Februrary 21-MARCH 19
2027
Lake Atitlan: A Yoga Practice Immersion
The Rhythm of the Immersion
Set on the shores of Guatemala's Lake Atitlán, this four-week immersion is an opportunity to step away from daily routines and immerse yourself in a steady rhythm of yoga, study, creativity, and community. Revered for its dramatic volcanic landscape and vibrant Mayan culture, Lake Atitlán offers an inspiring environment for focused practice and personal exploration.
Participants may attend any combination of one to four weeks. Shawn leads Weeks One and Two with a focus on Ashtanga Yoga, breath, and philosophy. During Weeks Three and Four, guest teacher Joy joins the intensive to share somatic movement and yantra painting, expanding the experience through embodied movement and sacred art.
Practice
Daily Mysore-style Ashtanga, pranayama, philosophy, and individual guidance designed to cultivate a sustainable personal practice.
Embodiment
During Weeks Three and Four, guest teacher Joy leads somatic movement sessions that deepen body awareness, presence, and ease in movement.
Community & Place
Live simply within the extraordinary landscape of Lake Atitlán, sharing meals, conversations, local culture, and the natural rhythm of one of the world's most inspiring lakes.
Creative Exploration
Yantra drawing and painting with Joy become contemplative practices, offering a quiet space for concentration, symbolism, and self-expression.
Your Teachers
Shawn Green
One of my greatest joys is sharing a yoga practice rooted in tradition, self-inquiry, and everyday life. My teaching draws on years of study, personal practice, and a perspective gained thru living and traveling in many parts of the world. With a down-to-earth and encouraging approach, I invite students to build a sustainable practice that supports clarity, resilience, and a more open way of being.
Throughout the month, I will guide daily Mysore and guided classes, pranayama, philosophy discussions, and individual instruction.
Joy Holland
Joy is a multidisciplinary artist, movement teacher, and bodyworker whose work weaves together creativity, embodiment, and contemplative practice. Through somatic movement, yantra painting, and visual art, she invites a deeper connection to presence, intuition, and the subtle layers of experience.
During Weeks Three and Four, Joy will offer classes in somatic movement and yantra drawing and painting, complementing the daily yoga practice with embodied awareness and creative exploration.
Additional Offerings with Joy
THAI MASSAGE
Private sessions available during the intensive.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Individual or group film photography shoots available by appointment.
These are optional offerings and can be booked separately.
Our Home In Santiago
We intentionally chose Santiago Atitlán as the home for this intensive. While other towns around the lake have become well-known destinations for international travelers and retreat communities, Santiago remains a vibrant Tz’utujil Maya town where local culture and everyday life remain at the center of the experience.
Set between the lake and the surrounding volcanoes, Santiago offers an opportunity to experience Lake Atitlán beyond the usual retreat setting. Traditional textiles, bustling markets, indigenous spirituality, family businesses, fishermen, farmers, and generations of Maya tradition are all part of daily life here. Our intention is not to separate ourselves from this environment, but to practice within it—to slow down, become familiar with the town, support local people and businesses, and experience something of the rhythm of life in Santiago.
The geology of the lake is extraordinary. Lake Atitlán occupies a massive volcanic caldera created by the Los Chocoyos eruption about 84,000–85,000 years ago. That eruption involved roughly 270–280 cubic kilometers of volcanic material. After the caldera formed, the volcanoes San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán grew within and along its southern margin. The lake itself is more than 300 meters deep, while the surrounding caldera walls rise dramatically above it.
So when you're practicing in the shala, you're quite literally sitting within the architecture left by an ancient volcanic collapse, looking toward volcan San Pedro with Atitlan and Toliman behind you
Accommodations & Retreat Setting
This is a non-residential intensive, giving you the freedom to choose the accommodations that best suit your needs and budget. A variety of private houses are available to rent directly on the retreat property, or you are welcome to stay anywhere in Santiago or the surrounding area. There are options available across a wide range of price points, and we are happy to offer guidance as you plan your stay.
