Mother-Daughter Yoga & Creativity Retreat / Michelle Fajkus
July 9 - 15, 2023
Join us for a unique mother-daughter retreat this summer for moms and their daughters ages 8 and up.
We’ll immerse ourselves on the path of beauty at Lake Atitlan in the Mayan highlands of Guatemala for a week of yoga, creativity, laughter and culture!
Villa Sumaya at sacred Lake Atitlan is a spectacular site for practice, learning and dreaming. This week will be all about living from the heart with gratitude, joy and compassion.
In a small-group setting, we’ll practice yoga and tune in to our energy and intuition. Each morning we’ll mix yoga with dance and other movement practices. Each afternoon, we’ll partake in a creative arts workshop, from ecstatic dance to sound healing to painting/drawing/collage making.
You and your daughter will take home healthy habits and empowering practices to enhance your personal well-being and connection to one another.
Day 1: Arrive and Ground
It’s ideal to book a morning flight that arrives in the early afternoon in Guatemala. From La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan, it’s a scenic drive (approximately 3.5 hours) across Guatemala’s mountainous landscape. In Panajachel, you’ll board a private lancha for a 10-minute boat ride to Villa Sumaya’s dock.
The retreat center offers spacious rooms with private bathrooms and patios/balconies with lovely lake and volcano views. Gathering together this evening we’ll enjoy a delicious welcome dinner full of fresh, ingredients while meeting one another and setting our intentions for the retreat.
Days 2-6
We spend time each day in sessions that weave breath, movement, meditation, and writing. There’s also plenty of free time for massage, hot tub, rest, swimming, hiking, and exploring Mayan villages.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 8:00 breakfast
- 9:30-11:00 mother-daughter yoga
- 1:00 lunch
- (Monday) 2:00 ceremony (Mayan fire, sweat lodge, or sound healing; we’ll take a vote)
- 4:30-6:00 yoga + creativity workshop
- 6:30 dinner
Day 7: Departure
In the morning, we’ll close our adventure together. You’ll depart Lake Atitlan heading for La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City… or spend a couple of days in Antigua, a picturesque colonial city, to integrate your experiences from the retreat
About Michelle and Jade
Michelle is a yoga teacher and freelance writer. She fell in love with yoga at age 12, found the Buddha in California at 23, moved to Guatemala in 2009, met her partner in 2011, and had her precious daughter Jade in 2013.
Michelle trained in Hatha yoga and Dharma yoga in Austin and has been teaching yoga since 2002. Since 2012, she has called Lake Atitlan home. She has worked in the reservations department of Villa Sumaya since 2015. Learn more about Michelle.
Rates and Registration
$1995 USD per mother-daughter pair
(An additional $300 to upgrade to a deluxe suite)
Please sign up by emailing reservations@villasumaya.com
What’s Included
- Two daily 1.5 hour classes (yoga and art/dance/music)
- One small group ceremony (Mayan Fire, cacao dance, or sweat lodge)
- 6 nights of accommodation in a beautiful room
- Amazing vegetarian meals and unlimited self-serve local Guatemalan coffee, herbal tea and drinking water
Not included: transportation costs, tips to Villa Sumaya staff, optional ceremonies and activities