New Habits, New Life: A Transformational Women's Retreat in Colombia with Edwige Gilbert
Your TourHero
EDWIGE GILBERT
Transformation Guide and Founder of New Life Directions, reinvents lives and creates Fresh Starts driven by a purposeful vision. As an international speaker and author of “the Fresh Start Promise” and “Victim to Victorious”, Edwige turns stress into success by clearing unwanted habits and behaviors, creating self confidence and exuberant enjoyment of life, or as she calls it in French, “Joie de Vivre”.
She has been featured on Lifetime TV (“The Balancing Act”) on national radio and in such magazines as New York Magazine, Personal Excellence, Woman’s World, American Health, Allure, and Women’s Fitness. Edwige holds certifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (N.L.P) Hypnotherapy, Substance abuse counseling, Behavior Change, Yoga and Qigong. Some of her clients include, MTV, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, the Corcoran Group, Expedia, Pritikin weight loss center, Unit 4, the Alzheimer’s Association to name a few.
Check out her website.
Duration
6 days · 5 nights
Travel Date
Sep 6 – 11, 2024
Activity Level
Moderate
Group Size
12
Transportation
Airport and activity transfers
Tour Price
Your Fellow Explorers
Age range
50+
Travel interest
Wellness, fitness, healing, nature, women only
Your Local Guide
In 2011, Markus Jobi began Palenque Tours in an effort to combine ecological and cultural tourism in the City of Medellin and the Antioquia and Chocó regions. The company runs local experiences and tours, along with multi-day trips to showcase the beauty and culture of the country. In 2017, the company successfully completed the process of an international certification in tourist sustainability. The same year it was approved by TOURCERT, an international German certifier recognized for its social, environmental, and cultural high standards. Today, all activities offered are private, customized, and have a positive social and cultural impact clearly defined and articulated.
A total Mind/Body/Spirit transformational experience
For women 50+
It’s not just an ordinary 6-day retreat, but a life transforming experience!
You will not only be transported to an enchanted paradise surrounded by lush tropical mountains and hot springs, but you will also discover how to practice your new victorious life.
1. For your mind
You will discover how to quiet and focus your mind with breathing techniques and meditation which will leave you feeling Calm, Centered and Connected to a Victorious You!
2. For your body
You will gain energy, vitality, strength, proper posture and alignment with Yoga, Qigong, Pilates, and Dance. You will also replenish your body with healthy and nutritious food, while practicing mindful eating.
3. For your spirit
You will learn the art of Mindfulness and Self Hypnosis which are effective ways to create your intention and manifest the future you desire.
Cancellation policy
TourHero, the retreat host, and the tour operator reserve the right to cancel or reschedule this trip up until May 24, 2024. If the departure is canceled out of your control, you will be alerted by May 24, 2024 and will receive a full refund.
In this case, TourHero is not responsible for your preparation expenses, such as airline tickets, extra accommodations, loss of work, or any other cost associated with preparing for your trip. We recommend booking travel insurance, along with refundable flights/accommodations in case of cancellation.
Refunds for deposits
We will hold your spot as soon as you put down your deposit. However, if you decide to cancel your trip, we will be unable to refund your deposit.
Refunds for fully-paid trips
You may change or cancel your trip by May 24, 2024 for a refund, excluding the deposit. After this date, no refunds will be given. To change or cancel your trip, please email travelers@tourhero.com.
Trip cancellation due to COVID-19
A full credit will be issued if the tour is canceled when there is full border closure due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. This credit can go towards booking a future TourHero tour (see our COVID-19 guarantee on the tour itinerary page). We suggest buying your own travel insurance for coverage of cancellations within 30 days of the tour commencing for reasons other than a full tour cancellation.
Your TourHero
EDWIGE GILBERT
Transformation Guide and Founder of New Life Directions, reinvents lives and creates Fresh Starts driven by a purposeful vision. As an international speaker and author of “the Fresh Start Promise” and “Victim to Victorious”, Edwige turns stress into success by clearing unwanted habits and behaviors, creating self confidence and exuberant enjoyment of life, or as she calls it in French, “Joie de Vivre”.
She has been featured on Lifetime TV (“The Balancing Act”) on national radio and in such magazines as New York Magazine, Personal Excellence, Woman’s World, American Health, Allure, and Women’s Fitness. Edwige holds certifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (N.L.P) Hypnotherapy, Substance abuse counseling, Behavior Change, Yoga and Qigong. Some of her clients include, MTV, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, the Corcoran Group, Expedia, Pritikin weight loss center, Unit 4, the Alzheimer’s Association to name a few.
