GIVE BACK - Update :: Croatia + India

Well happy summer to you all. It's been quite a season so far over here at EPM and we're looking forward to some amazing more retreat weeks ahead this year - Iceland, Marrakesh, Croatia, and our newest in Venice, Italy!

We spent some amazing weeks in Croatia, France, and Italy in the past couple of months on several retreats and are about to head out soon for our "Fire+Ice" week in Iceland. It was such a treat to see so many past guests on these last retreats, as well as meet so many new faces.

It's been a while since we updated you all on how our GIVE BACK retreats have been doing. From the last Croatia retreat, we were able to make a donation to the CROATIA SCHOLARSHIP FUND. See the video below to learn more about what they do!

For the past 25 years CSF has been providing financial assistance to the financially deserving Croatian university students in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Without this assistance, many of these bright young men and women would not be able to obtain university education. This is made possible because individuals, families, and organizations have supported our mission by generous donations.

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Also, we have already SOLD OUT for both of our retreats in February, 2016 in Goa, India and so we're really looking forward to making an impact with our non-profit partner there, MAGIC BUS. This organization is continually expanding in the amazing life-changing initiatives they are bringing to the children and families of India. Watch the amazing video below of one of their programs surrounding gender issues and women rights. It's pretty inspiring!

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Do you want to join us on a GIVE BACK retreat and make a difference in peoples lives? Learn more about the programs HERE.

And sign up to join:

• MARRAKESH, MOROCCO (one spot left!) Sept 6-12, 2015

• DUBROVNIK, CROATIA Sept 27 - Oct 3, 2015

• SOUTHWEST, ICELAND Dec 27 - Jan 1, 2016

GIVE BACK Update :: Project Soar, Marrakesh

We had such a wonderful time on our two back-to-back retreats last month in Marrakesh. This completed our 14th (!) week there and what a pleasure it's been to have enjoyed so many guests throughout the years, and spent so much time with our hosts at the beautiful Peacock Pavilions. Our first retreat was our "Luxury" itinerary and the second week was another fun collaboration with Julian of EASEL&LENS for our "Form+Focus" art/yoga week. 

Because Marrakesh and the non-profit project, PROJECT SOAR, was our very first Give Back partner (where we donate at least 10% of the retreat profits), it's very close to our hearts and we wanted to give you an update on the work we've been doing with them there. On the weekend between both retreats we were honored to get to work work with the project in the village. There were around 50 girls that participated that day and so we split into two groups - Julian led an art class at Peacock Pavilions where the girls created beautiful mandalas out of natural pigments, petals, leaves, and love - while Erin led a yoga class at the new Project Soar headquarters building in the village. Each group had about 45 minutes at each class and then switched, and we all got together at the end for a photo along side some of the Moroccan high-school volunteers from the city.

Erin leading yoga with the girls

 Julian and the girls making mandalas

During the second retreat week, we had a bit of freetime on Tuesday and offered to the guests the opportunity to help with a beautification project in the village for part of "Project Pride". We had a great time cleaning up and painting 8 doors which led to a nice and bright new row of color for the village. It was fun driving past them each of the following days knowing we'd had a part in helping out.

A huge thanks to our amazing guests and to our hosts at Peacock Pavilions for everyone's efforts to do good and make this world a more beautiful place!

Read more about our GIVE BACK Initiative HERE. And SIGN UP to join us on a future GIVE BACK retreat!