a lux Big Island Yoga and movement adventure retreat
Lux big island yoga and movement adventure retreat
Dates
July 28th - August 2nd, 2026
Locale
Kohala Coast, Big island Hawaii — The Fairmont Orchid Luxury Hotel and Resort~
+ Day Adventure to Explore Island
+ Boat Adventure Leaving from Kona~
Retreat to Hawaii and join us on the Big Island this mid-summer for an island experience and retreat for the body, mind, spirit, and heart.
Join Dawn and Mary Susan in Kona and on the Kohala Coast for an island adventure on Hawaii’s Big Island this mid-summer.
Come along this July 28th - August 2nd and take time for yourself to pause, slow down, practice, explore, move well, and return home one day and one breath at a time. Together we’ll create space to rise with the sun and follow the tides as we slow down to align with the island’s natural rhythms.
We’ll be staying beachfront and will enjoy a well-rounded week of practice, relaxation, and adventure. We’ll take a day to explore the Kohala Coast, head upcountry to visit the town of Waimea and immerse in the art of lei making with one of the island’s best lei artists, head down to visit the art-inspired town of Hawi, and head over to Hilo for dinner with a few stops along the way.
We’ll head out with BodyGlove for a deluxe day on the water and if ocean conditions allow, we’ll swim and snorkel off of the boat.
We’ll enjoy a sense of spaciousness in the mornings, begin with yoga, mediation, and mindful movement, and soak up free time to relax, rest, swim, and restore. Join us on the stunning and dynamic Big Island for a luxurious island retreat designed to nourish and enliven the body, mind, and spirit. Leave with new friends, practices, rituals, and sequences that support, and memories to last a lifetime.
Retreat Deposit
$500 non-refundable deposit
Retreat Tuition and Lodging at the Beautiful Beachfront and Luxurious, Fairmont Orchid Hotel and Resort:
(Note: Retreat Taxes/Processing Fees are Included)
1)Shared 2 Queen Bed Room: Regular Retreat Tuition: $6399 per student
2)Shared 1 King Room: $6399 per student
3)Private 2 Qn or 1 King Bed Room and lodging: Regular Retreat Tuition: $7599 per student
Retreat Inclusions
A luxurious 5 Nights / 6 Days Stay - Shared or Private Lodging at The Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island’s Exquisite Kohala Coast. We stay beachfront and on an expansive property that will make our retreat experience and container all the more relaxing and nourishing~
Breakfast Daily on site or on the boat
Dinner Daily at great restaurants together and a night or two on site~
1Breakfast and Grilled BBQ Lunch on the Boat Adventure
Morning Yoga and Meditation Practices with Mary
Journaling Sessions with Mary
Afternoon Mindful Movement and Workouts with Dawn
Structural/Movement Assessment with Dawn
Boating Morning/Early Afternoon Adventure with BodyGlove - *If ocean conditions allow we will swim and snorkel from the boat. Breakfast and lunch are included on the boat~
Day Adventure together to explore the Kohala Coast, head upcountry to Waimea for Lei Making, head down to Hawi to explore the creative and art-laden little town, and over to Hilo for dinner with a stop or two along the way.
Free time to rest and relax and enjoy the hotel and the beach
A retreat gift
A welcome drink
Post-retreat support from Mary and Dawn on fitness/workouts, yoga, meditation, and home practice. Our doors are always open for questions and support.
