SACRED SERVICE,
SACRED LAKE
Guatemala Retreat:
Yoga, Service & Joy!

with Hannah Muse & Hug It Forward

Get your hands dirty ~ and your heart open.

November 23
to
December 1, 2024

Thanksgiving Week!

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”

~ Rabindranath Tagore

Join Hannah Muse, experienced yoga retreat leader in collaboration with Hug it Forward, an innovative multicultural organization in Guatemala solving environmental and social problems by working hand-in-hand with local communities to build "Bottle Schools.”

Unlike most yoga retreats, this uniquely curated trip has an emphasis on community service and cultural connection. Not only will you receive the numerous benefits of practicing yoga & mindfulness everyday, you will get to explore the path of karma yoga (the yoga of action) and experience the yogic principle of seva (self-less service or should-less service). 

SACRED SERVICE

During the first part of the trip, our emphasis will be on service: specifically, helping to construct bottle classrooms using eco-bricks, which are plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash. Hug it Forward has completed over 140 bottle schools thanks to volunteers like you, working side-by-side with the families and communities who warmly welcome us. 

The work you’ll be doing to build a bottle school addresses two pressing problems in Guatemala: only 68% of Guatemalan students enrolled in primary school complete it, and only 4% of rural Guatemalans have access to trash disposal services.

SACRED LAKE

In the southwestern highlands of Guatemala, lies the heart of ancient Mayan culture: Lake Atitlan. Ringed by lush green hills, smoldering volcanoes and small Mayan villages, it is not only a breathtaking wonder of the world to visit, but also a sacred site of magic and healing.

The second part of our trip will take you to the legendary Lake Atitlan, where you will relax at a idyllic lake-side retreat center, enjoy longer yoga and transformational sessions, with time for shopping, swims, hiking or lying in a hammock. They say that Lake Atitlan is where the great gods of the mountain meet the life-giving lake, and magic touches every soul that enters.

Care for others ~ Care for yourself.

When we practice yoga, our awareness expands, gives us a chance to get out of our own way and realize that our true nature is compassionate connected awareness - as this unfolds, naturally we are drawn to be of service. If you are called to service, joy, and yoga, we wholeheartedly invite you to join us. You will be so thankful you did. And these kids will too!

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
~ Gandhi

SACRED SERVICE, SACRED LAKE: Guatemala Retreat might be for you if you can check one of these boxes:

▢ You care about humanity & social issues.

▢ You want to travel more consciously and ethically.

▢ You value the path of karma yoga.

▢ You long for a journey off the beaten path, cultivating connection with locals while having an authentic cultural experience.

▢ You love traveling and/or going on retreats, but are looking for one where you can be of service, while still replenishing your cup.

▢ You have always wanted to travel to Guatemala, experience Mayan culture, and stay on the shorelines of the famous & mythical Lake Atitlán.

▢ You want to make a difference in the world.

What’s Included:

✔️ 9 days/8 nights accommodations throughout the trip

✔️ all meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner, other than a couple lunches out in Lake Atitlan to explore markets and villages

✔️ airport pickup at GUA

✔️ service project activities

✔️ a welcoming supportive container held by expert retreat-facilitator Hannah Muse, who’s led over 50 retreats around the world, and this is her fourth retreat with Hug it Forward in Guatemala

✔️ excursions to temples, markets, etc.

✔️ daily yoga & meditation, opening and closing circles, kirtan, ceremony & JOY!

✔️ worry-free travel: we handle the logistics for you!

What’s Not Included:

✖️ flights

✖️ transfer to airport at end of trip (we will help with arrangements)

✖️ a lunch or two at enchanted Lake Atitlan

✖️ shopping (incredible crafts if you’d like to adorn your loved ones)

✖️ travel insurance

What past participants have to say:

“Every aspect of our retreat was so far above even what I thought it would be. And it wouldn't have been the same if it had been with anyone else in the entire world. Hannah made it special with her intuitive nature, loving presence, and knowledge. I could not imagine a more magical experience.”

— A.D.

