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Embodied Sovereignty: 8 Day Women's Only San Pedro (Huachuma) Immersion in Playa Grande, Costa Rica

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Up to 10 in group
Date
January 9 - 16, 2027

Retreat Highlights

  • • You have been everything to everyone: the mother, the caregiver, the leader, the one who holds it together. You already know you have been leaving yourself. Embodied Sovereignty is eight days with San Pedro (Huachuma), the Illuminator, in a circle of ten women, built to give you the felt experience of belonging to yourself and the support to keep choosing it at home.
  • • Three daytime San Pedro (Huachuma) ceremonies with medicine carrier Nikki Szeghalmi
  • • Women only, ten maximum, and no other program at the lodge during your stay
  • • Six weeks of preparation and twelve weeks of integration, so the change holds at home
  • • Three gates walked in order: slowing down and softening, permission and authenticity, self-love and boundaries
  • • Embodiment practices: five senses meditation, mirror work, a blindfolded meal, tide pool floating, and embodied movement
  • • Boundaries in practice: the sacred no, the self-forgiveness letter, and a closing fire ceremony
  • • Two breathwork sessions and an art therapy workshop
  • • Guided by trauma-informed principles for safety; first-timers welcome
  • • Ocean-view king suite and private chef meals
  • • Two partial scholarships available

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

You have been everything to everyone.
The mother, the caregiver, the leader, the one who holds it together. Somewhere in keeping everyone else going, you left yourself. Your boundaries are hard to find and harder to hold. You say yes out of guilt. Your own needs sit at the bottom of the list, and your body has been carrying too much for too long.

You already know what needs to change. You did not lose yourself through failure. You were trained to give yourself away. You are not broken, and you will not be pushed here. This is a small, women-only circle, and first-timers are welcome.

You might recognize

Saying yes when you mean no
Rest that never feels earned
Sleep that does not restore you
Tension you carry everywhere
Your needs, always last
A quiet distance from who you are

What these eight days are for

Eight days does not undo a lifetime of over-giving. It gives you the felt experience of the alternative, and the tools to keep choosing it at home. That is why the immersion sits inside six weeks of preparation and twelve weeks of integration. This is not a retreat where you receive healing. It is where you reclaim your authority to heal yourself.

San Pedro (Huachuma), the medicine that keeps you in your body

San Pedro (Huachuma) is a sacred Andean cactus medicine, held in daylight and in nature. The Illuminator, the medicine quiets the busy mind and illuminates what is out of alignment with truth, love, and integrity. Across a long daytime window, you remain present, attuned to sensation, and connected to emotional truth, able to move, express, and process in real time. That sustained presence is what reclaiming sovereignty asks for.

Sustained embodied presence: you learn to stay with what arises, softly rather than by force.
Daytime rhythm: sunlight, earth, and the natural pace of the day support your nervous system while you do deep work.
Time as medicine: the long window lets you practice new patterns of self-trust in the moment.
Patterns met in the body: by staying present as old patterns surface, you complete what was left incomplete.

Embodiment in practice: sensuality is not seduction, it is five senses, awake

You cannot think your way into your body. Much of this week is built to bypass the mind and go straight to sensation.

Five senses meditation: a guided return to each sense in turn, the simplest doorway back into the body.
A blindfolded meal: sight removed, everything else amplified, eaten with your fingers.
Tide pool floating: held by warm Pacific water in the rock pools below the lodge, with nowhere to be.
Embodied movement: not choreography, not performance, whatever your body wants to do.
Mirror work: eye to eye with yourself, speaking love out loud, and practicing how to receive it.
What makes your body sigh: an inquiry we return to all week, until you can answer it without hesitating, and then honor the answer.

The eight-day sovereignty arc

Three gates, walked in order and woven through three ceremonies. Slow down and soften first. Permission and authenticity next. Self-love and boundaries last, once there is a body safe enough to hold them. Each ceremony reveals what the last one made safe to see, and each gate makes the next one possible.

Begin before you arrive

These are the questions we will sit with together. There are no correct answers. Notice which one your body reacts to before your mind does, and bring that one with you.

