The Brain Health Retreat
Imiloa Institute
Dominical, Costa Rica
January 9-14, 2025
Protect your brain for life with mindful movement, nourishing food and meaningful connection.
Treat your brain to a life-changing immersive retreat in the lush Costa Rican jungle.. Join your hosts Dr. Annie Fenn of Brain Health Kitchen and Stacy Fisher of Fisher Fitness for a one-of-a-kind program focused on cultivating the habits of a brain-healthy life while relaxing at the stunning Imiloa Institute.
Why should I put effort into my brain health? Because the science is clear: healthful, vibrant aging means taking extra special care of your brain. A proactive care plan can slow down the aging of your brain, and with it, help you stay sharp for decades to come. And, the earlier you begin, the better for your brain. We’ll break down the science into small actions you can take home to create mindful intentions that will last a lifetime.
Costa Rica is host to blue zone communities, or longevity areas found to have lower incidence of Alzheimers’ and dementia. A 2004 study by the University of Costa Rica found that mortality among Costa Ricans of 90 years of age is 10% lower in the Nicoya Peninsula, south of Guanacaste. They believe the calcium-rich water of this area, healthy eating, family living and the "pura vida" lifestyle are their secrets to longevity.
RETREAT INCLUSIONS
5 nights, 6 days eco-luxury accommodation immersed in the jungle at Imiloa Institute JAN 9-14, 2025
Roundtrip Private Charter Flights SJO- Imiloa Institute
FLIGHT TIMES: JAN 9 -9:15 am / Jan 14 -9:45 amAll inclusive LUX SUV ground transportation to Dominical shops, beaches, and excursions
2x Daily Mindful Movement Classes (Yoga, Fitness, MELT Method, Neurofitness, Meditation) props and mats provided.
Brain Healthy Cooking Workshops & Talks
1 MELT Method Travel Foam Roller
2 Group Experiences
Mindfully Curated Brain Healthy VEGAN, PLANT-BASED, ALCOHOL-FREE Meals by a 5-star chef, in consultation with Dr. Annie Fenn, Chef and Author of The Brain Health Kitchen.
Fresh Organic Tea from the garden, Local Coffee, Energizing Snacks and Fruit throughout the day
1 Wellness Bar Pass (1 free daily specialty coffee, smoothie, etc per day)
Access to a private waterfall, tranquil swimming hole with crystal clear water, miles of nature paths, incredible flora and fauna, and an ocean view infinity saltwater pool
Online access to our Brain Health Community- featuring resources to continue brain healthy practices at home
THE DETAILS & FAQs (CLICK HERE!)
Reserve your space.
PRICING:
JOGOLO HOUSE- DOUBLE OCCUPANCY OR SINGLE BUYOUT REQUIRED- $8500 (SOLD OUT)
POTOO- DOUBLE OCCUPANCY OR SINGLE BUYOUT REQUIRED- $8500 (SOLD OUT)
BALI SUITES- $5000 SINGLE/ $7500 DOUBLE (1 REMAIN)
GEODESIC DOMES- $4500 SINGLE/ $7000 DOUBLE (SOLD OUT)
JUNGALOW- $4000 SINGLE/ $6500 DOUBLE (SOLD OUT)
Each space has a unique design, location, and ventilation features (a/c vs no a/c).
Please click below to view more details of each accommodation.
The Imiloa Institute is located in the jungle, with its design having minimal impact to its environment. Therefore, a basic level of fitness, mobility and balance is required to navigate between the dining room, movement shala, your accommodation and the grounds. This may include rock paths, or walking trails through the jungle. Imiloa provides headlamps for evening travel and a staff member is always available to assist you! We love that Imiloa has ‘incidental exercise’ built into its design; in that we achieve well over our 10,000 steps per day simply by moving around the grounds. We recognize this may not suit everybody, so be sure to check with your physician prior to reserving your space.
Reserve your space.
Please fill out the details below. We will then reach out to process the $1000 Non-Refundable Deposit reserving your space.
Once we receive your reservation and deposit, you'll receive a welcome email with all of the necessary details about travel, next steps and more.
VIEW ACCOMMODATIONS HERE
Dr. Annie Fenn of Brain Health Kitchen and Stacy Fisher of Fisher Fitness co-founded The Brain Health Retreat in 2018.
Their mission is simple: teach sustainable and empowering ways of cultivating optimal brain health through mindful movement, nourishing food, and meaningful connection. Their shared experience of watching family members be directly affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia motivates them to educate and uplift others. The idea of The Brain Health Retreat was conceived during one of many countless conversations about exercise, cooking, and mindfulness during Annie’s personal training sessions with Stacy.
Over the past 5 years, they have developed a method to make caring for the brain empowering, sustainable, and fun! The multi-day immersive experience showcases recent brain health science, cooking demonstrations, fitness, yoga, MELT Method, and stress reduction techniques.
Dr. Annie Fenn- Physician/ Chef
Dr. Annie Fenn is a physician, chef, and founder of the Brain Health Kitchen, the only culinary school of its kind focused specifically on fending off age-related cognitive decline. She is the author of the science-based cookbook The Brain Health Kitchen: Preventing Alzheimer’s Through Food (Artisan Books, 2023). Annie teaches the Brain Health Kitchen method of cooking throughout the U.S. and abroad, with an emphasis on neuroprotective ingredients and brain-friendly cooking techniques. Her mission is to help you take care of your brain while still eating delicious food. She writes twice weekly to a large community of food-loving brain health enthusiasts through her newsletter at BrainHealthKitchen.Substack.com.
