Roots
Return to belonging through daily 5Rhythms® on sacred volcanic land
Join us at Lake Atitlán for a 5-day 5Rhythms® immersion to come home to belonging—inside your body and your life.
October 20-25, 2026
Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
There comes a moment when you realize you’ve been living a little “in the air.”
Functional. Capable. Moving forward.
And yet… not fully rooted.
Maybe you’ve been in transition for a while - between places, identities, relationships, seasons of life. Maybe you’ve succeeded outwardly but feel quietly unclaimed inwardly. Maybe you’ve been carrying the feeling of being no longer from there…and not fully from here.
ROOTS was created for that moment.
Why Guatemala. Why Lake Atitlán.
Lake Atitlán is not just stunning—it’s alive. Water held in a volcanic cradle. Three powerful volcanoes standing as guardians. Villages along the shore carry living Mayan culture, where ancestry is not a concept—it is a presence you can see → feel → experience.
This land has a voice that wants to be heard.
Has a beauty that isn’t only decorative—it’s initiating.
And where nature doesn’t “soothe” you so much as it tells the truth.
ROOTS belongs here because the work we’re doing is as powerful as this land, where returning to what’s essential is fully supported.
I belong here. In this body. In this heart. In this life.
I belong here. In this body. In this heart. In this life.
This retreat is an embodied return to belonging—not as an idea, but as a lived, cellular truth.
The heart of ROOTS: 5Rhythms® every day
ROOTS is a deeply immersive experience centered around daily 5Rhythms® practice, a moving meditation that brings you back to yourself through the wisdom of the body.
Together we will dance the full terrain of being human: what’s been held back, what’s been silenced, what’s ready to move, what’s ready to be reclaimed. Through sweat, breath, rhythm, and presence, you’ll remember what you cannot think your way into: belonging.
ROOTS is designed as a small, intimate container so the work stays personal, deep, and real. If you feel something in your body while reading this—an exhale, a yes, an ache, a recognition—trust it.
That pull is your roots calling you back.
Guatemala is waiting.
The lake is ready.
Your belonging is not somewhere else.
It begins here.
Now
Who is this for?
You’re craving a deeper sense of belonging—in your body, your life, and your choices
You’re in a transition (change, loss, reinvention, midlife threshold) and want to root into what’s next
You want daily 5Rhythms® as the main practice and you’re willing to move, sweat, feel, and be real
You’re drawn to Guatemala’s volcanic land + Lake Atitlán and want nature as part of the medicine
You value a container that is heart-centered, trauma-aware, and spiritually grounded (without being dogmatic)
You’re ready to come home to yourself and let the dance change something
This retreat is open to all, from seasoned dancers to those new to 5Rhythms but willing to explore movement as a gateway to transformation.
Who is this not for?
You’re looking for a relaxing vacation, sightseeing trip, or a retreat with only light movement
You don’t want a daily movement practice or you prefer a purely intellectual/process-only experience
You’re not willing to be in a group container (shared practices, honest presence, community)
You need a rigid schedule and don’t do well with a retreat pace that includes rest, depth, and integration
You’re currently in an acute crisis and need 1:1 clinical support as your primary container (this retreat is not therapy)
The Facilitators
Vehllia Tranne & Alessandro Moruzzi are both Certified 5Rhythms® Teachers and the Founders of The City Waves 5Rhythms® San Francisco.
Workshop Details
This workshop counts as 5-Day Waves towards the 5Rhythms® teacher training path
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Spaces are limited to ensure an intimate and supportive retreat experience.
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6 Days / 5 Nights • Lake Atitlán, Guatemala • 20-25 October 2026
A 5Rhythms® Immersion into BelongingThere comes a moment when you realize you’ve been living a little “in the air.”
Capable. Moving forward. Doing what needs doing… yet not fully rooted.ROOTS is for the in-between season—when the home you came from no longer fits, and the life you’re building hasn’t fully become home yet.
This retreat is an embodied return to belonging—not as an idea, but as a lived truth:
I belong here. In this body. In this heart. In this life.The heart of ROOTS: 5Rhythms® every day
ROOTS is not a vacation with a little movement on the side. This is a daily 5Rhythms® practice retreat—a moving meditation that brings you home through rhythm, sweat, breath, and presence.
We’ll move what’s been held, soften what’s armored, and reclaim what’s been waiting. Through the body, we remember what the mind can’t force: belonging.
