Women of Wisdom Yoga Retreat – Workshop Leader Bios and Workshop Descriptions

Gabylu Alcantra Gabriela is a mother, healer, and carrier of the ancient feminine rituals of her home country of Mexico. She has done deep study with the grandmothers of her community for many years and applies practices for the womb, of working with plants, and of keeping sacred rituals with the rhythms of the land to her own life and also for her family and community.
 
Gabylu will be guiding us in working with the local healing plants by infusing them into honey, creating a healing sweetness for each woman to bring back some of the sweetness we share in our time together in the Herbalism and Plant Medicine workshop and Cacao Ceremony. She will also lead the Wild Apothecary workshop, sharing plant-based natural remedies for skin and hair care.

Maria Akal is a midwife, mother, and healer from Mexico. She lives in Tulum with her family and supports the women of her community with birth, ceremony, yoga, herbalism, and ritual. She is a powerful advocate, educator, and space holder for women’s health and empowerment. Her joy shines from her like the sun, and her ceremonies evoke a sense of deep connection and remembrance. She is passionate about bringing women together to experience the power of prayer and ritual as an innate part of the sacred power we hold.

Maria will lead the Womb Wisdom Ceremony, a blend of traditional midwifery, somatic bodywork, yoga, and a variety of other practices. This experience explores the feminine lineage and unlocks the information residing in the womb, guiding participants on a journey of self-discovery that embraces femininity and invites a rebirth into their truth within a raw and wild nature.

Ixchel Cuevas is a singer, dancer, and performer from the Mexican Caribbean. She shares her healing abilities through shamanic/Spanish medicine songs. She actively participates in medicine circles and ceremonies, guiding others through transformative sound healing journeys with a diverse array of instruments. Her artistry aims to inspire, heal, and elevate the spirit through the power of sound and movement. Ixchel will provide music during several of the ceremonies and the Sound Bath.
 

Cyn Mathis is retired from a fun but exhausting corporate career and now focuses on being a good mom, sister, friend, and Mimi (grandma). Over the years, she has become a registered Yoga Instructor (200 RYT), certified Yoga Tune-Up Teacher, Certified Somatic Mind-Body Healing Practitioner, Functional Body-Movement practitioner as well as a certified Career Coach … all in a quest to find clarity through change and use innate wisdom and energy to live life fully. Cyn geeks out about anatomy, so be prepared for some alignment-based awareness and movement!

Cyn will lead us in two workshops. Blissful Breathing uses intentional breathing paired with slow, mindful movement to help create space for change in your body, mind, and spirit. We’ll explore and open up ‘stuck spots’ and feel your nervous system drop into a natural state of calm and relaxation.

Somatic Healing Techniques brings conscious attention and perception of bodily sensations such as muscle tension, heartbeat, breath, and temperature, to gain a deeper understanding of your emotional and physical state. Learn specific tools and techniques to reset your nervous system and recall a state of calm, no matter where you are.

Your Yoga and Meditation Guide 

Maria Santoferraro, joy spreader, E-RYT 500 yoga teacher, storyteller, and always a practicing yoga student, currently resides in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. After spending over 25 years as a stressed-out corporate executive, she needed a detox from an unhealthy Blackberry addiction, lack of sleep, and an aching back caused by scoliosis. She sought out a healthier lifestyle and is grateful to have found her physical and spiritual release through the practice of yoga. Today, she is living a balanced and blissful life, leading international yoga retreats, and providing inspiration on her We’re All Just Here to Help Substack page. Her playful, heart-opening teaching combines meditation, breath, alignment, and asana in slow-flowing hatha yoga classes that incorporate inspirational class themes, music, chanting, laughter, and the spiritual teachings of yoga to create a peaceful environment where students can quiet their minds, let go of fear and stress, and experience a deep sense of healing, relaxation, and joy.