Retreat
6 days of practicing together with discussions, guided self-inquiry & meditation
Rest
1 day off mid-retreat for hiking, exploring, yoga, being, native sweat lodge (Temazcal)
Reconnect
A time in the stillness and beauty of the surrounding forest, mystical Lake Atitlán and scenic volcanoes
This being human… Melting of the Heart
This meditation retreat takes place near the beautiful Lake Atitlán, Guatemala and focuses on emotional intelligence as an essential foundation in approaching meditation.
When the emotional world is no longer in conflict with itself, the heart melts open and the body softens.
The exploration of meditation will focus on three pillars:
- Entering into a living relationship with oneself
- Cultivating mature emotional intelligence
- Discovering a more spacious mind – beyond thoughts
Intention
Arrive with the intention to work sincerely and to pour your heart into discovering and developing an inner stamina and composure that is capable of holding, softly allowing and witnessing the arising and passing energies of what is named as thoughts and emotions.
Retreat Structure
The following questions will serve as a structure for self-inquiry and meditation work during a focused time at the enchanting Kawoq Forest Retreat Center at the foothills of Lake Atitlán, San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala. We will inquire into these questions by directly witnessing the answers in the body, without relying on prior knowledge.
Prior to Meditation
- Perspective:Â Self-Improvement as a form of self-inflicted violence.
- Meditation is not about silencing the mind, on the contrary it is about learning how to listen to thoughts and understand them.
- Spiritual bypassing—a misguided form of spirituality—may deaden emotional access by falsely striving for a “neutral mind.”
- Entering into a living relationship with yourself – relating not to a mental construct of self, but to the actual, living human being.
- Giving accumulated knowledge its proper domain – is knowledge a “middle man” in relationships?
- Cultivating a mind that is free of internal conflict – no emotion possesses an internal split where a virtuous “better half” attempts to correct its inferior counterpart.
- Emotional Freedom: an emotion is able to flow without friction, telling its complete story without internal resistance..
- Recognizing oneself as a continuation of humanity.
- Understanding Self-Esteem / Becoming an independent thinker.
- Meditation – not a mechanical practice nor a technique.
Approaching Thoughts and Emotions
- Maturing the relationship to physical sensations.
- Does the mind look at thoughts the same way that it looks through the physical eyes?
- Does the mind need to project the thought outward (i.e., create a distance from itself) before it can fully examine the mental content?
- Is the distance between the image and the observer imagined?
- Are mental images actually three-dimensional and spatially organized?
- When an image is visualized, does it have width, height, length or depth? Is the space around it also visualized?
Understanding the Mental Construct of “Me”
- Observing how the self arises from memories.
- Witnessing the relationship between the thinker (self) and thoughts, emotions, feelings and sensations.
- Sensing how the brain manufactures artificial intelligence that is self-aware (the self).
- Considering the possibility that the nature of even the most intense thoughts and emotion may be more mechanical than living.
- Learning to deescalate the charge and importance of a thought-emotion-feeling-sensation.
- If the self is made of thought, is it actually alive?
- Does thought have a center that says “I”? Does this “I” have a human face / voice?
Troubleshooting / Fine-tuning Meditation
- Short meditation drills with check-ins, feedback and possible suggestions for course correction
- Exploration of inner experiences, witnessing wealth of information in the seemingly insignificant observations
- Partner Work: “Assisted Meditation” in the exploration of muscle tensions
Meditation & Self-Inquiry Space
Optional Daily Yoga Practice
Meals
Delicious, nourishing and fresh vegetarian meals prepared by Kawoq Forest Chefs, served daily to support our retreat!
Lodging
Sunrise Suites
With stunning views of Lake Atitlán and the surrounding volcanoes, private rooms Sunrise Suites 1 & 2 are located under the meditation and yoga studio. They are the perfect space to watch the sunrise from the terrace and take in the stillness and tranquility of the forest in the early morning.
These rooms are considered semi-private because they share walls with the studio space, however, you will have your own private space and entrance.
Sunrise Suites accommodate 1-2 people.
- 1 queen size bed
- Shared terrace
Bungalows
Bungalows are the perfect shared spaces accommodations during a retreat. Looking out over the shimmering waters of Lake Atitlán and its surrounding volcanoes, the shared lodges have terraces and hammocks to allow you to soak in the beauty of the surroundings.
