Tuition & Lunch: $197 | Earlybirds take $30 off before April 30

CHI-RHO — on Lake Silvia in Annandale, Minnesota

Saturday, May 18 | 10 AM - 5:00 PM - schedule below

Soma Yoga, Visualization Meditation, Breathwork, and Therapeutic Art

Breathe Release it All

Join me for a cozy day retreat designed for those looking to ease stress and anxiety. Through a mix of Breathwork, Soma Yoga, and guided art exercises, you'll refresh your energy and let go of patterns causing pain.

Superb Getaway for the Day

Chi-Rho Retreat Center is located on a quiet peninsula in the pristine, spring-fed Lake Sivila in Annandale, about an hour from Minneapolis. It's a simple, camp-style spot away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The Yoga Room has the most serene view of the lake, adding to the healing nature of the practices we will do together.

3 Healing Workshops in One Day

1. We will begin the day with tension-relieving Soma Yoga, breathwork, and a compassionate check-in-with-your-body practice. We have gathered to release and let go of the stress and angst that accumulates in the body over time. Then, we will nourish our bodies with a clean, high-vibe lunch followed by a brief rest.

2. After lunch, we move on to a powerful, guided artistic exercise that helps you direct your manifesting powers precisely toward your wishes and goals. You do not need any experience with art to get a lot from this exercise, as it is guided every step of the way.

3. Our last workshop of the day involves moving the body through gentle yoga practice in our continued effort to locate and release stagnation and contractions in the body and prepare for deeper breathwork. We conclude our day with a guided breathwork meditation to breathe life and action into our manifestation vision.

This well-rounded day retreat is your invitation and opportunity to unwind and move forward. This day retreat is a reset for your nervous system, a chance to alleviate anxiety and tension from body and mind. You will walk away with more ease and grace in your limbs and inspiration for your next steps for manifesting your dreams.

Please bring

One Yoga Mat, 2 Yoga blocks, a yoga strap or similar, two blankets, and wear layers. You are welcome to bring your art supplies, good paper, and colored pencils, but I will also bring enough for everyone.

Testimonials:

A weekend away at the most beautiful YOGA Retreat in gentle strokes with heartfelt body and breathwork. MARIA SOPHIA TOSO, you are a gifted teacher. And Svein- your blessing practice is still resounding. It was a privilege to join you two. This old body got some new tools for keeping upright, vital, and cared for with delicious food. And this soul was enlivened by the company of other striving souls and filled with gratitude. I highly recommend the next retreat in September. — Linda Bergh, Minneapolis, MN

Four years ago I attended a weekend retreat offered by Maria Toso, where I was taught about breathwork, Soma Yoga, meditation, and deep relaxation as a way to tap into my energy, listen to what my body is telling me, and learn to deal with the triggers that have the potential to throw me off course. It completely changed my life. Actually, the experience and the hard work that followed totally transformed my life and my ability to feel more abundant peace and joy. Maria is offering another local MN retreat in August. If you feel ready to dig deep and add some tools to your toolbelt to help you navigate this life, I'd encourage you to seriously consider jumping in for the weekend. I'll be there as well. Feel free to reach out to me as well, I'd love to share more of my journey and experiences with you! —- Heathere Willoughby, Minnesota

I attended Maria’s yoga/ meditation retreat last weekend- Breathe and release it all. Feeling my feelings and working through them.. blessing them all- One breath a a time. Filled with gratitude Maria and Svein. You two are pure light. Highly recommend. — Iliana Rossell, St Paul, MN

I just went on a the Breathe Release it All Yoga retreat knowing I needed time away from the business of life to focus and just listen. As I stretched and breathed I was reminded of my place in this world. Breath means spirit in many languages, God formed man from earth and breathed life into his lungs. His divine spirit lives in us and the earth we came from shares the same resonance. When I experience this connection my body receives from both and comes into alignment or unity (yoga), I then feel strength to give freely to others. Twelve women that didn’t know each other came together and focused on body alignment, stretching, breath work and meditation. During the breath work, life and love blessings were spoken over us which brought profound healing. We all experienced powerful transformation through this practice, healing wounds from the past and present. Thank you Maria Toso and Svein Berg for creating this environment for us and facilitating this powerful experience. It was such an honor to be part of this practice. — Dawn Dippon, Maplewood

Four years ago I attended a weekend retreat offered by Maria Toso, where I was taught about breathwork, Soma Yoga, meditation, and deep relaxation as a way to tap into my energy, listen to what my body is telling me, and learn to deal with the triggers that have the potential to throw me off course.

