YogaRoom Barrie

Connect with Nature and your True Self - A week retreat based out of beautiful Scottsdale, AZ

Hosted by Fred James, shaman healer, teacher and Ganga Auer, yoga teacher

Located in McCormick Ranch, in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona, where you will stay in private luxury condominiums with full amenities including pools, spas, tennis courts and walking paths.

At this time of the year the typical temperatures will be 80's, 90's. Even with the higher temperatures because of the dry air it is still relatively cool at night and early mornings. This is perfect for hiking in the higher elevations of the Sonoran desert and Sedona. These temperatures makes it an ideal time to hike the Grand Canyon or areas like Fossil Spring in the Mogillion Rim Area. In the latter this allows for swimming and canioneering where you hike through water.

The type of hikes will be geared to the participants.

A typical day could include yoga in the garden confines of the resort or on the trail atop a mountain or overlooking a babbling brook midway through a hike.

Nights allow time to have group meditations, relaxations and lively discussions with like minded people on topics that question many of today’s belief systems, or just chilling out in the hot tub.

Typical hiking day trips:

Tonto Natural Arch – Situated in the Moggillon Rim area of north west Arizona, is the largest natural travertine arch of it’s kind in the world. You will hike down and along a small creek and then under this amazing structure as water gently cascades down from above.

Peralta - in the Superstition mountains – Hike up a canyon with monster boulders and at the top from a saddle view Weavers Needle and the desert valley floor below for hundreds of miles.

Sedona, Boynton Canyon – feel the energy vortices amid the red rocks and amazing vistas of this sacred place that is second only to Mount Shasta. Visit the Chapel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that overlooks the valley below the giant cross. Hike Boynton Canyon and experience the energy from the imposing red rock cliffs on all sides.

Tom’s Thumb in north east Scottsdale in the 32,000 acre McDowell Mountain Preserve – great views of the city from the peak and the natural Sonoran desert vegetation especially the Suquaro Cacti on the way up. These large cacti that can grow to 40 feet tall and over 100 years old are unique to the Sonoran Desert.

Pinnacle Peak – a city park with 360 degree views and detailed signage pointing out all the various types of vegetation in the Sonoran Desert’s unique eco system.

Camelback Walkway – walk, run, bike, roller blade through a green belt area under roads and along man made lakes.

All the above hikes can be considered medium hikes and can be done at your own pace. Distances would vary from 5 to 10 miles round trip some on uneven terrains.

Cost per person:

-      Master bedroom/ensuite:

o    double occupancy - $650.00 Cdn

o    single occupancy  - $850.00 Cdn

-      Standard bedroom/shared bath:

o    double occupancy - $550.00 Cdn

o    single occupancy  - $750.00 Cdn.

Cost includes all transportation in Arizona, pick up at airport and return, travel to hiking locations, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.

Accommodation in Arizona: typical condo will have three bedrooms. One of the bedrooms will have an en suite. The other bedrooms would share a full bathroom. Each condo has full kitchen, dining area, washer/dryer, great room and patio deck or balcony.

Cost does not include meals and airfare. You can buy and make meals each day including lunches for hikes. At night there are plenty of local reasonable restaurants available.

Airfare: below you can find some sample air costs which are subject to change:

                   Air Trans out of Buffalo round trip: $268.00 US

                   Southwest Air out of Buffalo round trip for two: $660.00 Cdn

                   Air Canada from Toronto direct round trip: $591.35 Cdn includes taxes, etc.

Fred James: I’m a reluctant Shaman that stumbled into this work but now I feel so blessed by all the gifts spirit has given me. Each day brings a new miracle that fills me with joy and love that must be shared so others can experience it too.” Fred studied over many years with various teachers including Alberto Villoldo, and now practices Modern Shamanism based on the wisdom and knowledge of traditional societies. He is an exceptionally gifted clairvoyant with many energy healing techniques that he uses in his teachings and practice. 

Ganga Auer has a teaching degree from Hungary. She is a registered Yoga Alliance teacher with 1,100 hours of training and is certified in Kundalini Yoga, in Hatha Yoga by the Esther Myers Yoga Studio, Toronto and in Babaji’s Kriya Hatha Yoga. Ganga has intensively practiced yoga since 1995. Since 1998 she has gained more than 2,500 hours of teaching experience. She opened her studio, the YogaRoom in Downtown Barrie in November 2005. In December, 2009 she became an acharya, a spiritual teacher in the tradition of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga. Currently she is studying Shamanism with Fred James.