Mary Tilson Yoga

New retreat destination this September! Join us for Wild Magic in Madeira, Portugal!

In our fast-paced modern world, it’s easy to forget the wonder of being alive.

We rush from task to task, move through our days on autopilot, and slowly drift from the spark - the he awe, the quiet thrum of life force energy just beneath the surface.

✨This retreat is an invitation to remember.

Set in a landscape where nature makes awe unavoidable, Wild Magic in Madeira is designed to help you slow down, reconnect to presence, and reawaken your sense of wonder through movement, adventure, ceremony, and community.

This is not about fixing yourself or escaping your life.
It’s about creating space to feel inspired, curious, joyful, and fully alive again.

If you’re craving beauty that moves you, experiences that reconnect you to your body and the natural world, and a week that feels both grounding and expansive, we’d love to welcome you.

📅Sept 28 – Oct 3, 2026

Full details are linked in the caption below.

Awaken awe. Reclaim joy. Rediscover wonder.

I’m so excited to announce our upcoming retreat in Patagonia ~ an awe-inspiring adventure through Torres del Paine National Park!

The Wild Wonderment Retreat will take you on journey through one of most breathtaking landscapes on earth, known for its granite peaks, vast glaciers, and shimmering turquoise lakes.

Wonderment is a state of awe, curiosity, and deep appreciation often sparked by encountering something vast, beautiful, or profound. Few places in the world evoke such a feeling as Patagonia.

Our daily schedule will include a full range of outdoor activities including horseback riding, kayaking on glacial lakes, hiking, yoga & meditation and inspiring fireside conversations under a canopy of stars.

The unique accommodation for this retreat is a highlight experience in itself. We’ll be staying in geodesic domes, inspired by the dwellings of the indigenous Kawésqar people. Each dome is thoughtfully designed with insulated walls, cozy bedding and skylight windows that bring the natural beauty of Patagonia inside.

Your hosts for this journey will be

Mary Tilson (yours truly) - International Yoga Teacher, Retreat Leader & Recovery Coach

Ashley Drody - Professional Photographer, Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher and Organic Gardener

and Special Guest Speaker

Dr. Jon Kedrowski - Mountain Guide, Ski Mountaineer, Author and the founder of Dr Jon’s Adventureres. Jon is one of the world’s leading high altitude mountaineer experts with a Ph.D. in Environmental Geography, Weather, and Climate. He will be sharing valuable lessons on how to approach life’s storms with an “Everest Ready” Mindset.

The details are linked in the comments below. Get in touch if you have any questions or want to chat more! We can’t wait to share this epic adventure with you in Jan 2026!

I've started a new writing project called Mind Body Wilderness over on Substack.

A question I've sat with a lot over the last few years is how we can continue to live a positive, joyful life without denying our suffering or the suffering of the world. In my first post, I write about how the teachings of positive neuroplasticity and my own experience with navigating grief has helped me come closer to an answer.

If you enjoy this format, and want to stay up to date on my latest newsletters, you can subscribe directly on Substack. I look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations with you in this new space.

Finding Glimmers amidst the darkness How we hold on to joy even in times of grief.

I’m thrilled to share that Esther Kasenda will be guiding our Sun & Moon Sober Living Community through an Embodied Dance Workshop - Sun, Nov 17 at 9am MST.

Explore the connection between your body, mind & emotions in this Embodied Dance Workshop led by Dance Therapist & Multidimensional Artist, Esther Kasenda.

Whether you’re seeking a deeper connection to your body, a way to process emotions, or simply to experience the joy of uninhibited movement, this workshop has something to offer everyone.

If you are not already a member of the Sun & Moon Community and would like to join as a drop-in, send me a DM! We would love to have you.

This past week, I’ve had the privilege of learning in person from world-renowned experts in trauma healing, Dr. Gabor Maté, Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk & Dr. Scott Lyons at the Wisdom of Trauma immersion at Kripalu.

Gabor’s compassionate, evidence-based lens has challenged the way we’ve been taught to see addiction, bringing to light the trauma and emotional pain which underlies compulsive behavior. During his talks, he spoke about the inextricable link between health and the psychological, social, emotional and environmental factors, which are all too often ignored or overlooked in our current system.

Witnessing Peter Levine work his magic in live client demos was another highlight. I’m currently in year two of my Somatic Experiencing Practitioner training, which is the body-oriented therapeutic model Peter developed to treat symptoms of trauma and stress-related disorders. SE has been invaluable in navigating my own traumatic grief, and is foundational to the approach I use to supporting others in recovery.

We attended insightful lectures with Dr. Scott Lyons on trauma and pathways to healing, and engaged in a variety of somatic embodiment practices.

And of course Bessel van der Kolk, known widely for his paradigm-shifting book, “The Body Keeps the Score,” which explains how trauma impacts the brain, body and nervous system - what a gift.

While the statistics of addiction, mental illness and deaths of despair in this country at times feel defeating, I ended this week hopeful, not only because of the wisdom shared but all of the therapists, medical professionals, coaches, somatic practitioners and every day people on the receiving end, committed to their own healing and carrying this work forward.

I believe wholeheartedly in Peter’s message that healing is not only possible, but that our wounds can become the seeds for extraordinary transformation and growth. ♥️

Free in-person event coming up at Yoga Pearl in Boulder, Colorado!

