Embodied : The Art of Being Seen
Embodied : The Art of Being Seen
A yoga & Photography experience
This is a reclamation.
Through embodied yoga, breathwork, and grounded embodiment practices, we move energy, release tension, and quiet the noise so you can actually feel yourself again. You’ll come back into your body—not as something to fix, but as somewhere you belong.
Over several days, you’ll also move through a carefully guided boudoir photography journey: learning how to meet the camera with ease, exploring comfort and boundaries, and culminating in a private professional portrait experience with world-class photographer Rachel Gray. This is the kind of intimate, artful image most people never have the chance to create—crafted with presence, sensitivity, and your full consent at every step.
This isn’t about posing. It’s about uncovering.
It’s about letting yourself be seen, on your own terms.
Come as you are. Leave more at home in your body, with images you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
About
Learn More
Embodied : The Art of Being Seen
Boudoir is deeper than traditional portraiture — intimate not because of nudity, but because of the honesty it captures. It’s a style of photography that reveals how you inhabit yourself: the softness that appears when you stop bracing, the connection that shows up when you’re no longer performing, the presence that emerges when you feel fully at ease.
A yoga retreat is the perfect environment for this kind of work. After days of movement, breath, and grounding practices, most people become more open, relaxed, and connected to themselves than they ever are in daily life. That radiance and ease translates directly into the images — it’s why the portraits created here often feel different from anything someone has tried before.
Participants may be photographed solo or with a partner, always at their chosen level of comfort. Nudity is never required; the only optional form included in this retreat is toplessness, and every image is created with clarity, consent, and care. The process is collaborative, light-hearted, and designed to support expression rather than performance.
This is for anyone interested in:
– Celebrating themselves or their body at any stage
– Creating something personal and meaningful with a partner
– Marking a transition — newlyweds, newly single, post-divorce, postpartum, healing
– Exploring visibility and self-expression in a grounded, supported environment
No experience required — just curiosity, comfort, and a willingness to be met exactly where you are.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Rachel Gray – Photographer
Rachel Gray is an internationally recognized photographer, who has worked with leading brands such as Tiffany, Netflix, Time Magazine, and more. Based in Malibu, her work is rooted in both a fine-art foundation and a capacity to capture with presence and sensitivity.
Her work centers on connection — the quiet, unguarded moments where people reveal how they inhabit their bodies and relationships. Clients often describe the experience of working with her as grounding and fun, noting her ability to “conjure vulnerability without imposition.”
During this retreat, you will be guided through an intimate portrait experience that results in an image designed to be treasured for a lifetime. Rachel’s version of boudoir photography is rooted in a light hearted, and playful openness. Participants co-create based on their comfort level and the resulting image is a reflection of each person’s inner landscape.
Includes
Learn More
Embodied : THE ART OF BEING SEEN
Includes
6 nights beach front accommodations at Utopia : El Cuyo Guesthouse & Yoga Studio
Delicious breakfast daily plus 3 lunches & 4 dinners
Embodied Yoga practices as per itinerary
Playful photo session to get comfortable with the camera
90 minute Boudoir Photography session with Rachel
Curated imaged consultation with Rachel to select your favorite images
5 professionally retouched images (delivered digitally 4-6 weeks post retreat)
Sunset kayaking excursion in the flooded forest nature preserve
75 minute healing massage
Mexican Mud Ceremony on the beach
Bicycles, Kayaks & SUP boards available all the week
All hotel taxes & fees
What’s not Included :
Airfare and airport transfers.*
2 lunches & 1 dinner on your own
Additional alcoholic drinks on dinner out (first 2 included)
Staff tips (suggested amount between $45usd and $75usd (750 to 1250 Mexican pesos) per person for the house staff & between $10-20usd (200-400mxn) for massage);
tips are preferred in Mexican pesos please
Extra excursions and massages
Additional prints from the photographer
*We can arrange private or shared airport transfers for you when you forward us your flight itinerary.
Pricing will depend on how many sharing the ride.
Itinerary
Learn More
Embodied : THE ART OF BEING SEEN
Itinerary*
DAY ONE :
3pm Arrival, settle in
5:30-7pm Opening Circle + Gentle Yoga
7:15pm Dinner
8:30pm Boudoir Talk & Intro
What is boudoir? Portraiture & Intimacy
What image do you want to portray?
DAY TWO :
8-9:30am Morning Yoga
9:45am Breakfast
11:30am Mud Ceremony on the beach
Free time, massages, beach walks
2-3pm Lunch at the house
Playful group beach photo session with Rachel
6:30-7:30pm Evening yoga practice
7:30pm Dinner together at the house
DAY THREE :
8-9:30am Morning Yoga
9:45am Breakfast
Integration time: journaling, movement, rest; massages
2-3pm Lunch at the house
BOUDOIR Sessions with Rachel
6-7pm Evening yoga practice
Dinner on your own
DAY FOUR :
8-9:30am Meditation & Morning Yoga
9:45-11am Breakfast
Massages, rest, beach walks, explore town
BOUDOIR Sessions with Rachel
Lunch on your own
2:30-6pm Sunset Kayaking excursion through the flooded forest
7:30pm Dinner together at the house
DAY FIVE :
8-9:30am Meditation & Morning Yoga
9:45-11am Breakfast
BOUDOIR Sessions with Rachel
Lunch together at the house
Massages, rest, beach walks, explore town
6-7:45pm Closing Circle and optional Open Photo Share
What did you create? What did you notice? What are you taking with you?
8pm Final Celebration dinner together at the house
DAY SIX :
Breakfast
Departures to CUN+
+We can arrange private or shared airport transfers for you when you forward us your flight itinerary. Pricing will depend on how many sharing the ride.