Trip Itinerary

Saturday, November 23rd

Fly into GUA as early or as late as you need to, and you will be picked up at GUA upon landing. We begin our journey in beautiful Antigua, where dinner will be provided, but if you get in late - don’t despair; our opening circle and kickoff begins the next morning!

Sunday, November 24th

At our lovely accommodations in Antigua, enjoy a morning of delicious breakfast, yoga and opening circle as we warmly welcome you to Guatemala! We will then travel to the community where we will stay for the service activities. (We aren’t able to share the exact location just yet, as Hug it Forward will be assessing the community most ready for our supportive hands and open hearts to help them build their school.) Here we will meet and play and work hand in hand with the local community!

Sunday, November 24th - Thursday, November 28th (Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.)

SACRED SERVICE: Let’s build a bottle school!

The work you’ll be doing to build a bottle school addresses two pressing problems in Guatemala: only 68% of Guatemalan students enrolled in primary school complete it, and only 4% of rural Guatemalans have access to trash disposal services.

Depending on the stage of construction, you will participate in different tasks which may include stuffing bottles, classifying and placing bottles, cutting and bending rebar, mixing cement, putting cement on the walls, and painting the school.

We’ll stay in accommodations near the bottle school, be of service, hear talks from local community members (translated to English) about the Guatemala Civil War, immigration, and more; visit Mayan temples; practice yoga daily; and play! We will have Hug It Forward’s wonderful private chef with us to prepare all of our meals.

Thursday, November 28th

Travel together to Panajachel, the famous artisan town near mythical Lake Atitlan. After some space to explore local cuisine for lunch, shop one of a kind crafts, and take in the new scenery, a short boat ride will take us to our retreat center on the shores of the lake! We will have the late afternoon and evening to decompress, some restorative yoga, and a beautiful waterfront to call home for the next few days.

Thursday, November 28th - Sunday, December 1st

SACRED LAKE: Fill your cup!

The service portion of the trip has concluded, and the rest of the trip is devoted to filling YOUR cup. Enjoy longer yoga sessions, optional lake swims and scenic hikes, or lay in a hammock all day next to one of the wonders of the world! This time of year the weather is typically perfect: beginning of dry season but not too hot. High of 80 for lake time and sun-kissed fun. We’ll integrate the sacred service work and once-in-a-lifetime adventure we’ve just experienced, relax and enjoy!

“The Bottle School Trip opened my eyes to another way of life and another culture. It opened my heart to a type of love I didn’t know existed. I am truly grateful for this experience.”

— Past Bottle School participant

“Work honestly, meditate every day, meet people without fear, and play.”
~ Baba Hari Dass

Your Guides

About Hannah

Hannah Muse is an internationally-renowned teacher of yoga, meditation, mysticism, and philosophy. A priestess, mother and mythologist, Hannah is known for curating exquisite retreats that transform the mind and awaken the Heart. A devoted student and practitioner for two decades, Hannah has been guiding pilgrimages and retreats for over twelve years. She serves on the faculty of the Esalen Institute, as the Director of Awake Heart Teacher Trainings and Mount Madonna Center’s Prenatal Training, and is a featured facilitator in dozens of other trainings, festivals and conferences around the world. 

Hannah has trained extensively with masters in various traditions including Raja Yoga and Nondual Śaiva Tantra. Some of her most influential teachers are Baba Hari Dass, her root teacher in the Yoga tradition, and her Buddhist mindfulness teacher Tara Brach, whom Hannah completed training with over seven years ago. She bows in deep gratitude to all of her teachers, too many to name here, and yet each a precious gift on the path.

In addition to her fulfilling teaching life, Hannah (who’s background is in social and ecological advocacy) serves as President of the nonprofit Yoga for All Movement, an organization that offers yoga and mindfulness to thousands of people each year in jails, recovery centers, juvenile halls, and other historically underserved communities.

When she’s not leading retreats (she’s led over 50 around the world, and this is her fourth retreat with Hug it Forward, due to such wonderful success from past journeys in Guatemala!), you can find Hannah delighted to guide meditation twice each week in the Shelter in the Heart global online sangha, in the ocean with her daughter, dancing wildly, or meditating quietly.

