Yoga Behind the Lens: Photographing from the Heart (2025 date TBD)
Join this yoga + photo retreat on a coastal Maine island for a unique travel experience. There will be photo discussions and lessons, yoga sessions, and shooting excursions. You’ll expand your vision, deepen your mindful awareness, and ignite your creativity. Slow down, be present in the moment, and enhance your observational skills on this rare and exclusive workshop retreat.
Photography + Yoga – creating images with mindfulness
DATES: 2025 TBD
FEE: TBD + Lodging
- During check-out, package rates include your base fee and lodging rate.
- There is a package option that does not include lodging.
- Registration information and cancellation policy at the bottom of page.
Your Package Covers:
- Photo leader & instruction
- Yoga teacher & props
- Food: healthy home cooked meals
- Excursion arrangements & transportation
You’re Responsible For:
- Meals while out on excursion (2)
- Your beverages of choice
- Snacks
- Transportation to and from the Island
Lodging: More info further down the page.
We are staying at the Sparrow Farm, a perfect place for a yoga retreat in Maine. It’s a charming, big ol’ fashion farmhouse on a tidal cove with beautiful surrounding views and hiking trails.
Here were room choices for 2024.
- Queen bedrooms
- $1250 – 1 person
- $625 – each for 2 people
- Twin (2 per room)
- $1000 each
- Bunk, bottom only (3 in a very large room)
- $875 each
- Please contact me for other possible lodging arrangements.
I’ve created a separate newsletter list for this opportunity only. Here’s where you can sign-up.
Click here to read the recent newsletter about the rewards of mindfulness and experiencing your world with new eyes.
Yoga and Photography Retreat: Accessing your creative potential.
Learn more about Dee with this link to her bio page.
A word from your host and photo leader:
The idea for this photo + yoga retreat started two decades ago when I began attending yoga retreats at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. in Stockbridge, MA. I experienced how yoga and creativity are complementary practices in that they are both rooted in mindfulness. When I quiet my mind, I can hear my heart and it is from the heart where powerful, moving images come from. It is how we breathe life into an image.
In search for the ideal place to hold this retreat I traveled as far as the Azores. Then, 2 years ago I hosted a week long photo workshop on Vinalhaven island, a 12 mile ferry ride from my hometown of Rockland. During the workshop I witnessed that every hike on a nature preserve trail was a forest meditation. This island is the perfect location.
Join Sandy Cyrus and me for this unique combination of practicing yoga and daily photo excursions on a coastal Maine island. We will provide space on the mat, and on our excursions, for you to connect and listen to your heart. We will dive deeper, look longer, and tap into the essence of your unique vision.
Photo Workshop:
- Any camera, including phones
- Any skill level
- Excursions every day
- Guidance as needed
- Image review
- Group discussions
- Shooting exercises
Excursions:
- Nature hikes at stunning preserves
- Boat rides to explore island scenery
- Beautiful sunrises & sunsets
- Meet interesting island locals
- Explore the village & its rich history
- Visit nearby artist studios
Yoga:
- Daily sessions
- No previous experience required
- Vinyasa & Pranayama
- Restorative & Qi Kong
- Meditation & Chanting
- Deep Relaxation
- Focusing on heart opening
Meet your yoga instructor:
Sandy Cyrus has been teaching and practicing yoga for over 20 years. Trained in the Kripalu Yoga tradition, Sandy combines centering meditations, yoga postures, and breath work. Her classes awaken the heart and train us to step into the present moment with reverence and awe. Sandy lives in Orono, Maine where she offers group and private classes, massage sessions, days of mindfulness and yoga retreats at her studio, Full Circle Yoga & Retreat Center.
Sample of a day’s itinerary of yoga and photography. All activities are optional.
5:30am – Sunrise Photo or Qi Kong at 7:00am
7:30-8:30 – Breakfast
8:45 – 10:15 – Photo Discussion
10:30-11:45 – Yoga
12:00pm -1:00 – Lunch (a.k.a. “dinner” in Maine)
1:15 – 4:15 – Afternoon Excursion
4:30-5:00 – Guided meditation on the ledges
5:00 – 6:00 – Free Time or Early Supper
6:15-7:15 – Sunset Photo Excursion
7:30 – Supper or Night Shooting
Getting to Vinalhaven:
- The ferry leaves from the Maine State Ferry terminal in Rockland, 517 Main St.
- I encourage you to take either the 1:00 or 2:45.
- You will leave your car on the mainland and park at the terminal lot. Get there early to park. Sometimes an auxiliary lot is needed, which will take extra time.
- Buy your ticket there or earlier online. A ticket will allow entry onto any scheduled ferry.
- You will be picked up on the island.
- Note: it is not advised to take your car over because getting it off the island on your time frame is not guaranteed.
Lodging at a private residence:
I have not marked up the cost of renting the farmhouse and this is, by far, a most economical lodging option.
- 7 lovely bedrooms
- 4 simple bathrooms
- large wrap around deck
- healthy meals prepped & served in house
A beautiful 150-year old rustic saltwater farm surrounded by acres of fields and woods with thousands of feet of shorefront on a tranquil tidal cove. There is the main house with 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, and a guesthouse with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. You’ll have access to kayaks, a canoe, a paddle board, and bicycles. You’ll be 5 minutes from swimming in a crystal clear quarry.
There are two staircases and a large deck in the main house. Another spacious deck at the guesthouse and the bunk rooms are quite spacious, too. In the bunk room the mattresses are more narrow than a twin.
Registration:
- Either full payment or $600 deposit with a payment plan. Balance is due 30 days prior to the retreat.
- To pay with a credit card – there will be a total service charge of 4.9% by the booking company.
- To pay with a bank transfer – there will be a 2% service charge only.
- To pay by cash or check – no extra fee.
Photo Yoga Retreat Cancellation Policy:
- I will give a complete refund if I need to cancel the tour for any reason.
- If you cancel your registration more than 60 days before the start of the event, your tour fee will be refunded to you, minus a $150 processing fee.
- If you cancel 59 – 31 days before the start of the event, 50% of your tour fee will be refunded.
- 30 days or less, there is no refund unless your slot refills in the program. Trip cancellation insurance is recommended.