It completely changed my life. Actually, the experience and the hard work that followed totally transformed my life and my ability to feel more abundant peace and joy.

Maria is offering another local MN retreat in December. If you feel ready to dig deep and add some tools to your toolbelt to help you navigate this life, I'd encourage you to seriously consider jumping in for the weekend. I'll be there as well.

Feel free to reach out to me as well, I'd love to share more of my journey and experiences with you!

- Heathere Willoughby, retreat participant

"The Heal what Hurts Training is the most valuable tool I have found for healing from childhood trauma. Highly recommend! No yoga experience required. - Sharria, Minneapolis, MN

I've been in many of Maria's classes & workshops over the past several years and have always enjoyed them and found Maria's approach to be welcoming and supportive. Maria is always great about managing her sessions in a way that makes them really valuable & accessible across the yoga spectrum from novices (me) to the advanced - she finds space for all to benefit from the experience together. Definitely recommend! Roger Cornett, MN

Maria is delightful. Very insightful, wise, well versed in yoga philosophy, and kind. — Hiyala Indiga, MN

Maria Toso is absolutely the best yoga teacher! Very knowledgeable, articulate, charismatic, calming, responsive, spiritual and more. Her Saturday morning yoga classes at St Paul Yoga Center became like church to many of us -- a required weekend spiritual, physical, and meditative experience. Now she has successfully transferred her in-person leadership skills to an on-line presence. I recommend her most highly. — Bill Tilton, MN

I have been studying yoga with Maria on and off for nearly ten years now. After years of living room yoga, she was the first yoga teacher I met who made me realize the power of a live class. But then even when I took classes with other teachers, nothing has ever quite compared to the non-tangibles Maria brings to her practice. She is steady and vulnerable and practical and spiritual. A class spent with Maria pays dividends into the rest of my life. If you have the opportunity to take any sort of class with her, I'd highly recommend it.

— Nicole Kronzer, MN

"My heal what hurts work has completely changed the way I react to my husband's infuriating habits, the days of uncontrollable drama are just gone!" - Cindy, New York City, NY

"My coaching work with Maria made it clear that my samskaras are very old and that the healing had to happen inside before my relationship could start to change." - Ellena, St. Paul, MN

"I keep returning to the meditations and practices I learned in the Heal what Hurts Course, they are definitely lifelong tools that I am also teaching my daughters." - Eva, Copenhagen, Denmark

"The hardest part of this process was that it made me feel vulnerable. I equated feeling vulnerable with being weak and weakness with failure. It's like holding a little version of yourself on your own lap and letting him cry through your own eyes. The best way I can describe it is like relieving pressure out of a pressure cooker" - Brant Kingman, Minneapolis, MN

I’ve tried other things during my life besides yoga and meditation, like medication, counseling, groups, but I’ve never found something that has such a profound and immediate effect as Maria’s Heal what Hurts practice.  I plan to continue my work there and also expand my other practices.  I would recommend this approach to anyone who’s trying to unbury some past hurt.  You will have to do the work, and it will be painful at the time, but the release and realization afterward is so worth it. Special thanks to Maria, a great teacher, mentor, friend, and soul, for helping me so.                                                                                                              Dave S, St. Paul, MN

I am always so inspired by these painting and sharing session. Both from internal perspective gained as well as hearing the feeling and thought from others about their creations - awesome how we all are naturally talented artists in the moment. — Michelle Heerey, Heart & Art Yoga Workshop participant

"Maria embodies what it truly means to be a Yogi. She has the kind of light that shines through with a big heart and kind words. Her classes are exceptional and if you are just starting out, she will answer all of you questions and concerns." - Brenda Hamlin

I chose to complete my training at SPC as I was already enrolled as a student in the personal training program. I had heard from a couple of fellow classmates who had gone through the training that the instructor was not effective in preparing students for real-world teaching. I decided to stick with my registration despite this, determined to make the most of my experience. Luckily for me, the school hired a new instructor for my term (she will continue on as the lead instructor going forward). I cannot say enough good things about Maria Toso. She had us up in front of the class on our very first day and every day going forward, and truly prepared us for being in front of people and teaching a class. Our final was teaching a one-hour public class, so we have experience going forward of teaching people in a class setting other than our classmates. She helped me experience and understand yoga on a very deep level, and left me with no doubt I was on the correct path. I feel she taught me not only how to be a good teacher, but also to be a better person in my own life. As long as Maria remains in charge, I would highly recommend her teacher training at SPC to anyone looking to complete a sound, fulfilling training. - Jenna Staloch, Teacher Training Graduate

