In recent months, two incredible yoginis have come into my life. Their powerful classes and inspirational words have me back on the mat and recommitted to making yoga a priority. Unfortunately for the English-speaking yoga community of Santiago, both ladies are leaving soon. Fiona is moving home to Canada, and Charlotte is moving to Mexico. I feel immense gratitude for the opportunities to laugh and learn with them.

The weekend of March 23-25, Fiona and Charlotte offered a yoga retreat in Pichilemu, a beach town about three hours from Santiago. I had registered for the retreat, but then I almost skipped it after making last-minute plans to spend Easter with my parents in Florida. Fortunately, I didn’t skip it, and I had the best weekend in recent memory.

Just steps from the retreat center, Conviento de Lobos, we could clamber over boulders, stroll on the long sandy beach, or dip our toes in the chilly Pacific Ocean.

Our accommodations were basic. I slept in the top bunk in a room shared with two friends. We practiced yoga in a spacious yurt with the sound of crashing waves filling the silence. Meals, served at a long table in the common area, comprised scrumptious vegetarian fare featuring seasonal food from the onsite organic garden.

Such a gorgeous setting.

This huge tree arched over the path between the lodges and the common area.

Yoga in the yurt. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte)

Some of us took a surfing class …

… while some of us merely waded and instantly lost all feeling in our legs.

Getting attacked by a massive sea snake!

JK … it was really just this stuff, a type of sea weed used in cooking.

A few weeks later, on April 7, my yoga sheroes led a class at Wanderlust Santiago 2018.

Here they are in all their awesomeness. Charlotte, left; Fiona, right.

Loving their class.

Other highlights of the day included a 5K walk, a meditation class in Spanish, a climbing wall, and a variety of healthy snack and drink samples. I wanted to try the slack line and the hammock yoga, but I couldn’t be bothered to stand in the lines.

An overcast morning evolved into a gorgeous sunny day.

At the starting line for the 5K, which Nancy and I walked.

Lina and I hit the wall.

With this many yogis in a space, you know there’s going to be an awesome energy.

Wanderlust drone photo.

Last week, my friend Nancy and I attended Fiona’s Yoga & Wine/Food Pairing event, which took place at Sala Indriya, a beautiful studio in Santiago’s funky Barrio Italia district. Fiona led a class combining power flow and yin yoga, followed by a gathering on the restaurant patio downstairs. We sipped wine, ate tasty snacks, and tried to muster enough sophistication to discuss the wine and food pairings. But mostly we just sipped wine, ate tasty snacks, and laughed a lot.

I try not to think about the impending departure of Fiona and Charlotte, but I know my life is richer for having known them.