You will be held by two accredited 5Rhythms teachers—Vehllia Tranne and Alessandro Moruzzi—whose years of experience create a container that is devotional, skillful, and deeply human.
Vehllia Tranne (Certified since 2013; Waves + Heartbeat, 5RTA Accredited) is the Founder of The City Waves™ San Francisco. Her teaching is elemental, intuitive, trauma-sensitive, and powerfully grounded—inviting real transformation without forcing.
Alessandro Moruzzi (Certified since 2013; Waves + Heartbeat, 5RTA Accredited), Founder of The City Waves™, brings artistry, warmth, and precision—guiding dancers into a safe, playful, profound journey with sacred humor and deep heart.
Why Guatemala. Why Lake Atitlán.
Lake Atitlán is raw beauty with a pulse; water held in a volcanic cradle, volcanoes standing like guardians, and a living Mayan cultural presence that you can feel in the land, the villages, and the sky.
This is a place that doesn’t just “help you relax.” It initiates you back into what’s essential.
Ceremony: cacao + the medicine of place
We will gather for cacao circle—a heart-opening ritual to soften what’s armored and deepen connection with yourself and the group.
And we’ll pair cacao with something even more powerful and inclusive:
the living elements of Guatemala—water from the lake, volcanic stone, firelight, breath, sound, silence.
This is a retreat where the land participates—where you don’t just visit Guatemala… you let Guatemala work on you.Why October 2026
October holds a threshold energy—lush, alive, intimate. The land is still green, the air feels rinsed clean, and the season supports the inner work of shedding, listening, and rooting into what comes next.
This is for you if…
you’re in transition and craving steadiness inside yourself
you’re successful on the outside but unclaimed on the inside
you’re ready to stop postponing your return
you want dance as your path to clarity, healing, and belonging
Ready?
ROOTS is limited-capacity by design to keep the container intimate and the work real.
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Casa Floresta
Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
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Transport & Group Arrival Plan (October 20–25, 2026)
To make your arrival easy, supported, and stress-free, we will arrange private group transportation for everyone—from Antigua → Lake Atitlán → private boat directly to Casa Floresta.
Because Casa Floresta is boat-access-only and has a firm arrival policy, this retreat requires a coordinated group arrival.
Casa Floresta check-in is 3:00–5:00pm
No arrivals are permitted after 5:00pm. To honor this, our group transfer will be planned to arrive comfortably within the 3:00–5:00pm window.
Retreat Day 1 Schedule (Tuesday, Oct 20)
Check-in: 3:00–5:00pm
Dinner: 5:30–6:30pm
Open Dance: 7:00–9:00pm
To be fully settled for dinner and our first night on the dance floor, everyone must arrive with the group during the check-in window.
The Plan (simple + clear)
1) Fly into Guatemala City (GUA)
All international travelers fly into Guatemala City (GUA).
2) Overnight in Antigua (required)
To protect the group container (and to avoid the stress of flight delays), we are asking everyone to arrive in Guatemala and overnight in Antigua on Monday, Oct 19.
Antigua is our meeting point so we can travel together as one group.
3) Group transfer to Casa Floresta (Tuesday, Oct 20)
On Tuesday, Oct 20, we’ll depart Antigua together by private shuttle to Lake Atitlán, then take a private boat to Casa Floresta to arrive in time for check-in.
We will send:
the exact Antigua meeting location, and
the departure time for the group shuttle
well in advance.
Booking your flights (important)
Please book your travel so that you can be in Antigua by the evening of Monday, Oct 19.
This one choice makes everything smoother:
no rushing to make boats and check-in
no stress if flights are delayed
a calm arrival into the retreat energy
everyone arrives together and the container begins as one
Why we’re being firm about timing
Lake travel and boat access require coordination, and Casa Floresta’s 5:00pm cutoff is a real boundary. Arriving together means you’re held from the beginning—no navigating logistics alone, no missing dinner, no arriving late into the group field.
If you have special circumstances around travel timing, contact us before booking and we’ll support you in finding the best option.
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This is a residential retreat with accommodation, meals and workshop included. Please refer to ‘What’s Included’ and ‘What’s Not Included’ list for more details.
In general, pricing differs by the type of accommodation you prefer. We support all budget levels.
Choose the accommodation that best suits your comfort and budget.
