Irina Bland - Reset, Recharge & Reconnect Women Retreats Louisville, KY

06/15/2024

Embracing the Present: A Lesson in Love

I’m visiting my mom and seeing how much has changed since my last visit in January. My little old handicapped aunt has gotten even more fragile and every step hurts her. My stepdad is in such a bad shape, he can not get up anymore, his legs are giving in.. And he’s mourning the time when he was able to at least go to the bathroom on his own and look out of the window.
I’m sure we all notice how quickly everything can change. Today he is still able to sit up and watch TV, and tomorrow even this might be gone.
And I feel it’s so crucial to cherish every moment we have NOW, instead of regretting what used to be. This would make the present moment so much more joyful for everyone.
Why is it so hard for us, and why do we slide into regrets so easily?
I also catch myself thinking how much I wish my mom was closer, not thousands of miles away, so that I could visit her just whenever I want on weekends. Time flies, life is so unpredictable, who knows when I’ll be able to come again?
And then I remember the beautiful story of Polyanna (if you haven’t read it yet and want a cheer up - oh, what a joy that story is!) and I think: I still have 10 more days with her, and that’s a lot.
What if we imagine that every day is a gift that we can open and enjoy? Fill it with mindful attention and gratitude for what we have NOW? So that later, when we look back, we won’t mourn the missed opportunities because we were too busy regretting what’s gone or fearing what might come.
During my trip to Colorado, I clearly heard and felt: “I want to fill this house with love”.
And now I apply it to everything. I remember and ask myself: Am I filling my home - my body - with love? Am I filling my mom’s house with love? My relationships?
Is my presence a blessing? What do I choose to focus on and how does it make me and people around me feel?
What can I do right now, today, to fill this house with love? ❤️

What do you think?
Please share with me in the comments

06/14/2024

WHY GO ON RETREATS? What for?
My dear ladies, I want to share with you what inspires me and gives me a sense of fulfillment 🧡✨ I often get asked: why go on Women’s retreats? Why did I start organizing them?
Imagine being in a circle of women full of warmth and acceptance, where you can be yourself, without masks or judgement, and communicate from heart to heart 💕. It’s not just a getaway; it’s a complete reset for body and mind✨. You’ve probably noticed how sometimes we need rest not only physically but also emotionally, on our soul level. On my retreats this is always my deepest intention: to create just such an environment.
Let me tell you why this is so important to me.
Let’s imagine being in a beautiful setting where every moment is filled with meaning and inspiration. We hold cacao ceremony, enjoy meditation and dancing. This is a time when you can release past emotions and make room for the New.
Retreats are not just for fun. They are also an opportunity to deeply connect with yourself, find answers to your questions, feel support and inspiration. We spend time in nature, engage in sound therapy, and other beautiful practices that help cleanse and reset on all levels.
In the end, retreats help us find a fresh perspective, balance and fulfillment in life. This is really important, especially if you feel you need a reset.
This is the time when you can feel renewed and inspired ✨🧡
To me there is no better investment than in your own state of being, that ripple effects all people in your life 🥰
This is why I myself go to retreats every year and hold them for you as well.
Have you ever been to one of my retreats or somewhere else? Would you like to come to one?
Please share your thoughts and experience in the comments 🤗

05/27/2024

We are flying back to Louisville and I’m filled with such deep gratitude for this experience in Colorado mountains that held us safe for 8 days with their big boulders, bountiful flowers, ponderosa pines, hummingbirds and streaming rivers.
For our teachers that held us so masterfully preparing us for the threshold of our Vision Quests and receiving us back for deep integration.
For the brotherhood that grew with each intensive and that feels so like home. As a kid I was dreaming to have a big brother and now I have seven of them)
And for the Vision Quest, for these four precious days and nights alone in nature, that were such a big stretch out of comfort zone and felt so naturally effortless at the same time.
My first time overnighting alone in the wilderness and I felt so safe, first time water fasting for 4 days and it was so surprisingly easy out there, first time on the Vision Quest and it was so subtle and so profound.
Sometimes we don’t need other teachers than deeply listening to our own hearts, held by pristine nature, away from all distractions.
A lot has shifted within me.
Big and small changes will be taking place.
I’m sitting on the plane back - a smile on my face, peaceful silence within, and so much gratitude and love in my heart ❤️

