"I can’t begin to express what this experience encompassed and meant for me. It was one of the most heartfelt, eye-opening, soul-soothing, rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. I felt totally safe, welcome and appreciated in the group. I felt a deep connection with all of the women and very related with many of their stories. I was extremely moved and touched throughout the writing circle as well as totally uninhibited and free in the other ceremonies! I loved and adored the movement. I witnessed first hand that vulnerability is not weakness and that it is the most courageous thing we can do and best means of connections with others. Aimee, I can’t express enough how grateful I am with you for facilitating this incredible, amazing retreat! I can’t honestly imagine anyone leading this as well as you did, as at home as I felt and as relaxed as I was. She's kind, caring, approachable, relatable, aware of everything and everyone. I could go on and on, but what I want to express is that a great part of this amazing, life-changing experience we all lived during the retreat was because of her, and I thank her for that! It’s as if I found a piece of me, I left a part of me, and I’m excited to discover and experience more sides of me. Come with an open heart and an open mind, willing to be, to let yourself be seen and to express anything and everything your heart desires. It will be one of the most rewarding and incredible experiences you'll ever have. I loved it with all my heart."

"I’m a big skeptic - especially as I’ve done other retreat types, yoga teacher training and one week retreats. Aimee is one of a kind. This was magical transformation for all of us. Each of the ten participants became so close. Aimee was so sensitive to each of our needs - she helped us experience so many elements of magic including writing. She prompts us in such a way you can’t help but let poetry flow from your own pen- after it flows from your gut, heart and throat. She’s a walking, talking poet! A combination of fairy, wild woman, magician, mother, soul sister, who can see you and facilitate change gently. She’s genuine and engaged with us. She’s real - 100%. She doesn’t know the meaning of the word judgment. In fact, she’s inquisitive, curious, playful, and kind. You will shed old skin - and find your true heart that’s always been there waiting for you to notice it! To say the volcanoes and Lake Atitlan setting is transformational is an understatement. Aimee’s collaborators - Robin in spiritual and physical yoga, Gabi and Kanika in embodiment and connection, Paola for sauna ceremony - are magical. The fire ceremony with Isais - what a prayer. Words can’t describe this experience. But be careful. This is not a retreat to be entered into lightly. Because it will rock your world! Change will happen!"

"The retreat was transformative. Wonderful energy, a fantastic and challenging venue, and a circle of women of all ages coming together in sisterhood. Thank you! The writing circle let us speak to our inner issues. It allowed us to share fully and gave us a place of trust. Aimee is intuitive, energetic, focused, fun, clear of expectations, and set an atmosphere of unconditional love. I would follow her for this work in the future. She brings women to a new place. The yoga was wonderful and the teacher was fantastic. The Yoga Forest is amazing - the small carbon footprint, up in the mountain, stairs everywhere. I even grew stronger with the stairs. Be prepared to be bold. The spirit here is wonderful and loving, and the food is fantastic. I loved the sisterhood with these wonderful women, the glimpses of Mayan culture, the awareness of our own inner voices. I knew this would be out of my comfort zone, but it was so worth it! I was brought to another time and place by the Mayan fire and we were transformed by the cacao and dance. I come away with more confidence, self knowledge, and self love. I found this retreat to be amazing. I highly recommend it. Go back to basics, bring your open mind and be ready to be transformed."

"I am still overwhelmed by each layer of opportunity for growth and self reflection that was offered by this retreat. The relationships that were created and the space that was given to, for and from each of us. I was not expecting it to be such a unifying, self-image challenging experience. The writing circles were introduced in a way that invited honesty and an immediate sense of support and non-judgment from the group. I liked that sharing was encouraged but never forced. It was a beautiful space for the witnessing of each of our souls. Just letting things breath and be received in a safe place is huge. Aimee showed up everyday with love, inspiration and space for each of us. And had the presence to move with whatever flexibility may be needed or surprises may have been presented. She made everyone feel truly loved and special. She is love, 100% magic and such a gift. Just by being whatever force she is, I got smacked upside the head with the thing I’d really needed to deal with and had decided I wasn’t going to touch on this trip. The meditations and intentions that Robin opened each yoga practice with were (aside from being wonderfully woven into the themes we were working within the writing circle) presented so openly and with an energy that begged you to show up for yourself. Her energy is a light that warms over and reveals beauty in everything it comes into contact with. She led a practice each day that really set me up to connect with myself and be present for the rest of the day. I also love dancing and had forgotten how to use it to release my emotions, so this is definitely something I am taking with me. I was absolutely captivated by the beautiful human beings that Aimee invited into our lives for the ceremonies. One of my main takeaways is that denying myself truth, pleasure, connection is not something that is serving me anymore. I think somewhere I equated pleasure with weakness. I think I have built a false sense of strength through denying desire. I am taking away a new commitment to myself. Seeing the beauty, humanity and vulnerability reflected by each woman in the circle everyday made me want to be kinder to myself. Every time I saw a woman release a self-imposed, hurtful belief, realize she already was a force she desired to be, or truly connect with another woman from a place of genuine care...with nothing motivating it other than love, I realize that I can and to give these things to myself. I am taking with me self care, self love and so much forgiveness as I journey into life lead by my heart and not lived between the lines of excuses I’ve been giving myself. My favorite parts were the random moments of true connection with each woman. This retreat is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself. Be ready to show up. You owe it to yourself to think about the reasons you’d say no. Think about where they are coming from and if those places are parts of yourself you want to continue to feed. Know that this is an environment of safety and love. There is magic all over this place, event, and the people drawn to it. I am filled right now with literally every single emotion. So don’t come if you want to just be healed...or fixed. What’s different now is that I have a new love and respect for myself that is reinforced by the picture in my heart of the faces of this circle of women reflecting back to me love, hope, generosity, vulnerability, power, bravery, grace and light. I feel like part of the magic comes from whatever is pulling each one of us inside to come. Know that you will leave with exactly what the Universe is preparing you to receive. I am so grateful I made the journey."

"This women’s retreat was a dream that I never wanted to wake up from. For so long I felt like I lost my soul. I felt like the world hardened my spirit. I wasn’t the same person I used to be, which was difficult for me to understand. My soul felt lost, and overwhelmed, almost like I was trying to find my way back home. But, as I look back on the week that I spent at Lake Atitlan with Aimee writing my soul out, I came to the conclusion that I never actually lost myself. This is one of those experiences, that you can’t even put into words. I will remember all of the infinite special moments from this week for the rest of my life. My life is forever changed. I also left Guatemala with ten new sisters, who I know will be in my life forever!! Thank you Aimee for putting together the most enchanting magical women’s retreat that all of our souls knew we needed. This was by far the BEST, most serendipitous week of my entire life. It was a week, I will never forget. If you are thinking of signing up for this retreat, JUST DO IT! You won’t regret one bit of it, your soul will be thanking you for the rest of your life, I promise."

"I cannot stop telling everyone I know about this life-changing experience and I think I will be doing that for the rest of my life. Every detail was incredible, and the seasoned thinking behind each decision and the intentionality was apparent. This is a labor of extreme love. To be on the receiving end of that love is what has the power to transform lives. While love is the strongest ingredient, this is also an exercise of suspending belief, imagining a different kind of world than we have allowed for ourselves (than society has put in front of us), trust, bravery, and grace. I feel permanently changed by this experience, in the most beautiful ways. I feel more grounded and simultaneously freer than ever. I feel more capable, more in charge of my life, braver, and more at ease. I've noticed my prayers are more sincere, my laughter is louder and more free flowing, my view of the Divine is more whole. I feel more whole. Something has healed inside of me that has been hurting for a very long time. I will carry this experience with me for the rest of my life and I will forever be grateful to Aimee and the women who took this journey alongside me. The writing circle was one of the things that drew me to the retreat initially, and it surpassed anything I could have imagined. Each prompt was some combination of intense, beautiful, and difficult. Aimee pushed us to delve deeper at every angle or turn a concept on its head. Aimee has this way of challenging us, pushing us, but doing so while embracing us in a warm hug. With her guidance, I felt safe to explore the deepest parts of myself, the darkest parts of myself, the things that knowingly and unknowingly lie in the shadows. Aimee challenged us to suspend our beliefs, if only for a few moments, to dream an entirely bigger dream. She was both esoteric and pragmatic. She did not just provide pertinent prompts, but she prompted US. In every sense of the word, she was our leader that week. She asked us to break ourselves open, and then stood by our side to help us take care of ourselves. Her commitment to everything she was teaching us was felt, both from a perspective of having studied it, taught, and lived it. Aimee's aliveness and her commitment to it is perhaps her greatest quality. The retreat is Aimee and Aimee is the retreat; they are synonymous, synchronous. I can't imagine a more gorgeous setting for this type of retreat to take place than Villa Sumaya. The sacredness of the lake was significant and integral to the work that we were doing. Each time Robin came to teach a yoga class was a blessing. There's something a bit magical about her and she is so good at what she does. She's able to cultivate a safe and exploratory environment and starting so many of our days with her was a beautiful way to set the tone. Kanika carries a whole universe with her every time she enters a space. Her presence and her embodiment sessions felt very important to my overall experience. There is a softness paired with strength and firmness that I have almost never seen in another, and being taught and embraced by someone with that energy was a feeling I hope I always remember. The level of spirituality experienced during the various ceremonies was crucial alongside the physical and emotional work we were doing throughout the week. The communication was great. I found something really powerful about Aimee's email style…the writing lacked a barrier…invited you in…and put you at ease. Honestly, because I was on the fence about coming at the last minute, the tone of Aimee's emails was something that pushed me towards coming. I already saw an insight into who she was. I will walk through my entire life differently because of this experience. Hands down, this is the greatest thing I've ever done for myself and was easily one of the best weeks of my life. If you're on a path of self-discovery; have a desire to heal; feel stuck in your every-day life; have tried lots of things, but are at a plateau; wanting a change, but not knowing where to begin; needing your life to be different; wanting to feel alive; if any of these topics resonated with you, then run to sign up for this."

"I feel I am not the same person I went into the experience as. All aspects of the retreat combined well to create a holistic journey that was transformative spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. I felt a profound healing took place and a shift of consciousness in which I cannot view myself or life in the same way again. Overall I feel that this retreat gifted me many experiences that will remain in my heart for the rest of my life. Aimee is an incredible space holder. She is able to navigate well between speaking and listening. Teaching and allowing. She was able to navigate our group dynamics in such a way as to allow us freedom to explore while still keeping us on track in achieving the objectives of each activity. The writing prompts we were given were thought provoking and emotionally healing. They way in which we moved through the beginning, middle and end seemed well plotted and created a seamless flow that allowed us to learn, heal, grow and expand throughout the week. I felt there was a good balance between writing and other activities that allowed us time to work and integrate while also having fun. Villa Sumaya is an amazing space. The ambience is beautiful and peaceful and it was easy to feel at home. The food was delicious and nourishing. The rooms were beautiful and comfortable. The staff was efficient, professional and kind. Robin’s calm and centered energy is very soothing and supportive of the yoga and meditations we did in the morning. She was very helpful in getting us going for our day in a way that felt supportive and gentle. I particularly loved the stories she wove into the practices to help us with reflections in our writing later in the day. It was so easy to feel so much joy and pleasure when moving in the class with Gabi. The trust exercises were a great way to help us to bond as a group. Kanika is such a joy. Her child like spirit lends well to the overall journey. I felt her movement classes helped us to tap into some much needed silliness to temper some of the deep writing we had in our circles. All the ceremonies were beautiful and powerful. They helped us to bring in higher connection and awareness to the work we were doing. This a transformative experience that will gift to you many things. It is more than just writing, it is a process of connecting, healing, growing, learning and experiencing new parts of ourselves and others in a safe and contained environment. Aimee provides a journey of expansion in which you will cultivate an experience together that will be life changing in all the best ways possible."