What’s Not Included in This Retreat
Airfare
Airport Transfer: Travel to and from the airport, students are responsible for getting to and from the airport to the hotel and back, the hotel can help you arrange this if you’d like~
Alcohol
Travel/Trip Insurance - This is suggested to protect your trip if anything or any issue arises~
Extra adventures or treatments
Lunches with exception of one included lunch on the boat
Additional activities not included in the itinerary
Tips for service providers
Visa fee if applicable
Retreating Benefits
An opportunity and moment to come home to ourselves
A destination far away from home and close to nature
Restore your mind, body, and soul
Take some time to focus on you, your Yoga practice and your inner awareness
Deepen and explore within your yoga practice
An amazing escape if you’re feeling stressed, tired, overworked, or just need a week to relax
A chance to get away and step aside from all the hustle and bustle of city life
Return home at peace and feeling refreshed in your body and mind
Step away feeling more relaxed and refreshed
Get a rare opportunity to really unplug
Take time for your joy, rest, and adventure
Retreat Lodging
The Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast~
https://www.fairmont.com/en/hotels/hawaii-big-island/fairmont-orchid.html
OUR STORY
The story of Fairmont Orchid stretches back hundreds of years to when native Hawaiians fished, farmed and lived in perfect harmony with nature in a region known as Kalahuipuaʻa. From the ancient pathways once traversed by King Kamehameha I to the serene landscapes where native Hawaiians thrived in harmony with nature, every corner of our property echoes with the spirit of aloha.
HAWAI‘I luxury BEACH ACCOMMODATIONS
Our guest rooms and suites are serene and elegantly relaxed, with an understated splendor that’s pure island luxe. Expect an airy, spacious retreat that’s all about relaxation and supreme comfort. Nap on your private lanai (veranda), refresh in the spa-inspired marble bathroom, and relax with the whole ʻohana (family).
DINING
GATHER, celebrate AND CONNECT
Dive into laidback beach classics by the water, swim up to a fresh-catch dinner on the sand, sit down to a decadent paʻina (feast) in relaxed oceanfront elegance and take a culinary journey through the Hawaiian Islands. Sharing incredible meals is just as much a part of the island experience as our big blue skies and picturesque beaches. The restaurant features an on site restaurant, poolside, bites, or the option to book private or group dinners in beautiful natural locales on site.
Ocean
Easy access to the ocean is just steps from the resort. Our island paradise rests on 32 glistening acres of prime coastline with endless views of the Pacific Ocean.
Island
Trek around the resort’s protected bay to petroglyph fields, caves and ancient fish ponds with our cultural ambassadors.
PLAY ALL DAY IN paradise
Adventure through Hawaiian culture at Fairmont Orchid. Snorkel, paddle, relax and sightsee, right here on our palm-dotted oceanside property. Our coveted location on Hawaiʻi Island’s Kohala Coast means bucket list adventures beckon from right outside your guest room or suite.
Hawaiian Culture
Step into the story of Hawaiʻi’s rich culture, steeped in fascinating customs, legends and lore. Learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian language. Dance hula, the heartbeat of Hawaiʻi. Our one-of-a-kind cultural offerings are designed to facilitate a deeper connection between you and our beloved Hawaiian culture. This sense of connection is vital to understanding what it means to mālama (take care of) Hawaiʻi and as you embrace this sacred place we’re honored to call home.
Hawaiian Culture Activities
Reservations for these activities can be made through Resort Pass. Please select Hawaiian Culture Activities and input your preferred date. You may also book with the Concierge.
Beach & Ocean
There’s just as much to do in the water as on the water at Fairmont Orchid. Our Hui Holokai beach club ambassadors offer ocean and ʻāina (land) adventures at every turn. Pair snorkeling with a morning canoe adventure. Picnic on the beach and listen to mo’olelo (storytelling) as you learn about the stories, myths and legends that make up the cultural fabric of Hawaiʻi. Reel in the big one and learn how to snorkel with the masters.
Beach & Ocean Activities
Reservations for these activities can be made through Resort Pass. Please select Ocean Activities and input your preferred date. You may also book with the Concierge.
MĀLAMA HAWAIʻI
Fairmont Orchid is proud to be an environmental leader among eco-friendly hotels. It is our privilege to invite you to mālama ʻāina (care for the land), as we embrace sustainability initiatives to promote a rich cultural exchange within our community on Hawai‘i Island to ensure long-term stewardship of our planet.