Check out her website.
Duration
6 days · 5 nights
Travel Date
Sep 6 – 11, 2024
Activity Level
Moderate
Group Size
12
Transportation
Airport and activity transfers
A total Mind/Body/Spirit transformational experience
For women 50+
It’s not just an ordinary 6-day retreat, but a life transforming experience!
You will not only be transported to an enchanted paradise surrounded by lush tropical mountains and hot springs, but you will also discover how to practice your new victorious life.
1. For your mind
You will discover how to quiet and focus your mind with breathing techniques and meditation which will leave you feeling Calm, Centered and Connected to a Victorious You!
2. For your body
You will gain energy, vitality, strength, proper posture and alignment with Yoga, Qigong, Pilates, and Dance. You will also replenish your body with healthy and nutritious food, while practicing mindful eating.
3. For your spirit
You will learn the art of Mindfulness and Self Hypnosis which are effective ways to create your intention and manifest the future you desire.
Timeline
- Day 1 · September 6, 2024 · Quimbaya
- Arrive at Matecaña International Airport in Pereira
- Group transfer from airport to accommodation
- Check-in at Anahata Retreat (or similar according to availability)
- Orientation at the retreat center
- Welcome dinner
- Get together, announce schedule for the retreat and Joie de Vivre circle consisting of guided meditation and self-reflection
- Day 2 · September 7, 2024 · Quimbaya
- Mindful walk
- Breakfast
- Qigong practice
- Yoga/pilates class
- Lunch
- Introduction to meditation/emotional regulation techniques
- Free time/massages/private sessions
- Fire ceremony
- Dinner
- Joie de Vivre circle
- Day 3 · September 8, 2024 · Quimbaya
- Qigong practice
- Breakfast
- Salento & Cocora Valley excursion
- Lunch
- Return to accommodation
- Free time/massages/private sessions
- Dinner
- Joie de Vivre circle
- Day 4 · September 9, 2024 · Quimbaya
- Mindful walk
- Breakfast
- Qigong practice
- Dance movements
- Lunch
- Hot springs excursion
- Return to accommodation
- Free time/massages/private sessions
- Dinner
- Joie de Vivre circle
- Day 5 · September 10, 2024 · Quimbaya
- Mindful walk
- Breakfast
- Yoga/pilates/posture/alignment
- Lunch
- Meditation/emotional regulation techniques
- Qigong practice review
- Self-hypnosis practice
- Free time/massages/private sessions
- Closing dinner
- Joie de Vivre circle with dance celebration of the victorious YOU
- Day 6 · September 11, 2024 · Departure
- Mindful walk
- Qigong practice
- Breakfast and check out of accommodation
- Group transfer from accommodation to airport
- Journey ends
Details
Day 1 · September 6, 2024
Arrive in Colombia and kick off your transformative 6-day retreat
Feel your mind, body, and spirit begin to flourish as soon as you step off the plane in gorgeous Colombia. Our destination is a retreat center located in the safe, mountainous coffee region of Perera City of Armenia known for its ideal weather safety and beauty. In this quiet landscape, you'll find a space where you can rejuvenate yourself and reconfigure your relationship with holistic health. After a transfer to the retreat, we'll check in, drop our bags, and head to an orientation. A welcome dinner featuring nourishing, delicious food will then lead into a group meeting where we will announce the schedule for the next few days. The day ends with a Joie de Vivre circle where we will celebrate life and engage in guided meditation and self-reflection.
Day 2 · September 7, 2024
Begin developing new, healthy habits on day 2 of the retreat
Today is all about teaching you new habits that you can use to work towards a healthy life long after the retreat comes to an end. We'll begin the day with a mindful walk where you'll connect with nature and find a state of inner calm. Breakfast will then lead into a session of qigong, an ancient Chinese practice that helps generate Life Force called Qi. We will use specific movements and breathing related to Tai Chi to channel this energy through our bodies. We'll continue our focus on the connection between our physical and spiritual forms with a yoga/pilates class. Here, we will strengthen, stretch, and create proper posture and alignment, all of which will have long-lasting benefits.
