You Have Carried Enough
Life can become a constant act of carrying.
Responsibilities.
Expectations.
The emotional weight of those you love.
Work. Family.
Invisible burdens that few people ever see.
And while you keep showing up for everyone else, it can become easy to lose touch with yourself.
Not because you are doing anything wrong.
But because you have been holding so much for so long.
Your worth was never meant to be earned through achievement, caregiving, productivity, or sacrifice.
You do not have to prove your value by how much you carry.
You do not have to earn rest.
You do not have to become someone else to be worthy of love, belonging, or care.
This retreat is a gentle invitation to pause, be nourished, and set down what no longer belongs on your shoulders.
A place to simply be.
Let the Sacred Water Hold You
More than 20,000 years ago, volcanic activity formed the crater that now holds Laguna de Apoyo, a warm freshwater lake surrounded by lush forest and open sky.
There is something about this place that invites a different pace.
The water is warm.
The landscape is expansive.
The days make room to breathe.
Here, you may swim, float, kayak, or simply sit along the shore and take in the beauty around you.
There is nothing to perform.
Nothing to prove.
Nothing to hold together.
Only an invitation to let the lake, the land, and the spaciousness of the days meet you where you are.
What You Will Experience
Throughout our week together, each part of this retreat has been chosen with care.
To help you slow down, reconnect with yourself, and feel supported in whatever unfolds.
There will be time to rest, reflect, laugh, listen inward, and simply be.
Soften
Before we can truly open, we first need to feel safe.
This is where the pace begins to slow.
Through nourishing meals, gentle practices, warm waters, and unhurried moments of rest, your body is invited to settle.
You are welcome to arrive exactly as you are.
No pressure to share.
No expectation to do more than feels right for you.
Just time to be cared for, to land, and to let yourself soften.
Open
As safety and trust begin to grow, the heart may begin to open in its own time.
Through breathwork, meditation, Qigong, gentle body-based practices, reflection, and meaningful conversation, you will be invited to listen inward with curiosity and care.
There is no right way to experience this week.
You are welcome to meet yourself honestly, notice what is present, and be supported without needing to have all the answers.
A place to reconnect with what matters most to you.
Rise
Rising does not have to be forceful.
Sometimes, it begins quietly.
With a deeper breath.
A softer heart.
A moment of laughter.
A renewed sense of connection.
As the week unfolds, there is room
for joy, wonder, playfulness,
and the possibility of feeling more alive.
Not because you need to become
someone new.
But because more of you is
allowed to be here.
A gentle return to what makes you
feel most alive.
How the Days Unfold
Each day at She Rises Softly follows a gentle rhythm: enough structure to feel supported, and enough freedom to follow what you need.
There will be time for nourishing meals, meaningful practices, rest, connection, and unhurried moments that belong only to you.
Wake Slowly
Mornings begin unhurried.
You may wake to birdsong, soft light moving across the lake, and the feeling of having nowhere else to be.
There may be time to stretch, breathe, sit quietly with your tea, or simply step outside and feel the air on your skin.
Some mornings may include a gentle practice, meditation, Qigong, or mindful movement.
Others may be yours to enjoy slowly, before the day asks anything of you.
Nourishment
Nourishment is a simple part of each day.
Fresh tropical fruit, homemade plant-based meals, coffee, tea, and cool drinking water are prepared with care and shared in community.
You may linger over breakfast overlooking the lagoon, enjoy an unhurried lunch, or settle into dinner as the sky begins to change.
These meals are not another thing to manage. They are a chance to pause, be fed, and enjoy the quiet pleasure of being cared for.
Workshops & Heart-Centered Practices
Throughout the week, you will be invited into practices that help you slow down and listen beneath the surface.
There may be breathwork, meditation, Qigong, hypnosis-inspired inner journeys, gentle body-based practices, reflection, and meaningful group conversation.
These experiences are not about fixing you. They are an invitation to meet yourself with curiosity, kindness, and care.
You choose how you participate. You are welcome to move at your own pace, take breaks when needed, and let each experience land in the way that feels right for you.
Time That Is Yours
Some of the most meaningful moments of the week may be the ones you choose for yourself.
Float in the warm waters, take a kayak out on the lagoon, curl up in a hammock with a book, journal beneath the trees, or wander the paths at your own pace.
You may also choose an optional massage, join a cultural excursion, or simply spend the afternoon doing very little.
There is no right way to use this time. You are welcome to follow your energy, change your mind, say yes or no without explanation, and let this time be yours.
