FAQ's

Answers to some of the common questions we receive.

Retreats

What is a Retreat?

A retreat is an opportunity for you to take a step back from your day-to-day life and spend some time with yourself in community with like-minded women. Each retreat will offer different themes, but in general you can expect to experience yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices and activities used as tools to facilitate transformative experience.

Why Should I Attend a Self MAED Retreat?

A retreat can change your life if you are ready to put in the work. During a retreat you will experience a deep and profound connection with your inner self that can align your deepest desires for change with new lifestyle ideas. The monetary value of a retreat is not comparable to what you will leave with. “You are worth all the love, care, and attention you pour into others.”

What can I expect from a Self MAED retreat?

You can expect to have an opportunity to destress, disconnect from life’s demands, and spend much needed time with yourself in a bond of sisterhood. You will be provided with activities such as meditations, yoga, mindfulness, personal assignments, journaling, group discussions, group activities, silent time (one hour or more). You can also expect lots of time to yourself for self-reflection, to work on personal assignments, private sessions (if added), silent time, and much more! Each retreat experience will be unique. We believe that every woman should experience a retreat at least once in their life, but for a lifestyle change, mindset shift, and a life transforming experience you may find yourself attending a retreat once a year!

What is the difference between a retreat and a vacation?

At a retreat you are taking intentional time to reconnect, recharge, and rest. During a retreat you will be led by a professional in self-reflection and self-inquiry that may result in a life-changing experience. Retreats can bring clarity to life that a vacation may not. Vacations can be an escape from our day-to-day life, but often is filled with activities, excursions, and time with people, with little time for rest and intentional self-connection.

What type of retreats does Self MAED offer?

International Retreats serve women looking for healing, restoration, and spiritual awakening. These retreats are for the woman seeking a deep and profound experience.
Domestic Retreats focus on themes that add value to our everyday way of living. These retreats themes can include: financial investing and money management, yoga and meditation for beginners, spa retreat, connecting with nature, self-care, embracing silence, healing from systematic racism, and more!
Virtual Retreats are offered for women who may not be able to attend a retreat physically or who may have specific budget needs. Our Virtual Retreats can be pre-recorded are great introductions to home practice of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices.

Can I bring a friend?

You can absolutely bring a friend. We encourage you both to have a candid conversation about what your goals are in attending, how you can support each other’s goal, and any space you may need in order to accomplish your goals. There will be plenty of group time, but we also encourage some alone time too!

Can I come alone?

Heck yea! Retreats are known to be traveled alone. Please feel comfortable traveling to the retreat alone. You will have an opportunity to engage with a small and intimate group of women, as much or as little as you choose. If you prefer, you are welcome to share any concerns of traveling alone with your retreat leader before attending: info@self.inregdev.com.

Do I need experience in yoga or meditation to attend?

No ma’am. We ask that you come as you are and any skill level. Once you apply for a retreat you will receive a questionaries’ that will help us get to know you and your needs before you attend. We are very “newbie” friendly.

Travel

Do I need a passport to attend a retreat?

A passport is required for all international travel. If you are traveling within the US and US Territories it is suggested that you have a Real ID for domestic travel starting 2021.

For more information on passport applications and cost please visit US Department of State (link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/forms.html).

For more information on the Real ID, please visit the Department of Homeland Security (link: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-frequently-asked-questions).

Further guidance will be reserved for those who deposit and register for a retreat.

Will I need to bring additional money with me?

We always suggest for participants to bring some form of emergency or personal funds with them. Each retreat will designate the inclusions of lodging, meals, and transportation. However, to be add a peace of mind we would suggest to bring additional cash $250-500. Depending on the location of the retreat.

Do I need Travel Insurance?

We suggest that all travelers invest in travels insurance. We suggest protection for any unforeseen events, i.e. lost luggage, delays, medical cancellations, etc. You can purchase traveler’s insurance through your airline carrier or insurance provider.

Is a refund issued if I am unable to attend the retreat?

We suggest that you read the Retreat Terms and Conditions (link). In short, if you have to cancel your retreat and payments will be forwarded to the balance of a future retreat. Participants are required to pay any remaining balance. If a participant needs the funds paid to their travel, there is no guarantee to a full refund as stated in the terms and conditions, but you are encouraged to contact the Self MAED Team for further inquiry: info@self.inregdev.com

About the Brand & Logo

The story behind the logo...

