By Miriam Gershenson
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, California — In today’s fast-paced world, women often find themselves juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, leaving little time for self-care and introspection. Recognizing the need for women to reconnect with themselves and find inner balance, Margarita Y. Pinhas, a Russian-born Jew who immigrated to the U.S. via Israel, created an Alignment Retreat which offered a transformative experience of healing, growth, and empowerment.
Nestled amidst the serene beauty of nature, the Alignment Retreat provided a sacred space for me to pause, reflect, and embark on a journey of self-discovery last weekend. Away from the distractions of daily life, I felt as though I was invited to explore my inner landscape, uncover my deepest desires, and realign with my authentic self.
Led by Pinhas, the retreat offered a diverse array of workshops, activities, and rituals designed to nurture the mind, body, and spirit. From guided meditation and yoga sessions to expressive journaling exercises, each offering felt like it was carefully curated to support me in my quest for self-awareness and personal growth.
As the retreat came to a close, participants were encouraged to reflect on their experiences and integrate the insights gained into their daily lives. Armed with newfound clarity, confidence, and inner strength, I emerged from the retreat feeling empowered to navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience. I carry with me a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to myself and the world around me.
The surprising thing about this, I’m not into all this “woowoo” stuff and have never experienced it before. Which is why I was so surprised. It affected me so positively and made me feel that I have to write about my experience and Pinhas herself. Who is she? What’s her story? And what made her want to do this?
Margarita Y. Pinhas was born in Dagestan, Derbent (aka Russia for those of you who do not want to get a map out). When she was 10 years old, she moved to Israel with her family. And in 2017 she moved to the US with her husband and kids for his work purposes. In the meantime, Pinhas was searching for meaning in life and to connect to something bigger.
“I started exercising and taking yoga classes with a great teacher in the neighborhood who inspired me. Then I started to feel good and saw the effect of yoga on me…” Pinhas wrote to me via text. She continued by telling me how she was shooting online videos with success and self-connection tips. This further led her to public speaking and sharing techniques which ultimately led to finding belonging.
After she arrived in the US, she started organizing events for the Russian-speaking Jewish community and actively participating in various Jewish projects within the greater Jewish community. After October 7th, it was natural for her to organize a Community Healing Circle for the Jewish community which she facilitates with Keren Zuzan. With event organization and mastering the journey of self-healing and finding belonging, it was fitting that Pinhas facilitated the Alignment Retreat.
Pinhas wrote to me, “… the retreats are for the people all over the world. All are welcome as long as they have good intentions. My retreats are part of my business model at Success Yoga Center where I host workshops and retreats for women to find their desire and unlimited potential through deep connections.” She has people from all over the world visit the retreat, and as someone who attended one, I can attest to this. There were representatives from Israel, South Africa, Italy, Ukraine, Russia, and the US.
Pinhas told me, “It’s important for me to unite people.” This was very evident in my experience over the weekend. In a world that often demands so much of women, the Alignment Retreat offered a precious opportunity to press pause, reconnect with my inner wisdom, and realign with my true essence. Through a blend of healing modalities, soulful practices, and supportive sisterhood, I embarked on a journey of renewal and transformation.
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Gershenson is a dog-loving, Israel-born, HR professional currently residing in Escondido.