The retreat property will be our home base throughout the intensive. In addition to our practice and gathering spaces, participants will have access to a temazcal, swimming pool, and jacuzzi, with canoe and boat rentals available for exploring Lake Atitlán during your free time.
Class Schedule
February 21 - March 5
Sunday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore
3:00-5:00pm — Asana Theory + Philosophy
Monday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore
3:00-4:30pm — Asana Theory + Philosophy
Tuesday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore 9:00-9:30am — Breath and Bandhas
Wednesday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore
3:00-4:30pm — Asana Theory + Philosophy
Thursday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore
3:00-4:30pm — Asana Theory + Philosophy
Friday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore
March 7- March 19
Sunday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore 3:00-5:00pm — Asana Theory + Philosophy
Monday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore 3:00-4:30pm — Asana Theory and Philosophy
Tuesday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore 9:00-9:30am — Breath and Bandhas 3:00-4:30pm — Movement with Joy
Wednesday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore 9:00-9:30am — Pranayama 3:00-5:30pm — Yantra Drawing with Joy
Thursday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore 3:00-5:30pm —Yantra Painting with Joy
Friday
7:00-9:00am — Mysore 9:00-9:30am — Pranayama 3:00-4:30pm — Movement with Joy
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Yoga Space
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Yoga Shala View
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Temescal
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Temescal
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Lakeside Pool
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Volcan San Pedro
Plan Your Stay
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Your tuition includes all scheduled programming during the week(s) you are registered to attend:
Daily Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga practice
Guided classes, workshops, and individual instruction
Pranayama and yoga philosophy sessions
Access to the retreat property, swimming pool, jacuzzi, and temazcal
The intensive is designed to leave plenty of space between scheduled sessions for rest, exploration, and enjoying life around Lake Atitlán.
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To keep the intensive flexible and accessible, accommodations and travel are arranged separately by each participant.
Your tuition does not include:
Accommodations
Airfare or other travel to Guatemala
Transportation to and from Santiago Atitlán
Meals and personal expenses
Travel or medical insurance
Optional excursions, boat or canoe rentals, and other activities around the lake
Private Thai massage or photography sessions with Joy
We’re happy to offer recommendations for accommodations, transportation, and other practical details as you plan your stay.
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This is a non-residential intensive, giving you the freedom to choose accommodations that fit your needs and budget.
A variety of private houses are available to rent directly on the property where our daily practice and gatherings will take place. Staying on-site offers the convenience of being just steps away from class while sharing the beautiful grounds, pool, jacuzzi, and temazcal with the group.
You are also welcome to stay elsewhere in Santiago Atitlán or the surrounding area. There are options available at a range of price points, from simple local accommodations to private homes and apartments.
If you’re interested in staying on the property, let us know when you register and we’ll help connect you with the available houses and rental information.escription
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The intensive takes place in Santiago Atitlán, a vibrant Tz’utujil Maya town on the southern shore of Lake Atitlán.
Most international travelers arrive through Guatemala City (GUA). From there, Santiago can be reached by private or shared shuttle, with the journey taking approximately 3–4 hours depending on traffic and road conditions. Another option is to travel to one of the towns around the lake and continue to Santiago by public boat.
Once in Santiago, much of daily life can be enjoyed on foot, with tuk-tuks readily available for short trips around town.
We’re happy to help with transportation recommendations and coordinate arrival information as the intensive approaches. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering the cost of their transportation to and from Santiago.
Choose Your Stay
Join us for one week or settle in for the full month. Each week is designed to stand on its own while building naturally upon the weeks before it.
1 Week — $650
2 Weeks — $1250
3 Weeks — $1800
4 Weeks — $2200
Select your length of stay to reserve your place.
Join us in Santiago on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala for one, two, three, or four weeks of dedicated yoga practice, creative exploration, and community. Select your length of stay below to reserve your place.
We sow trees
With dreams of reaping birds
Humberto Ak’abal · K’iche’ Maya poet