Single Room (Private Space) – 1695 EUR
For those who desire solitude and personal space.Double Shared Room – 1395 EUR
Ideal for two participants looking to share a cozy space.Triple Shared Room – 1195 EUR
A budget-friendly option while still enjoying the comfort of an indoor room.Glamping Single– 1195 EUR
For those who love sleeping close to nature with style (shared outdoor bathroom). Access to all retreat amenities includedGlamping Double – 1095 EUR
For those who love sleeping close to nature with style and share a cozy space (shared outdoor bathroom). Access to all retreat amenities includedCamping (Bring Your Own Tent or Van) – 995 EUR
For those who love sleeping close to nature (shared outdoor bathroom). Access to all retreat amenities included.
(A deposit of 500 EUR is required to secure your spot. Payment plans available upon request.)
Contact us for special pricing for locals.
We also offer ‘Open Dance’ on Saturday, 6 September at 6:00 - 8:00 PM for 25 EUR per person.
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Please note, this is a general schedule and it is subject to change.
Day 1 - Tuesday, October 20
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Check-in / Arrivals
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Dinner
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Open DanceDay 2 - Wednesday, October 21
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM: Morning Yoga
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Morning Session (5Rhythms®)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Afternoon Session (5Rhythms® / Integration)
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Cacao CircleDay 3 - Thursday, October 22
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM: Morning Yoga
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Morning Session (5Rhythms®)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Sauna / Rest / Integration
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Ancestral PrayerDay 4 - Friday, October 23
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM: Morning Yoga
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Morning Session (5Rhythms®)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Plant Bath
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Fire Circle
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Offering RitualDay 5 - Saturday, October 24
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM: Morning Yoga
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Morning Session (5Rhythms®)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Sound Bath
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Rest / Lake / Integration Time
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Full Moon CeremonyDay 6 - Sunday, October 25
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM: Morning Yoga
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Closing Circle
11:00 AM: Check-out -
This retreat is an all-inclusive experience, carefully designed to nourish your body, heart, soul and spirit.
What’s Included
6 days / 5 nights retreat experience in Guatemala
Accommodation at [Retreat Center / Location]
Daily 5Rhythms® movement sessions (your main practice) guided by Vehllia Tranne + Alessandro Moruzzi
Daily yoga guided by Karen Campo
Opening + closing circles and guided group process for integration
Cacao circle
Elemental ritual with the land (lake water, volcanic stone, firelight, breath, sound, silence)
Sound journey / sound healing guided by [Name/Practitioner]
Daily meals: [breakfast + lunch + dinner] (plus [tea/coffee/water] / [snacks])
On-site retreat amenities: [sauna / hot tub / pool / garden spaces / lake access]
Retreat support: facilitation, space-holding, and on-site coordination throughout the week
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While most aspects of the retreat are covered, some personal expenses are not included.
What’s Not Included
International airfare to/from Guatemala. Closest airport: La Aurora International Airport (GUA)
Ground transportation to/from the retreat venue (airport transfers, shuttles, boats, taxis) unless explicitly stated
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Passport/visa fees (if applicable)
Optional add-ons such as private sessions, bodywork, extra ceremonies, excursions, spa services, or additional nights
Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, alcohol, extra snacks/drinks outside what’s provided)
Tips/gratuities for local staff and drivers (unless you decide to include them)
Additional Private Sessions – If you wish to book a one-on-one movement, coaching, or bodywork session, this will be at an additional cost.
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Early bird registration is not refundable.
If regular registration participants must cancel before 30 June, they will receive a full refund minus a 50% processing fee.
If regular registration participants must cancel by 31 July, their refund will be subject to participant replacement. If a replacement is registered, participants will receive a full refund minus a 50% processing fee.
For cancellation after 6 August, no refund will be issued. If a participant does not show up for the retreat without communicating, their registration payment will not be refunded.
In individual cases 30% of the full amount could be reasonably credited towards future events.
The City Waves reserves the right to cancel any retreat/workshop in the event of insufficient registration or other unforeseen circumstances, in which case, the full amount paid to register for a retreat/workshop will be refunded to the registrants. In the event of cancellation, an attempt will be made to notify registrants no later than 10 calendar days before the start of the retreat/workshop. All other expenses incurred including but not limited to flights and accommodation arranged for the purpose of attending a retreat/workshop will not be covered.
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None