It wasn’t the surf and yoga retreat I was used to, but it magically surprised me. During that week, not only did we meet extraordinary people who enlightened us about Andean culture, showing how connection to their roots influences their daily lives, but we also highlighted the importance of education surrounding where we went, the food we ate, and the rituals we practiced. We also gave thanks, visited sacred sites, immersed ourselves in wild nature, and enjoyed local, healthy meals. The act of slowing down, being intentional about our actions, and enjoying the incredible natural beauty and historical spectacle that is Peru was something I will never forget. We breathed pure mountain air, prayed, laughed, cried, and lived each moment fully. In short, the experience was pure magic. I cannot wait to share it with all of you.

Elqui Valley felt peaceful, uplifting, and spiritually rich. It became the perfect ending to my two-month sabbatical. I joined Paula’s Origen Yoga Retreat for the weekend, which is designed to aid in aligning your body, mind and spirit through guided movement and mediation. and it was truly spectacular. I met beautiful people, learned their stories and deepened my understanding around the environmental drivers of joy and peace. I enjoyed incredible food, and took long walks through majestic mountains, allowing myself time to process past experiences, replaying my travels, conversations, lessons learned, and reflecting on how each one contributed to my growth, and how they could contribute to yours.