Maria is a wonderful teacher. Her in depth knowledge in teaching asana is great, but I really benefitted from her knowledge in meditation and somatics. I believe her teaching far exceeds what is offered in those areas at the 200 hour level, elsewhere. - Lisa Ophoven, Teacher Training Graduate

Maria Toso is a fantastic teacher. Her balanced viewpoint ensures that any student of any background will feel welcome and appreciated for who they are and what they bring to the world. Maria is an incredibly accomplished yogi as well, and has a way of breaking down poses and helping students find their own cues that allows them to find their own inner instructor. - Meghan Hatalla, Teacher Training graduate

Teacher training Instructor Maria Toso is exceptionally qualified to guide students. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: meditation, yoga nidra, yoga philosophy & history, asanas, modifications and cueing techniques. Through loving kindness and sharing her deep understanding of yoga; she provides students with a solid base from which to build our own practice and instills confidence. An Inspiring and Supportive role model! - Kathy Young, Teacher Training Graduate

The addiction factor: During the first poses, skepticism set in. How could raising one shoulder an inch off the ground a few times help my achy, stiff neck? Wouldn’t it be more relaxing to hit a massage table, since I wasn’t burning calories anyway? But after two hours on the mat, I felt like I had somehow given myself a deep-tissue massage — Heidi Raschke, The StarTribune

“It has been extremely eye opening for me to go through A Course in Emotional Freedom. I have realized how someone else’s samskaras and sufferings have affected me and how my own samskaras were formed and how they keep turning up as reactivity in my life. Through A Course in Emotional Freedom, I am learning to give up some of the trappings that has kept me from fully meeting my potentials and the futility of comparing myself to everyone else.” - Jessica, Minneapolis.

"As I studied the Kleshas I certainly started to notice myself in emotional states that I have nursed for years.  The emotions come out as drama, depression, worry or, as Maria put it, looking for someone to be my second leg.  I feel as if I need to continue to focus on study of the Kleshas to act more consciously and be more aware of my emotions and my needs." - Linda Emeott, Yoga Philosophy student

"The Yoga Sutras have transformed, changed, and have helped me grow exponentially in a very short period. I have not been this happy for a very, very long time. Thank you so very much. I am so very grateful!" Geneah Escobar, Yoga Philosophy student

 "Every time I come to one of her classes I realize some internal reality"

"I very much appreciate Maria's focus on the philosophy of yoga as well as the movement. She does such a beautiful job of connecting heart, mind, body and spirit. Every time I come to one of her classes I realize some new internal reality or make a connection to something else I have learned on my spiritual path. It is wonderful. I don't have vast amounts of yoga experience, but she does that better than any other instructor I have encountered thus far.  Maria's approach is gentle and sincere. I love it. She is clearly meant to do what she are doing. A deep felt thank you."

Jim Condon, Saturday morning student

"I feel so much more focused and renewed"

I enjoyed our retreat at the Christine Center so much. If you do one in the fall or winter, I am definitely there. I returned to the Twin Cities with many more emotions and feelings than I imagined and there were several times over the last week that I was in tears and had a very cathartic release. But I feel so much more focused and renewed. Thank you for hosting a well planned and executed retreat.  

— Lori Buggs, Saint Paul,  retreat participant and Yoga Teacher Training student

"Maria literally saved my life"

Maria literally saved my life a few years ago, and I am eternally grateful for her intervention. Anyone who works with Maria will be benefited and empowered. She is a person of awesome empathy, compassion, and wisdom.  

— Jeff Linzer, - Astrologer in Minneapolis (MN)

 "I LOVE Maria's CDs"

I LOVE Maria's CDs. The sound quality is excellent and she has such a great voice for the recordings. I have looked at other Yoga Nidra and meditation tapes but Maria's are the best. Browse Amazon, listen to some samples and you will hear the difference. I have found Maria's CDs to be very effective. 