Lunch will be a wonderful meal with a discussion of mindful eating, a practice that can help keep weight down, promote health, and establish a better relationship with food. We will then shift to our mental well-being with an introduction to meditation. During this workshop, we will also learn emotional regulation strategies that we can use whenever we are feeling stressed out or upset. After some free time, we will attend a fire ceremony, eat some dinner, and wrap up the day with a celebratory Joie de Vivre circle.
Day 3 · September 8, 2024
Connect with Colombia's beauty on an excursion to Salento & Cocora Valley
Are you ready to get out and experience the kind of beauty that will fill your soul? Good! After a grounding morning routine of qigong and breakfast, we're off to Salento & Cocora Valley, two of Colombia's stunning gems. Salento is a town exhibiting the classic charm of the region, home to absolutely incredible coffee and countless picturesque palm trees. We'll then continue to Cocora Valley, a mountainous area with sweeping views. Take in views of truly untamed wilderness and feel at one with Mother Nature before we return to the accommodation for free time, dinner, and a Joie de Vivre circle. What a day!
Day 4 · September 9, 2024
Relax your body and release negativity on a hot springs excursion
Our journey towards a healthy lifestyle continues. We'll attain mental and physical balance in the morning with a mindful walk and qigong practice before a pre-lunch session of dance movement. This will further help you understand the mind-body connection and improve your posture and alignment, eliminating pain and allowing for more graceful use of your own body.
In the afternoon, sit down and eat lunch with the group before we head out to soak in some nearby hot springs! More than just a fun excursion, this trip will help you achieve deep relaxation in your muscles, once again promoting bodily health and giving you a chance to release any tension or negativity that you might be carrying.
Day 5 · September 10, 2024
Set powerful new intentions and celebrate the progress you've made here in Colombia
Good morning! Rise and prepare to spend one last full day in rejuvenating Colombia. Our day starts as usual with a mindful walk and breakfast before an invigorating session of yoga and pilates. In the afternoon, we will meditate before reviewing qigong, helping instill solid technique so that you can continue honing your practice once you return home.
Following this, it's time for something truly unique: a self-hypnosis practice. During this time, you will access a state of complete open-mindedness where you can create powerful intentions that will then become an integral part of you. By selecting healthy intentions here, you will help secure a healthy future for yourself. After free time and a dinner where we can reflect on the experiences we've shared, we'll have a final Joie de Vivre circle featuring a dance celebration where you will step into and actualize the new, victorious YOU.
Day 6 · September 11, 2024
Depart from Colombia with a completely new outlook on life
It's day 6 of the trip, and that means we are heading home today. On our final morning, we'll clear our heads with a mindful walk and tap into powerful energy with qigong before grabbing breakfast and heading back to the airport to fly home. Although our time here may be over, you now have the tools and habits needed to continue living a healthy, happy, and thriving life. We're so excited for you to move forward and continue growing! Safe travels and be well.
Accommodation
Anahata Retreat (or similar according to availability)
Anahata Retreat in Quimbaya is a holistic destination that aims to unite mind, body, and spirit in the midst of the lush green Andean highlands. The setting offers the perfect opportunity to witness the magnificent sunrises and sunsets of Colombia's coffee region. With a view of the La Vieja river canyon and an 8-hectare nature reserve, Anahata provides a tranquil environment for guests to connect with nature and their inner selves. The retreat also features a Bali-style spa offering personalized Ayurvedic therapies and massages. Guests can relax in comfortable wooden cabins with a unique interior design and a balcony with stunning mountain views. Room type: Double occupancy. Room configuration: Twin beds.
Included
- 5 nights in Anahata Retreats (or similar)
- Shared double occupancy in accommodations
- All activities described in the itinerary
- Transportation between activities and accommodation
- All meals
- One group airport arrival transfer
- One group airport departure transfer
- 1 massage per person
Not included
- Flights
- All food not mentioned in inclusions
- Optional add-ons
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
FAQ
What happens if I need to cancel my trip?
Please check the cancellation policy section on this itinerary page for specific details.
Will TourHero or the operator take care of my visa (if applicable)?
Travelers are responsible for researching visa requirements and obtaining a visa if needed. Please check government websites to ensure you have the necessary documents, along with passport requirements, before your departure date. This includes necessary transit visas, permits, and vaccinations required prior to travel and any required reciprocity fees for the destination. TourHero will provide a booking confirmation document after purchase, which may be needed to obtain a visa.
If your visa is denied for any reason, TourHero will issue a refund based on the cancellation policy. However, we are unable to provide a refund after the cancellation due date has passed.