Gather Together
Connection often grows in the simple moments.
Sharing a meal.
Laughing over something unexpected.
Sitting together as the light changes over the water.
There will be time for meaningful conversation, gentle connection, and being in the company of women who understand what it means to carry a lot.
You are welcome to join in as you feel called, or take quiet time when you need it.
This is not about forcing closeness. It is about allowing connection to unfold naturally.
Rest & Restore
There is room to slow down throughout this retreat.
You may take an afternoon nap, sit quietly by the water, receive a massage, watch the light change across the lagoon, or simply enjoy having nowhere to be.
Evenings invite a slower pace: nourishing dinners, gentle reflection, laughter, quiet conversation, and time to settle into yourself before sleep.
There is no need to make every moment meaningful.
Sometimes restoration is simply allowing yourself to be still, comfortable, and cared for.
Journeys That Open the Heart
Not every meaningful moment happens in stillness.
Sometimes it arrives through beauty, laughter, shared experience, or being somewhere that reminds you how much larger life can feel.
Throughout the week, we will share a small number of included experiences that invite wonder, connection, culture, and time in the natural beauty of Nicaragua.
These moments are not here to fill the schedule.
They are here to offer something different: a chance to step outside your usual routines, take in the world around you, and let yourself be moved by it.
Witness the Power of the Earth
Masaya Volcano Evening Experience
We will begin with a brief stop at Masaya Market, where you may browse handmade crafts, colour, and local artistry before the evening continues.
From there, we will drive up to Masaya Volcano’s overlook. No hiking is required, only the rare opportunity to stand above an active crater and witness this powerful natural wonder.
As the light begins to change, there will be time to take in the evening air, the scale of the earth, and the perspective that can come from being somewhere so ancient and alive.
A moment of awe, and a reminder that there is a world beyond all we carry.
Compassion Changes Us
Horse Rescue + The White Villages
This day begins at a local horse rescue sanctuary, where horses formerly used for cart pulling are now receiving care, safety, and the chance to live with greater freedom.
From there, we will continue through two of Nicaragua’s Pueblos Blancos. In Catarina, we will pause for open views across Laguna de Apoyo.
In San Juan de Oriente, there will be time to wander through a village known for its pottery traditions and handmade craft.
A day of compassion, landscape, and local tradition, with space to notice what care can make possible.
A Day to Follow Your Own Rhythm
One of the most meaningful parts of this retreat is having time that is not planned for you.
This day has been intentionally left open. You may rest in a hammock, swim in the lagoon, read, journal, or simply enjoy the quiet of Villa Laguna.
You may also choose an optional experience with a trusted local guide, or stay close to the sanctuary and let the day unfold slowly.
There is no right way to spend this time.
Only an invitation to listen to what you need.
A Moment to Unwind
In-House Massage at Villa Laguna
Add an extra layer of care to your open day with an optional massage at Villa Laguna.
Relaxing, deep-tissue, and hot-stone options may be available, depending on scheduling.
A quiet invitation to tend to your body and let yourself receive.
A Day by the Ocean
Popoyo Beach
Spend a slower day along Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, with time for sand, sea, wide horizons, and the ease of being by the water.
This is a full-day outing with approximately two hours of driving each way.
Sail the Emerald Coast
San Juan del Sur + Catamaran
Explore the colourful coastal town of San Juan del Sur before boarding a catamaran for an afternoon sail along Nicaragua’s Pacific coast.
A full day of ocean air, open water, and expansive coastal views, with approximately two hours of driving each way.
Granada & Las Isletas
Colonial City + Lake Nicaragua Boat Tour
Spend time wandering Granada’s historic streets before taking a small boat through Las Isletas on Lake Nicaragua.
A full day of colour, culture, water, and a different view of Nicaragua’s landscape.
Optional activities, excursions, and wellness services are participant-paid and can be arranged separately.
Our hope is that this retreat offers more than meaningful experiences.
That it gives you space to listen inward, follow your own rhythm, and choose what your heart, body, and spirit truly need.
Meet Your Retreat Guides
This retreat is guided by two women who bring different paths, lived experiences, and ways of seeing the world.
What we share is a belief in the power of presence, compassion, and intentional care.
We believe every woman carries a light within her. A beauty. A knowing. A worth that may have been hidden beneath years of carrying too much.
Together, we create a grounded, welcoming space for reflection, connection, and time to listen more closely to yourself.
We are not here to tell you who to become. We are here to hold a space where you can hear yourself more clearly.