"I left the retreat with a feeling of pure wonder for the world around me which is more than I could of ever asked for. I also found a deep love and acceptance of my inner self. I feel empowered, uplifted, revived, safe, connected, inspired and… really, really grateful. The writing circles were so powerful for me. There is a circle of women I’m now woven into. I really can’t put into words how beautiful it was to hear all of their stories, to witness them rewrite that story and for them to hear me with the same amount of presence. I didn’t realize how much my soul was craving the connection of women. Aimee is a love and a light, and I couldn't imagine going on this journey with anyone else as our guide. From the moment we gathered, Aimee was incredibly graceful in the way she held the space for our group - in the way she handled all of our emotions and the outpour of energy. I always felt really safe sharing what I was feeling that day or that moment. I felt completely accepted. I felt heard and seen. Not only did she support us throughout our work in the circles but she arranged everything from guides into town, gave us advice on where to shop/eat/explore and kept us grounded and organized. With everything that we were moving through with pen, paper and our hearts – the movement of yoga was a really beautiful compliment. It allowed space to release, to stretch and open up for the day ahead. But, my favorite was the dance - some of my deepest messages were delivered during those moments. Still get goosebumps thinking about it! I am still in awe that I was able to experience the Yoga Forest… the volcanoes, the lake, the trees and landscape, it is a dream come true. Meals were always thoughtful and full of love. The Mayan Fire Ceremony was such a beautiful learning experience. I’ve left with friendship, my voice, a clear understanding of my mission and a heart full of love. Take the next step and go. It is one of the most profound journeys - to join with a group of women and express yourself in a such sacred space."

"It is hard to express in words just how much this retreat meant to me. The entire experience from the moment we stepped foot into the tuk-tuk that would take us to San Marcos, to the shuttle back to Guatemala City, it was like stepping into the true dimension of me. Through our writing exercises I learned so much about myself. I dug deeper into my soul than I ever have before. Our ceremonies opened my heart and gave me permission to breathe into myself and explore my soul. Every minute was carefully crafted to take each of us on this journey together and as individuals. I got to know myself better through the other women in our circle. Our excursions into town gave us the opportunity to experience Guatemala and give our hearts time to reflect on what we'd all worked through thus far. This experience rekindled what I thought I'd lost and gave me permission to be authentic, vulnerable, and powerful. Our writing circle was exceptionally emotional and unexpected. With what seemed like simple writing prompts, I was able to dive into my life in such a way that I'd never done before. Every woman inspired me in their own way and gave me an opportunity to reflect on my own thoughts and desires. Aimee took care of us like a mom, sister, and true friend. She listened to each of us with an open heart. She gave us space and she held space for us. We each brought our own personalities and baggage and Aimee gracefully worked her way through all of that with us. She inspired me to dance and sing and be ME! Her communication throughout the week gave me peace of mind and each time she spoke it felt like I was being embraced by a warm hug of understanding. Robin brought so much calm and peace and light to our morning meditations and yoga. She challenged me to stretch not just my body, but my mind even further. The Five Rhythms Dance gave my soul permission to dance with passion. It was wild, emotional, and cleansing. The ceremonies brought our circle to life. They gave us a chance to express ourselves in ways that many of us have never experienced. The way Aimee weaved everything together is a testament to how much thought she's put into this retreat. I discovered my authentic self through this retreat. She's always been there, but aspects of life pushed her down and hid her from the light. This experience brought her back to life. I have a new perspective. I have tools for dealing with people and situations. I have been given permission to live and experience and love. From this experience, I am taking home ME. My favorite thing was how close all of us women got to each other. If you're ready to grow and explore the depths of your soul, then you will receive so many blessings and gifts from this retreat."

"My overall experience and feelings were ones of wholeness, insight, awareness, acceptance. In this otherworldly experience, I felt loved and held and safe as I processed painful feelings and experiences. I felt connected to one of the most amazing group of people I’ve ever met, unique women as individuals, but also part of some effervescent and hallowed whole created only for and in this time and place. In some ways, the experience feels like a dream, like something that happened a long time ago, or far away inside of me. It’s what I imagine traveling in time or space to feel like. Plucked out of a very different different life, landing in a special and unknown experience, there in wonder and confusion and comprehension, seeing and knowing things communally, that until then had only been seen and known secretly and privately, or not fully known at all. Transported back into former life, all the same, yet me different. I felt the magic. I remember it. I carry it with me. I would tell someone considering coming to close their eyes and jump. Press book now, get those tickets, then lift your hands off the wheel and go for the ride, see where this journey takes you. Bring all of yourself: the good, the bad, the ugly. Leave with even more of yourself: hopes, dreams, thoughts, experiences. Carry that self out into the world, with this retreat encounter the candle in the window of your heart, always burning for YOU. Much love to you Aimee. Your hard work and unconditional love does not go unnoticed and is appreciated by all of us."

"This was exactly the gift I needed to give myself at this moment in my life. Aimee is an incredible human who runs a life-changing retreat. I came away with a sense of presence, connectedness, and inner calm and love I've never really felt before. Through the retreat, there was this pervasive sense of one-ness with the other women and to the universe. I connected with thoughts and feelings I never even realized I had, and with women I would have never otherwise had the chance to really know, deep down. Every moment was amazing, beautiful, transformative. Don't come because you're looking to focus on getting that book written or having that perfect vacation or perfecting that challenging yoga pose. Come because you hear a voice calling you to be here, even if it's only a whisper. Come if you want to open your heart and your mind to the universe and to an incredible circle of women in a magical place. Come because you know deep down that this is the next step on a journey to fill your heart and find your place in the world. (If you don't feel these things, book a cruise instead!) Thank you, Aimee, for melting my cynical heart. If you're having any doubts, ignore them."

"This was an incredible experience - a real journey. It was everything I longed for and more. Aimee created a space for each woman to be open, be heard, and to listen to herself. The location was magical. I will never forget this experience. Leaving it was feeling so hard and scary - and ending. Our yoga teacher’s beautiful words this morning resonated - every ending is a new beginning. This experience has sparked a new beginning and a journey for me. I will take away a belief in myself and a connection to my inner voice and purpose. A willingness to let go and experience the journey. If you want to connect with beautiful people in a beautiful place, to connect with yourself, just say yes. Do it. You will be grateful you did. Aimee, I will always remember and hold dear the memories of this retreat and the things I’ve learned from it. Thank you for having the dream and faith to call out to the universe for this circle."

"I arrived at our retreat filled with fear of the unknown. After meeting the other women who would accompany me on this journey I was intrigued. We were all so different and yet I felt as though I wanted to know everything about them. They all were feeling the same way and after a delicious meal, we went to our lovely, cozy cabins and prepared for our first writing circle. No time to waste, we went deep and real right from the very first words written and spoken. Aimee led us through our journey with style, grace, grit and wisdom. She is indeed an old soul, a fun loving and flexible person with the right amount of "agenda" to keep us and herself honest and on track. Our ceremonies are indelibly printed on my heart and our morning Yoga practice with Robin put me on the right track to self care. Aimee is a fierce and intuitive woman who held and challenged me as I discovered what does not serve me, examined what I could lovingly discard and then start to heal from the baggage I've been carrying around with me for over 40 years. I was supported in trusting myself and to direct my energy only to what sparks and nourishes my heart. She intuitively made space for all of us, and we had so much fun, singing, dancing, and just being with each other. She is wise, strong of heart and mind and boldly intuitive. I would pay twice as much for this powerful and life changing experience. It was incredibly enriching to the soul, heart and mind. I now have the Women of the High Heart to hold in my circle anytime I need them-even with the many miles between us."

"This retreat was overall one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life. I did not know what to expect but this was even more than I could have ever imagined. The variety of activities, from meditation and yoga to movement/dance, sound healing, traditional Mayan fire ceremony and Chichimeca sweat lodge, kayaking, hiking and cultural excursions, I was continuously in awe of what I learned from each experience. Since this was a writing retreat, I was most surprised at how many different types of prompts that Aimee would use to facilitate our writing. I did not come as a writer and was apprehensive about sharing my writing, but by the end of the retreat, I know that it was so healing for me. The writing circle became my favorite part. Writing and journaling is a practice I will now carry with me always. I loved listening to other women share their stories and writing and it inspires and empowers me. The writing circles created such a deep sense of connection that I believe would not had been possible if we did not have that as part of the retreat. Together, our group of ten women and our retreat leader Aimee were nothing short of magic. We all held space for one another and I care for each one individually. With our collective experiences, we now share a sisterhood where we feel safe, loved and supported. I cannot recommend this retreat enough to others. In addition, the venue of Villa Sumaya and the location at Lake Atitlan create the most stunning backdrop to create a sense of peace. The staff were incredibly helpful, each meal was delicious, healthy and lovingly prepared and the accommodations were beyond my wildest dreams. Truly I was surrounded by beauty in all directions. I am forever grateful for this experience and it has transformed me and the direction of my life. I hope that anyone considering this retreat says YES. The rewards from this one week will last a lifetime."

"After this week, I feel like I've found my center, my inner peace, my lightness, and my wisdom again. This retreat was truly transformational for me. The gorgeous, secluded setting, the nurturing atmosphere Aimee creates, and the acceptance and support of the other women were all invaluable to me. We got deep fast, and I didn't realize how bonded I would feel to the other women - or how much I would laugh and cry, how it would all come together and give me these crystallizing "ah-ha" moments where things just clicked for me. Aimee provided wonderful inspiration/guidance and there was always space to share should we choose to do so. I admire and deeply respect her. She managed to lead the group as a whole while still honoring each woman. She is grounded, honest, and authentic, and her willingness to be vulnerable with us and tell her own story helped the rest of us feel comfortable being vulnerable, too. She made me feel safe and seen. I will take so much - the power of reframing personal narratives, the reminder of who I am at my core, and the realization that I haven't been feeding my soul enough. I am going to dance and sing more. I am going to create time to sit in nature and feed my soul with beauty. Trust your intuition and do it. You will come out renewed and inspired to live a more authentic life. You will be reminded of your own beauty."

"Writing. Beautiful writing, surrounded by rituals, dancing, yoga in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It’s been one week since the retreat is over, but I am still processing what this was. A time between times. A temporal poetic life-changing trip. A voyage into eight inner worlds that somehow this magic beautiful, mystic woman, Aimee, managed to transform into one big soul. This is my new tribe. Profound sharing, deep connections, open ears and open hearts made the Storyteller Within an expansive land where we all left our seeds. I would recommend this miraculous, intimate and transmutative experience only to those that would want to look with love and compassion inside their soul. And by sharing that with amazing women of different ages, places, backgrounds, have the most transformative fun and poetic time of their lives. Aimee, thank you! You are a poem! "

"This truly was a sacred experience. It’s difficult to establish the kind of trust cultivated in our women’s circle over lifelong relationships. That we were able to do so over the space of a week is incredible. It was definitely a challenge to introspect, and at times painful, but reclaiming our narrative and hearing the stories of other women put mine into perspective. It allowed me to see my story from another lens and helped me to realize how in control I am and always have been. I am armed with greater self-confidence and feel more comfortable than ever before to be my authentic self. Aimee was an absolute pleasure to be around, a masterful facilitator, a great listener, and beyond all else, a beautiful soul. She is extremely open and nonjudgmental. She was (somehow - by magic?) able to create this truly sacred, safe and trusting environment where women shared their darkest memories and deepest fears. The circle began with opening up and sharing our vulnerabilities and ended with looking at the stories constructively with the aim of carrying over our lessons learned into our lives back home. Aimee was able to inspire us to look past our past and help guide us into rediscovering what it is our hearts yearn for. This retreat is a beautiful gift you can give yourself. To allow yourself time to introspect. To share, laugh, cry with other beautiful women. To be reunited with your intuition. To rediscover yourself, your passions. It’s a difficult journey, but well worth it. This was incredible and exactly what I needed!"