Yoga
We will be practicing a strong, dynamic, and compassionate yoga practice and flow marrying together the traditions of Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
We will slowly and mindfully weave our way through alignment-based practices each day taking time to workshop asanas and come-see-come-look moments giving students the opportunity to demo postures as we practice.
Expect longer holds, break-downs of alignment and postures, and a focus on the breath. Classes are appropriate for all levels from beginners to advanced practitioners and teachers. We ask students to be truly curious and expect to take a deep and joyful dive into the practice and their own inner ecology and wilderness.
Styles
Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Vipassana & Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Yin Yoga, General Yoga
Skill Level
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Meditation
We will be practicing guided Vipassana and Mindful Meditation during the retreat including breath meditations, heart meditations such as the Loving Kindness/Metta Meditations, and compassion meditations.
Infinite Method Training and Functional Movement/Workouts with Dawn:
Learn new body awareness and core principles of fitness through an integrated and sustainable workout with Dawn.
Dawn will provide assessment to find the dynamics and imbalances that are causing discomfort or leading to injuries as part of offerings.
Lei Making
We will be heading upcountry to the beautiful town of Waimea for an intimate afternoon of lei making with one of Hawaii’s most talented lei artists and makers. We will each make our own individual lei and enjoy a relaxing afternoon and floral workshop learning about one of Hawaii’s most beautiful arts and cultural practices.
Retreat Leaders
Mary Susan Stults Sassone
Learn more about Mary Susan at https://www.marysusanstults.com/
Born in Fort Payne, Alabama, Mary Susan Stults was raised in Cedar City, Utah. After moving to Colorado in 2001 to attend CU Boulder, she made Colorado her mountain home for about 20 years until she followed her heart to Hawaii.
In 2018, she traded the mountain life for island life and moved to Kauai, Hawaii where she lives with her fiance Brandon and their two cats, Tux and Sir Wobbles.
Mary Susan’s yoga and meditation practice and path began early in life with her mother as a child at home in 1991 and continued in the studio at the age of 14 in 1997 with the practice of Ashtanga Yoga. Mary practiced Hatha, Ashtanga Yoga, and Iyengar Yoga throughout highschool and early college and in 2002 began practicing at Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor's studio, the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado. Years later, Mary had the blessing to find Master Mentor-Teacher Maty Ezraty with whom she studied intensively, mentored with, and assisted until her recent passing in 2019. Over thousands of hours and many years of study and practice, Maty shaped and influenced Mary Susan’s practice, teaching, and life on and off the yoga mat.
Mary Susan teaches in the U.S and internationally and is an experienced Senior Yoga & Meditation teacher, educator, mentor, and practitioner. She is a certified and experienced Yoga & Meditation teacher, educator, and practitioner, a WPA/Paddle Into Fitness Certified Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) and SUP Yoga teacher, certified Kids Yoga teacher, certified Adaptive Yoga teacher, and is known by all for her enthusiasm, heart, and positive outlook.
She teaches a knowledgeable, dynamic, and refreshing Hatha yoga practice that intelligently weaves together the traditions of Iyengar Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. She also enjoys teaching Yin, Restorative Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, and Vipassana/Insight and Mindful Meditation. Many describe her energy as contagious, finding her nurturing, wise, grounded, & patient style of teaching to be welcoming &supportive. Her offerings are infused with her grounded yet light-hearted nature. When she is not teaching herself you can often find her in a training or Yoga intensive with one of her teachers or mentors.
Dawn Theilen, Sonoma, California~
“I’ve loved athletics since the age of 3."
Being raised in Lake Tahoe and San Diego, skiing, hiking, swimming and other activities were a way of life for Dawn Theilen. However, gymnastics took center stage and at the age of 11 she competed for the Reno team. This love of movement became a driving force in her life, which led to her passion to become a personal trainer over 30 years ago. She shares this love of fitness with her husband, grown children and 3 dogs. Together they enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking and backpacking (especially in Yosemite) and live in Sonoma, CA.