What does embodiment mean to you?
What does feminine embodiment mean to you?
In what ways do you feel embodied in your life currently?
What are you not embodying?
When do you not feel embodied?
What would you like to embody, or embody more of?
Can you envision it? What would it feel like in your body?

Seen, heard, and held, the whole way through

Our mission: a safe and welcoming space where every woman feels seen, heard, and understood, where she knows, in her body, that she matters. Ten women maximum, and the lodge hosts no other program during your stay. Every woman is known by name and intention, in preparation, in ceremony, and in the months that follow. The immersion is guided by trauma-informed principles, so safety, consent, and care are felt, not just named.

You go home belonging to yourself

Women tell us they leave:

Rested, without needing to earn it
Able to say no without apologizing
Trusting their body and their intuition
With their own needs back on the list
Comfortable taking up space
Lighter, softer, and more like themselves

In their words

"This was truly a life-changing experience. From the moment I arrived, I felt a deep sense of safety and care. I left with clarity, gratitude, and profound shifts." Alessandra, Huachuma, January 2026

"The experience was deep and subtle and profoundly blissful. Days later I still find it much easier to be present, calm, and relaxed." Deborah, Women's Huachuma, January 2026

"I feel like I received a nervous system reset and true healing at Ananda. The meticulously planned program was the perfect experience for me." Nicole, Women's Immersion, December 2025

"The container is intentional and trauma-informed. Safety, consent, and care are not just words here. They are felt throughout the experience." Kim, Women's Immersion, 2025

Schedule

PREPARATION · SIX WEEKS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Intake call and health and safety screening
Three one-to-one preparation sessions
Preponderings: seven embodiment questions to carry with you
Two weeks before arrival | No alcohol and limited salt; cannabis reduced, eliminated if possible

DAY 1 · SAT JAN 9 · THE UNCOILING
Arrival, orientation, and downregulation. Meeting the land and the circle, and clarifying what sovereignty means for you.
2:30PM | Shuttle pick-up, Liberia Airport (LIR), if booked
4:30PM | Welcome refreshments
5:00PM | Opening circle
6:30PM | Dinner

DAY 2 · SUN JAN 10 · CEREMONY · MEETING THE MEDICINE
Day of fasting. Building trust, noticing how the body responds to expanded awareness, and allowing whatever arises without fixing.
8:30AM | Ceremony
1:00PM | Fruit offering
5:00PM | Grounding and ceremony close
6:30PM | Dinner

DAY 3 · MON JAN 11 · THE JOURNEY INWARD
Gate I. Slowing down, softening, and learning your body's language.
9:00AM | Breakfast
10:00AM | Group integration
1:30PM | Rest or one-to-one support
3:00PM | Five senses meditation, sacred self-touch, and mirror work
4:30PM | Breathwork
6:30PM | Dinner and the question: what makes your body sigh?

DAY 4 · TUE JAN 12 · CEREMONY · GOING DEEPER
Day of fasting. Meeting the places you have abandoned yourself, and releasing old protection.
8:30AM | Ceremony
1:00PM | Fruit offering
5:00PM | Grounding and ceremony close
6:30PM | Dinner

DAY 5 · WED JAN 13 · SOVEREIGNTY OF SPACE
Gate II. Full self-expression without shrinking or performing.
9:00AM | Breakfast
10:00AM | Group integration
11:30AM | Tide pool floating
1:00PM | Blindfolded meal
3:00PM | Permission slips and art therapy
4:30PM | Wild embodied movement
6:30PM | Dinner

DAY 6 · THU JAN 14 · CEREMONY · EXPANSION
Day of fasting. Living from internal authority, celebrating your fullness, and anchoring new patterns.
8:30AM | Ceremony
1:00PM | Fruit offering
5:00PM | Grounding and ceremony close
6:30PM | Dinner