Do I need a passport for this trip?
A full and valid passport is required for all persons traveling to any destination outside of one’s home country. Most international tours require a passport that's valid for at least six (6) months beyond the scheduled end of your itinerary. TourHero will not issue refunds based on passport issues such as renewals or lost passports.
What's included in the price?
Please check the inclusion and exclusion sections above. You'll find information about included meals, transfers, flights, and activities. If you have any questions or need support, please contact hello@tourhero.com.
Available add-on
Abhyanga massage
A traditional Indian massage using herbal infusions of sesame and sacha inchi oils, Abhyanga improves sleep patterns and helps to dilute toxins inducing relaxation while removing impurities, It is a rejuvenating experience. Duration: 60 minutes.
Price: USD 125
4 spots left
Shirodhara
An ancient Ayurvedic technique, in which a continuous flow of medicated oil is applied to the forehead. It stimulates the deep areas of the brain, allowing you to experience physical and mental well-being. Shirodhara was created in India to relax the body, open the third eye, help with insomnia, migraine and nourish the brain. Duration: 60 minutes.
Price: USD 125
4 spots left
Udwarthama
A therapy that consists of performing an energetic massage with an upward direction throughout the body, using a mixture of hot and dry triphala (herbal powder), it is used for weight reduction, especially for kapha, it gives firmness to the muscles and limbs, gives lightness to the body. Duration: 60 minutes.
Price: USD 125
4 spots left
Sachet
Massage with sachets, they are bags that contain aromatic and medicinal herbs, it is ideal to increase circulation, eliminate toxins, help relieve stiffness and muscle pain, rheumatism and arthritis. Duration: 60 minutes.
Price: USD 125
4 spots left
Cancellation policy
TourHero, the retreat host, and the tour operator reserve the right to cancel or reschedule this trip up until May 24, 2024. If the departure is canceled out of your control, you will be alerted by May 24, 2024 and will receive a full refund.
In this case, TourHero is not responsible for your preparation expenses, such as airline tickets, extra accommodations, loss of work, or any other cost associated with preparing for your trip. We recommend booking travel insurance, along with refundable flights/accommodations in case of cancellation.
Refunds for deposits
We will hold your spot as soon as you put down your deposit. However, if you decide to cancel your trip, we will be unable to refund your deposit.
Refunds for fully-paid trips
You may change or cancel your trip by May 24, 2024 for a refund, excluding the deposit. After this date, no refunds will be given. To change or cancel your trip, please email travelers@tourhero.com.
Trip cancellation due to COVID-19
A full credit will be issued if the tour is canceled when there is full border closure due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. This credit can go towards booking a future TourHero tour (see our COVID-19 guarantee on the tour itinerary page). We suggest buying your own travel insurance for coverage of cancellations within 30 days of the tour commencing for reasons other than a full tour cancellation.
- Anahata Retreat - Facebook: Anahata Retreat
- Anahata Retreat - Facebook: Anahata Retreat
- Qigong will help move powerful Qi energy through our bodies to help alleviate stress and negativity while promoting healing. - Unsplash: Hitomi Okushima
- Anahata Retreat - Anahata Retreats
- Enjoy the mountain view from your room. - Facebook: Anahata Retreats
- Anahata Retreat - Facebook: Anahata Retreat
- Welcome dinner featuring nutritious, delicious food like you will have during your stay. - Facebook: Hotel Anahata
- We'll begin the day with a mindful walk through the property where you'll connect with nature and find a state of inner calm. - Facebook: Hotel Anahata
- We'll continue our focus on the connection between our physical and spiritual forms with a yoga/pilates class. - Pexels: Mikhail Nilov
- Salento is a town exhibiting the classic charm of the region, home to absolutely incredible coffee and countless picturesque palm trees. - Pixabay: Makalu
- We'll then continue to Cocora Valley, a mountainous area with sweeping views. Take in views of truly untamed wilderness and feel at one with Mother Nature. - Wikimedia Commons
- Breakfast with mindful eating to attain balance and satisfaction. - Facebook: Hotel Anahata
- Wake up and embrace your final full day of the retreat. - Facebook: Hotel Anahata
- Sit down and eat lunch with the group before we head out to soak in some nearby hot springs! - Pixabay: Makalu
- Add-on: Shirodhara - Unsplash: Christin Hume
- Add-on: Udwarthama - Unsplash: Katherine Hanlon
- Add-on: Sachet - Rawpixel