Join Michelle Fajkus and Ash Fletcher for a heart-opening, soul-nourishing retreat designed to uplift your spirit and reconnect you with the radiant joy within that is your natural state.

Set against the shimmering waters of Lake Atitlán—an ancient and sacred place nestled in the volcanic highlands of Guatemala—this retreat offers you space to pause, breathe, and realign with your most vibrant, present, and joyful self.

This journey isn’t about escaping life’s challenges. It’s about learning to see and feel joy as a conscious choice—available to us even in the midst of sadness or uncertainty. Together, we’ll explore what it means to live with a joyful heart, to speak our truth, to listen to the wisdom within, and to trust the beauty of our becoming.

💖 A Retreat to Remember: What’s at the Heart

Throughout this week-long retreat, we’ll co-create a sacred space of connection, laughter, movement, and emotional honesty. We’ll breathe deeply, move intentionally, and give ourselves full permission to feel—whatever arises. Joy and sorrow, lightness and grief, all are welcome here. You are welcome here.

Using the upper chakras—heart 💚, throat 💙, third eye 💜, and crown 🤍—as energetic guideposts, we will work gently and steadily to lift our vibration, let go of what weighs us down, and access the clarity and bliss that come from presence.

🧘 Practices to Elevate

Our practices include:

• Heart-centered yoga to connect breath and movement with intention
• Conscious breathing and mindfulness meditation to calm the nervous system and raise awareness
• Sound healing journeys to harmonize your inner world
• Dance to awaken joy in the body
• Mayan fire ceremony to honor the sacred count of days and connect with ancestral wisdom
• Sweat lodge for beauty, deep cleansing and renewal
• Optional morning swims, forest bathing, journaling, and quiet contemplation to deepen your connection with self and nature

You’ll also receive a personal Mayan reading, helping you align with your unique energy and life path according to the sacred Mayan calendar.

🌿 The Gift of Presence

In our fast-paced world, presence is the greatest gift and skill. This retreat invites you to step away from screens, distractions, and responsibilities—and step into a rhythm that is slow, sacred, and intuitive. Rather than striving for joy as a future destination, we’ll explore joy as something simple, intimate, and available now. We’ll soften into the present moment, cultivating compassion for ourselves and each other.

🌟 Come As You Are, Leave Lighter

Whether you’re seeking inspiration, healing, connection, or simply a chance to exhale, this retreat is an invitation to come home to yourself. You'll be nourished by healthy meals, held in a nurturing community, and surrounded by natural beauty in an energetically potent place.

You’ll return home changed: clearer, softer, lighter. More aligned with joy, truth, and the mystery and magic of being alive. This is the path of joy. We invite you to walk it with us.

Thursday, Jan 22 

• Afternoon: Arrive in Antigua, Guatemala. Check into your private hotel room and take time to relax or explore the charming colonial city.
  
   
• 6:30 PM: Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant, offering a taste of authentic Guatemalan cuisine.
  
   
• Evening: Free time to stroll through Antigua's cobblestone streets, visit local shops, or unwind at the hotel.

Friday, Jan 23

• 5:30 AM: Sunrise Hike & Intention Setting. Begin the day with a gentle hike to a scenic viewpoint, welcoming the sunrise and setting personal intentions for the retreat.
  
   
• 8:30 AM: Breakfast on your own in Antigua. Explore local cafés.
   
• 11:00 AM: Shuttle to Lake Atitlán. A picnic lunch will be provided during the trip.
  
   
• 3:00 PM: Check-in at Bambu Guest House. Settle into your accommodations and familiarize yourself with the serene surroundings.
  
   
• 5:30 PM: Opening Circle. Gather with fellow participants to commence the retreat, establish connections, and set collective intentions.
  
   
• 6:30 PM: Dinner at Bambu Guest House featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
  
   
• Evening: Free time to relax, journal, or stargaze by the lake.
  
   

Saturday, Jan 24: 

• 8:00 AM: "Breath is Life" Session with Michelle.
   
• 9:00 AM: Breakfast.
  
   
• 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Spa Day: Indulge in a series of rejuvenating treatments, including:
  
   
  • 10:00 AM: Reflexology session to stimulate energy flow.
    
     
  • 11:00 AM: Sauna with cacao skin scrub and aloe application, promoting detoxification and skin nourishment.
    
     
• 1:30 PM: Lunch.
   
• 3:00 PM: Free Time. Options include:
  
   
  • Resting and integrating the morning's experiences.
    
     
  • Exploring the local area.
    
     
  • Participating in optional activities such as a waterfall hike, cooking class, or additional spa treatments at nearby wellness centers.
    