DAY 7 · FRI JAN 15 · YOUR FREEDOM BODY
Gate III. Boundaries as self-love.
9:00AM | Breakfast
10:00AM | Group integration
11:30AM | The self-forgiveness letter and the amends process
2:00PM | Breathwork
3:30PM | Touch and energetic boundaries, meeting the martyr, and practicing the sacred no
6:30PM | Celebration dinner
7:30PM | Closing fire ceremony

DAY 8 · SAT JAN 16 · RESILIENCE AND RECLAMATION Anchoring what you found and clarifying what you carry forward.
8:30AM | Breakfast
9:30AM | Closing circle
11:00AM | Departure

INTEGRATION · TWELVE WEEKS AFTER YOU RETURN
One-to-one integration support and integration guidebooks
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Ananda Lodge

Directions

Ananda Lodge's prime location offers easy access to and from key destinations:
- 1 hour to Liberia (LIR) Airport
- 30 minute drive to Tamarindo or 5 minutes by boat ride
- 40 minutes to Potrero
- 40 minutes to Marina Flamingo

Accommodation

Capturing a sweeping view of the property and the ocean, our 8-room lodge is nothing but spectacular. With eco-sustainable construction and natural, local wood elements, the lodge is our primary housing for guests. Guests enter their rooms through the back of the lodge, allowing for unobstructed views of the property and ocean from the oversized, private balconies. Each room is thoughtfully designed for comfort, sustainability, and ultimate relaxation. Accommodations can be customized for single or double occupancy, as designated by the guest preferences. Each room is outfitted with natural, local wood and stone accents, and an open-air shower to enhance your connection with nature.

King Ocean View Room

Accommodation
Enjoy sustainable luxury and artisanal, designed furnishings in your private king, ocean-view bedroom.  Designed for relaxation with an expansive, private balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the forest. Each room is thoughtfully designed to harmonize with earth elements using local woods and stones and an open-air shower designed to make you feel as if you are one with nature. Reserving this option guarantees the entire suite for your exclusive comfort. Each room is a sanctuary of comfort, equipped with: En-suite bathroom with hot showers Breathtaking views of the lush natural surroundings and the majestic Pacific Orthopedic beds and luxury linens for a restful night's sleep Beautiful handcrafted, locally-sourced decor and personal artisanal touches In-room safe for your peace of mind Pure filtered water available throughout the retreat Fresh towel service and housekeeping for your convenience Utilization of all-natural cleaning agents to ensure a healthy environment Laundry service available upon request (additional fee applies) As part of our commitment to your well-being, all accommodations include: All meals showcasing local, fresh flavors Medicinal plant ceremonies for holistic healing Yoga and meditation classes to rejuvenate mind and body Workshops to enrich your experience Taxes, fees, and more, as detailed on our main retreat page At Ananda Lodge, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Playa Grande while enjoying the comfort of our carefully crafted accommodations and the enriching experiences that come with your stay.

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
At Ananda Lodge Costa Rica, nestled in the natural beauty of Playa Grande, we offer a sanctuary where trauma-informed care meets ancestral wisdom. Our carefully crafted accommodations provide comfort as you engage in transformative experiences guided by respected Indigenous facilitators. We honor sacred plant medicines and integrate somatic practices, creating a safe, nurturing environment to support each individual's unique healing journey, allowing for deep restoration of body, mind, & spirit

Meals

Menu
Menu

Menu Types

Be catered to with private chef gourmet meals, attuned to your specific dietary needs. Vegan, vegetarian, allergies, and dietary restrictions welcomed.

What's Included

  • • 8 day, 7 night all-inclusive immersion, women only, ten maximum
  • • King ocean-view suite
  • • Intake call and health and safety screening
  • • Three one-to-one preparation sessions across six weeks
  • • Three daytime San Pedro (Huachuma) ceremonies with medicine carrier Nikki Szeghalmi
  • • Two breathwork sessions
  • • Art therapy workshop
  • • Daily embodiment practices and somatic empowerment workshops
  • • Tide pool floating and a beach sunset walk
  • • Onsite one-to-one support and group integration circles
  • • Closing fire ceremony and celebration dinner
  • • Private chef meals
  • • Twelve weeks of one-to-one integration support
  • • Integration guidebooks and Ananda's Guide to Huachuma

What's Not Included

  • Shuttle Transportation
  • Plant Medicine Fee
  • Onsite Services

Customer Reviews

4.99 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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A Welcoming Container
While my experience at Ananda Lodge was brief, it was nothing short of warm, welcoming, and supportive. From the start, it's easy to feel the care this team has for their pasajeros. The screening was thorough, as was the communication leading up to the journey.