05/18/2024

Off to Vision Quest

We are on the plane to Colorado, and for the next 8 days we’ll be camping in the wilderness and doing something I’ve never done before in my life - a Vision Quest.
Since last October my husband and I have been part of Great Earth School, a beautiful year long program about wholehearted living in deep connection to nature. It includes 4 in person intensives - Embodiment and Relationship that we already completed, Vision Quest that we are going to now and Leadership in August.
Upon landing we’ll be heading to Boulder to meet 6 other members of our group and up the mountains to set up our base camp. There we’ll spend a couple of days together preparing for the main part - a four days solo Vision Quest. We’ll separate and everyone will go on their own solo journey, doing a 4 days water fast.
This Native American tradition has the goal to quiet the mind through taking away all the usual distractions of the everyday life - there is no phone connection, no books, no communication with others, no food even - just you alone in nature - and tune into your heart, the spirit and your Life Vision.
I’m honoured to be part of it, to share this experience with my husband and the brothers of my group, and I’m going in open hearted and with Intention of coming back to Clarity, Simplicity, Depth, Peace and Joy of Heartfelt Living.
For some months now I’ve been feeling like I’m spread too thin between too many things. I’ve been feeling the urge to simplify my life, go deeper, tune into my heart and make some important choices. I’m looking forward to these days of quietude in nature on my own with no agenda.
To being inspired - in spirit - again.
Sending you a big warm loving embrace and see you on the other side ❤️❤️❤️

04/01/2024

SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS WONDERFUL EVENT 🤗
On Saturday the 13th of April I will be joining for the first time an amazing group of spiritual healers and mystical vendors in the beautiful space of Foxhollow farm.
As its founder Jenny Shanks says “Saturdays with Spirit is more than an event; it’s a celebration of community, spirituality and the boundless potential of human spirit”✨
I will be offering free mini sound healing sessions and would love to meet you all in person or see you again dear friends! 😍
Come by and let’s have a beautiful time together!
The entrance to the event itself is free, and different masters offer various prices for their sessions.
You can check Saturdays with Spirit website for all the details and how to sign up for a session with a specific healer/master you would like to try.

04/01/2024

Heading to SEDONA
A place so dear to my heart 🧡
I first landed there 2,5 years ago - I was going to participate in a retreat, but the very last minute it got canceled cause the organizers got Covid, and I already had the flights booked so I decided to go alone.
What a beautiful week it was!
Waking up early, watching the sun light up the mountains doing morning yoga and spending my days exploring these mountains, meditating at the vortex spots.
It was there that I had the vision of hosting my first women’s circle and 1 month upon return I did..
What an amazing journey it has been since 🙏☺️

This trip is a family trip, and we will be first heading to Grand Canyon, which is my husband’s spiritual « Mecca », so we’ll allow him a day on his own there) And he’ll gift me a day in Sedona on my own and take care of the kiddo, while I reconnect with my favorite vortex spot and listen.. ✨
And I have a feeling I’ll bring more gifts for you too upon return 🤗🧡

02/02/2024

FEBRUARY SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE:
I’m back to 🇺🇸 and wanted to update you with our schedule, so that we can all plan and reserve the dates 😍

Feb 14th - > St Valentines celebration evening for couples 6-9pm 💕 playful, tasty, deep and heart opening, stress releasing, balancing, connecting - with ceremonial cacao, fun, immersive couple’s practices, a little bit of dancing and a one hour sound bath (spots for 4 couples only)

Feb 18th - > WOMEN’S RETREAT 11am - 5pm:
A beautiful inspiring immersion and a full reset for mind and body 😍 with a women circle, cacao ceremony, a little bit of dancing, a guided meditation, practices in nature, healthy snacks, finishing with a deeply relaxing and balancing sound bath.
(9 spots only)

I will also be resuming private sessions,
The sessions can be held in English, Spanish or Russian.

