Mom's Time Out: Hawaiian Retreat

My partner and beloved, Gray and I share different aspects of Shamanic Healing Work as we travel throughout the US and Peru . We are so grateful for the miracles that people have experienced in their physical and emotional bodies! Throughout our travels we realized how challenging it can be for a single mom doing it mostly on her own. Many of these Moms rarely have a moment to regroup and gather their energy between work and children.
We have two spots available for our Hawaiian Yoga Healing Retreat and thought it would be really special to make it available for two moms to be able to attend! All expenses paid and even a little extra to cover their week off of work.

We have created a campaign where we chose two courageous single moms that we know your contribution would make such a difference for.
We greatly appreciate any amount that feels good to you! So much Love and May this Year be the Best Ever! Victoria and Gray

Below are the stories of two courageous single moms that we chose for our campaign and their committment to a different path!
For more information about us and the retreat www.samanayo.com

HERE ARE THEIR STORIES

Janie's Story

I am a single mother, and I have full legal / sole physical custody of my 5 year old son. We are domestic abuse survivors, and our lives have been forever changed due to the repercussions of addiction. This is our story.

I met my son's father approximately 12 years ago, and we married in 2005. We struggled with infertility during the first 3 years of our marriage, and in that time, I miscarried 5 children. My husband, who had a past with addiction and had been maintaining a sober and healthy lifestyle during my pregnancy succumbed to his addiction again less than 10 months after our son was born. For the next 3 years, I worked full-time to support my husband (and his addictions), myself, and our son while my husband was physically/emotionally abusive, stole my money and pawned our belongings (down to our sons toys and our vacuum cleaner). In January of 2012, I woke up in the middle of a mind-numbing nightmare. I sat there beaten and bruised, surrounded by hatred I was directing at myself and at him. I knew it was time to say “no more”.  It was time to say yes to myself, my son and the abundant life I knew we could be living.
From there, we set out on a new path—one that has not been easy. My primary focus has been with my son who has needed as much of my presence as I can give him. I work full-time to provide for us, we live paycheck-to-paycheck, but we do so without regret.
My yoga journey began the day I stopped running and faced myself. Yoga has given me time and space to be with all of my emotions. It invites me into a space of vulnerability, and provides me with a safe place to express, heal, and let go. Yoga is my therapy, and it has allowed me to see myself again. That has been an incredible gift.
Receiving the scholarship for this retreat would be more than a blessing for me not because I think I've earned or deserve it by withstanding the trials and tribulations of life. It's because I would love an opportunity to dig deeper and expose more of myself. It's because I'm ready to move forward with the courage and compassion of the warrior’s heart I've found inside—the heart I thought had been destroyed. 

Netravati's Story 

Thank you for reading my story although I have chosen to leave it behind me. Our journey began where I was with my son’s father who turned out to be a severe closet alcoholic, and emotionally abusive. I was ashamed of my situation, and it took me a couple of years to get to the point of leaving. I left before my son turned 3, to be with my family and refocus.
I soon met my daughter's father, a seeming treasure of a man who wanted a family. We married, moved away from Canada and my daughter was conceived. The abuse began; emotional, verbal, and even physical.
Pregnant, and with my 3 year old son in tow, we fled a dangerous and violent home life. After a short time in a women's safe house, we were able to return to Nova Scotia where I completed my pregnancy alone.
It has been a very steep and challenging climb for me to move on from such trauma, heartbreak, hurt, and disappointment. I have grounded into my role as a single parent, and slowly began my healing.
My days are demanding, being the full time nurturer, guide and disciplinarian while facing the challenge of finding ways to cope with the daily struggles and ‘have to’s’ of family life.
I have been "ok" celebrating life's little joys, and finding my gratitude in everyday life, yet there is a well within me that is nearly dry! This retreat is so appealing, because I rarely have the chance to really "let go" and show up for myself. Having the time and space to re-set, in a setting that will nourish me on the deepest levels is exactly what I'm ready for!