← Group Trips

San Juan Islands Beginner Yoga + Kayaking
4 Days/3 nights

Dates: August 18-21, 2022
Destination: Friday Harbor, Washington
Tour Leader: Carisa Banuelos + Shannon Briese
Focus: Mindfulness, yoga, hiking, and nature immersion
Giveback: Native Women’s Wilderness + Malas for Tatas
Difficulty: Active, all levels and abilities supported
Group Makeup: All genders

Say farewell to worry and stress and say hello to the mellow island vibe of the San Juan Islands. Soak in the clean air, enjoy the clean water, revel in the slower pace of island life and refresh and rejuvenate your soul. Located on the northwestern-most point of the contiguous United States, the San Juans consist of 172 named islands and reefs. A happy confluence of weather systems accounts for a “banana belt” and generally drier climate than much of the surrounding coastal region. So breath in—you’re on “island time” now!

This 4-day, 3-night adventure is ideal for anyone looking to explore the outer San Juan Islands in a way that is rarely seen by travelers. We will travel at a leisurely pace, set up our own camp, and help prepare meals in some of the most pristine campsites in the world.

No prior kayaking, yoga, or camping experience is required, but please note that camping is rustic and all participants are responsible for helping prepare meals, set up camp, and load kayaks each day. This trip is a great opportunity to learn about sea kayak touring and to empower future explorations on your own!

Meet Your Tour leaders:

**Carisa Banuelos** has over 20,000 combined hours of research and training in the following areas: Katonah and Vinyasa Yoga, Meditation, Shamanism, Reiki, Buddhist Psychology, Yoga Psychology, and Tantra. She has studied ancient texts such as The Yoga Sutras, The Bhagavad Gita, and The Abhidharma and has worked with internationally known teachers including Ashley Turner, Psalm Isadora, and Layla Martin in order to bring ancient methods of healing to the modern world.
Carisa believes in the path to liberation from conditioning, by using life as a portal to higher consciousness. She works with people by meeting them exactly where they are, working from a foundation of love, completeness, and wholeness, ***not*** from a place of brokenness in which an individual needs “fixing”. She pursues long-term health and aging with grace for herself and her clients. "Going inward isn't easy, but it’s the most rewarding thing I've done in my entire life.”

**Shannon Briese** takes in all that life has to offer thanks to her work in the Pilates method and Therapeutic Massage. As an advocate for holistic therapy, self-care routines and self-love practices, you'll often find her neck-deep in not only teaching but moving, breathing, soaking, journaling, meditating, brewing body care blends, cupping & kinesiotaping, and surrounding herself with others that expand her mind and skill set. It is truly a passion.
Shannon co-founded Malas for Tatas, a non-profit dedicated to helping women and men with breast cancer afford alternative, holistic health care to supplement cancer treatment. Through the organization she hosts mala making workshops that fundraise for their recipient's holistic care, encourage volunteerism, community building, creativity and ultimately encourages others to cultivate a mindfulness practice. It is an opportunity to heal and to provide support to others on their healing journey.
Shannon fell for travel the moment she arrived in Belize at the age of 18. The experience opened her eyes to the raw beauty of Central America and it's culture. She knew immediately that travel was a wise teacher and she, an eager student, and has since explored parts of Canada, Europe, and a handful of gems in the United States. She has a deep appreciation for the beauty of the world and loves to connect with the land, music, food, people, and favorite local spots. Shannon's adventures often include her Husband and daughter when they venture out from their Colorado home base. There is so much to explore, and to open our eyes to the beauty of this planet. She couldn't be more thrilled than to do it with Root Adventures.
Shannon fell for travel the moment she arrived in Belize at the age of 18. The experience opened her eyes to the raw beauty of Central America and it's culture. She knew immediately that travel was a wise teacher and she, an eager student, and has since explored parts of Canada, Europe, and a handful of gems in the United States. She has a deep appreciation for the beauty of the world and loves to connect with the land, music, food, people, and favorite local spots. Shannon's adventures often include her Husband and daughter when they venture out from their Colorado home base. There is so much to explore, and to open our eyes to the beauty of this planet. She couldn't be more thrilled than to do it with Root Adventures.