— Monica Schultz  - Frankfort, (MI)

  Maria Toso is a fantastic teacher. Her balanced viewpoint ensures that any student of any background will feel welcome and appreciated for who they are and what they bring to the world. Maria is an incredibly accomplished yogi as well, and has a way of breaking down poses and helping students find their own cues that allows them to find their own inner instructor. - Meghan Hatalla, Teacher Training graduate, 2016

Maria is a wonderful teacher. Her in depth knowledge in teaching asana is great, but I really benefitted from her knowledge in meditation and somatics. I believe her teachings far exceeds what is offered in those areas at the 200 hour level, elsewhere. - Lisa Ophoven, Teacher Training Graduate, 2017

Teacher training Instructor Maria Toso is exceptionally qualified to guide students. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: meditation, yoga nidra, yoga philosophy & history, asanas, modifications and cueing techniques. Through loving kindness and sharing her deep understanding of yoga; she provides students with a solid base from which to build our own practice and instills confidence. An Inspiring and Supportive role model! - Kathy Young, Teacher Training Graduate, 2016

This course was very well put together and led. It was through the instructor’s energy, transparency, honesty, intentions, thoughts, words, compassionate attitude, caring and kindness, that my spiritual experiences were enhanced and growth in perception, awareness, and self-realization were possible. I found this to be a safe space filled with love, acceptance, and non-judgement.  A breath of fresh air in the chaos and challenges of everyday living. - Geneah Escobar 2018

"awakening & liberating"

As a yoga and meditation teacher, Maria has the exceptional ability to be both a great technician and a spiritual leader, an intuitive guide. This, I find deeply beneficial and rewarding. She has great understanding of yoga and can beautifully demonstrate the correct alignment and position. What I truly enjoy about my yoga class session is the depth in which I travel, in spirit. After my yoga class, I feel very present. I believe that my heart chakra is more open and I am a happy traveler (someone at work jokingly said, ”Cynthia, you are too happy after your yoga!”). It is this joy that I take back to my work. Maria is an expert; however she has the ability to tune into a beginner’s mind for teaching, which makes one feel at ease and accepting of where one’s own yoga practice may find itself within each particular day. I highly recommend Maria as a yoga and meditation teacher. 

— Cynthia Olson, St Paul, MN - yoga and meditation student

"one of the most gifted instructors I have ever had the pleasure of working with"

When I met Maria, the first thing that struck me was her grace. She is truly a soulful person and I could just feel the positive energy radiating from her. I truly believe that Maria is one of the most gifted instructors that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I only wish I lived closer so that I could continue taking classes with her two times a day.   

— Susan Broderick, Washington D.C. - retreat participant

“can’t imagine sunday morning without maria”

I look forward to attending Sunday morning meditation and yoga class with Maria. She has such a calm, caring presence and a kind, gentle spirit. She makes it easy to be fully present in the moment. I especially appreciate Maria’s guidance during meditation. She has the ability to help me to connect to my inner strengths and draw them out rather than focusing on the challenges. Maria is particularly skilled in helping us wherever we are in our practice . She stretches those who have been working for some time while guiding and offering alternatives for those who are new.  I can’t imagine a Sunday morning without Maria and her class. 

— Anne F. Baker, Minneapolis, MN - yoga and meditation student

“a soothing and healing journey”

Maria’s guidance took me to a rare and peaceful place during yoga nidra. She has the most soothing voice that when paired with her remarkable patience took me on a soothing and healing journey. I was present and yet not, all at the same time; it was reminiscent of hypnosis really. It was so apparent to me that yoga is the cornerstone of Maria’s life and where she draws her strength, serenity and wisdom from. She brings such grace to yoga; it’s like an art for her not an exercise. Maria has a gentle, kind spirit I feel so lucky to have spent time with her. 

— Celeste Sciortino, Chicago, IL - retreat participant

“be here now”

I so appreciate Maria’s guidance to clear the mind and bring focus to the yoga practice.  She coach us to breathe as we think,  ”I am here now,” and to leave all other thoughts outside—to be present in the moment.  One thing I really appreciate is when Maria tell us to acknowledge any thoughts that come into our minds, then dismiss them.  Maria teaches each yoga class with calm, caring energy.  She is careful to encourage and challenge at the same time as adapt and support each of the yoga participants. 

— Rebecca Lund, St Paul - prenatal yoga student