“I don't teach yoga to help people to transcend. I want people's spirits to reside in their body. I literally want to help people embody their spirit. Not go through life fragmented." - Ana Forrest, Master Yogi
*All information, documents, products, graphics and other works (the “Materials”) provided on this Web site, including the look and feel of this Web site, are the copyrighted work of Renew Your Spirit Retreats . Except as stated herein, none of the Materials may be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior express written permission of Carlos da Silva. You also may not, without Carlos da Silva’s prior express written permission, “mirror” or “frame” any portion of the Web site on any other server.
All articles and graphics copyright.
© Copyright 2008 Renew Your Spirit Retreats
Testimonials
" This retreat was all I could have imagined and more. One of the most joyful week's of my life. The combination of body work, mind work, amazing food, scenery, activity and the love I felt around me is something I will treasure for the rest of my life."
- Lara Z. - San Francisco Yogini and Past Retreat Attendee
" Carlos & Caitlin bring a unique perspective to their yoga instruction.. their personal grace, curiosity, & playfulness infuse their classes with vitality & fun, creating the kind of atmosphere that enhances & deepens learning.. Don't miss the opportunity to study with them"
- Adelaide Donnelly, author of Sorrow Mountain and Such a Thing as Happiness
" ..Relaxing, enlightening and fun! The retreat had a timeless spirit about it which allowed one to re-examine what was right and good about life. The spirit of the retreat was one of Love, acceptance and renewal."
- Jennifer R. NYC Yogini and Past Retreat Attendee
" Nourishing to the heart & spirit, the Yoga style is clear and flowing.. I would always leave class inspired, refreshed, energized, with a deep sense of centeredness.."
- Liz Bodony / Heron Botanicals
About Us:
Caitlin and Carlos form a unique dynamic teaching duo with transformative, fun, & energetic flowing Hatha Yoga classes incorporating Pranayama, held poses & visualization. They emphasize breath work & movement as meditation, leading to grounding & connecting with the present moment. Together they deeply challenge students with compassion, humor, helpful adjustments, and attention to alignment, and encourage students to explore and reconnect to their 'true self via exploration on and off the yoga mat.
Their life-long passion for yoga has taken them around the world, to India, across the USA, Mexico, and Europe teaching yoga retreats and studying extensively with renowned teachers including Ana Forrest, Shiva Rea, Dharma Mittra, Sarah Powers, and more.
Recently they have been instrumental in creating the thriving Yoga community on Bainbridge Island, Washington by helping open the islands foremost Yoga Studio - The Island Yoga Space and Green Mountain Yogashala.
Fredric Matteson: Fredric attended the writing program at San Francisco State University. His teachers were the authors William Dickey and Stan Rice (late husband to Anne Rice). He is currently working on a book related to his years growing up in the government milieu in Washington, D.C. He works as a therapist in an inpatient program primarily for suicidal clients. For the past ten years, he has helped create an educational approach called: Contextual-Conceptual Therapy: Guiding the Suicidal Patient in Managed Care. The approach draws upon his unique experience as a poet to use “Maps, Models, & Metaphors” to help the suicidal client bypass their logic and find a way to “escape” the pain that is causing them to be suicidal. He has a completed book and article awaiting publication that detail the model and the success he has had with this approach. He has presented this model at the Aeschi Conference, a biennial gathering of international suicidologists, in Aeschi, Switzerland; at The American Association of Suicidology Conference in Seattle, Washington; at the biennial conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology at York University, Toronto, Canada. Most recent appearances: the 12th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behavior (ESSSB12) in Glasgow, Scotland; an all-day presentation of the CCT model in Essex, England sponsored by the National Health Service (NHS) Trust and the University of Essex (Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies).
For the past 22 years he has been working as a psychotherapist on an "acute" 10-bed mental health unit within the medical setting of a major public hospital. It is directly from his inductive experience with thousands of suicidal patients that he created Contextual-Conceptual Therapy, an educational model using "maps, models, and metaphors" to help suicidal patients to be able to process (connect with) new information within their own context, their own frame of reference. For more info Click Here!
Samara Mondello: Samara is honored to share the magic & truth of yoga, to remind people of their innate Divinity and to spark their own bhakti and enthusiasm.
She is infinitely grateful to the lineage of brilliant teachers that continue to inspire her. Her yoga studies have led her to study with yogi gurus Sharon Gannon, Ana Forrest, & Shiva Rea. Certified through master teacher Ana Forrest, she is also an apprentice to Jivamukhti teacher Sandhi Ferreira. Samara has a background in dance, which has led her to Brazil where she studied extensively with the world-renowned DIDA school of Afro-Brazilian dance. Samara is also a nationally certified Holistic Health Practitioner, & holds a bachelor's degree in Holistic Health from San Francisco State University.
