Māyā


The veil that distorts our perception.

Born from the idea

of Māyā.

Two women practicing yoga on a porch overlooking lush tropical trees and a distant landscape under a partly cloudy sky.
Black and white halftone image of a flower with rounded petals and a central disk.

In Hindu philosophy, māyā is often described as illusion, not in the sense of something fake, but as the veil that distorts our perception. It makes us believe we are separate, small, or defined only by the material world.

Māyā is the force that pulls us into distraction, fragmentation, and forgetfulness. But through practice, presence, and devotion, we can learn to see māyā clearly and move through it with awareness.

Retreat Maia exists to create spaces where that clarity becomes possible.

The beginning

Our story began during a 200-hour yoga teacher training, where we discovered a shared passion for creating intentional spaces and fundamentally, retreats.

Five women sitting in a circle on cushions around a cloth with candles and incense, participating in a spiritual or meditation session. The setting is in a wooden structure at night.
Black and white artistic photo of a single flower with a dark background.

The current

A group of twelve women posing outdoors near a lake with hills and trees in the background on a sunny day.

Today, we design and facilitate experiences that center personal and collective well-being. Our gatherings are crafted to be nourishing, grounding, and expansive, spaces where individuals and organizations feel supported enough to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with themselves and one another.

A digital illustration of a tree stump on a black background, rendered in a halftone style.

Our future

Our approach integrates traditional wisdom with a modern approach to wellness and group facilitation. We help individuals and teams access deeper clarity, resilience, and connection.

Group of people gathered around a wooden table inside a rustic, open-air structure, preparing food together.
Black and white close-up image of a tree trunk cross-section showing concentric growth rings.

Your Hosts

Portrait of a young woman with long, curly brown hair, wearing a sleeveless top, looking to her right with a slight smile, against a plain gray background.

MADI

Yoga Instructor (RYT)

Holistic Health and Wellness Coach

Madi, a Pittsburgh native, studied Digital Media and Arabic at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, her passion for meditation led her to a Vipassana retreat in Thailand. She spent the next four years in New York City exploring health and spirituality. Returning to Pittsburgh in 2022, Madi completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at YogaFlow, where she connected with Leah. Now, she supports her students both on and off the mat as a Certified MBG Health and Wellness Coach and instructor at YogaFlow. She is dedicated to helping her students achieve balance and well-being through both yoga and personalized wellness coaching.

A woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, wearing a sleeveless lavender top, looking off to the side against a plain gray wall.

LEAH

Leah is a Northern Irish gal, born and raised in County Down, who now resides in Pittsburgh. With a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Leah's passion for health and wellness has been long-standing. After attending a women’s circle, her intuition guided her to complete her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training through YogaFlow, where she crossed paths with Madi. Fueled by this newfound sense of purpose, she delved deeper into the realms of mindfulness, seeking to explore various modalities beyond yoga. This led her to pursue her certification as a Mindful Art and Meditation Teacher (MAT), a path that resonated with her desire to share the transformative power of mindfulness with others.

Yoga Instructor (RYT)

Mindful Art & Meditation Teacher (MAT)