The sessions can be dedicated to:

- Pure sound healing session to let go of the old, balance your energy and deeply reset & recharge (with delicious herbal tea in the end)

- Holistic session experience -> all my experience (life coaching, meditation, sound healing & more) tending to your request - a heartfelt conversation and a cacao ceremony, a guided meditation, oracle cards guidance, sound bath - all directed for you to reset, recharge, look at your questions from a fresh perspective, reconnect to what truly matters to you and find new inspiration ✨

Following dates and times are still open:

on Feb 8th at 10:30am - morning session

on Feb 9th;
10:30am - morning session
2pm - afternoon session

Week of Feb 12th - 15th:
Feb 12th at 3pm - afternoon session
Feb 13th:
10:30am - morning session
2pm - afternoon session
6:30pm - couples private sound bath option

Feb 15th:
2pm - afternoon session
6:30pm - couples private sound bath option

Feb 20th - 23rd at
10:30am - morning session
2pm - afternoon session

Please DM me to reserve a date 🤗

I’m looking forward to reconnecting to you and co-creating our magic again ✨🧡

12/22/2023

LOOKING BACK AT 2023
I’m slowly starting to look back at my year and recognizing how much has happened, how much there is that I’m so grateful for!
I learned about the importance of looking back from different spiritual teachers and have developed my little process that fills my heart with joy)
I’ve learned that our human brain is always generalizing, distorting and deleting. That it has not been made to make us happy, but to make us survive and its default setting is to look for what’s wrong. So if we don’t actively retrain it, if we don’t take conscious dedicated time to take a good look at our past year - it will seem that nothing special has happened, just the regular hustle and bustle of our busy lives, or for some “a bad year” in general.
But if you start looking for the right things, you suddenly see a whole different picture! For some years now I write a list of 100 achievements and gratitudes to the past year, and I make it a wonderful exciting process that can take time on multiple days in a row.
I start with writing down the big things that immediately come to mind, and why it means so much to me and why I am grateful for them and all the people that contributed to it 🤗
And then I start looking through the photos of the year and my agenda and suddenly remembering how much has actually happened and adding all the pieces I forgot about to the big picture.
I look at the goals I set in the beginning and throughout the year in a kind and loving way, asking myself what was missing for the ones that have not come to life.
And this conscious conclusion creates so much clarity, joy and appreciation and liberates fresh energy for the new things and new beginnings in the New Year.
-> Slide the photos to continue 👉🏻

11/29/2023

Dec 10th - End of the year cacao ceremony, guided meditation and recharging sound bath ✨

Dear ladies,
I am very happy to invite you to a beautiful afternoon with ceremonial cacao, guided meditation and a relaxing sound bath.
We will look back at our 2023 and close it in a meaningful and empowering way, let go of old tensions and emotions and recharge our batteries to enter the new year refreshed and inspired.
Our program at a glance:
3 - 4:30pm Intention setting and a beautiful heart connecting cacao ceremony and guided meditation
4:30 - 6:00pm Sound bath with quartz crystal and Tibetan bowls and other instruments - balancing, deeply relaxing and recharging, perfect to let go of the old.
Hot herbal tea will be served afterwards.

P.S. This will most likely be our only event in December. There are 9 spots available.

Link to sign up: End of the year cacao ceremony, guided meditation and recharging sound bath https://www.eventbrite.com/e/end-of-the-year-cacao-ceremony-guided-meditation-and-recharging-sound-bath-tickets-769197559607?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile

11/17/2023

WHAT IS A WOMEN CIRCLE?
I like the definition Anoushka Florence is giving in her book « The women’s circle. How to gather with meaning, intention and purpose »:
“It is a space where women come together and sit in a sacred circle created with the intention of making women feel seen, safe, heard, held and witnessed on their journeys through life.
A sacred space free of judgement, competition, expectation, pressure or noise. A sacred space void of the demands from the outside world, a space just for us, to go inwards, to reconnect, to return home...As such, the remanence of the Circle can be found in every single ancient culture; the shape that has always created space for the whole to belong.”
I see it as a special space away from the hustle of our lives, a space to reconnect to what really matters to you and to see yourself in the reflection of others.
It is always unique - formed by different women that come together - and always beautiful, connecting and enriching.
Some circles we had were very emotional, some very inspiring, some were so much fun! All were heartfelt 🧡
I stopped having expectations and know that it will unfold in a way every unique group needs)
And I’m looking forward to our next circle on Sunday 26th. A wonderful group is coming together and I can already feel the magic in the air ✨
There are 3 spots left and you are welcome to join us 🤗

11/14/2023

And here is the meetup link to sign up:
Women retreat with cacao ceremony, dancing, sound bath and fire under full moon✨

