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The Light Within Retreat - A Healing Getaway for Widows in Grief


Welcome to The Light Within Retreats

This 5-day transformative retreat located in Sayulita, MX is for women of all walks of life who have lost a spouse or partner to their personal battle with mental health. As suicide loss survivors ourselves, we understand the loneliness and complexity that suicide leaves on families who are left to pick up the pieces of their lives and find a path forward once more. That is why we have curated these events at our peaceful oceanside location in Sayulita, Mexico, where survivors can come together to connect, bond, and find their light within once again.

Trust us. While it may not seem like it, it is possible to heal and there is hope. We invite you to this safe, loving place where we find a space for grief and forgiveness.

This 5-day getaway includes everything you need while on your stay in Mexico. You cover airfare and insurance and we handle the rest.

  • 4 nights lodging in a luxury home on the coast of Mexico

  • Ground transportation to/from Puerto Vallarta’s international airport

  • Group Sessions with Other Survivors (before, after and during the event)

  • Daily chef-prepared meals that are locally sourced and served in the authentic Mexican family style

  • A remembrance ceremony on the beach for our loved ones

  • Daily Yoga + Guided Meditation at sunrise and sunset

  • Nervous system regulation and trauma release exercises to address PTSD

  • Daily off-site excursions in the Nayarit area including surfing, hiking, shopping and boating

  • An evening group mediumship session with individual readings

  • A spiritual hike through the jungles of Sayulita with a local, indigenous shaman

  • A final night beach bonfire with a “letting go” fire ceremony

  • A 60-minute massage to feel refreshed and rejuvenated

  • Access to a group of widows who have previously attended one of our The Light Within retreats

 

OUR LOCATION
Sayulita, MX

We hand-select the perfect luxury home or boutique hotel in Sayulita for our retreat center based on the number of attendees and availability. We offer private king & queen suites with air-conditioning and house services for all of our guests. Selected locations will be announced 90 days prior to event start time. If you would like more information on our accommodations, please contact us directly at info@thelightwithin.org.

 

Here are a few picturs from a few of our previous retreat locations.

JOIN US FOR A WEEK OF CONNECTION WHERE LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS ARE MADE.

  • All of our retreats are designed for 6-8 participants at a time where safety and trust is limited to small groups.

  • We include free time in our daily agenda for downtime and sharing with other widows.

  • Enjoy beach bonfires, downtown shopping and intimate dinners where we form bonds unlike any other.

  • After your retreat, we include two months of ongoing virtual sessions and introduce you to our other ladies who have previously attended a retreat who meet bi-weekly to share and connect

 

Surf Therapy as a Means for Healing

Surfing is included as one of our main excursions with some of the best surf instructors in Mexico. This area is widely known for its gentle waves that are perfect for beginners or more advanced surfers. But, we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable or pressured to paddle out - so the option to join in on one our surf classes is completely up to you! For the majority of our guests, this is their first experience on a board and the feeling of riding a wave is truly a joyful moment where we are not thinking about our pain or loss — but rather the healing power of the ocean and a sense of incredible individual accomplishment.

Surf therapy combines surfing with structured individual or group activities as a means of therapy to promote psychological, physical, and social well-being.

-MedicalNewsToday

 

We are a team of caring individuals who have experience reshaping lives
after the difficult loss of suicide.

 

Our staff is comprised of the highest quality of professional practitioners, coaches, and therapists who are experienced in grief. Every team member lives here locally and is excited to share their home, their knowledge, and their hearts with you. Our incredible team of devoted staff have worked with our other suicide loss survivors and have first-hand experience on dealing with this type of loss. We are also happy to coordinate your care pre- and post-event with your at-home therapists too, for continuation of care.

Hi, I’m Andi.

I am the founder of The Light Within retreats and will be your host. I am here to pay forward all of the love and compassion this place has shown me when I was doing my own healing after I lost my husband to mental health. I promise you an experience of a lifetime, a community that will hold you up, and some amazing time with Mother Ocean.

I am a business & life coach by day, a serious water girl, and a surviving widow myself. I lost my amazing husband, Joel, to suicide in October 2022 and these retreats are in his honor. Together, we are glad you found us here.

Bienvenidos!

Retreat Cost - $1,150 per participant

(Secure your spot today with a $299 non-refundable deposit)

We offer these retreats at a discounted rate of $1,150 per person (regular retail price of over $3,500). We are able to offer this opportunity at this special rate thanks to generous donations we collect through our nonprofit organization We secure your registration with a $299 non-refundable deposit with a balance to be paid in full 30 days from the day of the retreat. We accept monthly credit card auto payments, or we can help you share this experience within your own communities through our donation website to help raise funds to attend. Visit our Financial Options page for more information.

“She was no longer wrestling with the grief, but could sit down with it as a lasting companion and make it a sharer in her thoughts.”
— George Eliot

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🤍 THANK YOU, Cassel & Brown Real Estate Group, for your incredibly generous $2000 contribution to the JZ Army of Love Scholarship. This gift provides one of our guests with a week-long opportunity to heal with us. 💫 Grief and suicide spare no
Embarking on a mental health retreat is an act of bravery that requires immense courage and strength! It requires a level of vulnerability that may seem daunting or too personal. We hear you. Recognizing the need for support is the first small step
“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson Grief has no defined timeline. As much as we may want to push forward and rush through our grief to return to some sense of normalcy, we must learn to sit in
Surf therapy — as a form of outdoor / adventure therapy is recognized worldwide as a means of treating a variety of mental health issues. Our carefully curated programs include surf therapy combined with other holistic modalities such as hiking
The Divine light is within us all. The Light is us and we are the Light. ✨ If you are feeling disconnected from your inner shine, we invite you to join us for one of our 5-day retreats where we leverage the power of the ocean, and a sense of communi
Joel Zemenick was a treasured part of Half Moon Bay’s surf community. His love for surfing and the ocean inspired his path. With years dedicated to perfecting his craft as a glasser, he eventually fulfilled his dream of becoming a shaper and op
At The Light Within Retreats, our programs have been designed to transform grief, stress, depression and trauma by embracing the power of human connection through shared experiences and mindfulness. 📣 In 2024 we have five curated retreats designed
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The Light Within Retreat - A Healing & Grief Retreat for Suicide Widows