"There were many times prior to the retreat when I had serious doubts about this experience. From the opening circle to the very end, I simply loved it. It is truly incredible to me that one wise woman can think up such an incredible journey – it was a lifetime gift to be a part of it. I loved the mix of humor and deep reflection. At a point in my life where I deeply needed this, the writing circles gave me a space, and the exercises a format, not only to claim my truth (not to mention discover it!) but to say it out loud. I found The Yoga Forest to be a relaxing retreat setting fitting for this experience, and integrated with respect into the community. Just two days after, I long to return to the magic of the lake and that forest. I feel like I got the gift of a journey that without the circle would have taken me years to complete. Aimee is simply amazing. I benefited so greatly from her dear presence, voice and inner light/beauty/force. She dared to help us confront the vulnerable truth in all of us, dared to nudge, dared to make us look into one another's eyes – and it was truly amazing. I loved the community of trust, vulnerability, and self-discovery that so rapidly formed between strangers. I told myself I had unrealistic expectations for a retreat. How can one week help me find myself? But it did. I not only realized I had been inside myself all along, but that I love myself! What a great feeling to be able to write that and mean it. The experience inspired and taught me a new way to walk through the world, a way to reclaim my story. I left the magic of The Yoga Forest with a clear vision of the incredible light inside me, the power of my voice, and a deep sense of inner peace. If you have become a stranger to yourself, and want a safe, relaxing, hilarious, rejuvenating journey of empowerment and self-discovery, this is the retreat for you!"

"The retreat completely blew my expectations away! I learned more than I ever thought I would and started to express my deepest feelings with women who I have come to love in just a short week. How amazing is that?! I loved the writing circles, as well as the supportive space we shared for this transitional journey. The writing prompts were thoughtful and provocative, and allowed us to have a deeper connection to our thoughts and expression. I was able to share things about myself that I had never shared with anyone. What a fantastic opportunity to get to know me and women again! I am so grateful and blessed to have chosen such an amazing guide to help me on the road to finding myself again. Aimee’s warm and strong presence helped us to step outside of our shells and share what we needed to process. Thank you for helping me to see what was always there, my friend. I learned that I am a walking paradox and it is OK. That I need to share my gifts and stop apologizing for who and what I am. That there is no journey to finding who I am. I am who I am! This is the break you need to reclaim your spirit and remember who you are as a powerful force. As a woman."

"I had an incredible experience! Aimee created a sacred week that nurtured, challenged, held and stretched me. I left knowing and loving myself more deeply. The writing circle was beautifully held - I always trusted the rhythm and sacredness of the circle. I liked the variety of prompts, and valued how Aimee held space for all that unfolded. There was something so powerful about (mostly) only sharing our written words in the circle - it brought out a rawness and realness that I don't often experience in groups. Aimee is a skilled facilitator. I admire how she brings strength, solidity, and softness while making room to follow the needs and energy of the group. She modeled for me what it means to lead on one's own terms. The setting was gorgeous, comfortable, and food delicious. I loved starting my days with Robin’s yoga. I appreciated her invitational approach, and I liked how she wove stories, scents and sounds into the practice. I loved Kanika’s kindness, warmth, creativity, and power in embodied expression. She created such an encouraging, exploratory space that honored presence. My favorite thing about being part of this retreat was having a whole week to allow myself to receive. Everything was so thoughtfully designed and led with such grace. I will take away many things: the wonder of strangers forming community with ease, the beauty of expressing myself freely, the honor of witnessing others, the gift of being uncomfortable and shedding layers and the joy of allowing myself to be guided and receive."

"Whoa. I expected this to be life changing but maybe not this life changing? It has made me reconsider my life, my place in the world, my relationship with women and my connection to nature. It was truly an indescribable experience, and I feel renewed and reclaimed as myself. It was really incredible how we moved from being total strangers to sharing our deepest joys and fears between friends in just one week. The love and support I felt from the other women was absolutely incredible. Aimee is absolutely amazing. Her warmth and love helped to bring out each women’s inner truth in the safest, most comfortable way possible. She guided us down the path to ourselves, only pushing when we needed it. I am so grateful! What better place could this be than in the jungle? It was great to get out of our comfort zone and being unplugged was key. I loved that the yoga focused on self-love and care. I’ll take with me an appreciation of the power of a circle of women, an appreciation and love for my body, and the first steps of the journey to loving myself unconditionally. I came wanting to feel better. I did not know I would leave truly knowing and feeling like myself. Do it. Even if you’re not sure why you need it, or if you need it, or what you will get out of it. You will leave changed."

"This retreat is unlike anything I've ever experienced. It has brought so many raw and beautiful truths to the forefront. I feel overwhelmingly thankful to have been part of such an incredibly thoughtful, open, creative, kind-hearted, and loving group of women. Aimee has not only a gift for writing but also a gift for forming a home away from home, where women from many different backgrounds share their stories. This trip was the most beautiful spiritual journey I’ve ever had the honor to be a part of. It’s hard to leave this home she has so creatively built, but I know every person will walk away better, stronger and more confident. The writing circles were beautiful and perfect. Aimee is a true gift - she has truly found her calling and has blessed all those around her as a result. She radiates authenticity and true beauty from the inside out. I feel incredibly thankful for whatever drew me here. The setting was incredible - how can you not enjoy the view and sounds? Don’t think. Every woman has a journey that needs to be shared. This is your opportunity to evaluate your life, be silly, take a step back, and just chill the hell out. You won’t regret a thing."

"I just knew this would be an important experience for my personal journey. Little did I know what an understatement that would be! Our writing circle was life-changing. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so seen, heard, and supported. The commentary and encouragement that arose from the sharing of our deepest truths was intelligent, constructive, and empowering. To be able to share and receive such supportive, thoughtful feedback is a gift everyone deserves to experience. The rewards I left this retreat with are immeasurable and beyond dear to my heart. There are major milestones in life that are so much sweeter when shared; this retreat is the perfect example. Together, we were encouragers, empathizers, enliveners, inspirations, and mirrors to each other. Aimee is a special soul; her heart shines through in everything she does. Her unapologetic, genuine pursuit of the truth is the backbone behind this powerhouse of a program. Her writing prompts are meaningful and flexible with a consistent theme of ‘getting to the heart of the matter’ and her ability to create an uplifting group dynamic while holding space is exceptional. In her presence, you will be blessed with her warmth, wisdom, and (mischievous!) humour. As we were packing up to leave, I wrote “How has it been a week already? How has it only been a week?” Pieces of my heart will forever live with these women in Guatemala, but not in a way that feels like I’m leaving something nonrenewable behind. I feel that with every piece I’ve left, something greater has been gifted to me in return. For anyone who is reading this and thinking “Should I take the leap?” Do it. You will be caught and brought home to a personal reality greater than you can imagine... if you’re ready to do the work! This is not a journey for the faint of heart; to be present with yourself, to dedicate this effort, this time for yourself, takes a brave soul ready for transformation. To the sacred women who stumble upon this retreat, you are being called. You’re meant to be here."

"At this moment in my life, this retreat was exactly the medicine I needed. I had moments of hesitation but leaned into them. I have loved it and will cherish the trust and love grown here. I laid my soul open in order to rearrange, learn, and grow. Aimee led all of us gracefully through some tough terrain and we came out the other side softer, warmer, wiser and more in touch with our own soul voice. There was no wrong way to do anything and we were encouraged to explore - words, phrases, thoughts, prose, poetry - whatever gets your feelings across. Aimee knows when to push and when to ask the tough questions in order to get to the next level. She helped me get more out of this week than I imagined I was capable of. Definitely a 'work of heart.' She is a beautiful force for good in the name of women. The Yoga Forest is healing and truly a wonder. While I missed some of the comforts of home, I enjoyed the stars more, the colors of flowers more, the shapes of leaves more. I breathed in what was missing and filled my soul. I’m taking my life back. My heart. My soul. Jump in with your full heart. Your life is waiting for you inside!"

"A rejuvenating and inspiring experience! I felt re-energized and re-committed to myself and my soul journey. I enjoyed the progression of the week, and prompts that go straight to the soul. Every women was willing to consider, play, share and grow. Aimee holds space so well. She created a welcoming, safe environment, gave affirming feedback and knew the material she presented. I appreciated her grounded examples and her playful spirit. Our yoga teacher was excellent - a peaceful, nonjudgmental presence. The Yoga Forest was a gorgeous setting and Lake Atitlan is the perfect backdrop for play, prayer and opening up. The evening ceremonies were new, unfamiliar, sacred experiences. It was the perfect amount of group time, free time and rest. I will take with me pride in how much I have grown in the last year, gratitude for a beautiful experience to express myself and honor my gifts, and appreciation for body movement and sisterhood. If you love yourself, or want to love yourself, take your soul on this journey! A beautiful experience of vulnerability, trust, expression and spirituality."

"This was a beautifully powerful experience. Aimee is an incredible facilitator. She fosters sisterhood, creative expression, self-compassion, and fun. The combination of writing, movement, ceremonies, excursions, and rest made for a wonderfully balanced week. I left feeling so full in all the best ways. I cannot recommend this experience enough. The writing circle was my favorite part! I thought the prompts were incredible and I really appreciated the pieces shared for inspiration. I loved hearing everyone sharing their writing. Aimee is a master at this. I honestly don't know how she does it. She has a real gift. She made the retreat interesting, inspiring, challenging, supportive, fun, and truly beautiful. She brings so much magic. Villa Sumaya is such a serene spot. The food was wonderful and loved the constant access to such an awesome tea selection! The relationships I built I truly believe are long lasting. I left the retreat more confidence in my purpose and following what makes my heart sing, rather than what's convenient."

"It’s been a true blessing being able to come here. I felt very connected to the other women and learned a lot about myself. I was continually blown away by how encouraging, loving and supporting everyone was in the group. I feel the writing prompts got to the heart of the matter. It is also incredibly powerful to have the time to share after writing. Aimee is an excellent facilitator. She has a great intuition during the group gatherings and knows how to encourage those on the fence with sharing. She knows how long to wait. I never felt rushed, or pressured, or like I wasn’t being heard. She was great at responding to the energies in the group. The Yoga Forest is gorgeous and, though outside of my comfort zone, I very much enjoyed my stay. I absolutely loved the dancing - it will stay with me. The amount of vulnerability and connection that happens here is something I didn’t foresee happening but am eternally grateful for. This was more than I had imagined. Adventure, sacred sisterhood, bravery, creativity, being honest and honoring oneself, recognizing the voice of the critic. Get ready for one of the most transformational experiences of your life."

"Amazing. Through our collective written voices, coaxed to the surface, this beautiful tribe of goddesses has been gifted with deep healing and transformation, with this sacred forest and Lake Atitlan as our witnesses! Aimee has created a deep and personal experience through a skillfully orchestrated program of exploration and discovery, while allowing spontaneity and individual expression to always be honored guests. I loved the circles - the sharing, context, quotes, theme of the four directions, allowing everyone to have a voice, probing and contemplative questions - it awed and inspired me! The connectedness, the sense of family-community-sisterhood, the honor, the respect, the authenticity. Aimee amazes me - her attentiveness, compassion, presence and poetic savvy. Her collected inspiration, her listening skills and feedback with such respect and sensitivity. Her ability to create a safe container for us to express with soft structure and easy flow. She rocks! So much gratitude for bringing us together and being the beautiful soul she is. The Yoga Forest nourished and supported this inner journey we were on. Beauty, peace, community, respect, permaculture - all a perfect fit! Each woman gave me a magnificent gift to carry in my heart on my journey forward. I will often reflect back to this experience. It is alive within me. If you’re feeling stuck in your life, afraid of embracing your full potential - go! You will thank me."

