Wander Women St. Pete:
A Yoga + Aerial Arts Retreat
St. Pete, Florida
July 24-28, 2019
Join Alexandra Baackes of Alex in Wanderland and Jess Lubin of Good Karma Studio for a four night yoga + aerial arts retreat in St. Pete, Florida. This retreat is set in the coolest city in the Sunshine State — brace yourself for five days of aerial adventures set to a backdrop of white sand beaches, world class museums, colorful street art, and cool breweries.
We’ll dive into workshops in aerial hammocks, lyra, and silks, plus practice yoga in a museum, at a brewery, by a pool, on a paddleboard, in an ocean-front park known for dolphin spotting!
When we aren’t on the mat or in the air, we’ll be tasting Florida fruit wine, watching the sunset dockside, eating delicious meals, and doing cartwheels on the beach. I’ll be behind the lens every step of the way, ensuring everyone leaves with profile-picture worthy shots of themselves in the air, in their favorite asanas, and smiling in the sun.
And yes, that sun will be fierce! July is the low season in Florida, allowing us to take advantage of smaller crowds and summer vibes. Think of it like a daily sauna treatment — no extra charge.
St. Pete stole my heart from my very first visit, and I’m just thrilled to show you all its hidden gems. Jess and I can’t wait to share this experience with all of you.
Please note that this retreat is open to all level of yogis and aerialists, from fresh beginner to long-time enthusiast. We’ll split into aerial groups as needed and make sure every skill level is addressed. If you’re a beginner, consider this a taster menu of our favorite aerial apparatuses — Jess will help you find success right away! If you’re a seasoned practitioner, take advantage of this time to hone your craft with a true aerial artist.
The Details
The dates of this retreat are July 24-28, 2019. Pricing starts at $1,450 and includes accommodation, activities, two meals a day, eight classes, several bubbly toasts, and more.
What’s Included
• Four nights accommodation in chic, downtown St. Pete boutique hotel
• Four breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners, plus plenty of snacks and surprises
• A daily happy hour with free-flowing wine
• Three aerial workshops and two yoga classes with our private instructor
• Three special yoga sessions in poolside, museum + SUP yoga with local instructors
• Museum admission
• A USB of professional photos
• A lush welcome bag
• All local transportation (minus airport transfers)
• 5% profit donation to local charities
What’s Not Included
• Meals not included in the itinerary
• Transport to and from St. Pete, or to and from the airport
• Travel insurance
Oh, The Places We’ll Go
Subject to change, and expect surprises, but here’s the general idea.
Day 1: Arrivals and a fun partner yoga class and dolphin spotting session in Vinoy Park. Welcome dinner and drinks at an ocean-view rooftop restaurant.
Day 2: A morning silk hammock aerial workshop followed by a wine tasting (or a regular ‘ol juice tasting) at the Florida Orange Groves Winery and a picnic at an uninhabited beach via the Shell Key Shuttle. Close out the day with a lighthearted yoga class at a local brewery.
Day 3: A morning aerial lyra workshop before hitting the beach again! Enjoy the sunset with an evening of stand up paddling, SUP yoga, and a dockside dinner.
Day 4: Start the day with a poolside yoga class before jumping in to cool off! Enjoy some free time to hit museums, beaches, or extra aerial classes before meeting back up for an afternoon silks workshop and a festive farewell dinner.
Day 5: Say farewell to St. Pete with yoga and a spin through the galleries at the world-famous Dalí Museum, followed by a healthy send-off lunch at a local juice bar.
Come Fly With Us
Hi! My name is Alexandra Baackes, and I’m an aerial arts and travel addict. I’ve been visiting the Sunshine State my entire life, and so I knew I had found something special when I first fell in love with St. Pete. It just ticked all my boxes!
I’m absolutely thrilled to be sharing this dream trip with what is sure to be a kick-ass group of women. I’m an RYT 200 Registered Yoga Teacher, a Buti Bands and Sculpt instructor, and a regular yoga practitioner for over a decade.