Emely Alcina
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST · BREATHWORK FACILATOR · HYPNOSIS-INFORMED & BODY-BASED PRACTICES
For years, I have had the privilege of sitting with women as they share the parts of themselves that are often carried quietly: fear, grief, self-doubt, exhaustion, and longing.
Again and again, I have witnessed how easily a woman can become disconnected from her own needs while caring deeply for everyone around her.
My work is rooted in the belief that beneath the layers of protection, self-criticism, and striving, there is already something deeply worthy within us.
As a psychotherapist and facilitator, I draw from breathwork, hypnosis-informed practices, compassionate self-inquiry, and body-based awareness to create spaces where women can slow down, listen inward, and meet themselves with more kindness.
Creating this retreat feels deeply personal to me.
My hope is that you leave with more than beautiful memories. I hope you leave feeling a little more connected to your own voice, your own needs, and the quiet truth that you matter.
May Denis
Guide in Sensory Awareness & Holistic Wellbeing
For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to what helps us feel truly alive, not simply busy or productive, but present.
My path has taken me through different cultures, teachings, and experiences, each deepening my understanding of sensory awareness, wellbeing, and the quiet wisdom of slowing down.
I believe much of what we long for becomes more available when we notice what is already here: the warmth of the sun, a nourishing meal, shared laughter, or a moment of stillness.
My work is devoted to helping people reconnect with these simple moments, trust their inner knowing, and make room for joy, wonder, and meaningful connection.
Creating this retreat alongside Emely feels deeply meaningful to me.
My hope is that you leave more present in your life, more connected to yourself, and more open to the beauty and possibility around you.
Connection Before & After the Retreat
Your retreat experience includes a few gentle opportunities to connect before and after our time in Nicaragua.
These offerings are entirely optional. They are here to help you feel informed, familiar, and supported, not to add another commitment to your life.
You are welcome to join in as much or as little as feels right for you.
Private WhatsApp Community
INCLUDED · OPTIONAL
Before we travel, you will be invited to a private WhatsApp community where you can meet other participants, ask practical questions, and share in the anticipation of the retreat.
You may join in, read quietly, or engage as little or as much as feels right for you.
Pre-Retreat Virtual Gathering
INCLUDED · OPTIONAL
Before we travel, you will be invited to one optional live online gathering.
It will be a gentle chance to meet one another, ask practical questions, and arrive feeling a little more familiar with the women who will share this experience.
There is no pressure to attend or to share. You are welcome to join in whatever way feels comfortable for you.
Post-Retreat Virtual Gathering
INCLUDED · OPTIONAL
After our time in Nicaragua, you will be invited to one optional live video gathering.
It will be a gentle opportunity to reconnect, reflect on what stayed with you, and carry forward what feels meaningful from the retreat.
There is no pressure to attend or to share. You are welcome to listen quietly, reflect in your own way, and take what feels useful with you.
An Intimate Sanctuary by the Water
Nestled between tropical forest and the warm volcanic waters of Laguna de Apoyo, Villa Laguna will be our home for six nights.
Chosen for its natural beauty and intimate scale, it is a place for unhurried mornings, shared meals, time by the water, and quiet moments in the gardens.
The property is also home to a few friendly cats and dogs who are part of daily life there. Guests with significant animal allergies or discomfort around animals may wish to keep this in mind as they consider whether this retreat is right for them.
• Comfortable shared accommodations, each with a private bathroom
• Daily housekeeping, with towels refreshed every three days
• Direct access to the warm waters of Laguna de Apoyo
• Peaceful gardens and quiet corners for rest
• An open-air shala overlooking the water
• Gathering spaces for meals, conversation, and connection
• Homemade plant-based meals shared in community
• Friendly resident cats and dogs on the property
Choose Your Space
Villa Laguna offers a small collection of shared rooms, each with a private bathroom and access to the full retreat experience.
All accommodations are based on shared occupancy.
The first four women to reserve their place will receive priority placement in a Lake View Suite.
We will do our best to honour rooming preferences, and thoughtful pairing is available for women travelling on their own.
Lake View Suites
Priority placement is offered to the first four women to reserve their place.
Shared accommodation · Private bathroom · Lake-view balcony.
Two queen beds + one twin bed · Up to three women per suite
A spacious suite with beautiful views across Laguna de Apoyo. Final bed use and room pairing will be confirmed based on your rooming preferences and availability.
