit longer! We also had an opportunity to observe some of their Yoga Instructor trainees in action – those girls worked hard!! It is obvious they take training their new Yogis very seriously. This was walking distance from Zen Den for us. The massage/spa experience at Maui Spa was an unexpected delight in pampering for sure. The beach and downtown area are close biking, walking, or uber distances. To relax the backyard pool and hot tub were readily available. Valerie and Ira provided recommendations to wonderful restaurants and local activities that were most appreciated. The Yin weekend yoga class with Rose was challenging and incredible! We were able to take daily yoga classes, make delicious/healthy smoothies, and partake in the local Boca community. Valerie and Ira are fantastic hosts and put a lot of attention to detail in the entire experience. Each person is there on their own individual journey, and the environment makes it very easy to enjoy the company of other attendees for as much or little as desired. We spent a nice long weekend doing yoga, meditation, and improving our overall spiritual health. Zen Den Yoga Disconnect to Reconnect was an amazing experience for my sister and I. Zen Den is such a fulfilling treat to give oneself! I was just a walk away from the beach (Valerie has a beach pass set up for her guests, so we can hang out under an umbrella and on a beach chair), the supermarket, and tons of amazing restaurants and bakeries. The dialogue between teachers, guests, and students is priceless. I really enjoyed the evening Sutra (close reading) classes because I contemplated new ideas that enhanced my stay. The retreat is packed with optional activities. The afternoon Vinyasa/Ashtanga inspired classes gave me a lot of strength and the direction or cues I always felt I needed but never got in yoga classes, previously. The morning meditation and yoga classes put me in a deliciously optimistic mood for the rest of the day. I stayed in the Beach Room, which was fantastic. From the minute I stepped into the main home, the students were eager to welcome me, get me situated, get to know me, and make me a smoothie. Valerie and Ira are a loving and caring couple that make sure their guests feel supported and special.
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