Dawn's career in fitness began in 1993 at Mill Valley Personal Fitness. While attending Sonoma State University she continued her fitness path and was certified in Spinning with Johnny G and took her bicycling expertise and completed the 520 mile AIDS ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles where she discovered a need for a stronger core. This led her to Pilates Mat certification from the University of Phoenix. Discovering Pilates changed her teaching style to more functional and sustainable workouts.
She opened her own gym, Form Body Studio in San Rafael in 2001. Form offered an array of classes and trainings, including The Fundamentals of Pilates, which she taught for the College of Marin. In addition to her studio offerings, Dawn taught Pilates and correct ergonomics for the employees at AutoDesk and Kaiser Permanente. She also spoke at the Young Woman’s Conference in San Francisco to inspire high school girls to become small business owners.
In 2005, Dawn moved to Sonoma and began teaching workshops, personal training and leading hikes for The Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa where she remains today. In 2019, Dawn created her own fitness style and branded it Infinite Method. Infinite Method is a blend of light weights, core, balance combinations, stretching and light cardio and TRX when available. She teaches Infinite Method at the Fairmont, zoom classes and with personal clients. You can also find her on Youtube.
Dawn’s clients would describe her as an expert in her field. She uses an intuitive approach and thrives on assessing bodies and helping them transform into a sustainable, strong vessel. Her energy is light hearted and full of compassion, but she has an eye for form and is no nonsense when the work needs to be done. Her offerings include massage and manipulation, so that all aspects of the body are cohesively working together. Her wish for you is to be an independent, self-sufficient person for your entire life, so that you can live life fully.
Big Island, Hawaii
Welcome to the Island of Hawaiʻi
The island of Hawaiʻi is the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian chain. Nearly twice as big as all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined (hence, its nickname, “Big Island”), its sheer size is awe-inspiring. You can travel through all but four of the world's different climate zones here, ranging from Wet Tropical to Polar Tundra, a result of the shielding effect and elevations of the massive volcanoes Maunakea and Maunaloa.
From the many geological features at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the snow-capped heights of Maunakea; from the lush valleys of the Hilo and Hāmākua Coasts to the jet-black sands of Punaluʻu Beach, the island of Hawaiʻi is an unrivaled expression of the power of nature. However you decide to experience the island, it is sure to leave you humbled! Check out the island of Hawaiʻi's regions to explore this vast island.
King Kamehameha I, Early 19th Century
The Kohala Coast is the birthplace of King Kamehameha I, the Hawaiian king who unified the Hawaiian Islands in the early 19th century. At the resort, remnants of Kamehameha's time remain—royal fishponds, ancient footpaths and petroglyphs whispering tales of the past.
How To Get There (Flights, Airport Transfers)
Fly into Kona Airport on Hawaii’s Big Island, and take a cab, uber, or rental car to the Fairmont Orchid Hotel and Resort in Kona, Hawaii~
Travel Tips
-Book your flights early-It is required to pre-arrange your transport upon arrival at airport to destination ahead of travel-Do purchase a travel insurance policy -Let your banks know that you'll be traveling -Let your phone carrier know you'll be traveling -Make sure your passport is up to date-Do reach out if you have any questions or would like a suggestion for flights
Who’s This Retreat Designed For~
This retreat is for all students and folks. All levels are welcome and encouraged to join. If you are joining this retreat you are likely a yoga and movement lover and enthusiast, or a curious student, a nature lover, and an adventurous spirit. Everyone is welcome here~
Questions
Please feel free to email us anytime at the email addresses below:
Mary Susan Stults Sassone: floatandflowllc@gmail.com
Dawn Theilen: dawntheilen@yahoo.com
What To Bring
A suggested packing list will be sent out to all attending in a retreat welcome email.
Travel Insurance Suggestions
It is suggested to purchase travel insurance to protet your trip in case of interuptions, etc. Reach out if you’d like any suggestions on travel insurance, we are happy to help out.