Patio Rooms
Shared accommodation · Private bathroom · Private outdoor patio
Two single beds that may be joined to create one king bed for couples or friends, with advance notice.
Cozy rooms located beneath the Lake View Suites, with a peaceful outdoor space to rest between retreat experiences.
Thoughtful pairing is available for women travelling on their own.
Forest Rooms
Shared accommodation · Private bathroom · Surrounded by tropical greenery.
Two single beds that may be joined to create one king bed for couples or friends, with advance notice.
A quieter, tucked-away place to rest and recharge close to the gardens and natural beauty of Villa Laguna.
Thoughtful pairing is available for women travelling on their own.
All accommodations are shared occupancy. Final room placement is based on registration timing, rooming preferences, and availability.
What’s Included in Your Retreat Experience
Your retreat includes the essentials that allow you to arrive, settle in, and be cared for throughout the week.
The details have been thoughtfully arranged so you can focus less on logistics and more on being present.
Your Stay & Experiences
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Six nights at Villa Laguna in shared rooms, each with a private bathroom
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Three homemade plant-based meals each day, along with fresh tropical fruit, coffee, tea, and filtered drinking water
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Daily housekeeping and refreshed towels
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Direct access to the warm volcanic waters of Laguna de Apoyo
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Round-trip airport transfers from Managua International Airport
Travel, Care & Connection
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Guided heart-centered experiences, including breathwork, meditation, Qigong, hypnosis-informed inner journeys, reflection, and meaningful conversation
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Two included excursions: Masaya Volcano Evening Experience with a stop at Masaya Market, and the Horse Rescue Sanctuary with Catarina and San Juan de Oriente
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A private retreat WhatsApp community
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One optional pre-retreat virtual gathering and one optional post-retreat virtual gathering.
Your retreat also includes a welcome gift, thoughtful touches throughout the week, and a contribution that supports the horse rescue sanctuary.
Your Investment
Your retreat investment is an invitation to set aside time for rest, connection, beauty, and care. Below, you will find the retreat details, what is included, and how to reserve your place.
She Rises Softly
February 14–20, 2027
Villa Laguna • Laguna de Apoyo • Nicaragua
$2,777 USD per person
Shared occupancy only
Your retreat experience includes:
• Six nights at Villa Laguna
• Three homemade plant-based meals each day
• Guided heart-centered practices
• Two included excursions
• Round-trip transfers from Managua International Airport
• A private retreat WhatsApp community
• One optional pre-retreat virtual gathering
• One optional post-retreat virtual gathering
Reserving Your Place
An $800 USD non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your place.
The remaining balance is due by December 1, 2026.
Payment-plan options may be available upon request. Any applicable payment-plan, processing, or credit-card fees will be confirmed directly by the travel advisor.
Questions before reserving? We would be happy to help you explore whether this retreat feels aligned for you.
“The greatest investment is not the trip.
It is the decision to make space for yourself.
To say yes to your own wellbeing.
To remember that you matter too.”
What Is Not Included
To help you plan with clarity and ease, please note that the following items are not included in the retreat investment and remain the responsibility of each participant:
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International flights to and from Nicaragua
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Transfers from airports other than Managua International Airport
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Optional activities, excursions, wellness services, and massages
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Extra nights before or after the retreat
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Alcoholic beverages
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Personal purchases, souvenirs, gratuities, and incidental expenses
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Payment-plan, processing, or credit-card fees, if applicable
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Travel insurance
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.
Emergency medical travel insurance is required for every participant. We also recommend choosing coverage that includes trip cancellation and interruption, so you have added support should plans change unexpectedly.
Frequently Asked Questions
We want you to feel informed and clear as you consider joining us.
Here you will find answers to practical questions about the retreat, accommodations, travel, participation, and booking.
Frequently asked questions
Maybe This Is Your Time
Perhaps you have spent years caring for others.
Holding things together.
Pushing through.
Doing what needed to be done.
And perhaps a part of you is quietly longing for something different.
More peace.
More joy.
More connection.
More space to hear yourself again.
You do not need to have everything figured out.
You only need to notice what your heart already knows.
If something in this experience speaks to you, we would be honoured to welcome you.
Simply because you matter.
Questions before reserving? We would be happy to help you explore whether this retreat feels aligned for you.
Begin Your Retreat Inquiry
If you feel drawn to this experience, we would be honoured to receive your inquiry.
Completing this form does not reserve your place or require payment.
It is simply the first step toward learning more, asking questions, and exploring whether She Rises Softly feels right for you.