As a board certified OB/GYN physician specialized in menopausal medicine, Annie practiced in Jackson, Wyoming for over 20 years. She is an active advisor to the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, HFC, the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, NeuroReserve, Mind What Matters, and Roon. She teaches brain health nutrition to medical students at the University of Cincinnati Medical School and provides education on Tik Tok and Instagram. When not developing recipes, writing, or teaching, she enjoys hiking, cycling, skiing, fly-fishing, and foraging for mushrooms and huckleberries in the Tetons where she lives.
Stacy Fisher- Movement Specialist
PLEASE NOTE: Stacy is expecting a baby in December. She will not be able to join us live for this retreat. In Stacy’s absence, Kate Kosharek will be leading all movement classes. Stacy is hosting a 4-Week Movement and Mindfulness Series this September for you to connect and interact with her online. Each week, she will introduce some of her favorite brain health practices and their specific guidelines, and you will experience these modalities firsthand. She will serve as your primary contact to maximize your immersive experience in Costa Rica.
Stacy is a wellness coach, movement practitioner, and bodyworker. She holds degrees in Kinesiology- Exercise Science and Spanish, has 18 years of experience and 2 decades of ongoing study. She finds immense joy in problem solving the ever-evolving human form; in body, mind, and soul. Her initial career track to be a Physical Therapist felt too limiting, pushing her into a more holistic path of prevention, rehabilitation, and performance. Her work is informed by extensive training in a variety of progressive and researched modalities aimed at restoring health and improving vitality. Some include: Functional Fitness, MELT Method, Alignment Based Yoga, Breathwork, Yoga Nidra, Fascial Stretch Therapy, and Health Coaching.
Stacy’s multidisciplinary, flexible and teamwork style of coaching leads her clients to simultaneously listen to their intuition while being guided with an efficient and sustainable approach. Stacy offers private in-person and online instruction, on-demand programs, and retreats.
Kate Kosharek-
Movement Specialist
Investigating the potential of mindful movement and inner healing is Kate’s life passion. As a movement teacher, she guides others through embodiment and empowerment. Her clients re-energize stagnant areas in their life with greater mobility, balance and joy.
Kate’s approach supports all bodies, whether it’s an athlete who wants to improve their performance/recovery, or someone who simply wants to get more out of life in the aging process. Specializing in group and private instruction, she is a certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor through Balanced Body, a Level 5 MELT® Instructor and have a BFA in Dance. Kate lives in Vermont with her husband, two young boys and their dog.
You can follow Kate HERE
Julie Fratantoni, PhD-
Special Guest: Neuroscientist
Julie Fratantoni, PhD is passionate about creating content and products that help people become proactive about their brain health. She is a skilled science communicator and works with companies to help them share the science and/or health benefits of their products. Julie regularly shares brain tips and insights on Good Morning Texas and contributes to publications such as Real Simple and Well + Good.
Prior to starting her science communication company, Dr. Fratantoni spent 5 years at the University of Texas at Dallas Center for BrainHealth. She helped launch and lead The BrainHealth Project - a large scale longitudinal study seeking to define, measure, and improve brain health. She leveraged behavioral science for the development of the online platform that delivered the study and also produced the brain health training content. Her academic work includes includes initiatives for women's brain health, sleep, and kindness.
She received her PhD in cognitive neuroscience from The University of Texas at Dallas and is also a licensed speech language pathologist, and trained in biofeedback and mindfulness techniques. Her clinical work focused on facilitating high performance brain training for corporate executives, veterans, and athletes.
You can follow Dr. Julie HERE. instruction, on-demand programs, and retreats.
Imiloa Institute
We are founded on the leadership principle that together, through a spirit of service and a posture of learning, we can cause the individual and social transformation of the planet. We are an “Institute” because we recognize that the transformation happening at Imiloa extends beyond our treasured guests — it includes our team, our generous providers, investors, and the communities Imiloa calls home.
Happy Retreaters Say…
“Could not recommend the Brain Health Retreat more highly. I must admit that I had never been to a retreat before – I always thought all the scheduled activities and especially the sharing part were just not my thing. Well, I was wrong. I came away totally recharged, refreshed, and with some new friendships and actionable ideas on how to better manage my diet and exercise routine to optimize my brain and overall health. Both Annie and Stacy are consummate professionals in command of their fields, but also very accessible and fun. Fellow attendees were from all over – a wonderful community ready to learn and share.“
Linda
“What made this retreat so special and different than a typical yoga/surf retreat was the brain health element. We had classes and cooking demonstrations which were literally transformative. We learned so much about nutrition, science and cooking from Dr Annie Fenn who is incredibly knowledgeable, charming and kind. My friends and I have incorporated so many aspects of the retreat back into our daily lives. It will remain with us forever!”
Peggy
“Annie and Stacey, thank you so much for offering the Brain Health Retreat in Panama. I have attended a handful of retreats around the world, and this one was by far the best. The retreat was the perfect balance of Brain Health, MELT, other fitness offerings with lots of time to relax and restore. So, so grateful to have had this opportunity. It was a game changer for me. Since my return, and thanks to you two, I have become more mindful about Brain Health and restorative fitness and am committed to making lasting, positive change. THANK YOU!”
Nicole