About Hug It Forward

Hug It Forward is a multicultural organization operating at the grassroots level in the region of Latin America, with an emphasis in Guatemala. We facilitate education and awareness around improved trash management methods via the construction of bottle classrooms.

Bottle classrooms are constructed using eco-bricks, which are plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash. During the project process, entire communities come together to build a more environmentally responsible educational space for their future.

Participants in the 7-day bottle school trips have the privilege to work side-by-side with these communities on their bottle school projects, as well as hear first-hand about immigration and the 36-year long Civil War. This trip is as much about learning and connecting with the community as it is about helping to build the school.

Since October 2009, more than 140 bottle schools have been completed at an average cost of $8,500 per classroom, and at any given time, Hug It Forward has 3-5 bottle schools under construction.

What past participants have to say:

“All of our ceremonies were so meaningful and perfect! Every site, every tree, every experience has changed me, and I truly feel like I have been part of such a sacred experience. I find that I am so much more grounded and can find peace with every situation as never before. I was called there, and the entire experience left an indelible mark on my heart. It has enriched me more than any other experience could have. I will be forever changed and always think of our time with such a grateful, open heart.”

— D.H.

ABOUT BOTTLE SCHOOLS

Bottle schools are constructed using the tried and tested method of post and beam construction, with sturdy foundations, columns, and beams made of concrete reinforced with iron rebar.

The component that gives bottle schools their name and makes them more environmentally-friendly is the use of “eco-bricks” in place of cinder blocks or bricks.

“Eco-bricks” are plastic bottles densely packed with inorganic trash (for example, plastic bags, chip packets, and polystyrene). Community members gather the trash and stuff the eco-bricks to begin the construction process. Masons then sandwich the eco-bricks between chicken wire and cover them with cement to form the walls of the new bottle school.

Pricing for Sacred Service, Sacred Lake Retreat

Double (5 nights) / shared cabin (3 nights):
$2,900

Double (all 8 nights):
$3,300

Single (all 8 nights):
$3,800

Youth under 21 (in shared cabin):
$2,450

Join us for the JOY!

Thanksgiving 2024

  • Help build a children's school in rural Guatemala.

  • Practice daily yoga & meditation.

  • Experience authentic connection across cultures & countries.

  • Explore Guatemalan villages, food, crafts, markets.

  • Build eco-conscious schools out of bottles that would otherwise be trash.

  • Eat nourishing fresh food.

  • Visit ancient Mayan temples.

  • Swim in the beautiful sacred waters of Lake Atitlan.

  • Make new friends forever!

  • Beginner yogis welcome.

  • Families welcome.

  • Do something meaningful... while traveling the world.

  • Deepen your yoga practice.

  • Awaken your spirit to gratitude, generosity, and Seva (selfless service).

“To see such gratitude in the eyes of the children, families and teachers is a true blessing. To think that our little efforts could have an indefinite effect on the outcome of so many lives is incredible. With that gratitude and education, perhaps one day they will be able to help others. I learned just how much we take for granted and how redundant my excuses are. With so little, the people seem happy, and it shows in the abundance of gratitude/celebration for the bottle schools they now have. I learned that I have so much more to give.”

— Past Bottle School participant

To apply for this trip of a lifetime, fill out the form below. We will get back to you within 48 hours.

FAQs

  • Unlike most yoga retreats, this uniquely curated trip emphasizes community service, environmental sustainability, and cultural connection. Not only will you receive the numerous benefits of practicing yoga & mindfulness everyday, you will get to explore the path of karma yoga (the yoga of action) and experience the yogic principle of seva (self-less service or should-less service). If you have a vision for a better world - and you long to travel in a way that feels congruent with your values - this trip is for you!

  • You will fly in and out of GUA - La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.

  • No! A member of the Hug It Forward team will meet you at the airport, then you’ll take a private shuttle to the hotel. Your return flight can depart at any time on the last day of the trip, and we’ll help you arrange your transfer once you have your flight details.

  • You can arrive any time on November 23rd and depart any time on December 1st. 

  • Yes, travel insurance is required. The level of coverage you choose is up to you.