Samara teaches yoga in New York City as well as at yoga retreat centers in Central America. In her classes, Samara fluidly combines her love of dance, music, & poetry, on-going study of anatomy & energetic healing arts, and Patanjali's eight limbs to lovingly guide students in cultivating deeper presence and awareness. She enjoys teaching students to connect to the innate peace, balance & unity within them, while aligning the breath & body in fun, graceful, and empowering postures. She encourages yogis to take the beauty, wisdom, & joy they discover in their own hearts into their daily lives.
Susan Matteson: With a lifelong commitment to health and healing, and a degree in Expressive Arts, Susan Matteson LMP, NCTMB is a gifted licensed massage practitioner in Washington State and is nationally certified. She has a private practice on Bainbridge Island, Washington where she sees a diverse group of clients for everything from relaxation & health maintenance to treatment of injury & more chronic physical conditions, as a credentialed preferred provider for health insurance plans.
Susan draws from a wide variety of bodywork modalities such as deep tissue, Swedish, trigger point, myofascial release, energy work, Trager, craniosacral work, & others, depending on what you & she decide would fit with your particular needs. She has also trained in hypnotherapy and breath-work, and often incorporates guided imagery & working with the breath into her sessions. A longtime student of yoga, she has seen the powerful health benefits of combining yoga and massage in one's life. Susan offers massage therapy sessions and workshops to enhance your week of relaxation and renewal.
" Massage can be a key element of one's health, with benefits such as improved circulation & muscle tone, enhanced immune system, increased healing of injuries, & increased release of endorphins, which improves mood & energy level. It can be a wonderful tool to help facilitate greater self-awareness & to become more present in the body." - Susan Matteson
R.Y.S.R Associates:
Carlos da Silva: Carlos leads and teaches numerous Yoga and health retreats around the world.
Carlos' passion for a yogic lifestyle began discreetly in his early teens when as a Yogananda devotee at 15 he began experimenting and practicing a devoted and discreet form of Yoga called 'Kriya'. He continues his devotion with Kriya and P.Y. He has studied with master yogi Ana Forrest and went on to receive his Yoga Teachers Training with Ana and with Jonathan Bowra as well as studies at the Benares Hindu University in India studying the history & philosophy of yoga and classical Indian music. Originally from Portugal, Carlos is a yogi and internationally recognized electronic producer/musician.
Always exploring, he had worked as an art director for various fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft and Adidas. He was also co-owner of one of Seattle's most respected electronic and world music stores and owned several small independent record labels.
He left the corporate world in 2001 to pursue and explore a deeper union of Yoga into his creative life as a musician on a daily level. Among his numerous travels around the world he has spent extensive time in India studying Yoga and traditional Indian music.
Included in the 8 limbs of Yoga is the Niyamas, Carlos considers this a key aspect to his practice (Sadhana). He believes that a healthy physical body is rooted in an educated diet and healthy eating.
Combining Ayurvedic, holistic, eastern medicine, herbalism, and even the influence of both of his mothers cooking he has come up with an approach that works and supports his personal lifestyle.
He continues his devotion to bridging a Yogic lifestyle (Union) in his classes and retreats around the world. He is known for his ability to deeply challenge students with compassion, a wise touch, helpful adjustments, and attention to alignment. Along with his sense of humor he inspires students to fearlessly explore and reconnect to their ‘True Self’ via exploration on and off the yoga mat.
Caitlin Matteson: Caitlin's yoga classes leave your body feeling toned & energized and your mind refreshed! Her energetic, flowing classes incorporate pranayama, held poses & visualization, emphasizing breath work & movement as meditation- leading to grounding & connecting with the present moment. In her years of practicing & studying yoga, Caitlin has been particularly drawn to Vinyasa (Flow Yoga) for its focus on flowing movement and connection with breath, and to Iyengar for its emphasis on proper alignment.
Caitlin completed her teacher training with world-renowned teacher Ana Forrest, and has continued on to seek out & study with highly respected teachers from around the world, including Shiva Rea, Dharma Mittra, Sarah Powers & Aadil Palkhivala.
In addition to her extensive on-going studies of yoga, she is also influenced by her passion for various forms of dance including Contact Improv, and Indian & African Dance. Caitlin’s passion for a Yogic lifestyle & Indian culture also led her to live and study intensively in India, focusing on Orissi, an ancient form of Indian dance, and on studies at the Benares Hindu University, studying the history & philosophy of yoga.
Caitlin's teaching career has spanned from the West to East coast, at top studios in Seattle, Barcelona & Miami, teaching students of all levels, ages & physical conditions.
" The yoga retreat was energizing and renewing. Great Job! Thanks for bringing us together, giving us a place to think, love, make new friendships ."
" This yoga retreat left me feeling not only physically stronger, but emotionally and mentally stronger as well. "
" I really enjoyed the energy of the attendees doing the workshop, very alive and working on their practice. "
"
" Being around these positive individuals as well as meeting Carlos & Caitlin has been a blessing. As Carlos encouraged us during a class ".. I have found my truer self again, one that was never afraid of 'letting go' of old habits and opening up to new experiences."