Are you navigating the unknown or a period of transition? Do you feel yourself longing for or fearing change—or both? Is it a challenge to slow down or trust your next step forward?
For many, this is a time of uncertainty or overwhelm—which also means opportunity for transformation, both individual and collective.
We invite you to settle into the magic of the Kawoq Forest, a sanctuary and retreat center in the Guatemalan highlands overlooking Lake Atitlán, where you’ll have the time, space and guidance to get still and listen deeply to what you’re ready to release and what wants to emerge.
Using Internal Family Systems (IFS), guided meditation, facilitated dialogue circles and writing reflection prompts, Jenny Bender, LICSW and Hannah Martin, LMHC will help you access more clarity about how you want to move through the world, what gets in the way of living the fullest expression of yourself, and how you can move toward greater authenticity and alignment.
For those who want to begin or close your days with yoga, you can join daily classes with a Kawoq Forest teacher. You'll also have unscheduled time during the day, when you might wander nature trails or book one of the many healing modalities and ceremonies that Kawoq Forest offers.
Jenny Bender (she/her) has decades of experience as an educator, facilitator and community organizer, and for the last decade, as a clinical social worker. She is a Level 2 Internal Family Systems psychotherapist, and a lifelong learner committed to individual, spiritual and collective growth. Her personal development and professional work are grounded in somatic practices, mindfulness and social justice, with the belief that deep healing happens in the body and in community. With her second and youngest child just graduating from high school, Jenny has been exploring the unknown, including what is ready to transform and emerge. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, two dogs and, on occasion, a visiting young adult or two!
Hannah Martin (she/her) is a psychotherapist and writer who lives by the Salish Sea in Seattle, Washington. As a therapist, she specializes in working with anxiety and OCD through compassionate, evidence-based approaches. She is trained in Levels 1 & 2 of IFS and has complemented this training with Somatic Parts Work Levels 1 & 2. Hannah co-founded the Wild Healers Collective, a group that supports healing professions through rewilding practices and partners with The Salish Sea School to offer Blue Mind Rewilding Retreats. When not working as a therapist, she enjoys long walks or runs and a cozy life at home with her husband and rescue pup, Karl.
Bungalow dorm with 4 twin beds and a shared composting toilet and outdoor shower
Each bungalow has 2 queen beds and sleeps 2 people. Shared composting toilet and outdoor shower. Email us if you are coming with a partner or friend and want to be in the same bungalow.
Each private bedroom has a queen bed. Shared composting toilet and outdoor shower. Please note that because these rooms are attached to the workshop sanctuary spaces, people may hear classes throughout the day from their accommodation.
Private forest cabins with queen bed and shared composting toilet and outdoor shower.
Use FRIENDS100 when you register with a friend (and email [email protected] to request lodging together), to each receive $100 off of your total cost.
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Included in your retreat registration is a roundtrip shuttle between Guatemala International Airport (GUA) and Kawoq Retreat Center. The shuttle will leave GUA airport at 11am on Monday, March 8 and will depart San Marcos at 11am on Saturday, March 13. The drive is about 4 hours each way, so depending on flights, you might spend a night near the airport in Guatemala City. Some recommended lodging within a few miles of GUA airport:
* Private transportation at a different time or location can also be arranged for an additional cost, but please plan to arrive in San Marcos no later than 5pm on the day you want to go to Kawoq Retreat Center.
Once we arrive in San Marcos, there is a 20 minute hike into the forest and up the mountain. Porters are available to bring your luggage to/from the retreat center for $20 each way. Please consider bringing a backpack and avoid rolling luggage.
Add Purchase Protection for a small fee and get a 100% refund of your registration purchase should you be prevented from attending due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. (Full Terms)
Why protect your registration purchase? Purchase Protection covers:
Purchase Protection covers many common unforeseen circumstances, but exclusions apply. View full List of qualifying circumstances and exclusions.
* Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Not available for or applicable to events, attendees, or travel outside of the USA. Purchase Protection is a service offered by Purchase Protection LLC. Purchase Protection is not an insurance policy. It is a service that will refund you 100% of your event fees, taxes and dues should you be prevented by unforeseen circumstances from attending the event. Purchase Protection does not apply to, and will not reimburse, charitable donations. Purchase Protection fees will be charged as a separate transaction. Any changes made to your purchase will not change the amount covered in this agreement.
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