  • No. U.S. citizens do not need a visa and are admitted to Guatemala for 90 days.

  • Yes. To enter Guatemala, you will need a U.S. passport that is valid at the time of entry. There is no minimum validity period for a U.S. passport. 

  • The first night we get in, we’ll stay at a beautiful hotel in historic Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, near the center of town with wi-fi, outside space, and walking distance to cafes, markets and tourist attractions.

    When we’re on site for building the bottle school, the hotels we stay in are clean, spacious rooms with private bathrooms (though less luxurious than Hannah’s other retreat sites). That being said, Hug It Forward makes sure we have clean water, food, and all of our needs met. 

    Then, when we go to the lake, we’ll stay at a beautiful retreat center with various options for rooms. We will be right on the shore of legendary Lake Atitlan!

  • During the service portion of the retreat, typically we are 2 to a room. Once we get to the retreat center, there are options for shared cabins (think dorm style but super cute!) for a budget option or families that want to stay together, double rooms for 2 people who want to share a bed, or single room options.

  • Single rooms are available but limited. Register for the “single” option asap.

  • Yes, Hannah is an excellent teacher for adapting practices for folks with diverse backgrounds, abilities, bodies, and so forth. (In fact, she is the President of a nonprofit called The Yoga for All Movement, which offers yoga and mindfulness to individuals in communities who have not historically had access to these profound practices.) The focus of the trip is service & devotion, rather than high-impact fitness yoga. We value accessibility and inclusion, and all experience of yoga practice, including beginner, are welcome. 

  • Yes, after registering you will receive a welcome email and following it, you’ll receive a detailed email with all the information you could ever hope for, including: packing lists for clothing, shoes, toiletries; how to show cultural respect; how to stay connected (wifi, data plans, using your cell out of the country); how much money to bring, exchange rates, etc; dietary information, travel wellness and more.

  • We always work to refund folks when something comes up, while balancing this with the need to compensate our hard working team for their work, and, as you can imagine, we pay in advance for hotels and other trip arrangements. Here is our refund policy: If you cancel prior to 60 days before, and we can register someone else to replace your spot, you can receive a refund less a $300 administrative fee. If you cancel within 60 days of the trip, and we can register someone else to replace your spot, you can receive a refund less a $600 administrative fee. There is absolutely no guarantee that we will be able to find someone to replace your spot, especially closer to the trip, but we always do our best to help out our yogis.

  • 1. Fill out the application on this webpage. 

    2. Within 48 hours, you’ll be hear back from us. Upon admission, you will submit your initial deposit of $600 or pay in full. Your spot is not confirmed until we receive your deposit. 

    3. You’re in! Get ready for the trip of a lifetime. We will send you packing list and other support to prepare for this wondrous pilgrimage.

  • Final payment is due on or any time before September 9, 2024.

  • Absolutely. Reach out to us at care@hannahmuse.com, and we can work with you on a plan.

  • During your time spent in Antigua, you will be eating at beautiful, high-quality restaurants. In the rural area closer to the bottle school project, the group will have a private chef who will cook three meals a day for us. Our chef can cater to any dietary restrictions or preferences that you may have - just let us know. The retreat center we stay at at Lake Atitlan for our final three nights is known for its wonderful, fresh cuisine.

  • A Bottle School Trip is a wonderful experience to share with your family. Young minds have the most to gain from a powerful community service experience at this point in their lives; it can truly change the way they look at the world. 

    Guatemala is a safe environment for children, and our trip leaders are experienced working with younger travelers. Youth will have the opportunities to both build the bottle schools and play and interact with the children in the communities you’ll be working alongside.

    If you are interested in bringing your child or teen, please share in the questionnaire below. We are happy to have a conversation with you to ensure this trip is a good fit for your family. The pricing structure for this trip included a reduced rate for youth.

  • Karma Yoga is the path of selfless service. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains that karma yoga is the spiritual practice of “selfless action performed for the benefit of others”.

    Not only will you receive the numerous benefits of practicing yoga & mindfulness everyday, you will get to explore the path of karma yoga (the yoga of action) and experience the yogic principle of seva (self-less service or should-less service).