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upcoming international retreat
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Villa Sumaya - Guatemala
January 13 - 20, 2024
Add-on trip to Antigua + Extra Time on Lake Atitlan 
January 9-13
Breath Is Life
Discover Your Superpower: The WHY, WOW & HOW
Breath Can Change EVERYTHING!

with Laurie Ellis-Young
Learn - Embody - Transform - Teach

Laurie Ellis-Young is passionate about bringing people to breathe together in one of her favorite places on Earth. Just being in this special spot is transformational; add “The Power of Breath” and it becomes pure magic.

This retreat is for you if:

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  • You are a professional who helps others to heal or reach their highest potential

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  • You are open to a magical and nurturing experience of a lifetime 

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  • You yearn to be part of a growing global family of wellness providers and peace builders

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  • You desire to learn and embody ‘Breath Literacy’ for yourself as your superpower 

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Luna & the Volcano
by Francene Hart
A message from Laurie

“I feel this training is unique and special. I have been honing these teachings for over 30 years, learning how to reach yoga teachers & students, medical personnel, patients, educators, elders, students from K-post grad, homemakers, executives, office workers, athletes, UN personnel, girls rescued from brothels, peace workers, veterans and people dealing with direct trauma, secondary trauma, and stress in walks of life, everywhere.

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I want to pass on “Breath Literacy” and how to share maximum amount of material (that can change people’s breath and people’s lives) in the minimum amount of time. Voilà! ‘The Power of Breath’ workshop combined with wisdom and knowledge in “Breath Is Life,” and BLIPPs (Breath Literacy’s Instant Power Practices).”

Breath Literacy = the wisdom and knowledge of how to breathe optimally,

moment by moment, breath by breath, and in circumstances all throughout life.  

Why teach breath? Why now? Why Breath Is Life?
The importance of breath is in the news!
T
he world is ready wanting to learn and know more from qualified instructors.

Training is based on the award-winning book and master course on Breath Literacy:

Breath Is Life. Taking In and Letting Go: How to Live Well, Love Well, BE Well 

Award Categories: Health / Health & Fitness / Mind, Body, Spirit / Best Overall Design / Best First Book- Nonfiction

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Awarded by:  IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association), Next Generation Indie (International) Book Awards

and MIPA (Midwest Independent Publishers Assoc.)

Why Lake Atitlan?

The unparalleled beauty and power of this Mayan paradise helps retreatants relax, revitalize, refocus, reset, and leave informed and transformed, ready to make a difference in the world.

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Why Your Facilitator, Laurie Ellis-Young?

“Laurie teaches with mastery and heart like I’ve not experienced before.” ~ 2023 Retreatant 

Laurie’s mastery is derived from 40+ years of studying Eastern and Western sciences and techniques of well-being: Master’s degree in Therapeutic Counseling emphasizing breathwork (MTC), Senior Yoga Teacher (SYT) 1000 hours -UK Yoga Alliance, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction instructor (MBSR), and other multiple wellness certifications.

 

She is founding-director of Breathe The Change LLC, co-founder of nonprofit BreathLogic, an award-winning author, SHIFT Peace Ambassador, reforester, rainforest preservation activist, and globe trotter who has visited 90+ countries and led groups to over 20.

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Her heartfelt facilitation is honed by 4+ decades of sharing Breath Literacy with diverse populations of all ages on six continents: individuals and groups desiring personal and professional empowerment along with those experiencing multiple types of trauma, stresses, illnesses, grief, poverty, war, sex trafficking, marginalization etc.

Retreat Details

​Two options to experience this retreat:

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  1. 7 Nights at the Villa Sumaya, Saturday to Saturday, January 13-20

  2. Addition of 5 days/4 nights prior to retreat: 3 in Antigua / 1 on Lake Atitlan, January 9-13

What's Included

  • Roundtrip transportation to/from airport and Villa Sumaya

  • 7 nights single or double accommodations in Lotus House, Ginger Suites or Sky Bungalows (Possible triple accommodations discount)

  • Exquisite indoor and outdoor training/practice facilities

  • 3 scrumptiously delicious and nutritious vegetarian meals (fish or chicken may be requested for an additional fee)

  • Unlimited purified water, herbal tea, and local coffee

  • All training instructions (applicable to all levels) 

  • All practices including yoga (all levels).