Jess Lubin returned to her hometown of Albany after her life path took her around the globe, living and studying yoga in Guatemala and India. She opened Good Karma Studio, the first and only aerial yoga studio in Albany, New York in 2011. Jessica has since studied & trained under Tribe Yoga, Gravotonics, Rolf Gates, Janet Stone, Shiva Rea, Yoga Works NYC, Kula Yoga’s Schuyler Grant, and Sadie Nardini. She’s developed a cult following in Upstate New York and loves to teach, to learn, to be inspired and to inspire!
Where We’ll Stay
We’ll be staying at the chic Avalon Hotel in the heart of Downtown St. Pete. This retro hotel is just waiting to be your future Instagram backdrop! We’ll also have full access to the sister hotel The Hollander’s pool and other amenities.
Shared rooms have one king-sized bed. Of course you can room with a friend but if you’re traveling solo, fear not, so are most of our Wander Women guests! We’ll do our best to pair you with someone we think you’ll click with based on your intake forms — and we’ll all be besties by the end anyway. If you prefer to have your own bed, book a private room with a single queen sized bed.
Read my full review of The Avalon here!
What We’ll Eat
Every morning we’ll have delicious smoothie bowls delivered from Karma Juice Bar. Lunch and dinner will be at various local restaurants. For meals that are not included, we’ll typically dine as a group, though of course you are welcome to go elsewhere as you please. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and other diets can easily be accommodated, and we’d be happy to provide you with menus ahead of time if you have any concerns.
How to Get to St. Pete
The hotel is a twenty minute, $15 car share ride from St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE) or a thirty minute, $25 car share ride from Tampa International Airport (TPA). Get a free ride of up to $20 with Uber here, and up to $25 with Lyft here!
If you’re driving, parking at the hotel is included.
Join Us
This retreat has limited space and is likely to sell out quickly. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. Payment plans are available. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats.
Remember, don’t hesitate to email me at alex@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions or concerns over if this is the right retreat for you. I’d love to chat!
Wander Women: A Yoga + Aerial Arts Retreat in St. Pete, Florida
$1,450.00 – $1,750.00
F.A.Q.
Why women only?
Girls just wanna have fun!
Will I have time to do my own thing?
This is your retreat and I want you to make it exactly what you want! There’s so much we want you to see and experience in St. Pete and it’s a pretty short time, so we will have a pretty full schedule. Any time you want to bow out to have some “me-time” or do your own thing, that’s totally cool.
It feels like there’s a lot of boozing on this itinerary and I don’t drink. Is that a problem?
Of course not! Everyone is welcome. We are excited to highlight some of the creative local craft beverage creators in St. Pete, but there are always non-alcoholic beverage options, and whichever you chose to partake in it totally up to you!
I want to extend my trip to explore more of Florida. Any suggestions?
I thought you’d never ask! An hour north of St. Pete, you can visit the mermaids of Weeki Wachee, one of my favorite Florida attractions. Divers should consider exploring the local caverns and freshwater springs. Theme park lovers will rejoice that Orlando is just an hour away. Nature lovers will go gaga for The Everglades. Craving some surfing? Head to The Space Coast! And, of course, Miami and the Florida Keys are a perennial Florida favorite.
Can I do a payment plan and pay in installments?
Absolutely. I want to make this happen for you. Email me at alex@alexinwanderland.com.
Is it possible to have a private room?
Yes it is, for an extra cost. There is an option for a private room at check-out.
Will I need travel insurance?
Yes, everyone will be required to have travel insurance for the duration of the trip. Our affiliate, World Nomads offers both at incredibly affordable rates.
Is there an age requirement?
Generally, we require guests to be 21 or older. If you are between the ages of 18-21 and interested in attending, please contact me.
What is the refund policy?
The $500 deposit to secure your space is non-refundable. Beyond that, if you cancel at least 60 days before departure, you’ll receive 100% of your remaining retreat fee back. If you cancel between 30-60 days before departure, you’ll receive a 50% refund. Cancellation less than 30 days before departure will result in a 0% refund.
Is there a waiting list?
I will have a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis in case spaces open up. If the retreat is full and you’re still interested, email me at alex@alexinwanderland.com and I will add you to the waiting list.
I still have questions, or cute photos of my dog. Can I contact you?
Um, yes please! My email is alex@alexinwanderland.com.