"Amazing experience. Having been to hundreds of retreats, conferences and workshops - this was one of the best. The writing circles were a wonderful experience. Aimee is incredibly intuitive, insightful and inclusive. She has the strong presence necessary to hold the container for all that comes up and more. I love how she brought in animal medicine - snake, jaguar, hummingbird, eagle. Come - you will love it. An introspective look at self and life - where you have come from and where you are going. Juicy laughter and tears - clearing out and creating space for new. Thank you Aimee, for your generous, giving, kind and strong spirit!"

"This retreat was challenging in the way I needed it. It encouraged me to look deep within myself and feel more confident and open towards myself. I loved all of the writing exercises and how they built on each other. I loved all the facilitators that came to provide us with even more experience. It was a perfect balance between adventure, introspection, love, challenge and many many high moments. The writing circles really encouraged me to look deep within myself, and they helped me to understand and LOVE myself. They helped me get reassurance. The writing exercises were beautifully crafted. Aimee is the best facilitator. Facilitating is her craft and art. She is always attentively listening, compassionately and insightfully. Robin’s yoga and the movement were a great way to start every day. The setting couldn’t be more beautiful. It was so beautifully organized. It’s amazing how Aimee balances several roles and ensures everyone’s needs are being met. I took away that I have all the wisdom I need within me. I am infinitely loved and surrounded by love. I loved the connections I cultivated with others and myself. And the excursions such as hiking, kayaking and visiting San Juan. It is the most enriching experience you will have and there is absolutely no reason at all why you shouldn’t do it. Aimee is a healer and she will guide you back to your heart."

"The retreat was awesome. I was looking for a conduit to heal after a long, draining experience. The retreat combined with an amazing facilitator helped me find my way back to life and me again. I can be loving, compassionate and curious again without fear of pain or heartbreak. The writing circle was fundamental in healing for me. Although it was extremely difficult to share at times, the ”look” encouraged me to share. The group sharing all assisted at many times. I felt the same pain and had similar experiences. With a blue heron spirit, Aimee provided loving and intuitive guidance. At times, I pondered ‘how in the hell did she do that?’ I loved Robin and the yoga and found so much relaxation and insight in those sessions. Aimee is totally on the administration and communication. I am taking back my life to live as a free-loving soul. I loved the kayaking, the hiking, the sharing, the love. VAMOS. This is an amazing opportunity to get a taste of Guatemala accompanied by a facilitator who moves with the needs of the group. The experience regenerated my soul, enabling me to once again, lead with my heart."

"This trip was an amazing experience before it even began. Aimee did an excellent job prior to the retreat start with planning, organizing and keeping all of us informed. We had flexibility beforehand both in choosing excursions and our best-fit transportation. The retreat itself was beyond what I could’ve hoped for. The yoga and meditation practice were daily and they were excellent. Our instructor spent so much time with us and learning about us - a true delight. The other planned events, excursions, traditional ceremonies, singing and dancing, all were thoughtfully planned and executed. The team of healers Aimee has pulled together are sincere and wonderful people. And then, there’s Aimee and her writing circles -wow, just wow. She is a beautiful person in and out, a healer and a giver and a true friend. She’s poured her heart into her writings and readings and will surely capture your heart, too. Aimee has a way with women and words that creates an atmosphere of love, belonging, strength and spirituality. I feel honored to be a part of the circle of women who touch and have been touched by this life enhancing retreat. This retreat is an amazing value and once in a lifetime experience. I am grateful and fortunate now and forever.
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"This experience in Guatemala on Lago de Atitlan is one of the most nourishing, nurturing and enriching things you can do for yourself. Aimee is truly a gift and what she has created for women is an opportunity to suspend responsibility and allow themselves to be guided lovingly and supported through a process of self exploration and awakening with a powerful circle of like-minded women seeking awareness. The value of this journey and the experiences Aimee has curated for the group is far beyond anything I could have asked for. Prepare to be embraced and provided for by a lovely community of wellness-focused, beautiful souls at The Yoga Forest, surrounded by a dazzlingly serene solar powered nature-scape of open air structures tucked into the mountainside."

"I went to this retreat to celebrate my 60th birthday, and I had to almost pinch myself that I was living in the midst of the most beautiful postcard every moment of every day. I knew I had come to the right place. We all were given the space to share and hold a space of light and love for each other – we developed a sisterhood that will last a lifetime as a result of the writing circles. I appreciated the depth and purpose of each writing prompt, each discussion, and each of the introductions that Aimee gave to transition us for the next adventure. Aimee is a master at navigating compassion and modeling unconditional acceptance. She was our fearless leader in every way possible. She has spent years developing the ability to masterfully facilitate and encourage women to step into the sacred expression that is in each one of us. Morning meditation, yoga and dance was a beautiful ritual that I would love to incorporate into my daily routine. Villa Sumaya was amazing. This was a once in a lifetime experience at a rare and spectacular retreat center: Vibrantly rich accommodations, set on the edge of Lake Atitlan, overlooking massive volcanoes, with vegetarian meals full of flavor, beauty and nutrition. The Mayan Fire Ceremony and the excursion to San Juan were enriching and once in a lifetime experiences. From this retreat, I have deeper roots that allow me to reach higher. I have an enhanced foundation of who I am to the degree that I know I cannot be rocked off course of my destiny. Aimee and the other women spoke directly into my eyes and told me my worth and value, and because of the work we had already done, I was able to resonate with their words in every cell of my body, resulting in a lasting transformation in my life. I loved being me and being seen as I am. I’ve already recommended the retreat to my neighbors, and I will keep encouraging others to embark upon this sacred journey into a deeper expression of what it means to live a life with meaning and purpose."

"I can't say enough about Aimee's retreat in Guatemala! Aimee managed to weave together so many rich experiences in one week, while still managing to provide ample opportunities for rest and reflection. I never felt rushed or overwhelmed with the schedule; and yet even through the course of the week I couldn't believe all that we were doing! The journey from the airport up to the Yoga Forest alone made for a great story. That first night of welcoming and opening the circle was magical, with rain through the forest, dancing candles, smoky sage, drumming, and opening the four directions. In addition to daily writing circles and beautiful yoga practices, there was time for dancing, exploring the town, had my Mayan birth chart read by Aimee's friend, Ingrid (who also led us in the Mayan Fire Ceremony later in the week), a transformative Reiki session arranged by Aimee, a powerful Soundbath, an individualized essential oils class, and volunteering with local children at a creative arts center. That was only half the week! Then Aimee set me up with her Shaman friend, Pablo, in town so that he helped me make my own drum! We participated in a Cacao ceremony and more dancing, followed by wonderful food and another ceremony for the New Moon up at the cave. We wrapped up the amazing trip Saturday by boating over to San Juan, learning about the local culture, full of colorful art and friendly, smiling people - and we were shown a demonstration by the women's co-op how they make clothing from natural dyes. Even more than all of these incredible experiences, I forged lasting friendships with many of the women at the retreat. Aimee created a safe, supportive, and emotionally provocative atmosphere that allowed me to heal many creative wounds. Everything she did was so thoughtful and kind, going far and beyond just a workshop facilitator - she treated us as dear friends rather than simply welcomed guests. Her generosity, vulnerability, and authenticity was, and remains, encouraging and inspiring. Thank you!"

"Wonderful! This was everything I could want in a women’s retreat. I loved the group of loving women. I loved going deep and the spiritual development. I loved the surprises, and that it was all unpredictable. Aimee is an excellent listener and asked all the right questions. I loved the Mayan fire ceremony and the dance ceremony with the free flow. I loved working on our issues and then working on overcoming them to be the powerful women that we are. The retreat surpassed my expectations. The Yoga Forest was beautiful and the food delicious, if at times hard with the stairs. This is the most content I have been in a very long time. Do it for yourself, even though you may be out of your comfort zone."

"This is an explorative journey with writing as a tool to open your heart, examine your soul, listen to your passions, and express your truth to write your own life story. The love and support created by a group of women gathering together to express their true selves is powerful and incredibly important. Everyone deserves to have this experience of support, love, and the joy of expression. Aimee was incredibly gifted in facilitating a powerful and creative circle in which we were supported to dive deep into our souls. She held a safe space, encouraging each woman to share and contribute, while honoring individual strengths, gifts, weaknesses, blockages, and personalities. She is a genuine leader with a kind, loving way of leading and a true passion and talent for the art of writing. The Yoga Forest is a magical place that was the perfect setting for this retreat. A nature lover heaven. Watching the glow of the sunrise over the volcano and the lake during meditation and yoga is pure magic. The Mayan fire ceremony was such an incredible once in a lifetime experience. I am coming away with inspiration, passion, gratitude and love. I will hold this experience in my heart, always. Thank you for the life change."

"This was such an incredible and transformational experience for me and the rest of the participants whom we now refer to as the sisterhood. This retreat far exceeded any expectations that I had and if you are thinking about it then just do it. The Lake is absolutely magical. Aimee, the facilitator, is incredibly talented and intuitive and somehow manages to guide you in stretching your soul and expanding your heart through stimulating writing assignments and other activities. It’s actually hard to describe except to say it was profound. I highly recommend."

"I felt such a sense of comfort in this week. It was above and beyond anything I could have imagined. Knowing I had a safe space to open up (and be filled) with no judgment was a beautiful reminder that so many women - all ages and from all walks of life - relate on so many levels. The yoga was stellar and really inspired me to go deeper into my practice. The Yoga Forest was just beautiful and Lakshmi was a sanctuary. I’ll take away that I AM ENOUGH. That so many women deal with the same self-degradation, and we have to inspire and empower one another. Get ready to have your heart blow right open, to deeply connect with some incredible women, to clear creative blockages, and to unlock your potential."

"I feel so grateful to be a part of this retreat and privileged to hear others stories, and deepest fears and desires and dreams and hopes. It has been profound and I feel I have released some stubborn beliefs and negative emotions that will free me up to move forward. The writing circle was thoughtful, with soulful exercises to challenge and support movement through the process of shedding skin… to connecting with the universe. There was plenty of time to share and no pressure if you didn’t want to. Aimee has a wonderful presence, deeply listening to every woman in the circle. What a gift for her to hear, see and remember what was going on for each of us. And it’s not easy to create safety so people feel comfortable to share. Thank you for providing this! Her desire to empower others was obvious from small comments to the overall program. Villa Sumaya was beautiful and heavenly, which made it all the more special. Food was fantastic, staff lovely, and the lake and volcanoes were magnificent. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be inspired, empowered, connected - life-changing!"

"I found peace, connection, strength and validation this week. The setting could not have been more magical or more conducive to soul-searching, serenity and reflection. The writing exercises were well-balanced with sharing, and the writing circles were well-balanced with other activities that enabled inner and outer self-expression. Aimee is so intuitive, patient, and receptive. She knows exactly how to give people a safe place, challenge their mindsets without pushing too hard. She really sees each women’s heart and it’s amazing to watch her respond, give support, and show love. Thank you Aimee for teaching us to look up and make eye contact after we’ve spoken. Thank you for asking us to question our self-doubt, rethink our resistance, challenge our interpretations of what is good, bad, black, or white. Thank you telling us to erase “perhaps”, “maybe” and “sorry” from our speech. If you are feeling lost and you need to see beauty inside and outside yourself again, embark on this journey. It only requires you to be present and bring a pen. The rest is up to you as far as what you want to express, share and experience. If you’re brave enough to give it your all, you will be changed."