  • Award-winning Book- Breath Is Life. Taking In and Letting Go: How to Live Well, Love Well, BE Well

  • Training manual for “The Power of Breath” and BLIPP (Breath Literacy’s Instant Power Practices) charts

  • Completion certificate, Breath Is Life Trainer, Level I or II

  • Serendipitous surprises, cultural interchanges, ceremonies

  • Hiking / Special connections with locals

  • Front desk reception staff available 24-hours a day

  • One personal session for individual consultation (after retreat)

  • Opportunities for connection and teaching with BreathLogic

 

  Not Included     

  • Airfare to/from Guatemala City

  • Gratuities

  • Wifi

  • Harmony spa services

  • Adult beverages

Price: Single Occupancy: $3,499

Double Occupancy: $3,099 (please inquire about triple accommodations discount)

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Deposit: $500 non-refundable upon registration, $1,000 due 30 days later with additional payments flexible.

 

Total due by Dec. 13, 2023. 

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For further information, contact Laurie at Laurie@BreatheTheChange.com.

Consider an add-on trip to Antigua + Extra time on Lake Atitlan!
(Limited to a small group)
$1799
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January 9-13, 2024

Having lived various years in Guatemala, facilitating retreats for decades, Laurie realized retreatants like to be met upon arrival and have time for transition and appreciation of the unique beauty and culture around them. Thus she adds five days: four in the charming colonial city of Antigua and one extra day on Lake Atitlan. (Small group limitation.)

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Whenever you arrive on Jan 9, you will be met at the airport and spirited away to the luxurious Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo. This is the perfect place to transition from “daily life” to adventure and retreat. 

What's Included

  • Personal meeting at Guatemala City airport and transportation to Antigua hotel

  • 3 nights double accommodations at the stunning Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo Jan 9-12 (Trip Advisor names it “The Best of the Best”

  • 1-night single accommodations at the world-famous Casa Del Mundo hotel outside Jaibalito, Lake Atitlan

  • Transportation within Guatemala

  • 8 delicious vegetarian meals (some chicken and fish), experiencing delectable and unique dining experiences

  • Group gratuities and taxes

  • Walking tours / shopping opportunities / special cultural experiences

  • Special Practices

  • Serendipitous surprises along with free time for the museum, spa and R&R

  • Excursions to Valhalla Macadamia Farm and the exquisite Mayan ruins of Iximche

  • Ceremony with Mayan shaman

 

  Not Included     

  • Some meals

  • Expenses during free time

  • Adult beverages

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Price: $1799

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Deposit: $500 non-refundable upon registration, $500 due 30 days later with additional payments flexible.

 

Total due by Dec. 13, 2023. 

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For further information, contact Laurie at Laurie@BreatheTheChange.com.

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What people are saying 
  • I have expanded my understanding of breath and I will be forever changed.  – Retreat / Training

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  • The depth and breadth of what we learned was beyond my expectations. – Retreat /Training
    Everything about this training and retreat was superbly orchestrated. I feel like I have lifetime tools that I can immediately share. – Retreat / Training

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  • You are magical.  Our trip was so amazing – again! – and filled with such special experiences each and every day…… I am already using Heart Breath with preschoolers, adults and Seniors.  I can’t thank you enough for everything – Retreat / Training

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  • You are a gifted and passionate speaker with such valuable information to share. This was the best-attended training we’ve had. –Corporate workshop

 

  • I am grateful beyond words for your work with us.  You covered an amazing amount of territory, so I applaud your courage and strength.  I feel today that a large amount of density lifted physically, mentally and emotionally.   And that process will continue for a while.  – Power of Breath Workshop

 

  • You are a gifted facilitator for deep transformational change.  –Power of BreathWorkshop

 

  • The Love I experienced was beautiful.  The Love I felt for every soul present was incredible.  The Love continues, always. –Retreat

 

  • I am beginning to realize how important the breath is to a healthy, radiant life – thank you once again.  –Power of Breath Workshop

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  • “One of the most moving experiences I have ever had!”  –Retreat

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  • “I have taken many workshops over the years, but this was THE VERY best!  –Power of Breath Workshop