Dear ladies, Talking after last week’s sound bath we realised that it’s been 5 months since our last women’s retreat in June! Between my studio construction, master sound

11/14/2023

Nov 26th - Full day women’s retreat with women circle, cacao ceremony and guided meditation, dancing, sound bath and fire under full moon ✨

Dear ladies,
Talking after last week’s sound bath we realised that it’s been 5 months since our last women’s retreat in June!
Between my studio construction, master sound healer certification, my own retreat and lots of travels time flew by!
I feel that I’ve expanded a lot during this time. And I feel a lot of joy from our upcoming retreat’s program - it will be a beautiful journey, a complete reset and recharge for body and mind 🧡
Our program at a glance:
10am - 2pm heartwarming inspiring women circle with heart opening cacao ceremony and guided meditation
2 - 3pm delicious healthy lunch
3 - 5pm dancing with eyes closed to beautiful music, soo good to let go of the old stuck energy, reset and renew - liberating, sometimes emotional and fun (no skills needed!)
5 - 6:30pm sound bath with quartz crystal and Tibetan bowls and other instruments - deeply relaxing and recharging, perfect for deep integration of all the day’s emotions and experiences
6:30 - 7:30pm hot herbal tea and closing circle around fire under full moon ✨

Any age and nationality is enriching and welcome! 🤗

10/31/2023

My soulful studio is ready!
And it has opened its doors to the first visitors 🤗
Last fall I had a vision of this beautiful, serene, peaceful space coming into life and it would not go away, no matter how much time passed by.
The reality was very different: 2 old rooms that stood abandoned for years, with 2 tiny broken windows, different kinds of old uneven floors, no heat and no idea on how or where to start.
But vision and intention are powerful!
And by beginning of this summer all puzzle pieces finally came together and we started the reconstruction.
3 months and a LOT of focus, unexpected complications, delays and exceeded budgets later, we have completed the mission!
So much has happened - we have combined the 2 rooms together, put new big windows and French doors in, new hardwood floors, walls, lighting, AC, paint - and so much love! ❤️
And here it is: my own place of peace, serenity and loving kindness, a place to reset, recharge and reconnect to yourself and others - it is a reality 😍

06/13/2023

Dear ladies,

Our next women circle is going to find place on the 25th of June at Good Karma Yoga studio in Louisville.
Please join us if you can! 🤗
You can sign up via Meetup or Eventbrite

Give yourself a gift of some time to enjoy and find new inspiration, to slow down, reset, recharge and reconnect with yourself and others.

06/12/2023

How I started working with women and hosting women circles

Ever since my mom taught me to read when I was 3 years old, I fell in love with books.
Growing up my favourite place was our local library and I can still remember that special smell of books and my excitement every time we came to dive into the world of a new book, a new adventure)
Somewhere in my mid twenties my interest started drifting from fiction books to spiritual and self development literature.
By the end of my twenties I was living in Spain and had a dear neighbor - a 60 years old Ana that became a great close friend and who I spent countless evenings with cooking and talking - and it was her who gave me an incredible book by Dr. Joe Dispenza.
This book lead me to multiple week long meditation retreats with Dr Joe in Amsterdam, Stuttgart and United States, and later also brought me to studying Buddhist meditation.
I discovered Louise Hay and Hay House, Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle and Michael Singer and other incredible teachers.
Then through a friend of mine I found my spiritual teacher for many years to come: a wonderful woman, a mother of 4, a wife, a coach and a deep meditation practitioner that combined eastern and western wisdom and resonated with me so much.
I finished all of her courses and signed up for a 10 day transformational women retreat on Bali and a year long coaching program with her and at some point she asked me if I wanted to try myself as a mentor leading women groups at her courses. I decided to try and got wonderful feedback from the women in my group - my answers and guidance were so helpful to them, and at the same time I myself felt deeply fulfilled - I had a lot to give and I loved it!
From both my teacher and the women in my groups I started hearing that I would be an amazing coach and so I signed up for a Tony Robbins & Cloe Madanes life coaching program.
And somewhere around beginning of last year I felt the calling to start organizing women circles locally and so I tried and both me and the ladies that came loved it ❤️
And now after multiple requests this Instagram account came to life and I am very happy that you are here with me!