Kimberly and Jay have a truly special property here as well. It was incredibly clean, comfortable, and the cherry on-top of what I truly cared about - a safe ceremonial container.

We had orientation and somatic work before our ceremony and integration afterwards alongside the most nourishing meals. I felt completely at-ease with the medicine carrier and with this team at the helm. It's clear they operate with integrity and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to do life-altering work here. Thank you both for an enriching experience!

5.0
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Unforgetable Experience
My time at Ananda Lodge was deeply meaningful, and weeks after returning home, I am still discovering how much the experience gave me. My integration journey will continue for months, but I can already say that Ananda holds a very special place in my heart. I actually plan on making this a once a year "must do" from now on.

Jason, Kimberly, and Dana guided our experiences, offered space for reflection, connection, and healing. The ceremonies, breathwork, Reiki, music, and time connecting with nature each brought something different to my journey. Some moments were beautiful and peaceful; others challenged me to surrender, look inward, and meet myself with greater compassion.

What I treasure most is what I brought home: a deeper appreciation for my family, a renewed desire to care for my body and mind, and a clearer intention to bring more love and awareness into my daily life. I am still working with what surfaced during my stay, and those discoveries continue to unfold through meditation, journaling, and everyday moments.

Ananda was much more than a retreat for me. It was a meaningful pause that gave me room to listen to myself and reconnect with what matters. I am deeply grateful to everyone who was part of that experience. Five stars, with heartfelt thanks.

5.0
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Exceptional care from beginning to end
I can’t say enough about the care, compassion, and thoughtfulness that Emma, Michal, and Kimberly bring to every part of the retreat, from preparation through the retreat itself and into integration afterward.

They support you every step of the way, meet you exactly where you are, and provide the care you need in each moment. Nothing feels generic or rushed. Their support is personal, attentive, and deeply intentional. I felt safe, seen, and genuinely cared for throughout the entire experience.

The accommodations are beautiful, peaceful, and extremely comfortable. The food is delicious, nourishing, and thoughtfully planned to support the medicine and the work taking place throughout the week. Every detail feels intentional.

I am incredibly grateful to the Ananda team and would highly recommend this retreat to anyone looking for a thoughtful, enriching, and well-supported experience.

5.0
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Where My Soul Found Its Way Home
The Empowered Path Retreat--I came to Ananda Lodge looking to go deeper into my own healing work, this time through plant medicine, and after one phone call with Kimberly, it was an easy decision. From the moment I arrived, their intention was palpable--in the quiet design of every space, from the sitting area to the maloca to the outdoor spaces meant for both community and stillness with nature. Kimberly, Jason, Dana, and the whole team held that intention with such care, offering one-on-one guidance after several of my ceremonies that made all the difference. That care extended well beyond the retreat itself, too--four weeks of preparation beforehand and three months of integration support afterward, with group calls and one-on-one sessions held online to help me carry the experience forward. I left with a true sense of self-acceptance and a felt understanding of what empowerment really means--being blanketed in unconditional love, and realizing how much love I have to give in return. It truly felt like stepping into another realm, heaven found here on earth. I will carry this experience with me always, and I hope anyone reading this finds their own way to Ananda Lodge.

5.0
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Amazing experience!!
I cannot recommend this more highly . Kimberly and Dana and Jason made me feel extremely comfortable and safe throughout the retreat. I did not have any spiritual experience and was not sure what to expect from the medicine and the ceremonies - I will admit I was a bit skeptical. Given all that - I left Ananda feeling like a new person. Kimberly and Dana held space for everyone and allowed us each to experience the medicine and ceremonies at our own pace. I arrived on my own and left having shared a deeply personal experience with people I love.

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