"How ironic to leave from a storyteller within retreat totally speechless. I have little words, amazing memories, strong connections, and so many lessons. It was really easy to share in the environment that Aimee created for us. I felt super comfortable and open in our circle and loved all our writing prompts. It's hard to put into words how liberating and special all the night ceremonies were. The Yoga Forest could not be more perfect. It's magical, mystical, unreal and breath-taking. I took a picture of every single sunrise. Food was delicious every single day. I'll take away the strength to write my own story, to take control of the brush and make something beautiful. Nothing will take away what I learned here from my heart. This retreat meant everything - the women, nature, memories, darkness, light - all of it. This has the been the best week of my life. I'm so grateful. Just do it. Paradise on earth, with the raddest, most grounded retreat leader. She's a mentor and forever friend now. If you feel drawn to this place, come."

"It was a truly magical and unforgettable experience, more than I ever expected. Better than a dream. It was full of emotions, laughs, tears, screams, dance, yoga, sunrise and full moon - especially full of magic and love. I didn't want to leave and I would definitely do it again and again and again. I was amazed to see how this writing circle unfolded throughout our week together. A perfectly crafted writing circle. I was truly blown away. A space for sharing, for creating, for expressing and for receiving. It felt free and yet it was guided perfectly in a subtle but encouraging way. We shed our ego, acknowledged our fears and inner critics, to then be reminded of the joy, the magic and the love in our lives, in ourselves, and to finally manifest our dreams and allow ourselves to create them and make them a reality. And all the beautiful texts, poems, inspiring quotes in between the writing sessions to help us feel within ourselves what we needed to write about. Aimee was exceptional. Humble, caring, loving, soft and gentle. She made us feel free and we never realised how much she was guiding us. Like an angel watching after your soul, you feel safe and in good hands. You can let go, you can be free, you can be true. She's got your back and you don't even realise it. She listens to you, she hears you even when you don't speak. She sees your heart. I would recommend doing a retreat with her to every woman I ever meet. The yoga teacher was absolutely fantastic. Very in tune with the yogic philosophy, promoting a mindful and purposeful life, and connecting the mind, body and spirit. Every morning it was a real joy to tune myself into the new day ahead. She helped me feel centered, set my intention for the day and be in the moment. Villa Sumaya is like a little piece of heaven on earth. Secluded paradise, only accessible by boat, with an amazing view on the lake and volcanoes. The food was absolutely amazing. You have everything at your fingertips. Amongst the magic of it all, we got to experience the different evening ceremonies. I take from that experience that it is so important sometimes to just leave all your busy life behind and let your inner wild woman free to dance and sing with other women. Because this is when you know you're alive. This is when you understand there's a reason you're here on this planet today. You feel that you have lots to give and still so much to receive and discover. My favourite part was that for 8 days I got to be completely true and naked and I was seen, heard and loved for that exact same reason. It is very rare in today's society to find a place, a group of people, who will allow you to be 100% raw you. This retreat was like that and I am ever so grateful for it. Can I please go back?? This retreat was a moment of my life I'll never forget and I will keep sharing it with everyone I love.”

"The retreat was soul food. It moved me, allowed me to introspect and reflect in a way I have not experienced before. I really looked forward to the writing circles. I was amazed by the thoughts I was able to access through Aimee’s gentle but dynamic leading of the circle. It awakened me to write fluidly and with abandon! Aimee is an energizing and inspiring woman! Her warmth can be felt from a mile away, and her facilitation created a space where everyone felt comfortable sharing openly and every woman had room to. She is patient, thoughtful and enabled pure magic! I loved morning meditation, and I am someone who does not meditate much. The yoga was gentle and responded to our abilities and needs. The Yoga Forest is magical. Climbing those steps to the unknown is a bit like being a child entering a dream. It is a place of magic and wonder. Butterflies, hummingbirds, lush greenery. I feel so much gratitude for all of our experiences (fire, dance, sound). It was so blissful! I was amazed by the special bond that can be formed by a group of women who are strangers at day one and sisters by day nine. It made me realize the universality of the human experience, but in particular the female experiences of loss, love, fears, hopes, dreams, anger, joy, resentment, understanding, growth and sense of self. As they are experienced by a woman. I feel opened up in a way that I have never felt before as a result of this retreat. I allowed a raw, unadulterated me to be free and it felt good! To write about things that have angered or upset me and then be able to make peace with them is such a powerful act of kindness and softness to yourself. I realized how harsh I could be - how we all can be to ourselves, and how to have a kindler, gentler voice, for myself and towards others. I feel like there is work of the soul to do now. To think of things I would like to pursue, new ideas, new ways of thinking that will serve me well instead of allowing myself to get caught up in things of the past that do not serve me on this part of my journey. I feel ready for what’s next with a sense of peace I have not felt in awhile. Feeling open and receptive to the good things I would like to experience, and knowing they are available to me."

"I came with the intention of writing a book. I thought it was a creative expression writing type of retreat. So I thought, I have a story I want to tell. And THEN, I arrived. Little did I know, the story I thought I was going to write was not what was in the works. I was actually writing a story about me. Through every single exercise that Aimee had us do, it was digging deep into my heart and into the layers that I needed to let go. I didn't know my true intention was actually to come in and find strength for my journey - on this journey of becoming that we’re constantly on, the one of becoming a better version of yourself on a day-to-day basis. That’s what this journey has been. I found strength. I found courage. And most importantly, I’ve been able to shed those layers that are holding me back from stepping into my purpose, from creating and from being a light. Like Aimee told me, ’You are the sun. You are the light. Don’t dim it.’ That’s exactly what I discovered. Not only am I the light, but I want to be able to shine bright to help others find their path and to shine their light. That’s what this has been for me."

"I loved this retreat. I think it was everything I needed in a way I did not expect. The act not of fixing but of loving ourselves just as we are. The power of affirmations from the circle, of shared stories and emotions. The power of the pen in a space where there was no judgment, only prompt. It was beautiful. The power of this circle still gives me tingles. It is the power of togetherness, of shared adversity & joy. Of shared accomplishments and trials. Of reaching deep and sharing our own heart song. Of looking in each women’s face and knowing we belong. The amount of heart and intuition and thoughtfulness that went into every part of the retreat was amazing. Aimee’s ability to hold space for each person is incredible. I loved so many things - can’t fit them all on the paper. Sisterhood, the beauty, the power, and light that is in each of us. How we tell ourselves a certain story about who we are, what our experiences have been, and where we are going - and we have the power to rewrite all of these. My favorite past was the sharing stories and expression. Do it. There is not another retreat like it in the world."

"The retreat was a great experience for me - to have dedicated time in my life to devote to hearing my voice, to hear myself at this very important time in my life - my grief, and also my heartfelt desires, those I have, and those that are yet unfulfilled. To dust off my wants, and see and renew them again as a positive force in my life that they've always been and are now, and to listen to them. The writing circle helped me connect with my powerful life force and writing voice and hear what it revealed to me. Aimee, was a warm, spirited and heartfelt facilitator. She took the lead to create a space where we were all challenged to look deeply inside and honestly write and share. I deeply appreciate her qualities of being both a powerful leader with the courage to push us toward our fire and truth, and also I felt and am grateful for her heart and receptivity and listening skills. The setting was beautiful! I loved participating in the very moving and enriching ceremonial experiences. Aimee’s communication was wonderful -- so responsive, it greatly impacted my desire to come and helped orient and hold the group during the retreat. This retreat is a unique opportunity to give yourself the chance to stop and listen to your own powerful voice and led it lead you forward in your life. Aimee is the real deal - a heartfelt responsive, skilled and dynamic leader to help guide you through this rich process. She has a special gift in connecting and sharing the power of writing as a vehicle to deep growth and owning our essence. Her fearless devotion and loyalty to her own growth fuels this and models this for all the women."

"I can confidently say this experience was transformational for each women in our circle. This retreat allowed me to once again show up for myself. It taught me to not only trust my own feminine intuition, but the collective feminine intuition. I feel that I was always on my journey, but this retreat taught me to savor and to show up to take each step. I loved hearing the journey of other women and realizing that we are never really walking alone. Aimee was born to lead this retreat. She leads through the darkness. She leads to the light. She leads with her own courageous, raw honest exploration of her own journey. She leads while still making herself an equal with those she teaches! She shares beautiful, magical, wonderful, insightful words. Her ability in advance to make me feel comfortable in a foreign setting as a solo traveller was so reassuring! I loved the Mayan influence and sacred ceremonies. I am leaving this retreat lighter. My heart is full and I feel empowered. I have been inspired by the strength and intuition of the women who surrounded me, and my own. You will be nourished, body, mind, and soul - not only by the setting, the leader, the permaculture environment and the special land, but by yourself. You will fill back up with spirit, with excitement to just be exactly where you are on your journey."

"This retreat was amazing! There was so much inspiration and many messages of empowerment. It really was an experience of a lifetime and has meant so much to me. I walked away thinking that it may have been the best experience of my life and that I really didn't care if life never peaked like that again, so long as I could carry away the feeling of what it was like. I enjoyed the writing circle very much and the prompts were interesting and brought out something special that already existed in each person but wanted to be brought to light. Aimee was fantastic! She is definitely a storyteller - very enchanting and so interesting to listen to. The experience would not be the same without her. I enjoyed Villa Sumaya and the excellent service provided. I love the setting and the food. Movement with Gabi was phenomenal! I don't think I have ever been so comfortable and I really appreciated the care that she put into the activities. The ceremonies were all very meaningful. Each of them had something to offer and really helped to immerse everyone in this retreat. Some were relaxing, others fun and uplifting and other very grounding. This retreat helped me feel more connected to myself and others. It's given me a stronger sense of who I am and what I want to allow to define me. The real world has felt a little like sandpaper following this week of comfort (though definitely emotionally challenging at times), and so I am finding ways to cultivate more of the energy and space it provided. My favorite thing is knowing that I could feel that way - all the ways that I felt in this journey. I've already recommended it to others! Come with an open mind!"

"Life-changing! It’s the perfect blend of being alone and in a group, dark and light, active and relaxed. Aimee has thought of every single detail & pours love into each one. I am already wondering how anything else will ever compare to such a magical week spent with powerful women on a stunning lake. I miss everything already. This retreat is the best decision I’ve ever made - because of what happened during the circles. It was a perfect balance of digging deep & explore the shore - what an incredible opportunity. I want to wipe my memory just to relive it. Aimee, you are a gift. You are an expert at both channeling spirituality/inspiration AND keeping it real. I am forever in awe of your wisdom and grace with 'green admiration'. Truly, never change."

"This retreat changed my life. Going into the retreat I was nervous to share my writing since I usually only journal for myself, but I found that sharing was a huge part of the healing and discovering process for me at the retreat. The women in our group came together to create a truly magical space in which we all confided, explored, and were challenged. Through the love and kindness of our writing circle, I was able to let go of fear, dig into the questions, and reclaim the creative soul within that I had suppressed for so long. To do all of this at the Yoga Forest - disconnected from devices and reconnected to face-to-face interactions and an insanely beautiful setting in nature -was perfect. It's a phenomenal setting to meditate and practice yoga. Aimee has the energy of a sage - someone so wise and who truly listens to people. She has a beautiful way of asking just the right questions to encourage each person to think with a shifted perspective, not imposing her opinion but rather allowing the person to come to their own conclusions and new understandings through her gentle guidance. She speaks from the heart to our hearts. My favorite thing is that I committed to myself. That I committed to vulnerability, and in that, came a release I could have never possibly predicted. I left feeling healed, liberated, and empowered. I made life-long friendships with wonderful, inspiring women who represented so many parts of what I am seeking in this life: the female embodiments of love, courage, light, honesty, drive, and beauty. GO. You won’t regret it. This retreat will make you laugh, cry, dig, unearth, grow in more ways than you could possibly imagine, and you will see first-hand the magic as well as the magic you have within."

