Joshua Tree, California
April 3-7, 2026
In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to forget the sanctuary that exists within us. The Oasis Within invites you to pause, breathe, and rediscover the still point at your center. Journey to Gaia Villa, a beautiful sanctuary in Joshua Tree where the desert's tranquil beauty will help you rediscover the oasis that's been within you all along. This isn't just a yoga retreat. It's a homecoming to yourself.
Join Jenn Choi Bemis & Darren Rhodes in the vast and scenic Mojave Desert for 5 days of yoga, meditation, pranayama, and reflections. Be nourished from the inside out and outside in.
The Oasis Within
gaia villa in the mojave desert
The Mojave Desert hums with a rare, magnetic energy — a place where silence feels alive and the air itself seems to vibrate with ancient power. Sunlight sharpens everything here: the rugged mountains, the wide, endless sky, the resilient plants that bloom against all odds. It’s a land that invites stillness and awakening at the same time—where the vast openness clears the noise of daily life and reconnects you to something deeper, timeless, and wild within yourself.
Gaia Villa is a luxurious, Santa-Fe-inspired rental property set on the edge of Joshua Tree National Park. With the serene desert scape as the backdrop, it feels both spacious and cozy.
What to expect
7-8 yoga practices
Hatha yoga, yogaHour, restorative, yin, slow flow, yoga nidra
Fascia workshop (self-massage with balls)
Full access to heated pool, hot tub, & cold plunge
11 nourishing nutritionally-balanced, chef-prepared meals from Friday dinner to Tuesday breakfast
Ample solo, self-care, relaxation time each day
Opportunities to explore, hike, shop
Welcome Circle & Closing Circle
Invitation & prompts for reflections/journaling
sample schedule
7:30 AM Warm Beverages (coffee, tea, broth, etc.)
8:30 - 10:00 AM Solar asana w/ meditation, pranayama, and/or chanting
10:00 - 11:00 AM Breakfast
11:30 - 1:00 PM Fascia workshop (on two of the full days)
1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch
2:00 - 6:00 PM Rest, unwind, enjoy free time
6:00 - 7:00 PM Dinner
7:30 - 8:45 PM Lunar asana (restorative, yin, or slow flow)
The Details
-
Our retreat takes place at Gaia Villa in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree, California.
Click here to visit the Gaia Villa website for more info on property, location, & more.
Closest airport: Palm Springs
The average temperature in Yucca Valley in April is a highs around 74 degrees and lows around 45 degrees.
-
Enjoy nourishing meals cooked by Chef Becky Yim of Tucson Village Farm. Organic ingredients will be used whenever possible, and complete protein options will be available at each meal.
Dietary restrictions can be accommodated. You will be able to list your dietary needs via a Google Form that will go out a month or so before the retreat.
-
This is a 5-day & 4-night retreat from Friday, April 3rd to Tuesday, April 7th.
The retreat officially begins at 5 PM
You will be able to check in to your room/accommodation at 4 PM on April 3rd. We will have a yoga practice followed by a Welcome circle beginning at 5 PM.
Check out is at 10 AM on April 7th.
-
Participants are responsible for booking, paying fees associated (if any) with, and transportation from/to extracurricular activities. A welcome packet will be sent a couple months before the retreat, where you will find instructions and info on how to book activities.
guided or self-led hike in Joshua Tree National Park (15min away) or Black Rock Campground hiking trails (5min away)
rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park (guiding companies available for hire)
explore around Villa property, walk around labyrinth
schedule a massage onsite
hang out poolside, cold plunge, or hot tub
venture to Palm Springs for boutique shopping, art galleries, etc. (30-45 min drive)
visit Yucca Valley’s shops, restaurants, grocery stores (5min away)
stargazing with astronomers
donkey ranch visit
horseback riding
-
Dormitory Bunk Room
Twin bunk bed or regular twin bed in a shared room (with one or more people).$1,600/person
Dual Twin Bed Room
Twin bunk bed in a shared room (with one other person).$1,850/person
Basic King
King bed (that can be separated into two twins) without ensuite bathroom (use of communal bathroom).
Double Occupancy: $1850/personSingle Occupancy: $3700
Standard King Suite
King bed (that can be separated into two twins) with ensuite bathroom.Double Occupancy: $2100/person
Single Occupancy: $4,200
Premium King Suite
King bed (that can be separated into two twins) with ensuite bathroom, double vanity, fireplace, walk-in closet, desk.Double Occupancy: $2250/person
Single Occupancy: $4,500
$500 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit due at time of booking. Remainder of payment due one month before retreat start date. Payment plans available. Please use the “Contact…” button on the left for all inquiries about signing up and more!
Your Guides
Jenn choi Bemis
Jenn has over 1000hrs of training in Vinyasa, Hatha, Anuasara, Yin, and yoga therapeutics. Her practice and teaching styles are constantly evolving due to her interest in and study with various teachers, schools of yoga, and movement modalities, but one thing that remains constant is her passion for helping people unlock a deeper awareness within themselves. Her classes are infused with detailed alignment cues; a combination of traditional yoga postures and new, explorative approaches to achieve mobility, strength, and neuromuscular control—all packaged within a fun, safe, and thought-provoking environment.
Darren rhodes
Darren Rhodes has been the director of YogaOasis studios in Tucson since 1999. Darren is featured in the yoga poster, Penchant for Practice. His book, The Yoga Resource Practice Manual, includes practice instructions for 360 poses. Darren is the founder of Yogahour® and was named one of Yoga Journal's "21 Talented Young Teachers Shaping the Future of Yoga." Darren is also a faculty member of Glo.
