Give Yourself the Time and Space to Breathe. Stretch. Feel. Dive Deep.
Take a Yoga Freedom Retreat.
Come to magical Lake Atitlán in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Immerse in yoga, breath, writing, nature, and the sacred Mayan calendar.
Gorgeous Lago de Atitlán is the place I’ve gratefully called home since 2012. Her natural beauty is boundless and one never tires of gazing upon it. Let’s gather together here to deepen our practice by reaching for the heart of the sky, the heart of the earth, and connecting in a deeper way with our own boundless heart centers.
Why retreat?
to find balance
to choose which way to go at a crossroads
to spur and support a transformative period in your life
to devote your time and energy to healing
to step away from the daily grind to see the bigger picture
to walk on the path of harmony, balance, and beauty
to forge bonds with new and old friends by sharing time, space, practice, and stories
Retreat isn’t paradise. It’s a blessed opportunity to we give ourselves to grow and evolve.
Diving deep into yoga, breathing, bodywork, ceremony and mindfulness offers a delightful chance to deepen our breath, slow our pace, and connect with our true buddha nature.
The transcendent beauty of the lush flora and mystical healing energies of the lake gives a safe space and the ideal place for both meaningful inner work and memorable adventures.
Upcoming Retreats
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Soul Force Retreat: Yoga, Breath & Service
March 17-22, 2025
Bambu Guest House, GuatemalaOn this retreat, we’ll gather to walk our soul path with intention, joy and purpose in a one-on-one or small group setting (max. 8). Together, we’ll cultivate a slow flow full of awareness, beauty, gratitude and love.
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Heart Wisdom: Weaving Yoga & the Sacred Mayan Calendar
May 3-10, 2025
Villa Sumaya, GuatemalaThe sacred Mayan calendar is a lunar calendar created by the ancient Maya that, even in modern times, we can apply to our everyday life to connect and flow with the distinctive energy of each day.
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Traverse Guatemala: Yoga & Wellness Retreat
June 28-July 3, 2025
Villa Sumaya, Lake AtitlanJoin a small group on a fantastic immersion in nature, culture and joy. Take part in a sacred Mayan fire ceremony, hike to a waterfall, join in on a unique cacao workshop, experience rejuvenating daily yoga practices and much more.
Hola :)
My name is Michelle Margaret, and I’m here to say that yoga has saved my life and shaped it in the best ways. And by yoga, I mean “yoga schmoga,” which for me, at present, encompasses asana, pranayama, meditation, writing, and the sacred Mayan calendar, Thanks to the practice, I’ve managed to not only stay sane but also thrive. I’m a expat yogi, mother, partner, writer, poet, editor, translator, teacher, and retreat leader from Austin, TX, USA and I have lived in Guatemala (somehow, in the blink of an eye) for about one-third of my precious human life.
I’ve practiced yoga since 1993, taught since 2002, and led retreats since 2010. I live with my sweet human and fur family on magical Lake Atitlan in the western highlands of Guatemala and work as a freelance editor and translator. I also work for two fabulous retreat centers at the lake: Bambu Guest House in Tzununa and Villa Sumaya in Santa Cruz.
Let’s retreat together
Fill out this form and I will be in touch shortly!
“Michelle is a joy to retreat with. Her decades of experience in yoga and mindfulness combined with her unique understandings of the Mayan cosmovision and traditional breath work practices gives her offerings a rich and grounded feel. She has provided me with inspirations and insights to deepen my practice.” ~ Ash
“I can’t even begin to describe what an incredible adventure I had on retreat with Michelle & Ash in Guatemala. They are both such kind, open-minded, and talented people; it is a joy to be led by them both in yoga & in learning the history and culture of a new place. I can’t imagine a better way to explore, or better people to be with, on retreat.” ~ Caroline
I have had several yoga sessions with Michelle, and even though I am a yoga noobie I always felt so encouraged and inspired after our sessions together. Michelle is an incredible yoga leader, patient, calming, authentic and kind. ~Morgan