The bungalows accommodate 2-4 people, depending on the bungalow.
- 2 queen size beds
- Private terrace and hammock
Forest Cabin
If you’re wanting privacy, the Forest Cabins are perfect for you. With gorgeous lake Atitlán and volcano views, these cabins feature a small terrace to enjoy the surrounding beauty. Immerse yourself with the bird songs and a vibrant forest that envelops these cabins.
These cabins accommodate 1-2 people.
- 1 full bed and 1 single sofa bed
- Private terrace and hammock
Cielo Deluxe Suite
Located above the cafe and office, Cielo is built into the cliff wall and serves as the most deluxe and luxurious space. Made with bamboo, cypress and a palma roof, Cielo looks out over Kawoq Forest to the stunning lake Atitlán and picturesque volcanoes. Cielo has a low to the ground king size bed and sofa bed, antique Guatemalan furniture, Mayan fabrics and Indian textiles to embrace you into the Mayan culture.
Cielo Delux Suite accommodate 1-2 people.
- 1 king size bed
- Private terrace and outdoor couch
- Private sink
Geodesic Domes
Enjoy one of our Geodesic domes overlooking Lake Atitlán nestled in the forest. This unique and spacious dome offers a fantastic view of the stars at night. Accommodation flexibility is available with one king bed and a twin bed.
Geodesic Domes accommodate 1-2 people.
- One king size bed and one twin sofa bed
- Private terrace and outdoor table
Bungalow Dormitory
The bungalow dorm has 4 single beds. Using natural building techniques and sustainable materials, the dormitory is constructed with bamboo and cypress, palm roof and natural adobe walls or traditional bahareque (wattle and daub) of this area. The beds are comfortable and nourishing, with warm feather duvets and premium linens and pillows, decorated with Peruvian Shipibo fabrics and Guatemalan Cushions.
Dormitory accommodate 4 people.
- 4 single beds
- Shared terrace
Getting There
[if flying from Chicago]
ORD – GUA
Jan 23, 2026
Flight: AA1013
Depart: 6:54am
Arrival: 2:07pm
GUA – ORD
January 31, 2026
Flight: AA326
Depart: 1:42am
Arrival: 6:37pm
Shuttle
A shuttle will be organized for a round-trip to/from the airport. The trip to Kawoq Forest is about 4 hours
Your Guide
Vova Kuperman
I aspire to become literate at being human. In early twenties I had a flashback to a childhood memory of being miraculously healed from a chronic illness by a touch of a hand. Years later, my thirst for answers took me out of software engineering and through many books, places, people, countries and experiences, eventually settling down to explore within.
With many years of an in-depth dedication to meditation, self-inquiry/introspection, healing arts, and somatic practices, I continue to probe into the depth of existence. The direction of my work is set on maturing the capacity to sense with discernment into the subtle sheath of psycho-energetic imprints that span across mental, emotional, physical and energetic domains. Further emphasis is placed on the extraordinary psychosomatic relationship between thought and matter.
For over a decade, I have been restoring hearts and sharing my findings via various modalities including developing emotional intelligence, rites of passage work, one-on-one and group self-inquiry sessions, retreats in remote wilderness as well as in the comfort of a meditation center. This work is my labor of deep love and the most sincere blueprint of my individuality.
Sensing a Connection?
I’d love to connect with you over a brief call before you sign up. This is a chance for us to get to know each other a little and see if this retreat is a good fit.
Please call / text at 224-300-0499 or send a message here.
Payment Options
- Cash / Check
- Zelle / Venmo / PayPal
- Credit Card (3% surcharge)
Refund Policy
- Fully refundable up to 2 weeks before the retreat
- Less than 2 weeks, %50 refund will be issued or a full refund if someone else can take your spot.
Investment
In the effort to make this very important time together as accessible as possible, three tiers of pricing are available based on the individual’s financial circumstance. Please take a moment to consider the amount that you are able to give not as a transactional exchange, but as a heart offering to support something that is meaningful to you.
*Higher tier price will contribute to a scholarship fund to sponsor retreat accessibility.
*If below tiers are not accessible and you are passionate and serious about this work, please reach out for a partial scholarship.