Includes…
+ 4 days kayaking and camping expedition
+ 3 nights rustic camping
+ Twice daily yoga and meditation
+ Island hiking
+ Option to add a private coaching or reiki session with Carisa
+ Mala making with Malas for Tatas

SUMMARY

DAY 1: THU, Aug 18 ::: Arrive at Friday Harbor, Kayak to first campsite

DAY 2: Fri, Aug 19 ::: Yoga, Kayak, and Hike

DAY 3: Sat, Aug 20 ::: Yoga, Kayak, And Hike

DAY 4: SUN, Aug 21 ::: Farewell! Depart San Juan Islands

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1

Kayak Launch to Jones Island
Welcome Land Acknowledgement + Meditation Ceremony
Yoga
**Meals: D**

Arrive in Friday Harbor, Kayak to the First Campsite

Upon arrival at Friday Harbor, we will attend a safety and skill briefing. We will then board our double kayak and begin our journey to Gossip Island for lunch on a beautiful beach, enjoying spectacular water and island views. After some yoga stretching, we will board our boats and make our way to Jones Island State Park. Upon arrival, we will set up camp and appreciate our pristine campsite before our welcome land acknowledgment, appreciation ceremony, and yoga session.

Enjoy some free time to hike, explore the tidepools, or simply relax before gathering to help prepare dinner. After our freshly prepared dinner, you have the option to partake in an evening paddle, sit by the campfire (burn bans permitting), do a sunset hike, or opt to join Carisa for guided conversations and intention setting.

Day 2-3

Yoga + Meditation
Kayak + Hike
**Meals: B | L | D**

Kayak and Camp

Early risers can enjoy guided yoga and meditation.

Energize your day with a hot breakfast and french press coffee. In the late morning, we will paddle through a spectacular section of islands, passing along the shorelines of Stuart Island and the Cactus Islands - a beautiful chain of small islands located east of Stuart Island. Upon arrival, we will set up camp and enjoy downtime before our yoga practice.

On days 2 and 3, we will have time to explore the islands by foot and kayak, dive in for some guided intuitive movement, or simply enjoy some downtime. All meals will be prepared by the group.

Stuart Island is one of the most northwestern islands in the San Juan archipelago and is only accessible by private boat or sea kayak. Stuart Island Marine Park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail and has over 33,000 feet of shoreline to explore by foot and sea kayak. Stuart Island has great old-growth hiking trails and rocky shorelines for tide-pooling. Stuart Island Marine State Park offers an easy two-mile hike to the iconic Stuart Island Light Station on the northwestern-most point of the island. This, along with Lovers Leap, is a favorite sunset viewpoint with sweeping views of the Canadian Gulf Islands.

We will gather and build our mala prayer beads in support of Malas for Tatas. We provide all the supplies. You choose your mala kit, set your intention, and get beading! Once the mala is strung, you’ll give your mala a name, then have the option of trying your hand at knotting or send it off with love to be hand-knotted and finished with the guru bead and tassel.

Malas for Tatas is dedicated to helping women with breast cancer afford alternative, holistic health care to supplement cancer treatment.

Having cancer is expensive. Between the cost of treatment, income lost from taking time off work, and the need for additional childcare, many women feel the financial burden of breast cancer nearly as acutely as the physical pain. Although many holistic treatments—such as acupuncture, reiki therapy, and massage therapy—can be immensely healing for women dealing with the side effects of cancer treatment, these therapies are not covered by traditional health insurance plans, and most women can’t justify the cost.

Self-care is a necessity, not a luxury, and it becomes even more important when fighting off disease. With donations from Malas for Tatas, women with breast cancer can prioritize self-care and afford holistic wellness treatments.

Day 4

Morning Yoga + Meditation
Kayak to Roche Harbor
Transfer to Friday Harbor
**Meals: B**

Yoga and Kayak, Transfer to Friday Harbor

Wake up early for sunrise yoga and meditation on this last day.

After breakfast, we’ll break camp and be on the water around 10 am depending on tides and currents. We’ll paddle to Posey Island (Washington’s smallest State Park) for lunch. Upon arrival at Roche Harbor, we’ll load our gear and transfer to Friday Harbor or extend your trip.

Rustic Camping

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Our 4-day camping trip offers guests the chance to explore the outer San Juan Islands rarely seen by other travelers. Similar to an extended backpacking trip, be prepared for rustic camping with no flush toilets, showers, or indoor shelter. Potable water is available at most campsite locations.

We will operate as a team by helping set up and tear down tents, cooking meals, and loading/unloading boats. This kayak expedition is a great opportunity to learn new skills for future adventures on your own.