Jon StojanSummary: In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for relaxation can be difficult. Desirée and Alex, two passionate creatives and entrepreneurs, have made it their mission to address this problem.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, where isolation was at an all-time high, travelers have become more interested in spiritual tourism and wellness-focused travel experiences. A surge in mental health struggles has contributed to these trends as more people are desperate for a step off of the hamster wheel.
Spiritual retreats can offer amazing benefits, even if done for only a few days. By leaving daily stressors behind, people see the world from a different perspective. Usually shrouded in nature, these retreats stimulate stress relief through intentional rest. Daily activities which include kundalini yoga, meditation and healing sound baths, support participants in cultivating a sense of inner peace while achieving personal growth as they move through the many emotional obstacles and past traumas they may have been ignoring or unaware of. Along the way, they can also make intimate connections with like-minded individuals who may also be going through challenges or seeking a break from their fast-paced lives.
These events are held in picturesque locations globally, but there’s always room for more diverse offerings. Seeing this need for a unique spiritual retreat focusing on meditation, yoga, and fasting,Desirée and Alex have made it their mission to offer heart-centered spiritual retreats to all who seek them, offering an accessible, safe environment for healing.
Desirée and Alex trekking through the Himalayas to Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
Desirée, an Indo-Canadian actor, artist, singer, published author, and producer, has been pursuing a spiritual path from a young age. Her father, Russell Winston Monsurate, an awakened master and yoga teacher, led his family through guided meditation sessions daily, to navigate life’s challenges. Russell successfully created and facilitated hundreds of spiritual retreats across the globe, following his life’s purpose of healing. Watching these souls experience personal growth and healing at her father’s retreats empowered Desirée to seek spiritual fulfillment and build retreats of her own.
“Meditation and yoga carried me through situations where I might not have had the belief systems in place to navigate complex issues,” she says, reflecting on her personal experiences. “When I was unsure or overwhelmed, I’d use these healing practices as an anchor to help me stay grounded and resilient. It is for this reason that I’ve always felt a call to help others embrace spirituality and self-healing.”
Alex’s introduction to spirituality is slightly different than Desirée’s, but equally as relatable. Growing up in Eastern Europe and surviving communism, his formative years were marked by financial challenges. Upon completing his education, Alex jumped at the opportunity to join the workforce onboard cruise lines. He had dreamed of traveling the world and exploring this beautiful planet we call home. Several years later, Alex settled in California with his sister and mother. His mother’s unexpected cancer diagnosis drove him to shift his focus from event and party planning to spiritual healing. Alex was determined to find holistic treatments for his mother’s illness, embracing meditation, nature, yoga, nutrition and fasting as vital tools, leading him to an eternal path of seeking truth and self-discovery. Desirée, whose father also faced health challenges later in life, related to Alex on this front. She too adopted a similar approach to bring peace and healing to his life, discovering and incorporating the Gerson Therapy, developed by Dr. Max Gerson, into his lifestyle.
Spiritual practices became a part of Alex’s daily rituals and their presence in his life magnified over time. The events he organized slowly became more focused on nature escapes and spaces for spiritual connection.
Desirée met Alex at a spiritual retreat that he was facilitating in Sedona, led by Ray Maor. A couple of years later, fate brought the two together to coordinate and facilitate yet another retreat led by Ray. Desirée fell in love with Alex and his effortless way of living, and joined him at the last minute on an exciting adventure to Nepal. Exploring opportunities to build treks and retreats of their own was now at the forefront of their shared passions. Fate crossed their paths with two beautiful souls; Lata, the organizer of the Inaugural Nepal Yoga Festival and Manohar, the owner of the brand new Purna Yoga Retreat in Pokhara, Nepal.
Each year in late April and late September, with the next event starting September 28th, 2024, Alex and Desirée provide an exciting opportunity for like minded individuals and spiritual seekers to experience holistic healing in all aspects of life at the Purna Yoga Retreat center located in Pokhara, Nepal.
Situated near the Annapurna Circuit, a popular trail in the Himalayas, the event will offer enchanting mountain views, natural hot springs, lake excursions, mind over matter challenges, manifestation workshops and engaging spiritual practices for people of all ages.
Desirée and Alex are thrilled for this opportunity to serve the collective. They believe every person deserves the time and space for healing and reflection, and are committed to tailoring their retreat to the preferences and capabilities of every traveler.
Awakened Master, Ray Maor, will be leading the Pranic Cleanse and workshops, alongside the pair. Grab your spot today.
A view of the majestic Purna Yoga Retreat amphitheater in Pokhara, Nepal at sunset.
Media Contact
Name: Desirée and Alex
Email: [email protected]