     
• 6:30 PM: Dinner.
  
   
• 7:30 PM: Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra with Michelle. Wind down with restorative yoga practices to promote deep relaxation and restful sleep.
  
   

Sunday, Jan 25

• 8:00 AM: Morning Yoga Flow with Ash
  Start the day with a vibrant, breath-centered practice to awaken your body and align with the energy of 3 Aq’ab’al—new possibilities and integration of light and shadow.
   
• 9:00 AM: Breakfast
   
• Late Morning: Optional: Swimming at the Nature Reserve in San Marcos
  Enjoy a refreshing excursion to a nearby ecological sanctuary with lush trails, forest hammocks, and lake access.
   
• 1:30 PM: Lunch
   
• 4:00 – 6:00 PM: Optional: Gaia Ecstatic Dance
  Let loose and move freely in a playful, embodied dance journey. A chance to reconnect with joy, rhythm, and your inner wild.
   
• 6:30 PM: Dinner
   
• Evening: Free Time
  Rest, journal, or enjoy the peaceful energy of the lake under the stars.
   

Monday, Jan 26: 

• 6:00 AM: Hike to Jaibalito/Santa Cruz
  Begin the day with a scenic hike along the lake’s edge to nearby villages. Breathe in the crisp morning air and take in sweeping views as we weave our way through local trails.
   
• 10:00 AM: Wellkind Service Activity
  Engage in a heart-centered act of community service with our local partner, Wellkind. Contribute your energy to regenerative projects that support sustainable living and empowerment in the Atitlán region.
   
• 1:30 PM: Lunch
   
• Afternoon: Free Time
  Rest, reflect, journal, or book a spa treatment.
   
• 5:30 PM: Sunset Yoga with Ash
  Wind down the day with an embodied flow to honor the energy of 4 K’at—gathering, weaving, and the beauty of interconnectedness.
   
• 6:30 PM: Dinner
   
• 7:30 PM: Fire Dance Celebration
  Let your spirit move under the stars in this playful, liberating evening of dance, music, and joyful expression around the fire.

Tuesday, Jan 27: 

• 8:00 AM: Morning Yoga Flow with Ash
  Energize your body and mind with a dynamic morning practice to activate the creative and transformative energy of 5 Kan—life force, vitality, and inner power.
   
• 9:00 AM: Breakfast
   
• 10:00 AM: Guided Boat Tour to San Juan La Laguna
  Cruise across the lake to explore the vibrant town of San Juan, known for its colorful murals, traditional weaving cooperatives, and local art galleries. A chance to connect with indigenous culture and support local artisans.
   
• Lunch: Packed Lunch or Eat in San Juan
  Choose to enjoy a picnic or dine at one of San Juan’s local cafés.
   
• 3:00 PM: Free Time
  Return to Bambu for rest, integration, journaling, or a swim in the lake.
   
• 5:30 PM: Sunset Yoga with Michelle
  A grounding practice to reflect on the day’s adventures and cultivate gratitude and inner presence.
   
• 6:30 PM: Dinner
   
• Evening: Free Time
  Connect with new friends, soak in the quiet magic of twilight, or simply rest.
   

Wednesday, Jan 28

• 7:30–9:00 AM: Mayan Fire Ceremony with Tata Thomas
  Begin the day in sacred ceremony with local guide Tata Thomas. This traditional fire offering invites prayer, gratitude, and guidance from the ancestors—perfectly aligned with the transformative energy of 6 Kame.
   
• 9:30 AM: Brunch
   
• Late Morning–Afternoon:
   
  • Optional: 20-Minute Personal Mayan Astrology Readings
    Receive insight and inspiration through your personal Cholq’ij chart.
     
  • Free Time
    Explore, rest, or choose from optional activities such as:
     
    • Waterfall hike
       
    • Guatemalan cooking class
       
    • Spa day at Casa Curativa or Kula Maya
       
• 2:00 PM: Lunch
   
• Evening:
   
  • 7:00 PM: Farewell Dinner
    Celebrate our final evening with a delicious shared meal.
     
  • Closing Circle & Blue Lotus Sound Bath
    Reflect, integrate, and seal the retreat in sacred space with sound and heartful connection.
     

Thursday, Jan 29: 

• 8:00 AM: Morning Meditation
  Center yourself with a peaceful closing practice, aligning with the grounded, nature-connected energy of 7 Kej—spiritual strength, balance, and inner guidance.
   
• 8:00 AM: Breakfast
  A final shared meal together overlooking the lake.
   
• 11:00 AM: Check-Out & Return Shuttle
  Depart Bambu Guest House for your journey back to Antigua or the airport, carrying the joy, insights, and magic of the week with you.