Useful Guide for Your Participation - International
- We highly recommend that you print this document and keep it at hand -

Deadlines for Registration
Friday, June 27, 2008 (Cash Discount)
Friday, July 4, 2008 (All Registrations)

The following information will help you plan your trip to Mexico City and to the Tonalli Retreat Center in Tenancingo City. It will also let you know what to prepare before you arrive and what to pack. Also included is lodging information and logistical details about the one week workshop. Almost all of the information you will find here was provided by the FOL Latin America Division Office (LADO), based on their experience for coordinating large international workshops in the past. If your question is not answered below, then please email us directly at Flower of Life Research. However, we have prepared this document to answer most questions so please read it carefully before contacting us. Thank you!

To get this Useful Guide in PDF format, click here.

THE CENTER
Tonalli Retreat Center is a very special place, designed for the kind of events like this workshop and other holistic courses. It is located in the mountains around 2 hours from Mexico City, in the city of Tenancingo, State of Mexico. Since the workshop will be held during Summer, we really expect to have very nice weather and dry sunny days during our stay in Tonalli. However, the weather in Mexico has been "unpredictable" during the last few years and therefore rain is a possibility. The nights may be cool, because we will be in the mountains.

Note: We will send you an email before your departure to let you know about the local weather conditions.

Tonalli is isolated from the city. It has gardens and is surrounded by hills and valleys. During the workshop, we will have a big carpeted room, an indoor dining room and tables outdoors. We also will have first aid services and be able to contact a doctor immediately if necessary.

THE FOOD
The food will be healthy and nutritional, basically natural, and served as a buffet. We could have white meat dishes like chicken (but there would always be options for vegetarians!). We will have two coffee breaks every day, consisting of vegetables or fresh fruit in the morning and cookies or bread for the evening. Beverages such as potable water, coffee and tea will be available 24 hours. You can bring a plastic bottle or container to take beverages to the classroom or to your room. If you eat any kind of special food, please add this information in your Registration and Payment Form. You can also bring special snacks like granola and energy bars, dried fruit, etc., in sealed packages (so you don't have problems at the airport customs).

Note about the water: Tonalli produces its own high quality purified drinking water from mountain springs. It is provided in all the facilities but you can also buy it in small and large bottles.

Additional Notes from Lyssa: The meal schedules in Mexico differ from what we are used to in the USA and Canada. Please be prepared to eat a regular breakfast in the morning. The main meal of the day is eaten in the afternoon, around 2:00pm. Then, late in the evening a light dinner is served.

Travelers to Mexico from the USA, Canada, and Europe are often challenged by new bacteria in the food and water. Most often, this bacteria isn't unhealthful, just different from what we are used to, and it can sometimes cause digestive discomfort. All the food served in Tonalli can easily be eaten, even the fresh fruit and vegetables. However, Ron and Lyssa strongly recommend that you bring some simple nutritional supplements that they have used with success for years. These products strengthen the intestinal environment and kill any unwanted foreign organisms. These specific products most likely must be ordered through your health care provider (such as a chiropractor), but if you search your health food stores, you can find products with the same ingredients:

Company: Metagenics
Products: Parex Intensive Care, Parex, or Ultra Parex

Company: Pure Body Institute of Beverly Hills
Product: Paracleanse #1

Primary ingredients of above products: black walnut hulls, wormwood, pumpkin seed, and grapefruit seed extract. You can find this mix of ingredients from other companies as well.

Also, bring along lots of acidophilus - a miracle supplement!

Most participants won't have any problems at all, so please don't worry! We have been giving workshops in Tonalli for years, with very few problems. These suggestions are given for those who have sensitive digestive systems or who would like to be extra careful.

WORK SCHEDULE AND SOME SPECIAL REQUESTS
The work we will be doing during the workshop will be exhausting and sometimes emotional and will require all of your dedication and concentration. In fact, one week is barely enough to undertake all the subjects we have to cover. For this reason, we ask you to be PUNCTUAL at the beginning of the working sessions and to pay attention to all the indications the trainers will give. Additionally, as Ron and Lyssa only speak English, we will have the translation and interpretation services of Javier López and the translation will consume much of the effective time of work. This means that each minute lost at the beginning or during the activities will be detrimental to the whole group. The working days will begin at 9:30 a.m. and there will be enough breaks to have some snacks and go to the bathroom, as well as to have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please leave the classroom only if it is absolutely necessary.

