April 17–23, 2026

Gitana Del Mar Eco Yoga Retreat | Sierra Nevada Mountains, Colombia

Join us for Somatic Intelligence: An In-Depth Therapeutic Yoga & Breathwork Retreat on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where the mountains meet the sea. This immersive journey is designed for those who are ready to explore the body’s innate intelligence through therapeutic yoga, somatic awareness, and trauma-informed breathwork.

Through daily therapeutic yoga, long-form breathwork, and integrative somatic education, you’ll learn how to work skillfully with the body’s intelligence to support regulation, release, and resilience. Held on Colombia’s serene Caribbean coast in the Sierra Nevada mountains, this retreat blends education, embodiment, and restoration, guiding you to move beyond the surface of practice into nervous system repair, emotional integration, and embodied healing.

THE RETREAT EXPERIENCE:

Nestled within Gitana Del Mar Eco Yoga Retreat, you’ll be immersed in a sanctuary where nature, healing, and soul connection meet.

Beautiful eco-cabañas surrounded by lush jungle
Miles of pristine beaches and tropical forest trails
Farm-to-table, locally sourced meals served three times daily
Daily therapeutic yoga and trauma-informed breathwork sessions on a stunning yoga deck overlooking the Caribbean Sea
Immersive somatic practices designed to support deep nervous system regulation and embodied healing
Sound vibrational therapy, guided meditations, and integration sessions to harmonize body, mind, and spirit
Temazcal Ceremony (sweat lodge): an indigenous purification ritual for profound physical, emotional, and spiritual cleansing
“From Feeling to Form” — an immersive pottery experience where creation becomes a meditation on presence, embodiment, and expression through the language of the body
Excursion into the villages of Colombia’s indigenous tribes, where you’ll connect, share time, and learn directly from their ancestral ways

This retreat is more than a yoga experience—it’s a cultural and embodied immersion, where you’ll witness and participate in indigenous ways of being, rituals, and traditions, supporting your connection to the land, community, and self.

About the Land:

Immerse yourself in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, known as “The Heart of the World,” a mystical and exotic region declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This land is home to the Arhuaco, Kogi, Wiwa, and Kankuamo indigenous tribes, who through daily rituals maintain a deep balance between the spiritual and ecological world.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rises nearly 19,000 feet from the Caribbean coast, encompassing multiple ecosystems: wetlands, mangroves, tropical rainforests, deserts, alpine tundra, and snow-capped peaks. It’s home to thousands of plant and animal species, including 628 bird species—about as many as the entire United States and Canada combined.

Registration Process:

As part of registration, you’ll complete a short form that gives us an opportunity to get to know you — your intentions, your background, and what called you to this experience. This helps us ensure the journey supports you in the most meaningful way possible. All are welcome — whether you’re newer to yoga and self-discovery or have been on this path for years. What matters most is your willingness to show up as you are.

➤ A deposit is required to secure your spot and access the registration form. (Deposit link provided below). After your deposit is received, you’ll get an email with the registration form to complete your registration.

Contact EsTera (Retreat Coordinator & Manager): @708-307-9103 – logistics, cabana options, flights

The Investment: $2,300-2,800 (bring a friend and receive a $100 discount)

Once your registration form is reviewed, $600 deposit is no longer refundable.
The deposit goes towards the total balance.
The rest of the balance is due 90 days before the retreat day start date of April 17th, 2026.
Pay over time with a customized payment plan upon request.
No refunds will be given 90 days before the retreat. The only way to receive a full refund (minus 5% credit card processing fees) is if you find someone else to take your spot.

Does not include: Airfare, Transportation (to/from) airport, Optional Travel Insurance, Optional Massage or additional Excursions

Spaces are limited and carefully curated to create a safe, deep, and transformative experience. Apply early to secure your spot!

With deep love and excitement,
Em & Es

Meet Your Guides,
Emile Lisauskaite

Born in Kaunas, Lithuania in 1996 and raised in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago, Emile (Em) was shaped by the contrast of two worlds. Moving to the U.S. at six years old without knowing the language taught her adaptability, resilience, and curiosity about human connection. Each summer, she and her sister traveled alone to visit their grandparents in Lithuania, who exposed them to diverse cultures through journeys across Africa, Turkey, and Greece. These formative experiences instilled in her a lifelong reverence for travel, diversity, and the beauty of different ways of living.