"An awesome retreat in a marvelous environment, with beautiful women, finding the light, energy and love inside of their hearts to lead themselves, and to create the best world possible for themselves and for others. We were encouraged to express ourselves and to explore our lives and how we look at them. The ambience of compassion and love set by Aimee spread to the participants and made this introspection easier. The retreat was in a magnificent place, with such a marvelous view from our home for the week! Meditation and yoga were fabulous! I appreciated every ceremony. There was so much love and kindness from everyone. I’ll hold a very precious memory of what we lived here. I would sincerely recommend this retreat."

"This whole experience has been a joy. I feel so refreshed and renewed. The circles were wonderfully organized. I feel like I opened myself up to new and ideas and feelings in my writing, and there was a good balance of creativity. Aimee was so knowledgeable and prepared with excellent prompts. You see her truth in the way she shares and encourages. She was an instant friend. I have loved meeting these women and learning so many things about how we are similar, despite the differences. I feel we will all be life-long friends and will see each other again one day. I also feel I am now a better friend to myself and know my thoughts/feelings just a little better. Food was always tasty and plentiful at The Yoga Forest and the cabanas were perfect. I love how most of the food grows right here. I feel I am taking away a stronger feeling of purpose. I have a direction and many new curiousities to explore. This experience has also renewed my dedication to living a more healthy and active lifestyle."

"The retreat was one of the most "This whole experience has been a joy. I feel so refreshed and renewed. The circles were wonderfully organized. I feel like I opened myself up to new and ideas and feelings in my writing, and there was a good balance of creativity. Aimee was so knowledgeable and prepared with excellent prompts. You see her truth in the way she shares and encourages. She was an instant friend. I have loved meeting these women and learning so many things about how we are similar, despite the differences. I feel we will all be life-long friends and will see each other again one day. I also feel I am now a better friend to myself and know my thoughts/feelings just a little better. Food was always tasty and plentiful at The Yoga Forest and the cabanas were perfect. I love how most of the food grows right here. I feel I am taking away a stronger feeling of purpose. I have a direction and many new curiousities to explore. This experience has also renewed my dedication to living a more healthy and active lifestyle.", precious life experiences I've ever had, and at asecurity and support. We started with the deepest fears then we stood up, becoming more self-confident, finding our little wings as a hummingbird and ending in beautiful eagle. I learned the only boundaries we have are created by ourselves. I learned that we project things. I learned to see the beauty in everything. The most important message I took was I can create my life every day. I only need to open my eyes. And when I fall back into habits and thoughts, I can question my feelings and the fear behind them. GO! It’s the best thing you can do! Every woman needs a self-confidence update.”

"When I read about this retreat, the expression 'storyteller within' grabbed my heart and curiosity. The retreat was in all its parts, absolutely magical and timely. Aimee's innate intuition, wits and magical eloquence gently leads a seamless flow through the retreat and its different themes. The journey is unique for each person. It powerfully brings new perspective on stories from the past which your inner voice thought were set in marble. The beauty of our sacred sharing circle is that no matter how different our stories are, the common thread is they are all shared from the heart and that allows everyone to practice empathy and compassion to realize we can all relate to one another. I am blown away at the healing power of authentic heart-opening sharing. The experience was deeply moving and enriching for me, a rare opportunity to allow genuine vulnerability, honesty and humility which come around to create more grace, resiliency and give us a powerful tool (writing) on our own journeys. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone seeking a more intimate, authentic connection to their inner selves. Come with a very open heart. Be prepared to allow your inner child to surface and be playful. Consider the medicine of allowing vulnerability as a gift to yourself and others.”

"The retreat was truly transformative. Meeting ten amazing women in the beautiful setting of Lake Atitlan allowed me to not only feel vulnerable enough to access the stories within me, but to feel comfortable sharing them. I love that I’m coming away from this experience with thousands of words written. Totally supports the notion that what matters most in writing is just writing. I so admire Aimee’s ability to organize, coordinate and support so many diverse people and their equally unique needs. Aimee kept us focused and on track without making anyone feel silenced, maintaining a tone of levity and support throughout the process. She led us while joining us. Nudged us in the right direction but let us spread our own wings. All of the breathing and moving was so essential to opening our hearts and minds. I loved the incorporation of all the elements - writing, spirituality, and movement. Every writer would benefit from this. My favorite part was all of it."

"I believe every woman should attend a women’s circle at least once in their life. Thank you so much. You are a light worker who spread it lightly and I am glad that I came across your workshop. Thank you for your patience, kindness, your words, and your light and playful presence and understanding. You have a true gift and I’m glad I experienced it. You provided a safe space for open and honest communication; anything was ok no matter how small, big, or silly it seemed. This woke up a few things that were dormant inside me and I look forward to what comes next, thanks to this. I leave lighter, brighter, a little clearer, more connected within and excited to keep exploring with this - with more confidence, curiosity and playfulness. Lots of hugs, love and light."

"I cannot get over how much fear has been holding me back, holding me in all these years. It’s taking everything to keep it at bay. I'm exploring many creative projects right now - a children's book and a solo performance/one woman show. I'm preparing to soar. My heart goes out to you Aimee wherever in the world you are. I am so grateful. I am so appreciative for you for what you created and facilitated and for what you provided at the Lake. I am still searching for the words to convey the sheer depth and breadth that the gift of you was, and the time-space-place you provided. Always love and light.”

"This retreat changed my life in a beautiful, natural way. Aimee led us to reclaim our inner voice by challenging the narratives we have been telling, and by encouraging us to question our limiting beliefs. We learned the power of a women's circle, and with Aimee's guidance and inspiration, we became a family who felt comfortable sharing and releasing in a safe environment. Aimee is a profound speaker, writer and leader who has been put on this planet to stir lives and guide souls towards their true path. I have so much love and respect for this retreat, and for the powerful woman leading it. My life has been blessed by this experience."

"This retreat was amazing. Exactly what I needed. Everything was so thought out, so excellently planned. I loved that there was no pressure if you didn’t want to do something, you didn’t have to. (We all did it anyways!) Beautiful setting, beautiful space. Honestly I’m quite in love with the whole experience. I didn’t realize realize how much I would enjoy sharing in the circle. I can’t imagine anyone on this planet doing this better than you, Aimee! My favorite part was this incredible bond that came between all the women. You will laugh, you will cry, you will laugh again, you will realize things about yourself that you didn’t know existed. You will push yourself. You will learn. And then, you’ll probably cry again."

"From the minute I first read about the Storyteller Within retreat online, it beckoned to me. I knew that it was everything that I needed but that I didn't even know how to articulate until then. My experience of this retreat was nothing short of magical. I shed toxic stories that held me captive for far too long. I rediscovered parts of myself that were buried somewhere within for indeterminate amounts of time, and even discovered aspects of myself that I never knew existed. I spoke truths that I previously never dared. I danced, stomped, howled at the moon, cried, felt alive in ways I didn't know were possible, profoundly connected to myself and other beautiful women, and emerged with a light inside of myself that continues to shine brightly even a month after returning to "real" life. Aimee's own courage, passion, and unwavering honesty made the Storyteller Within journey possible for me. Aimee created a space that invited each individual woman to find her voice and let it echo loudly and proudly for all to hear, while also helping to weave a connection between the women in the group that made the experience truly meaningful. I am steeped in gratitude to her, and cannot recommend this retreat highly enough."

"Aimee Hansen's retreat was wonderful from start to finish. I was looking for a women's retreat to recharge my poetry writing and to connect to my spirituality via yoga, meditation, and nature. The retreat far exceeded my expectations. Every experience was carefully orchestrated. She has a knack for saying just the right thing to each participant, so that everyone feels included and inspired. Guest facilitators were so engaging and interesting. We were able to be part of a Mayan Fire Ceremony and had daily yoga with an amazing Australian yoga instructor, as well as many other special activities. The setting was beautiful as well. Lake Atitlan was gorgeous. I highly recommend this retreat!"

"As always with Aimee's retreats it is an authentic, magical experience. This time with the addition of the Goddess stories from Melanie, it surpassed all expectations. The Seven Springs retreat space was very comfortable, the vegetarian food from Wendy was amazing and the spaces were fantastic. Jessi conducted loving, meditative yoga sessions to start our day. Aimee and Melanie used all the spaces available to create magical experiences that allowed us to delve deep into our goals, aspirations and life visions. Multi- generational friendships were made that I feel will last a life time. It was a supportive, deep, magical and really joyous time! Thank you Aimee and Melanie and to all of the participants and the team at Seven Springs."

“I had no idea what to expect. I think I arrived with an open mind and some trepidation. It was quite possibly the best week of my life for reflecting and re-evaluating where I was at. I am certainly not the same person as when I arrived. I dropped off a lot of baggage on that hillside! Overall a powerful week supported by a tender and open group skillfully guided and nurtured by Aimee. Loved the writing. I had imagined longer periods of writing, which I pretty much dreaded, but loved the short, poignant bursts of structured time given to a specific point. The facilitation was beautifully executed. This was also my first experience of meditation and I loved being so quiet and feeling the sun come over the mountain and warm my face. I loved the connection with the other women and the bringing together of the group. Experience is one of powerful support and knowing I am not alone. Go now. Don't wait. This is an investment in your life and the sooner you have it the happier you will be.”

"The retreat definitely exceeded anything I could have imagined. I loved waking up early with the sun and starting each morning with yoga and meditation. The writing circles were introspective and allowed a lot of honesty, release, and sharing. I was able to look deeper within myself and open up to writing about how I truly feel. The women were amazing and so are the friendships that began here. Aimee was an awesome facilitator. She was very considerate and catering to the group. She kept a good pace for writing exercises and balanced writing time with hiking and exploration time. The Yoga Forest was amazing and the views were phenomenal. I enjoyed the stairs and the outdoor bathrooms and showering under the stars. I found it all a fun, intense, and truly amazing experience in a phenomenal location."

"This was my first experience at a writing circle. But what a fantastic first experience! The circle grew in strength each time we came together. The writing followed a very fluid progression and allowed for a lot of reflection that was much different than my experience with personal journalling. It was also not just a circle of written words— Aimee incorporated other elements to the circle beyond writing that created a more full bodied experience. Aimee, you rock. You are a rock. Thank you for allowing the space for all women to say what they needed to say to help them break through barriers, and for sharing your wisdom. The morning meditation and yoga was awesome! The level of serenity and calm that ensues after these classes in the morning is a phenomenal experience - the sun rising and warming as you look across the lake, the teachers full of grace and spirit. The setting of the Yoga Forest is incredible (once you get up those stairs, hahaha). I loved the views, the animals, the food, the decor etc. The food was fresh (and I thought I didn’t like papaya!) and full of flavour, colour, spice and creativity. I loved the evening ceremonies. There was something so significant about being in the circle of women around the burning fire full of our intentions. I thought it was a really memorable piece of the retreat because it exposed us to how beautiful the Guatemalan culture is. The retreat is a beautiful world of connection, discovery and personal growth. If you’ve found this retreat through whatever path, you are meant to experience it. It’s something truly life-changing. Bring with you an open heart and a willingness to give yourself the full experience you deserve and you will walk away with a treasure you will carry with you always. Your perceptions will change, you will witness others in a way that will open your eyes to the beautiful depth each woman carries with her beyond her worldly skin. You also will be witnessed and you will feel love and connection in a way you never expected. It is hard to find the words to describe what a holy experience all of it was, but I will try. I’ve learned to give-in to the process of healing, no matter what it reveals. I’ve learned what it feels like to be witnessed and to witness others without judgement. I’ve learned that we are all deep oceans of intricate stories. I learned to connect with myself, to hear my inner voice to trust it, to honour it— and to share it. I learned to cry tears of pain and tears of compassion and tears of joy, and that this was part of daring to be lived. I saw the gifts of others and the gifts within myself. I have thought about my experience every single day since I’ve been back and I hope as time passes that I don’t forget how it made me feel to be that willing, that loved, that loving. What a feeling of gratitude I am taking with me; what inspiration to live that feeling for the rest of my life. Thank you so, so much! With all my heart, thank you Aimee.”

