The Art of Being

•The RI.Perspective
The Art of Being, in Puerto Escondido on the coast of Oaxaca, is rooted in the idea that creativity can resurface through the body, listening and engagement with place. The four days are led by Courtney, founder of On Retreat and a yoga teacher for more than a decade, who brings together movement, sound and culture in her vision of the retreat, conceived as a chance to explore our inner world while remaining curious about what surrounds us.

Daily gentle yoga practices, open to complete beginners, bring attention back to bodily sensations, while sessions with singing bowls guide the group towards stillness. Sound and meditation introduce The Amulet Ritual, a workshop led by Michelle Herrera, founder and designer of COBA, whose work draws on the colours and symbols of Mexico. Each participant makes a necklace that holds a personal intention, a wish shaped with their own hands.

The group is hosted at Casa TO, where brutalist architecture, with its concrete, water and greenery, makes the space itself part of the visual and sensory exploration. The retreat connects with the region through its art and flavours, with a visit to Casa Wabi, a non-profit arts centre where international artists and architects work closely with the local community, a mezcal tasting, and dinner at Glou Glou, the restaurant on Casa TO’s terrace featured in the Michelin Guide. The invitation is to recognise what emerges when we slow down and to make room for it in everyday life too, by following an intuitive impulse or experimenting with our own form of expression.

A retreat by @courtneyintheflow‍ ‍@_onretreat