03/10/2023

We’ve had such a magical time at Good Karma Yoga Studio on Sunday ✨🧡
Beautiful space, 10 amazing women from 25 to 74 years old, wonderful yoga, delicious cacao and warm heartfelt conversations..
Magic for the soul 😊

02/26/2023

Dear ladies, our wonderful women circle on the 5th of March is filling up and taking shape 😍✨🧡
Half of the spots are already taken, please join us too if you can 🤗

Join us at Reset, Recharge & Reconnect - a magical time among women ✨

Dear ladies, �I am excited to invite you to spend a wonderful afternoon among women, filled with yoga, a beautiful cacao ceremony and meditation, heartfelt conversations in

02/21/2023

Dear ladies,

I am excited to invite you to spend a magical afternoon among women ✨🤗🧡
When: 5th of March 2023
Where: Good Karma Yoga Studio in Louisville KY
Here are the details:

Dear ladies, please join us for a wonderful afternoon among women filled with yoga, a beautiful cacao ceremony and meditation, heartfelt conversations in our warm women circle, dancing and more!
Some time for yourself to slow down, enjoy, find new inspiration and truly reset, recharge and reconnect with yourself and others 🙏😊
This time we will be in Good Karma Yoga Studio in Louisville, and we will start at 4:30 pm with an hour long yoga class by the studio owner and a great yoga teacher Rebecca Cox. It will be yoga for all levels and it will leave our bodies feeling wonderfully stretched and refreshed.
We will then set up our warm women circle and get to know each other.
We’ll hold a heartwarming cacao ceremony with a special raw ceremonial cacao, rich, filling and uplifting and we’ll also have delicious berries and chocolate 😋
We will follow with a beautiful guided meditation. It will be almost the day of full moon - the last full moon of winter, a magical time to gather together, wrap up the winter season and open space for new fresh energy ✨
We will finish with soft dancing to beautiful music and will head home around 8pm feeling renewed, refreshed and inspired 😍

There are two options to attend:

1) Complete event including 1hr yoga class is 37$.

2) If you don’t want to take the yoga class, the price for the complete women circle without yoga class is 25$.

Any age and nationality is enriching and welcome 🤗

There are only 20 spots max and signing up is obligatory to be able to attend, please message me to reserve a spot for you.

02/20/2023

We had such a great time at Nazareth yesterday 😍, despite so many last minute cancellations due to flue and stomach bug that seems to be going around..
Such a wonderful inspiring and uplifting sunny day! ✨💃🏻
As the ladies said: “enjoyed it all! The cacao ceremony and meditation was deep, the card readings powerful, the dancing was freeing and the walk was fun ”
I LOVE organizing these women circles, always different, always powerful and heartwarming ❤️

02/16/2023

Some of the reviews from our past retreats 😍
Thank you ladies, I love sharing this time with you 🙏🧡

02/16/2023

Dear ladies,

Our next event will take place this Sunday, February 19th at Nazareth Retreat Center (approx 30min from Louisville direction Bardstown).
Please join us if you can 🤗
You can find the link to sign up in the post below, and please message me if you have any questions.

As usual we will start at 10am getting to know each other and will then do some easy yoga movement to stretch and awaken our bodies.
We will proceed with a heartwarming and heart opening cacao ceremony, inviting a new vision and fresh wind into our lives. This is a special raw ceremonial cacao, rich, filling and uplifting and we’ll also have delicious berries and chocolate 🙂
We will follow with a wonderful meditation, connecting to our hearts and finding new inspiration.
We’ll create handmade candles that you can take home with you to light up in times when you need a warm reset.
We’ll certainly dance! Dancing to beautiful music is a wonderful way to let go of any doubts and past sorrows, open space for the new and celebrate ourselves and our new inspiration 😍✨
This time we will be amplifying into a wonderful spacious light hall with a great sound system and a tall wooden ceiling, that I’m excited to try out!
It looks like the weather will be very nice, so we’ll head outside in the afternoon and finish our time together with a walk and a beautiful ritual by the lake.
Any age and nationality is enriching and welcome 🤗

02/15/2023

https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-vcpmniyr/events/290870613?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link

Dear ladies, I am excited to invite you to a wonderful recharging and heartwarming day among women ✨ A day filled with soft yoga, a beautiful cacao ceremony and meditation