Choosing the name Self MAED was no easy task. Self MAED is a spin on our founder’s middle name: Mae. It speaks to the journey of isolation and inner exploration she had taken during her self-healing journey. The idea of Self MAED is that we take the journey of finding our inner peace and riches by meditating, aligning, enlightenment, and self-discovery. Our healing journeys may be individual, but you do not have to be alone. The image represents the journey. The symbol above her head (a lotus flower) represents the crowning of the highest point of enlightenment …our crown chakra. This quote represents and connects the journey of the lotus flower and a Self MAED woman. A lotus flower grows out of the murkiest of waters and blooms into a beautiful flower…despite its environment.

About the Founder

Meet Shannon Mae

Shannon Mae has worked in Higher Education passionately serving underrepresented students for 10 years. In her current role as Assistant Director of Act 101, she serves under a state grant that supports students who may have shown academic struggle and financial hardships upon high school graduation transition to college level work, but her work goes far beyond that. She has served as a mentor and life coach to students who need a little more love and support as they navigate their college career. Coming from a single parent home, she understands the complexities of being a first-generation student with financial obstacles navigating a predominately white institution. She was mentored as an undergrad and into her early career and has always looked at her role as an advocate and supporter for students of color, especially those who are first generation. She works to expose the full academic and personal potential of a student. In this support she often uncovers past unhealed traumas that sometimes hinder a student’s progress towards academic success. She has found her personal mindfulness practices has helped students explore the possibilities of life once healed. She has integrated her work with Self MAED into her career to serve students holistically. She has developed and implemented a program called S.E.E. (Self-Empowerment and Enrichment) Yourself Happier & Healthier that serves students who have home and/or food insecurity. This program aims to support students in a holistic approach to their adulting journey, becoming more confident and self-sufficient.

She has also implemented the Me Time! a Self MAED initiative, which promotes self-care through a 10-minute practice of mindful meditation, every day. Through Me Time! she introduces physical yoga poses (yoga asanas) and meditation as tools for self-care.

She has also played a lead role in implementing and adding to the vision for the Emerging Scholars Program by expanding the programmatic approach to incorporate pop culture with an emphasis of Hip Hop to serve as a vehicle for academic and social discussions. She is skilled at creating programming that serves Black and Brown students culturally to bridge the gap of opportunity for students of color within predominantly white institutions.

Philanthropy work: Self MAED founder, Shannon Mae, believes in equal access to education. She has created an annual book scholarship called “A Better Me Book Scholarship” for Act 101 students at Bloomsburg University. More information or to make a donation to the A Better Me Book Scholarship, please follow these instructions.to the scholarship can be found here:

Please visit this link https://giving.bloomu.edu/donate/give-now
Under Donation: select your amount (all donation amounts welcome. Anything helps)
Designation: Select Other and input: Shannon Musgrove or A Better Me Scholarship
Continue to select the responses in the form.
Because Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is a Public Institution all donations are considered tax-deductible donations and will receive an end-of-year information from the Bloomsburg University Foundation.

Everything Else

Code of Conduct

In order to provide a good experience for all participants we ask that you take time to read our Code of Conduct:

Please meet each participant with respect. This means in speech, thought, and contact.
No alcohol, drugs, or tobacco use during the duration of the retreat. This is to help you experience the true inner connection you seek. This requires sobriety and discipline.
Come open to learn without comparison and non-judgement of yourself or others.
Meet yourself and others with compassion.
Be authentic.
If you are currently undergoing drug addiction treatment we encourage you to not interrupt that healing for the experience of a retreat. We support your journey with compassion, but we are not licensed professionals prepared with the tools to assist in an emergency.
We suggest that therapy is considered for those experiencing the need for professional guidance in digging deeper into trauma past and present.
We ask that you attend the retreat sessions designed for you, but if you opt out of any session or activity we respect your boundaries.
We serve womxn of color. This includes cis, trans, and femmes. If you feel strongly about not accepting other humans in their authentic form you are asked to not attend a retreat. We do not tolerate racism, homophobia, xenophobia, or any other hate. Any hate speech will result in your immediate removal from the retreat.
Limit your cell phone use. Retreats require discipline to disconnect from distractions that may interfere with our journey inward. We ask that you limit your cell usage to the designated time in the agenda. For emergencies, you will be provided with contact information for loved ones and supporters.

Retreat Agendas

Each agenda is curated for the theme and location of the trip. The agenda’s will be released to paid participants closer to the retreat date. We incorporate activities that include meditation, aligning, enlightening, and discovery.

Accessibility

With each location serving different accessibility needs we will be sure to update any accessibility limitations for our tribe.

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