"This retreat felt like a week in paradise. We woke up every morning to a gorgeous view of twin volcanos across a serene lake. Started every day with a wonderful yoga class, followed by a delicious, freshly-made breakfast. All of the food was terrific, as a matter of fact. During writing circles we explored our inner most desires, re-wrote personal stories that didn't serve us, and let ourselves be truly honest. Aimee is an amazing facilitator with a stunning ability to inspire and affirm. This retreat has undoubtedly changed the trajectory of my life--I could not recommend it any more highly."

“Mindblowing. Even months later, whenever I think of Aimee's teachings, the experience with all the other women and the things I learned that week, it gives me strength. It fills my heart with warmth and makes me feel eternally grateful. The entire week was beyond beautiful. We created the most sacred, safe spaces, and I felt I could be 1000% myself and not be judged. The space, food, views, energies and love are something I’ll never forget. The writing circle was just amazing. It was challenging, inviting, inspiring, and scary - but Aimee flowed through it perfectly. Aimee is a beyond fantastic facilitator of these retreats; she is on this planet to be a teacher. So much love. She facilitated the perfect space, the most important thing being not feeling pressured to do anything. Villa Sumaya has the most beautiful energy. I loved the Mayan Fire Ceremony. It was awesome to have a little bit of local tradition interwoven into the retreat. The whole week fell into place beautifully. I still can’t believe it. All the women, the openness, the laughs, and especially the feeling of female (and overall) empowerment. Whether you love yourself, or feel you need a change, go on this retreat.”

"I can't begin to describe the magic of this circle. I was fortunate enough to attend the Myths of Feminine Mystery retreat and it was life changing. LIFE CHANGING. Gorgeous, magic, astounding scenery in the location and the souls of the women who attended. Lifelong friends made in a week. Deep healing of wounds known and unknown. Peace, serenity, and a new path in life. Aimee and Melanie are magic. The location was beautiful. It was beautiful, and scary, and uncomfortable in the best ways, and earth shattering and deeply deeply healing and loving and utterly utterly magical. It will change everything about everything."

" 'The wound is where the light enters'... but sometimes the light is too dim and it takes a beautiful soul holding a single candle in the dark of night to shine that light. I had the remarkable fortune to have stumbled upon Storyteller within while searching for a place to heal my deeply wounded heart after losing my beautiful son. While I was nervous about traveling to an unfamiliar place, in both the geographical sense and in the sense of traveling into my own heart, Guatemala & Aimee assuaged any fear by spreading wide, welcoming arms that wrapped around me and didn't let go once. And, in fact, the love & compassion, empathy & sympathy, encouragement & inspiration, provocation & enthusiasm that Aimee's well thought out & phenomenal retreat format was more healing, cathartic, & necessary than I could have ever imagined. In Aimee, and in all the women of our retreat, I have made loving & supportive friendships that will undoubtedly last a lifetime and continue to fuel the creative fire within my soul. Darling & Loving Aimee, thank you from the bottom of my wild, cracked open heart for all that you are and all that you give. Your beautiful gypsy soul-SOUL is a wonderfully open and giving light. This week has transformed me and brought me back to myself. Be sure to shine your light as you have so that I find my way back to you someday.”

"I am so glad I listened to the calling of my heart and soul when I found the retreat. This changed me drastically and for better.. I was able to find an authentic me that I thought I lost. I felt accepted by women in our circle of trust and was able to share and full open up to my needs, wants, desires, resulting emotions, and was glad to come to conclusions and decisions that would allow me to live my life to the fullest and love and appreciate me for who I am, who I’ve become, and what I had accomplished. The teaching, sharings, and spiritual ceremonies allowed and helped me to let go of the past hurts, to understand myself, to learn from my experiences, to become a stronger woman and be okay with it. I made new friends and became inspired by them. I have a vision for myself about what I’ll do next. I became a better person, and will stay true to myself. You yourself are an inspiration to me. I enjoyed your teaching and wisdom. I learned a lot from you. The retreat you run was an amazing way to heal and learn about myself and being able to relate to other women’s life experiences. My sincere Thank You!"

“This experience has been a miracle - that in retrospect - still feels so surreal. It changed me forever and I’ll carry the things I’ve learned and experienced wherever I go. I love you, Aimee! You left a footprint in my heart, mind, and soul. It was truly a sacred space to write. Having seen other accommodations in this area, I must say: This is the most beautiful, welcoming, magical, and cleanest setting I can imagine. The wilderness of nature, the hammocks that swing from one gorgeous site to the other, the nutritious, delicious and healthy meals, the nicest staff - I would choose this place over and over again. I think I’m going to take more with me than I’m even aware of. I really feel EMPOWERED as a woman. I loved the special energy that we had as a group. I’ll always remember and cherish the conversations and moments of silence we shared. There are no words to describe how happy I am to have been part of this group. It was intense, fun, breath-taking (not only because of the stairs), painful (crossed out), healing, challenging, magical and moving - I feel like a different woman. I actually feel like I BECAME a real woman (and it only hurt a little, you were very gentle.) It's been an intense, disarming, love-creating, connecting, inspirational journey.”

"LOVED everything in the place: the weather, the lake, , the gardens, the views, the water temperature, the food. LOVED the writing circle - the way Aimee framed the writing, the prompts, the examples, the sharing. I arrived thinking I don’t have a story, and I learned that everyone has a story. I loved the circle; the diversity of women- in style, character, and age. The sharing was so important, and the focus on truth of voice. The circle was a truly safe place to share our stories without judgement and feeling supported. Aimee is a wonderful facilitator! She has a way to make everybody feel seen and heard, and to allow all to express themselves. Magnetic, interesting, warm, and a great listener. Loved Villa Sumaya - the setting, accommodation, the view, the food, the lake, the gardens. I loved having movement first thing early every morning; it sets up the energy and presence for the day. I had never taken a writing workshop, and this opened my desire for more. The combination of writing, movement, and amazing nature - three things I love coming together. And connecting with others in a profound way. Jump in!"

"I am so glad I felt called to come here. I am grateful for a reluctant acceptance that this wuggy-wuggy shit might actually work. I will take with me a stronger belief in myself and the validity of my desires and fears. I valued hearing people share stories of struggles, so I know I am not alone - and also rejoicing in their triumph and realizations; getting to sing and dance and get out of my head more than I am usually able to do; conversations with my roommate, and jumping off the “trampoline” - totally another symbolic triumph! If you are ready for some serious introspection, bonding with a group of women and being pushed out of your comfort zone a bit, this is for you. Nine months later, I can say I did not know exactly what I was looking for when I came to the retreat, and I'm not sure I could even describe in words what it was that I found - but it has impacted me. I have a different sense of myself."

"It was and remains my most memorable international travel-based exploration of me and my rightful place in the universe! I will always remembering the sharing and 'hearing' women. Excellent energy with a thoughtful unfolding of topics. Great setting with excellent views of the lake. Superb single suite accommodations. The food was exquisite. My favorite part, Aimee - her sense of purpose and openness to seeking core meanings and purpose of life experiences from each woman is remarkable. Be open and receptive to your good that awaits you."

"This retreat Aimee set up for us has been very helpful for me to find my way back to myself. I was drawn to come here. I don’t really write too much, a little bit of journaling, but it was so much more than just journaling. It was opening my heart and becoming aware of my true essence and being able to express it. Being able to shed the skins. It’s been a transformative, amazing journey. I thank Aimee and all my sisters."

"It was quite a journey through depths and joy. And the wonderful thing was that everyone had their own path, but were held, supported and deeply seen by the circle. I feel more at home in my heart now and also my body. And, the retreat shook some things up. I felt the retreat to be truly transformational and am very grateful for having had the opportunity to be part of it. The journey will definitely go on. I found the writing a very powerful tool to access emotions and limiting beliefs. The prompts seemed to lead us very quickly to a deeper level of the stories we all use to tell us about ourselves. They kept me writing, even when I thought I was empty. I am very impressed how the whole week somehow wove together like a well composed piece of music. It allowed me to trust into the process and feel safe even though I was touching deep fears and other strong emotions. The organization, and planning, worked out beautifully. I loved the passion that was expressed, radiated. I enjoyed the gentle approach to yoga and meditation. It helped to stay in the present and mindful. I loved: the release in sharing and opening. How fast a group of strangers felt like a home. The experience that there is time and space for everyone to be seen. The wonderful space holder. Everything seemed to be allowed. Seeing other women freeing themselves and blossoming."

"It’s been a true blessing being able to come here. I felt very connected to the other women and learned a lot about myself. I was continually blown away by how encouraging, loving and supporting everyone was in the group. I feel the writing prompts got to the heart of the matter. It is also incredibly powerful to have the time to share after writing. Aimee is an excellent facilitator. She has a great intuition during the group gatherings and knows how to encourage those on the fence with sharing. She knows how long to wait. I never felt rushed, or pressured, or like I wasn’t being heard. She was great at responding to the energies in the group. The Yoga Forest is gorgeous and, though outside of my comfort zone, I very much enjoyed my stay. I absolutely loved the dancing - it will stay with me. The amount of vulnerability and connection that happens here is something I didn’t foresee happening but am eternally grateful for. This was more than I had imagined. Adventure, sacred sisterhood, bravery, creativity, being honest and honoring oneself, recognizing the voice of the critic. Get ready for one of the most transformational experiences of your life."

"I felt very privileged to be in this setting with Aimee as a facilitator. Her kind, generous, and truly empathetic spirit kept us moving forward. I felt she had great capacity to reign in when necessary but also to let go when necessary. The writing circle was very respectful, set a beautiful atmosphere, with effective prompts for writing - group and personal. Quick writes are challenging and insightful, and I felt both supported and challenged. Lots of break time for thinking, reflecting, creating, writing and bonding. It was what I wanted and what I needed. I'll leave behind writing through the dark in favor of writing toward the light. While this is a retreat from the world, it is not a retreat from self. It is a 'reveal'."

"I attended the Myths of Feminine Mystery Retreat with Aimee & Melanie, and loved it. Our circle consisted of a diverse group of women coming together as strangers and leaving as sisters. We were each on our own journey and with Aimee and Melanie as our guides, we created something fun, invigorating, creative and sacred. We were able to tap into creativity, transformation and healing. 'Each time women gather in circles with one another, the world heals a little more' (source unknown)."

"This was an amazing inner journey and a wonderful time sharing intimately with other courageous women. This experience led me to a breakthrough. It’s really cool to write down so many self-intimate stories. It opened me to new roots of understanding and even healing. I loved the “sisterhood” sharing. I came to know myself more deeply, being also inspired by the other women. The journey was amazing, deep, and powerful - rising us up to our feminine creative expression! The rhythm of the retreat was well-balanced between activities, which made it rich. Aimee is so connected to her divine feminine, well grounded in the reality of our soul, body and mind. She took care of us. I can rely on her. The Yoga Forest is an amazingly beautiful piece of nature. I followed my intuition to come here, and I feel a new start, filled with amazing energies… I loved it. Go! There is a before and an after. Aimee, go on spreading your gifts, inspiring us to be fully who we are!"

