Aerial Serpent FAQ (early bird pricing ends soon)

Esteemed friends and fellow artists,

I'm popping in today to answer some FAQ's about the Aerial Serpent retreat experience I'm hosting in January with the great Kristina "Nekyia" Canizares of Fit & Bendy.

Prefer to listen/watch rather than read? Kristina and I recorded an IG live which you can watch here.

If you're not interested in the retreat, please enjoy this very stupid reel that made me laugh so hard I sent it to my sister immediately. In fact I'm about to send it to her again cause...she is. This stupid reel has nothing to do with this email but I wanted to give you something in gratitude for opening the email even if you're not into the retreat situation. Enjoy the ridiculousness! And thank you for being here!

Aerial Serpent FAQ:

When, where, how, etc

January 10-17, 2026 at Sweet Retreats in beautiful Puerto Escondido, Mexico. All details as well as copious amounts of tips for traveling can be found on the website below!

Aerial Serpent info and enrollment

What's included?

All programming from myself and Kristina and a combined 40 years (woof) of experience coaching in the strange and specific areas we focus on: world-class mobility, injury prevention, creative excavation, and sustainable artistic practice. AKA: be an artist forever, stop being an injured and burnt out one.
All food which is fresh, locally sourced, and delicious. It's one of my favorite parts, and they are very good at accommodating even your weird dietary requirements.
Excursions and extras! Trips to the beach, the bioluminescent plankton lagoon, and the night markets- ALL activities are optional. We're grown ups and we get to do what we want.
Access to the pool and hot tub, something I take advantage of at every available opportunity.
Cute dogs and cats. No you can't adopt them, but they are always a favorite.
A variety of rooming options including private and shared rooms in the beautiful, eco-retreat village made with loving care by the very people you'll be seeing every day.
The best weather (it's dry season, and every day is 70-85 degrees F). Heavenly if you ask me.
The opportunity to share a piece of work on the last day! Get it filmed (but no perfection, please) and try out your idea in front of your fellow artists and oddballs.
Unique photoshoot opportunities- always a hit, here's one of my faves featuring and conceptualized by my girl Sammy Dean:

What level of flexibility do I need to benefit from the mobility classes?

All levels will be benefitted and challenged.

I'm an advanced contortion practitioner, will I be challenged?

Yes.

I have no flexibility, will I feel left behind?

No. Kristina has a gift for coaching all levels safely and effectively.

Do I need to have an act in progress to benefit from the creativity classes?

No. You will need a notebook, and your own desire. But you don't need to come with anything in mind. And if you do have something in mind, awesome!

Is there specific aerial instruction?

No- we are not teaching tricks or sequences. This retreat was designed to give you tools that you can use on ANY apparatus, including the ground, to make physical performing work. You will have a guided opportunity every day to use the tools we give you on an apparatus of your choice.

Am I able to use the gym outside of class times?

Yes! We all ask that no one trains alone, but that's never been a problem. The gym is there for you to use in your free time.

I'm not an aerialist...I'm an actor/dancer/ground performer/mime...will this benefit me?

YES. We understand that the name of the retreat, Aerial Serpent, might be misleading- we live and learn. If you use your body to tell stories and make performance work, this retreat is for you and you will not be left out. Any body who has a movement practice and wants to make art will find lots on this feast table they want to eat.

Are you going to hold this retreat again?

There are no future retreats on the books. We would both love to do this again, but we couldn't tell you when that might be.

Ok that's it for now! Early bird pricing ends on October 11th, there's a variety of price points according to what room you'd like- from $2,100-$2,600 until early bird pricing ends (prices increase by $300 after that).

If I missed a question that you have, just reply here and I'll get back to you pronto! Here's the link one more time for posterity:

Aerial Ssssserpent!

Stay weird, stay wonderful, and don't go back to sleep. Maybe I'll see you in January.

xoRachel