Last month I turned 40!
In truth, I feel that I’m aging into my personality a bit. I decided to mark the moment by going to the ocean, and spending time somewhere new, so my husband and I went to Bastimentos Island in Panamá. It took a few flights and a boat ride to get there, but I wanted to swim, snorkel, paddle, do a little sunrise yoga by the ocean, and hike around to explore and learn about the plants and animals living in the area. And I was SO excited to make zero decisions about food. That may have been one of the most rejuvenating aspects of the trip, honestly.
I had reading time every day and it was glorious
This is an owl eye butterfly 🦋
Can you spot the sloth??
What my Panamá trip made undeniably clear is that there's something deeply freeing about arriving somewhere remote where the plans are already in place, someone is there to guide the experience, and the only job left is to actually be present. I'm not sure how often that gift finds its way into your life, but it's exceedingly rare in mine.
My goal is to share this at our November retreat (Nov 14-21, 2026) — and while I know it takes a little extra effort to get to the Galápagos, if my recent trip is any indication, it will be well worth it.
My hope for this adventure retreat is that we all have dedicated time to be. Amazed and fully present.
What you’ll experience in our open-air yoga studio:
Unburden your joints with daily yoga practices designed for joint health and freedom
Unburden your heart with daily practices dedicated to simple breathwork and mindfulness
What you’ll experience throughout the retreat:
Unburden your mind with a local guide dedicated to our group, a preplanned and vetted itinerary, and meals provided at our retreat center
Unburden your spirit with beautiful views, connection with our small group of incredible humans, a daily dose of amazement at the wild beauty and boundless natural energy of the Galápagos
We met some wonderful people in Panamá, and one is a French photographer named Arnaud. He shared this video from one of our snorkeling adventures! Find him @yapasphoto on Instagram.