*Our itinerary may be subject to change depending on weather conditions and circumstances beyond our control while on retreat. In any case, we will take measures to provide a similar experience of the same high quality. Thank you for your flexibility if it becomes necessary.
Stay
Learn More
Embodied : THE ART OF BEING SEEN
Accommodations
Utopia Guesthouse & Yoga Studio : El Cuyo is the 3rd incarnation of a series of retreat houses that we have created to host retreat groups over the years.
The main living area shares a sitting room and a dining area indoors. There are porches both on the front side of the house and the beach side.
Bedrooms are simple and cozy with neutral tones, natural textures from local sources and some with ocean views.
The house has 8 bedrooms (5 privates with a queen bed each and 3 shared with 2 twin beds).
Bathrooms are shared amongst the house. There are three full bathrooms plus a double sink wash area upstairs and an outdoor shower with doors on the beach.
Our yoga studio has ocean views from the second story terrace of the house. Yoga mats, blankets, straps and blocks are available.
Follow along with our adventures on Instagram via @utopiayogaelcuyo
Pricing
Learn More
Embodied : THE ART OF BEING SEEN
Pricing
Shared Double rooms
Interior bedrooms with 2 twin beds and shared bathrooms within steps.
$3,555usd per person
Private Interior rooms
Interior queen bedrooms with shared bathrooms within a few steps.
$3,735usd private room
Private ocean view rooms
Oceanview queen bedrooms with shared bathrooms within a few steps.
$3,865usd SECOND FLOOR ROOMS
$3,915usd BEACHFRONT ROOM
OPTIONAL EXTRAS ON OFFER :
Additional 75 minute massages
$140usd each
*You must provide your own bed mate for this option. We can pair roommates together but not people sharing a bed together.
We can pair you with other travelers of your preferred gender looking to share a room. If there is not another guest looking to share your room must be taken as a private.
Reserve
Learn More
Embodied : THE ART OF BEING SEEN
Reserve
MAKE YOUR DEPOSIT HERE :
Deposits of $750usd are due to secure your space in the retreat. Please check availability with us for accommodations before making your deposit.
Roommates should book together. If you would like to share a room and do not have a roommate we will provide one for you if possible. In the case that there is no one to share a room we ask that you take a private room instead.
Please use the form below to submit your deposit.
BALANCE PAYMENTS :
The balance of your retreat (minus your $750usd initial deposit*) is due 90 days prior to arrival. All details with instructions for settling up will be emailed to you three months prior to the retreat.
In addition to credit card payments we also accept wire transfers, Zelle and Bitcoin. Please inquire for more details.
POLICIES
CANCELLATION POLICY
All payments are 100% non refundable and non-transferable. We recommend that you buy Trip cancellation insurance immediately upon making your initial deposit to cover any travel hiccups or complications that may arise between now and the time of your retreat. No exceptions are possible so please cover your trip by connecting with an insurance company that offers the right policy for you. Agents are available online to help with your specific needs. Cover your retreat here!
CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY
The acceptance of a verbal or written confirmation from YOGA & ADVENTURES WORLDWIDE (Y&AWW) constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions listed herein. Participants are responsible to be adequately insured, therefore Traveler’s Insurance is strongly recommended*. Y&AWW and its staff assume no responsibility nor liability for any delay, loss, damage, injury or accident with regards to persons or property which may be caused by fault or negligence of any third party vendor. This includes hotels, transportation providers, and local operators participating in part for our services. Y&AWW shall be held harmless for any expense caused by injury or accident, to any participants as well as any loss or damage of personal items while on our tours. We reserve the right to make any changes to services and itineraries, with or without notice, which may become necessary.
Yoga & Adventures Worldwide, its affiliates, retreat facilitators, hotels, third party vendors, and tour providers, the ownership, or staff, of course, cannot be held responsible for events that are outside of our control. There are no refunds as per our cancellation policies. We highly recommend that all of our guests secure a quality travel insurance that will cover them for ANY event which may cause for a change of travel plans, or for ANY unfortunate event including but of course not limited to:
– Transportation delays, cancellations or changes due to strikes, labor disputes, or lockouts from airlines, boats, ferries or any type of transportation.
– Any inconvenience or complication caused by bad weather, storms, and hurricanes : a direct hit, near miss, or significant threat of a hurricane strike
– Government/political actions, events or situations; threats or acts of terrorism, acts of war or declared war.
– Personal health issues or personal situations in general which may affect travel plans
– Any loss, theft or damage of personal items at any stage of your trip
– Any accident causing injury during any stage of your trip
– Travel restrictions or illness associated with COVID-19.
All travelers may join our retreats “at your own risk”, but should continue to take precautions such as wearing masks in public, avoiding crowds, maintaining social distance and washing hands frequently. Any Covid testing will be determined by the countries through which the traveler must pass. All testing requirements are at the travelers expense and are not included in our packages. Please stay up to date with current travel related requirements.
We require that you are covered with medical insurance while on retreat. Please check your health insurance policy regarding treatment outside your home country in the rare case you would need care while away from home. Most policies have coverage for emergencies and we ask that you submit proof of this coverage when prompted. If you do not have a policy that covers travel medical, we recommend that you speak with an agent to see what is best for you. Insubuy has many options for coverage. Please consult with the agent to make sure the plan you choose covers medical care in the country you are visiting. We will ask for proof of medical insurance prior to the retreat.
By submitting payments toward your retreat you accept these Terms and Conditions.
If you have any questions regarding the details of this retreat please feel free to contact us to set up a call or to receive further info via email.