Once your inquiry is received, our travel advisor will connect with you personally to discuss availability, rooming preferences, travel logistics, payment arrangements, and next steps.
Travel, Booking & Payment Coordination
Your retreat booking and payment arrangements will be coordinated through our travel advisor, Isabella Meduri, with RF Travel, a TICO-registered travel agency.
Submitting an inquiry is simply the first step. It does not reserve your place or require payment.
Once your inquiry is received, Isabella will connect with you personally to:
- Confirm current availability
- Discuss rooming preferences
- Review arrival and departure logistics
- Answer travel and booking questions
- Discuss retreat payment arrangements
- Support you as you make plans for Nicaragua
Once your place is confirmed, an $800 USD non-refundable deposit is required to reserve it.
The remaining retreat balance must be paid in full by December 1, 2026.
Payment-plan options may be available upon request. Any applicable payment-plan, processing, or credit-card fees will be confirmed directly by the travel advisor.
For booking and travel questions, please begin by completing the retreat inquiry form. Our travel advisor will connect with you directly.
Retreat Policies & Important Information
We want you to feel informed, supported, and clear before reserving your place. Please review the following details carefully as you consider joining us.
Payment & Reservation
The retreat investment is $2,777 USD per person, based on shared occupancy.
An $800 USD non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your place. This deposit forms part of the total retreat investment and is not an additional fee.
The remaining retreat balance must be paid in full by December 1, 2026.
Payment-plan options may be available upon request. Any applicable payment-plan, processing, or credit-card fees will be confirmed directly by the travel advisor.
Participant Cancellation
If a participant cancels, all retreat payments already made are non-refundable.
Because retreat planning involves advance commitments to accommodations, transportation, staffing, and venue arrangements, we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip-cancellation and interruption coverage.
Retreat Minimums
This retreat requires a minimum of six participants to proceed and is limited to a maximum of twelve women.
Keeping the group intentionally small allows for warmth, ease, meaningful connection, and a more intimate retreat experience.
Cancellation by the Retreat Organizer
We will notify participants no later than December 12, 2026 if the retreat is unable to proceed due to low enrollment.
In the unlikely event that the retreat must be cancelled because of low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, participants will be offered the choice to:
• Transfer the amount paid toward a future retreat, or
• Receive a refund of the amounts paid toward the retreat package
Please note that flights, travel insurance, accommodations outside the retreat dates, transportation arrangements, and other personal travel expenses cannot be reimbursed.
Travel Insurance
Emergency medical travel insurance is required for every participant.
We also strongly recommend comprehensive insurance that includes:
• Trip cancellation
• Trip interruption
• Emergency medical coverage
• Lost or delayed baggage
• Emergency medical evacuation
You may also wish to consider a Cancel For Any Reason insurance option for additional flexibility.
Participant Responsibility
Participants are responsible for ensuring that they have a valid passport and meet all entry, health, visa, and travel requirements necessary to enter Nicaragua.
Travel requirements can change. Please verify the most current information with the appropriate government and travel authorities before departure.
Important Retreat Scope
She Rises Softly is a wellness and personal-growth retreat. It is not psychotherapy, counselling, group therapy, medical treatment, or crisis support.
All practices and activities are invitation-based. Participants remain responsible for choosing what feels appropriate for their own needs, comfort, and wellbeing.
Changes to the Retreat Experience
While we will make every effort to offer the retreat as described, schedules, excursions, activities, and inclusions may occasionally need to change due to weather, local conditions, safety considerations, or circumstances beyond our control.
Any changes will be made thoughtfully, with the wellbeing of the group in mind.
Retreat Details
She Rises Softly
An Open Heart Retreat for Women Who Have Been Carrying Too Much for Too Long
February 14–20, 2027
Villa Laguna
Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua
Women Only
7 Days / 6 Nights
Shared Accommodations
Travel & Booking Information
Travel & Booking
Bookings for this retreat are processed through RF Travel, a TICO-registered travel agency.
RF Travel
TICO Registration #5003172
1003–55 York St.
Toronto, ON M5J 1R7
For registration, payment inquiries, or travel-related questions:
Isabella Meduri
isabella@rftravel.ca
A Gentle Note
Before You Go
This retreat is a wellness and personal-growth experience.
It is not psychotherapy, counselling, group therapy, medical treatment, or crisis support.
You are welcome to arrive exactly as you are.
"Created with care for women who have been carrying too much for too long."
© 2027 She Rises Softly Retreat • All rights reserved