 

  • Laurie was so inspirational!  From the embodiment of her ‘being’ and philosophy of her practice, I learned of a deep, spiritual respect for the art of breathing correctly and how it benefits both the body and soul.  –Power of Breath Workshop

 

  • Her presentation style is with grace, peacefulness and humor. I have never experienced anything like her before. –Power of Breath Workshop

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  • Laurie Thank you for a “slice of heaven”!  –Retreat

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  • I appreciate my new “tools” and the adventurous experiences.  –Retreat / Training

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  • I feel expanded and more connected with all! –Retreat

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  • You far exceeded my expectations.  You taught in such a way that I remembered just about everything you said, and that is unusual for me.  I would highly recommend this to everyone. –Power of Breath Workshop

 

  • Laurie’s breath workshop was one of the most profound experiences of my life. I have been a student of the spiritual all of my life and have explored many avenues in my quest. Laurie’s workshop was one of the most profound consciousness raising experiences I have had. –Power of Breath Workshop

 

  • While I only planned to attend the morning workshop, I was so inspired with her teachings that I stayed for the full day. It was the second half of the workshop that totally blew the top off for me. It was through her fun-loving and open-hearted approach to the breath work and an outdoor nature meditation walk that she opened me into the consciousness from which she was teaching. –Power of Breath Workshop

 

  • I have been in the healthcare field for decades and appreciate the incredible scope of her knowledge and teachings.” –Power of Breath Workshop

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From NESA Educational Conference in Athens:
The Breath workshop exceeded my expectation in so many ways and I wanted to share some feedback about this with you using a basic framework that we use for IB lesson planning and delivery.  The framework is called KUD – as in Knowledge, Understanding and Doing (Skills).

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KNOWLEDGE I found the depth of your knowledge about biology, physiology, human
anatomy, and logic, enticing and fascinating.  Your theoretical and technical knowledge
of the human body was used most effectively to supplement your anecdotal, and often
funny, background in breathing and yoga.

 

SKILLS (DOING) From the start of the workshop, you incorporated practice and demonstration into our learning as participants.  Rather than talk only, you preferred to demonstrate, and encouraged us to experience the impact/effects of proper breathing techniques on our daily lives.  This method of delivery allowed us to embed the practices into our lives in a seamless manner.  Your experiential approach enabled me to overcome my own inhibitions about breathing incorrectly and in front of others.

 

UNDERSTANDING What was apparent from the opening activity of the workshop, was your deep understanding of the many ways in which breathing techniques were transferable to participants.  As we practiced the techniques and the skills, our understanding deepened.  Through the fusion of real-world applications (your stories) and your ethnographic research (your life experiences), we were able to appreciate your passion and your authentic approach to the mantra of “breath is life”.

Registration Form

Registration for Villa Sumaya - Guatemala Retreat 

You may make a deposit or full payment* 

Select an item ($)

To keep retreat costs affordable, transaction fees for credit/debit cards and PayPal will be passed on to buyer. To avoid these fees, please choose Offline Payment at checkout to use Zelle.

*Initial Deposit is non-refundable and due at time of registration

​

**Final Deposit is due 30 days after Initial Deposit with additional payments flexible. 

 

***Full Deposit can be made at time of registration.

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****Triple accommodations discount available.

 

Total due by December 13, 2023.​

​

Full payment does not include:

  • Round trip airfare to/from GUA

  • Gratuities

  • Harmony Spa services

  • Internet Wifi

  • Adult Beverages

Thanks for registering!

Antigua Trip Add-On 

Deposit Required 

Select an item ($)

To keep retreat costs affordable, transaction fees for credit/debit cards and PayPal will be passed on to buyer. To avoid these fees, please choose Offline Payment at checkout to use Zelle.

*Initial Deposit is non-refundable and due at time of registration

​

**Final Deposit is due 30 days after Initial Deposit with additional payments flexible. 

 

***Full Deposit can be made at time of registration.

​

Total due by December 13, 2023.​

​

Full payment does not include:

  • Some meals

  • Expenses during free time

  • Adult Beverages

Thanks for registering!

Save the Date!

Mark your calendar for a similar Guatemala retreat January 18-25, 2025.

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