This Yoga & Recovery Workshop is an open invitation to anyone on a path of recovery, recovery allies or those who are simply curious to learn more.

Together, we will explore how the ancient practice & philosophy of Yoga can support you in finding freedom from addictive thought patterns and behaviors.

You will be guided through an all-levels yoga practice, incorporating breathing techniques and meditation, followed by an opportunity to engage in group discussion. You will learn practices to regulate your nervous system and cultivate a more calm, peaceful state.

This holistic approach is not intended to be a replacement to treatment or traditional recovery, but can act as a powerful compliment, addressing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of well-being.

Yoga + Community have been vital pieces of the recovery puzzle for me, and have added so much purpose, connection and joy to my life! I’m looking forward to sharing and seeing new and familiar faces!

Huge thanks to my friend Alia for opening up your space. 🫶🏼

Register here: https://www.yogapearl.com/workshops/events/recovery

One spot just opened up for our previously sold out Glacier National Park Retreat coming up Sept 13-16!!

This is an opportunity for sober and sober-curious women to come together and revel in the awe-inspiring wonder & magic of one of the most breathtaking locations in the US.

Join us as we wander through iconic mountain ranges, alpine meadows and glacial lakes, laugh & make memories together, engage in thoughtful conversations and access profound states of inner calm in our wilderness surroundings.

Here's what one of our amazing guests shared after our most recent retreat in Evergreen, Colorado this past Spring:

"This was my first retreat and I was a bit nervous but from the moment I made contact with Mary and another guest, I knew I made the right choice. From exploring the beauty of the location, to meeting 9 amazing women, I left feeling inspired, energized and ready for the next adventure. Mary and Carrie provided a safe and inviting atmosphere that included plenty of options and structure, but also lots of space for us to choose what felt right in each moment. I absolutely loved our hikes and picnics, the incredible food, and most of all-the rich conversations and laughs I had with my new friends." ~Robin

Message me if you're interested in learning more! I've included the link with full details in the comments below.

If you are a sober or sober-curious woman, we would love for you to join us for a long weekend retreat in the breathtakingly beautiful mountains of Colorado this spring!

I'm always in awe of what transpires when we have the opportunity to step outside of our regular roles & routines and reawaken to the joy & wonder of time spent fully present, offline and immersed in nature.

There will be long walks through the mountains, yoga & meditation, a sound bath by a local artist, workshops, delicious meals prepared by a private chef and plenty of time to unwind in our luxurious retreat home. Hot tubbing in the mountains, included!

I'll be co-hosting this retreat alongside my incredible friend Carrie May, Nurse Practitioner, certified Professional Recovery Coach and the Founder of Chicago AF, a thriving sober community and non-profit that has completely transformed the sober social scene in Chicago. She's the best!

The link with full details is pasted in the comments section below. Feel free to send me a private message or email [email protected] with any questions! Early-bird pricing ends Feb 25!

Hello friends!

I will be hosting a free virtual gathering about Reclaiming Peace in Sobriety. As you may know, I am deeply passionate about helping others find freedom from addiction and harmful habits. This meeting is open to anyone who is curious about sobriety, there is no stigma or labels attached. Please feel free to share with anyone who can benefit.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Reclaiming Peace in Sobriety. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Join us this Sunday for a free community gathering! When we’re caught in the grips of addiction or even just a bad habit, it can feel like someone else has stepped behind the steering wheel. This doesn’t just apply to alcohol of course, it might be food, work, smoking, social media, you name it!...

If you are already sober, sober-curious or simply interested in exploring addiction recovery and the bright side of sober living in community…. Join for the first Sun & Moon Virtual Gathering this Sunday at 9am EST!

The registration link is in the comments.

If you are already sober, sober-curious or simply interested in exploring addiction recovery and the bright side of sober living in community…. Join for the first Sun & Moon Virtual Gathering this Sunday!

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Sun & Moon Group Gathering!. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Join us this Sunday for our first virtual gathering! This is an inclusive online get-together for anyone who is already sober, sober-curious, or simply interested in exploring topics of addiction and recovery, which will touch all of our lives at some point either directly or through the lived exper...

Those who know me well would likely describe me as an optimist. I try to see the bright side of any given situation and create conditions in my life conducive to joy, positivity and wellbeing. And YET, I have a deep respect for the need to hold space for difficult emotions having experienced the harmful consequences of suppression & numbing. Can you relate?

I find it very concerning when I see Spiritual Bypass in the wellness community disguising avoidance as “healing” and how Toxic Positivity is breeding emotional fragility. “Good Vibes Only” is a prayer for breakdown IMO. It cripples our capacity to cope with the inevitable challenges of life by refusing to acknowledge difficult emotions. It’s a denial to participate in the fullness of life!

So this is my reminder that it’s ok not to be ok. It’s ok to feel sad, angry, jealous, challenged, exhausted, burnt out. It’s ok to be human.

The broader our understanding and willingness to embrace the full spectrum of human emotions, the stronger and more resilient we become and the more compassion we can hold for others. As Rumi so eloquently puts it in the poem ‘The Guesthouse’ - “welcome and entertain them all! ...each has been sent as a guide from beyond.”

This has been a very long, ongoing process of unlearning for me. If any of this resonates, I highly recommend the two part interview series with and on . Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. ♥️