Welcome to UNFOLD
a 7-day retreat, hosted by Nkechi Njaka and Leia Layus
UNFOLD is an immersive and luxurious 7-day retreat at eco-resort Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico. This experience is a Somatic and Embodied Exploration to Sovereignty. Our days will be spent moving through daily meditation, somatic modalities, yoga, expressive movement, and in-depth workshops lead by practitioners Leia Layus and Nkechi Njaka.
UNFOLD : A Somatic and Embodied Exploration to Sovereignty
un·fold
/ˌənˈfōld/
verb
open or spread out from a folded position.
What does it mean to unfold into sovereignty? Our relationship with our sacred self is a continuous compassionate practice of unfolding, uncovering and discovering ways of integrating our values, worth and power in our everyday lives so that our relationships and work can occur with ease, honesty and interdependence.
Sovereignty is the necessary space of our liberation and honest self expression. It is the place we meet where we are not relying on confusing or manipulative ways of getting what we want, giving up some of our power or not taking up the space we need to lead a life of meaning, purpose and significance. Sovereignty is our pathway to living a life of self-honoring.
During this 7-day, 6-night immersive retreat at the Haramara Eco-Resort, we will explore the key elements required for each of us to stand in the space of sovereign leadership through practices of unfolding and uncovering the ways in which we self abandon or loose sight of the sacred self In a world that is rapidly asking us to forget who we are, it is so important for us to remember the magnitude of innate power and worth.
If we dare to live from a place of authentic, honest expression of self, we can offer this to our significant relationships, families, communities, our work and the collective in the most meaningful and powerful way. From here, we have the capacity to show up as the most bold, engaged, fulfilled, and empowered version of who we are.
This is the rise of the sovereign self.
To be sovereign, we must begin a shift in the collective consciousness that requires our integration of the masculine and feminine— characteristics that exist within all of us. To find this balance, we must investigate the places where we hide, give away power, move from a place of woundedness or from an unhealed space. During this week, we will uncover how this shows up in our individual lives and we will work with somatic modalities and embodied presence practices (SATYA yoga, expressive dance, mindfulness meditation) to both resource and explore the places of growth within us. By the end of our time at Haramara, we will have deepened our trust in the truth of who we are— with a healthier, more holistic perspective, with the creation of safety, and a deeply rooted sense of purpose and worth in self.
ON RETREAT.
7 Nights accommodations
1 Daily Morning Meditation
1 Daily Movement practice: SATYA, Slow Flow, Restore, Explorative Movement
1 Daily Sovereignty Workshop & Discussion
3 Daily Gourmet Meals
Opening Ceremony
1 Bonfire Evening
1 Sovereignty Ritual
1 Closing Night dance party
Private access to beach and infinity pool
Optional treatments (massage, facial)
Transportation to and from the airport (upon request)
This Immersive Retreat will support you in:
– Cultivating skills, tools and practices for discerning and implementing healthy boundaries in all of your important relationships
– Creating a vision for living in alignment with what offers you a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose in your work and relationships
– Understanding and identifying the root and source of self-abandonment, codependency, cognitive distortions, and stagnation
– Learning to apply integrated and integral tools like parts work, Non Violent Communication, Attachment Theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy to support you in moving through life’s challenging moments with a sense of empowerment
– Rediscovering aspects of your Sacred Self you’ve lost a connection to as a result of life’s pain points, patterns of disempowerment and societal conditioning
– Leaving the retreat experience resourced with the tools to find these spaces of nourishment post-retreat
Haramara is truly one of the magical places! With three fresh, nourishing meals per day in open-air cabanas nestled alongside the Nayarit coastline, the sea, the sun, and the jungle might be the most beautiful place to be in this exploration . Receive bodywork from some of the most amazing healers on the continent and fall asleep to the sound and smell of the ocean. If this sounds like where you want to be, we invite you to join us to UNFOLD.
Please join us in this intentional space to expand and explore what it means to be and embody SOVEREIGNTY through unfolding.
PRICING PER PERSON | TYPE OF ROOM
Triple : $2800.00
Double: $3500.00
Single: $3900.00
FEELS LIKE A YES!?
Please complete this form to begin your process for UNFOLD.
ABOUT YOUR RETREAT LEADERS
Nkechi’s journey is a web of science, art, and deep personal inquiry, all woven together by a profound commitment to understanding the intricate dance between the brain and the body. From a young age, Nkechi was drawn to explore how our thoughts and physical experiences shape who we are. This curiosity led her to Scripps College, where she immersed herself in the dual disciplines of neuroscience and dance. There, she discovered the profound connections between movement and mental processes, laying the groundwork for a career that would bridge multiple worlds.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Nkechi’s thirst for knowledge and deeper understanding took her across the Atlantic to the University of Edinburgh, where she earned her MSc in Neuroscience. Her academic journey didn’t stop there; she is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Creative Research at Transart/Liverpool John Moore’s University, further exploring the intersections of creativity, mindfulness, and human well-being.
Nkechi’s work is a unique blend of neuroscience, mindfulness, and artistic expression. As a practice-based researcher, she delves into how mindfulness and creativity are not just beneficial but essential for both individual and global well-being. Her findings have shaped her professional path, leading her to found The Compass, a lifestyle studio focused on guiding others toward mindful living, and co-found DreamWell, a sleep app that helps users cultivate restful, rejuvenating sleep through mindfulness.
Her contributions to the fields of wellness and mindfulness have earned her recognition from leading organizations, including Google, goop, Black Girl in Om, Wanderlust, Calm, Apple, and Forbes. As a 2017 YBCA Truth Fellow, a 2021 Kennedy Center Artist in Residence, and a 2022 Garrison Institute Fellow, Nkechi has been celebrated for her innovative approach to integrating mindfulness into everyday life. Her work has not only influenced individuals but has also shaped broader cultural conversations around wellness.
Nkechi is also deeply committed to social practice, using her platform to advocate for inclusivity and equity in wellness spaces. She identifies as a BIPOC/WOC, and her work reflects a deep understanding of the importance of diverse perspectives in the wellness industry.
When she’s not guiding people through mindfulness practices, Nkechi is a thought leader and public speaker, sharing her insights on the importance of integrating wellness, science, and creativity. She co-hosts the podcast Dating White, where she explores complex issues of race, identity, and relationships, and she is one half of RESONANCE, a music and mindfulness project that blends her love of sound with her commitment to mindful living.
Nkechi’s journey is one of continual learning, teaching, and creating—a journey that inspires others to explore the depths of their own minds and bodies, to embrace creativity, and to live with presence and purpose.
LEIA LAYUS
As a yoga teacher and integrative therapist, Leia finds inspiration in the connection between psychology, Eastern philosophy, somatic movement modalities, yoga, mindfulness, creativity, and spirituality. Her classes blend Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga, and restorative Satya Yoga to provide foundation, grace, and ease. She accompanies her classes with her love of philosophy, poetry, and wisdom of East-West psychology.
Leia's journey has led her to study Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga with various San Francisco training programs, mentorship with Stacie Overby, and studies of the Yoga Sutra with The Yoga Well Institute. Her primary studies with Tias Little, of Prajna Yoga in New Mexico, have allowed her to weave together ancient wisdom with modern science to support the subtle body. Additionally, Leia is a graduate of the Integral Counseling Psychology program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, emphasizing an integrative approach toward mental health and overall well-being.