By eighteen, Em was traveling solo—valuing experiences over possessions and seeking meaning beyond material success. By twenty-eight, she had explored over fifteen countries, many in the developing world, where she witnessed the richness of simplicity, the power of community, and a deep respect for Mother Earth. These journeys awakened her understanding of life’s interconnectedness and laid the foundation for her work in healing and transformation.

Her path has also been shaped by profound loss. Navigating complex trauma during childhood and the later passing of both her best friend and father became catalysts for deep inner work. Rather than letting grief close her heart, she allowed it to expand her—teaching her presence, compassion, and the transformative power of love. These experiences, along with periods of deep disconnection from her body and truth, now inform the gentle, intuitive, and reverent way she holds space for others.

Em’s spiritual curiosity began in adolescence, sparked by a fascination with the mind and the nature of existence. This inquiry led her to study psychology, explore meditation and subconscious reprogramming, and dive deeply into yogic and energetic practices. In 2017, she completed her first yoga teacher training, and by 22, she took a leap of faith—stepping into ownership of Rising Lotus Healing Center alongside her mother. Together, they transformed it into a sanctuary for healing, self-discovery, and spiritual expansion, later extending this mission worldwide through transformational retreats.

Since 2019, Em has served as the lead trainer for the Rising Lotus School of Yoga & Wellness 200-hour Teacher Training Program, certifying nearly one hundred students. In 2023, she launched YOGAEM, an on-demand platform devoted to yoga, mental and emotional mastery, and soul evolution. With over 10,000 hours of teaching experience, she blends ancient wisdom with modern science to support others in reconnecting with their authenticity, inner power, and embodied truth.

Today, Em embodies the archetype of the wounded healer—one who transforms pain into purpose and teaches that healing is not about erasing hardship but embracing the full spectrum of human experience. As the owner of Rising Lotus, founder of YOGAEM.com, certified energy worker, sound therapist, and intuitive coach, she bridges the seen and unseen to guide others home to themselves.

Her intention is always the same: to help others reclaim their power, embody their authentic medicine, and remember who they truly are—beyond stories, roles, and form.

Emile's Training & Certifications:

B.A. in General Psychology, University of Illinois Chicago (2018)
E-RYT 200 – Hatha Yoga, Vita Sireikis (2017)
RYT 200 – Kundalini Yoga, Samadhi Banks (2020)
RYT 300 – In-Depth Iyengar Yoga (Yoga Therapy Focused), Gabriel Halpern (2022)
Trauma-Informed Breathwork Coaching (200+ hrs), Owaken Breathwork (in progress, graduating April 2026)
Master Reiki Healer, Jenni Maes & Shaman Jay
Sound Vibrational Therapist, Shaman Jay
Specialized Studies:
- Living Wisdom: Bridge Between Yoga & Activism (80 hrs), Bex Tyrer
- Unwind the Feminine (80 hrs), Bex Tyrer
- Yoga Nidra (50 hrs), Caley Alyssa
- Restorative Yoga (20 hrs), Nicole Schneider
- Para Yoga (12 hrs), Rod Stryker
- Yoga on a Quantum Level (10 hrs), Gina Antoun
- Foundations of Meditation (10 hrs), Gina Antoun

Inga Wilke

Inga is a long-time yoga student who was introduced to Pranayama practice in 1987 at the age of 14 and started her asana practice about a decade later. Inga completed her first 125-hour teacher training with Suddha Weixler (The Chicago Yoga Center), whom she still regards as the primary influence on her teaching style. In 2013, she completed a 200-hour training with Rishikesh Yogpeeth in India, after which she fully committed to teaching yoga. Inga is about to complete her 500-hour training with Poonsm Gupta, a leading educator in Yoga Therapy. Inga owns the Carpe Diem Studio, which offers various events, including sound healing, art therapy, spiritual retreats, and traveling for women.

Inga follows the Ashtanga traditions in the form taught by Manju P. Jois, whom she considers her master teacher. She also studied with David Garrigues, Tim Feldmann, and Andrew Eppler and attended the Mysore Yoga Conference in Mysore (India), which helped her expand her understanding of what Ashtanga Practice means to her. She aspires to serve her students by continually learning and deepening her practice. “We all are students in the first place since we can only teach what we have mastered ourselves” is her motto. While enjoying all the health benefits that she credits to her regular Ashtanga practice, she points out that Ashtanga Vinyasa became the primary practice, which matters along with the restorative practice, also known for its therapeutic benefits. Inga is ready to share her passion and knowledge with everyone who feels called to learn with her.