The general hours of the workshop will be 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.every day, with meals served during that time and with enough breaks to take some snacks and go to the bathroom. However, because of the nature of the activities, it is possible that we may have some very late nights. Please be prepared for the unexpected!

Activities will include: lecture, meditation, exercises and outdoor work (including one main activity that will be held no matter the weather conditions!). Also included will be a morning exercise program of Korean-style yoga that some of you are familiar with from our past workshops.

During the workshop you will receive all the necessary information about the the schedule that will be held each day, and any other activity or subject we embrace. Please keep your questions for the sessions related to the subject offered each day. But also, we ask you not to hold on to any concerns or comments. Please share them with the whole group. This way we all are enriched by your comments!

The consumption of alcohol or "recreational drugs" during the workshop will not be allowed in any way. If you are under medication with a strict schedule or if you need special assistance of any kind, please tell us so we can serve you the best way possible. (You can provide this information on your Registration and Payment Form.)

WHAT TO BRING TO TONALLI?
Please check this list carefully so you can prepare your luggage. Most of the things we mention here are essential.

1.- Even though Hiliana (our host) can bring some requests from the closest city and that Tonalli has a little store where they sell some "basics", we ask you to bring with you any personal belongings you are used to: from tooth brush, paste, hair dryer and your personal soap and shampoo, to any medication you can be taking. To females we ask you to be prepared for "special days"!

2.- We ask you to bring loose and comfortable clothes, cotton materials preferably. T-shirts, and sports clothing are ideal. Remember that we will be exercising everyday, so please bring enough change of clothes. Although the weather in Tonalli is very nice all year, the climate in Mexico has been "unpredictable" lately. For this reason and because we will have outdoors activities, bring with you clothes to keep you warm (like a jacket and/or sweater) and to protect you from the rain (like a poncho or windbreaker.) Also bring enough socks (cotton made are perfect, since they are thick and thermal) and warm shoes. Tonalli doesn't provide the service of laundry and even though you can wash some clothes, we suggest that you bring enough clothes for the whole week.

Since we are going to have morning exercise sessions of Korean-style yoga, we suggest you to bring some additional loose sports clothing. There will be a break after these morning exercise sessions to take a quick shower and to change clothes. This will allow you to be comfortable for the rest of the day!

3.- Also bring footwear that would be easy to put on and take off for the workshop sessions, such as sandals or clogs. (We cannot enter the classroom with shoes). You can also bring tennis shoes or warm shoes in case the weather changes and for outdoors activities. In case we have some hot hours during the day, bring your bathing suit as well as a hat, sunglasses and sun block for the outside activities.

4.- Tonalli provides sheets, thick blankets, and a small towel for each person. However, we suggest that you bring your favorite towel and/or pillow if it is really necessary for you. We also strongly recommend that you bring an alarm clock, because they are not provided in the room.

5.- As we stated before, the rooms at Tonalli are shared in groups, and couples will have priority for double occupancy. We ask that you have an agreement with your roommates about the use of the room and to avoid any personal habit that could cause conflict. As a basic principle of courtesy, avoid smoking inside the rooms (unless your roommates accept it).

6. - There will be no junk food served! As mentioned the food is very clean and healthy. If you are not used to such a healthy diet, there is a small store where you can buy chocolate and some candy, but as a whole, be prepared for a healthy environment!

WHAT TO BRING FOR THE CLASSROOOM?

1.- In addition to the usual workshop items such as notebook, pen and clip board, please do not forget to bring your own geometry kit: A compass, ruler, protractor, eraser and pencil. You can also bring color pencils, crayons and/or pens. We are sorry but it is PROHIBITED TO RECORD during the workshop sessions. Also bring a blindfold or dark cloth that is long enough to cover your eyes (you will need it for some exercises).

2.- Tonalli has enough chairs and cushions for all, but if you want, you can bring your own meditation cushion, zafu or bench. We will also have a special altar in the classroom, so we ask you to bring an object of high personal value (quartz, jewelry, photographs, etc.) to put it there the whole week to be charged with positive energy.

3.- The classroom will be a very special place during the workshop and for this reason we ask you to consider it as a sacred space and respect it. It is prohibited to smoke or bring drinks and food in the classroom. If you wish to bring water, coffee or tea, please bring it in a closed container such as a plastic bottle. We also ask you to bring with you only those things that are essential for work. Tonalli is a safe place, so you can leave your purse or wallet or any personal belonging of value in the dormitory.

4.- An open and willing heart, a wide smile and a cooperative, friendly and responsible attitude are totally essential!!