"I loved the retreat for many reasons — the location, the women, the food and staff, and van that picked us up from the airport! I so appreciated naming my desires and tending to my wounds in the company of supportive women. I also appreciated the care that Aimee took in setting up our evening circles. Aimee, you set a beautiful example for self love and self care with the candles, blankets, cushions and treats. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get the restoration that I sought, but I left feeling so incredibly content. My contentment stayed with me even when I arrived home. This vacation was pitch perfect. This retreat is for the woman who feels, loves, mourns and yearns for more. This is for the woman who looks into the eyes of another and sees deeply."

"I was so worried if I was making the right choice. As soon as I got to The Yoga Forest steps, I knew I'd made the right choice. I felt the retreat as a whole was an inspiring, life-altering experience. It's something that will always stay with me and has opened my eyes to the experiences awaiting me if I follow my heart. I do not consider myself a writer but found this circle to be so supportive and inspiring that all my insecurities melted away. It felt relaxed enough to stay open. I have created bonds in a week that I would consider as strong as some I've known for years. Aimee was so warm, inviting, and nurturing. She is truly an inspiration, a great teacher and very insightful. The Yoga Forest is a magical, breathtaking place full of beauty and love. The food was delish and very healthy. I feel inspired to continue meditation and yoga. For me, this has inspired the freedom to be me, to follow my intuition, and to take risks. I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude. Go, you're in for a life-altering experience. Follow your heart. Take a risk. You won't be sorry."

"This retreat was one of the most amazing things I've done for myself. Aimee is a wonderful person – so enlightened and compassionate. She made a huge impact on how I will look at situations in my life from now on. The writing prompts were sometimes challenging because looking at your true self can be hard. The facilitation was wonderful. Aimee had so many things planned for us – above and beyond the writing exercises. I loved the energy of our group; how we all connected and pulled each other up. I feel that I have learned a lot that will help keep me true to myself. I loved the evening ceremonies. The Yoga Forest location was beautiful. The steps and distance to the rest room took some getting used to, but I feel like it was good exercise. Mind, body, spirit! The food was so delicious. Aimee was great at answering all my questions before I booked the retreat. The retreat was what I expected, only better. I learned a lot about my narrative around love. Please continue this retreat and consider adding others in the future!"

"This was a life-changing, heart-opening experience - more heart opening than I expected. The writing circle was a highlight for me. The exercises were thoughtful, meaningful and impactful. What Aimee is doing with these retreats is something very special. She created the space for us to create and share and encourage each other. She has facilitated some strong bonds and relationships between all of us. I so appreciate her! It was the right group at the right time. The ability to be vulnerable and to connect with other women is a gift I knew I was missing in my life, and I am so grateful to have it back. Thank you for these real and pure connections. The yoga teacher was exceptional and very kind. Thank you for sharing a broader yoga with us. If you’re thinking about this retreat, there’s a reason. If this at all feels intriguing or like it’s calling you, come!"

"This retreat has been a beautiful part of my life journey that I'm so glad I took. I felt immediately connected to all the women and the place. I loved being able to talk about deep stuff with six other beautiful women instead of small talk. Aimee has such a gentle soul. She is honest and sincere. You know she is speaking from the heart and she is great at keeping us ladies on task! She eased all of my worries beforehand with emails that came less than a day after I wrote her. The Yoga Forest really is a retreat. I love its distance and separation from town, its beautiful and serene views. The place itself was clean, wonderful, and at one with nature. Beds comfy, hammock relaxing, views stunning, meals always so, so delicious. Night ceremonies were beautiful and fit perfect with our week. This is an experience you will never forget. It's a chance to be creative and really focus on yourself. It's a wonderful way to pause and focus on what truly drives you. What a glorious thing Aimee has put together. This will touch so many women."

"The experience was more than I imagined. The personal growth I achieved this week is the most compact, meaningful growth and self-awareness experience I've ever had. The writing circle was always comfortable. I felt safe to share anything and loved and validated. The way Aimee was animated and passionate when she spoke helped me grasp every concept. She was confident and brave, down to earth and honest, funny and serious, clever and inspiring, beautiful inside and out, a gift to others. The way she gave examples was very helpful to begin writing. I will take away self-growth, self-awareness, and accountability. Confidence to be myself, confidence to tell my whole story, even the parts I had never shared before this week. The ability to silence my inner critic and the ability to project love. The ability to rewrite personal narratives and to never let myself fall victim. The workshop truly took me on a sacred journey and gave me tools for writing."

"Aimee’s presence was a present, to stand present among bold women who all arrived with clear intentions to be gentle with themselves. After such a soulfully enriching week, I left with an acute awareness of my distractions and how they pull away from my core creative self. I learned that the stories we tell ourselves to oppress our true spirit, or to put it in places we think we should be, are dangerous waters. It reminded me of my childhood self, when I quietly studied life with big eyes, determined that I could find a different way for myself, to follow my heart, forget societal expectations of me as a woman, make my way as healthily and independently as I can. Aimee’s thoughtfulness to come back to teachable moments that we could all learn from - this is what stays with me. Vignettes. We all do it, point the finger out there, critique and judge. She gave us a new canvas to see ourselves through, new rich possibilities witnessed by other women, through their eyes of love, who understand from having been exactly there themselves, just five minutes or five years ago. Time is the only real currency we have. It’s limited and unpredictable. How will we spend it? This taught me that time can also be an artificial constraint and illusion - past, present and future. All melded into one energy source: me. Aimee, your personal stories also touched me. To say thank you doesn’t even come close to how I feel about my week with you and the other creative wonderful women. It’s like I’ve been handed a bubble of powerful magic dust, that we passed around with knowing nods and smiles, that we all tucked into our pockets, now close to our hearts."

"I had high hopes for this retreat, and it surpassed every expectation. By the end, I felt whole, healed, and very loved. It has now been five months since the retreat and I use the tools I learned there daily, reflect on our shared stories and lessons often, and still keep in touch with the amazing eleven women from our group. I highly recommend this retreat."

“It was incredible to travel to magical Lake Atitlan, and feel welcomed by Aimee, the Yoga Forest and the other women in the group. I was expecting it to be a great experience, but it went beyond my expectations. I loved the combination of writing, yoga, healthy eating and felt very refreshed by the end of it. The writing circle was introspective, spiritual and therapeutic. It was a great exercise to share and it was also inspiring to hear other people's stories. I think Aimee was an incredible facilitator, balancing the group dynamic well. I really loved the remoteness of The Yoga Forest. The sleeping quarters were clean, comfortable, and warm. The evening ceremonies were excellent. I definitely felt a good energy at Lake Atitlan. San Marcos was really cute and great for days off - the swim was incredible and the massage centre was great. I feel revived and more motivated, and more confident in myself for sure. My favorite parts were the uniqueness of the experience, the transformative effect, the friendships, the fun! Thanks a million Aimee, for sharing your gift with me and the group. It was an incredible experience."

"Authentic and Real. That is Aimee. But it gets even better, because during retreat Aimee creates a safe, sacred, soulful space where I was able to dive deep and be Authentic and Real, too. Unapologetically me. Without judgment, without restraint, but with total respect and importance placed on how I felt. If you are looking for an opportunity to open locks within you didn't even know had doors, give yourself the gift of an experience with Aimee and feel your radiance reverberating."

"Attending Storyteller Within Women's Retreat was an amazing, inspiring, activating, and recharging experience. Aimee is an absolutely incredible retreat leader who seamlessly wove cultural experiences with intimate and inspired writing exercises. Sharing space with these beautiful women in circle all the while, being invited to retreat inwards and have the time and space for introspection. This retreat stretched my soul to new bounds! The food was nourishing, the villa was comforting and the setting was awe inspiring. Thank you."

"Overwhelming feelings of love, joy, and spirituality. I would highly recommend this journey to anyone and everyone. Our circle was open and receptive to all women. I felt like everyone was expressive and comfortable to express themselves. The retreat featured amazing teachers and women who were more than happy to open and share their gifts. The dances were my favorite…more cacao! The view was phenomenal. The forest was breathtaking and peaceful.. I’ll take away Freedom. Love. Self-Love. Spirituality. If I could change something about the retreat, it would be to stay a couple of more weeks. My connection to this place is strong. Thank you, Aimee. Your gift will forever be a part of me."

"I feel the retreat was a very worthwhile investment, and in many ways it exceeded my expectations. I'm grateful for the lovingness and openness nurtured throughout the entire retreat. I found the facilitation to be very helpful in encouraging creativity and openness in writing. The activities were varied and connected. The space was wonderful for sharing and reflecting, because of Aimee's guidance and also because of the sacred physical space we created, in addition to the unbounded feeling of being in open air. I will take with me very beautiful memories of sharing our deepest narratives and stories, and the new attitude I have now to approach life with more positivity and self-belief. You will benefit no matter what."

"So great, very healing, and affirming. Exactly what I needed. Great group dynamics. Fabulous exercises. I really loved the prompts and being able to debrief after with the option of sharing the writing or just reflecting. The location was so beautiful, really peaceful. I'll take with me the ability of reframing my past histories. I wouldn’t say that I saw myself as a victim, but I definitely wasn’t framing myself as the hero/shero. I’ve been telling everyone here that I came home with my joy, not that it had been gone for that long, but I definitely regained the part of it that had been away. What a gift. And seven new friends, how do you complain about that? Like everything, you'll get get out of it what you put into it, but if you are willing to go deep, it will go there with you, and you won’t come out the same as when you went in. In the best possible way."

"The retreat was one of the most powerful, precious life experiences I've ever had, and at a time I needed it urgently. I will say thank you so much for the new view on my life. I feel so much better now and can enjoy my travelling so much more! The atmosphere at the Yoga Forest was amazing. The women's circle was a friendly, committed community and we shared and helped each other. There was a feeling of security and support. We started with the deepest fears then we stood up, becoming more self-confident, finding our little wings as a hummingbird and ending in beautiful eagle. I learned the only boundaries we have are created by ourselves. I learned that we project things. I learned to see the beauty in everything. The most important message I took was I can create my life every day. I only need to open my eyes. And when I fall back into habits and thoughts, I can question my feelings and the fear behind them. GO! It’s the best thing you can do! Every woman needs a self-confidence update.”

"I attended Myths of Feminine Mystery Retreat with Melanie and Aimee almost two months ago and still think about it daily. I wish I could capture the feelings of nurturing and safety I experienced there to share with others. I hope I have the opportunity to attend another one of their retreats."

"A beautiful experience that I've been turning over in my mind trying to savor every last drop of its sweetness. It was exactly what I was hoping for - space for reflection and self inquiry, relaxation and connectedness. Space to check in and listen to my deepest desires. Acknowledgement, encouragement and inspiration from the group that I am deserving of those desires."

"Thank you for enticing me to come all the way to Guatemala to The Yoga Forest. I was looking for an insightful writing adventure and I found it. I loved the writing circles, whether we were laughing, crying, or just wondering about what we wrote, Aimee always had the right words for everyone. She has the gift of putting a bunch of women together and making them best friends. Her caring empathy was a sunlight in our lives. Thank you for all the wonderful moments. I go back home knowing that I got what I was looking for and more. Very much love, xoxo"

"I loved this retreat. The location is magical and Aimee was a great facilitator. I really enjoyed sharing with the group and witnessing the growth that occurred in everyone. I was so impressed with everyone’s vulnerability and willingness to share their feelings. The writing prompts brought up feelings that I didn’t know that I had. Aimee very openly shared her own feelings and experiences which made me feel more comfortable to do so myself. She is so positive and enthusiastic - she really made the retreat a wonderful experience. I don’t know how I will adequately convey the beauty of this place to my friends and family. In a word, it is incredibly 'zen'."

"Storyteller Within Women's Retreats was one of the most transformative experiences I've had in my life. Aimee is an inspiring and engaging woman with a beautiful soul. The location couldn't be more serene, the views couldn't be any better, and the food was so delicious. If you're looking to meet a community of amazing women and tap into your inner power, then I highly recommend this retreat!"