This was truly an amazing retreat. I loved the mix of activities, full days, togetherness, and quiet time to ourselves. The yoga classes were so special, so restorative, and I loved the accessibility options for the harder poses. The cultural immersion was something that on paper already looked really cool, but I had no idea how powerful and impactful it was going to be. I feel changed as a person in ways that I can't quite describe yet. A truly incredible, magical experience. The cultural immersion was a stand-out for sure, from including a wonderful local guide to the activities with local businesspeople thriving in their lives and communities. I had never done an international retreat, so it was a one-of-a-kind experience for me. I also had never traveled with a group of previously-unknown people, but the fact that we were all highly sensitive and/or introverts made it a LOT easier to interact with people and feel like I could be myself. I honestly didn't dislike any of the activities. Even though the trek up the steps to the retreat center was challenging, the AMAZING VIEWS were truly worth the uphill climb. I'm still processing it all and don't know if I can put it into words what I'm taking away from the experience, even though it's been a few weeks. I think my perspective about other cultures and lifestyles has expanded just a little bit, though I'm not sure exactly how that has or will continue to impact me as a person, especially on a day-to-day basis in how I act or feel toward different things. If I ever did want to do another experience like this, I would definitely want to sign up with Melissa. She did an amazing job at coordinating everything, accommodating everyone, and the flow of events and activities was impeccable!

This trip included wonderful people, fantastic weather, amazing food and experiences, and restorative yoga. We had the opportunity to meet a coffee farmer and his family, visit their home and farm, and learn about coffee growing and processing. While eating a delicious lunch and drinking the fresh coffee we'd helped process, we learned about direct trade in the coffee industry, and how we can support these farmers once we get home. We also visited a weaving cooperative and learned about the weaving process. We shopped for beautiful woven items, learned how this cooperative supports women to sell their beautiful woven wares, and learned how we can support this cooperative from home. We took part in a Guatemalan cooking class and learned the amazing story of the single mother who grew her cooking business from nothing and during COVID gained a worldwide following on social media. She now employs other single mothers and founded an organization to support children to attend school. Anita took us to the local market to buy fresh food. It was fun to visit the local market, see the people and their wares, and give them our business. At Anita's direction, we made and ate a very delicious Guatemalan meal while admiring views of Lake Atitlan and enjoying Anita's charismatic personality. This trip provided opportunities to meet and connect with Guatemalans and see how they live. Yet this trip was not overscheduled, with free days between these outings to relax and reflect or head off on our own adventures. The resort we stayed at was wonderful, with amazing views of Lake Atitlan and nearby volcanoes, and served excellent food. The travel group was an amazing group of people, including two fantastic facilitators. I highly recommend this trip. One note for those who have mobility challenges: Be prepared for cobblestone streets and steep steps without railings can take a big toll on the body.

What a TRULY incredible trip! I've done small and largish group travel before and this has been by far my favorite experience. The small group helped keep things manageable - I feel like I was actually able to get to know people even though we only had a week together. The thing I appreciated the most was Melissa's commitment to accessibility and inclusion - I have mobility issues and I never felt like I couldn't something because of it, especially the yoga classes. I have been practicing yoga on and off for about 18 years and I have NEVER had a yoga teacher as invested in making yoga this accessible as Melissa. She also took great care to find workarounds and assistance for anyone that needed it. This level of intentionality was also very present in our whole group, and it made for a really lovely way to travel. Taking this particular trip was also a really great introduction to Guatemala, as this was my first time. I feel like I was able to get a good sense of the place without feeling overwhelmed by a packed itinerary of sightseeing. I appreciate the relationships Melissa has cultivated in the places we visited and I feel like we were able to support some great people and their communities. Lastly I loved that she creates space for reflection and is genuine in her intention for participate in whatever ways they can and want to. For me, this meant I had the space to truly decompress and rest, while also having some enjoyable and memorable experiences. I can't wait to do another retreat with Melissa when time and funds next allow.