Simplicity Introspection Individual & Group Retreats

What clients are saying…

"The Mary Vance’s health retreat in the Virgin Island of St Croix is a nurturing experience like no other. I feel so fortunate and grateful for having had the opportunity to spend a week in a tropical paradise one-on-one with Mary and her team. 

From preparation to every moment of the experience, Mary focuses on your health, healing, and growth. It is especially meaningful to be in the hands of someone who has struggled and has beautifully and competently overcome physical and emotional challenges. Mary is an example of an avid learner who continuously strives for betterment of self and others. She is committed to help the world to be a better place by assisting each one of us and our families to a lifestyle of healthy nutrition, hydration, rest, and movement. It is refreshing to experience a coach who walks the talk and endlessly challenges herself while leading you in the way. Mary Vance, herself, is a highlight of the retreat. 

The experience is rich from other perspectives as well: beginning with going back and forth from the rain forest to beautiful coral-rich and desolated beaches; the contact with clean and deliciously salty sea water; the incalculable variety of tropical vegetation and animal life—birds, iguanas, lizards, turtles, abundant and varied sea life, and more. Especially memorable was kayaking at night in the bioluminescent Salt River Bay and witness the display of light surfacing from the water.

The sounds of nature are beautiful: concerts of night creatures intermix with the rain and the wind; the back and forth of the waves bring harmony and peace; the sunsets and sunrises are spectacular; and the incomparable sight of the moon raising at Point Udall (the easternmost spot of the United States) is memorable. There we can appreciate the immensity of the sea and the sky that surround us. 

If all these features were not enough, the experience is enhanced by seeing the remnants of an interesting history, that dates to the local community’s existence before Christopher Columbus landed during his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. England, France, Spain, Malta, and Denmark have dominated this Caribbean jewel, which the United States bought in 1917. We visited Fort Frederik, named after the Danish King Frederik V, and got a sense of the cruelty that led to the emancipation of the slaves in 1848. 

You feel the easy going and welcoming demeanor of its inhabitants, the “Crucians.” They combine descendants from enslaved Africans, workers from the west Indians, and European settlers. We interacted with people who have come from all over the United States for one reason or another, and fascinated by the island’s charms, they became its permanent residents. Sparkled throughout St. Croix you find rich murals and colorful representations of bright stilts dancers, called the moko (healer) jumbies (spirit), esteemed protectors from the evil. The retreat included learning how to make baskets from banana trees and pottery using local clay. The classes were taught by the kind and charming owner of the ecolodge where we stay. 

All this wealth of nature and culture encircled us while we did our daily exercise routines, walking with Mary, or doing “poolaties” guided by an inspiring 75-year-old woman. Mary also demonstrated how to use resistance bands and created a comprehensive and personalized plan for muscle toning. 

Meditation and in-depth reflection were part of the daily routine. The massages were like none I have ever had. Mary and her team understand the body structure and function. They can provide great relief. The daily nutrition consisted of lovely and simple dishes prepared to accommodate my own idiosyncrasies of allergies and taste. Finally, we shopped in a variety of exquisite boutiques. 

The week went by focusing on each moment, nurturing the body with food, water, rest, and movement; and feeding the soul with reflection and love. I was understood, without having to explain much. I felt listened to and cared for. I returned rested, energized, and enthusiastic, with a plan to continue improving with Mary’s help in the after-retreat 12-week program. 

What an experience this retreat was!"

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