"Open your Mind" in Guatemala

  Guatemala

San Marcos

Dates: The expedition is on-going throughout the year!

Description: Challenge your body, energize your soul, clear your mind, and liven your spirit by joining us, Soul projects, on our new expedition here in Guatemala. You will be living and working high-up in the mountains with the indigenous Maya Indians, the Kaqchikels and the Tz'utujils. Our forest camp overlooks the ancient volcanic lake of Atitlan, which is renowned to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world!

The essence to the project itself is about getting people out there, into the unknown, off the beaten track, into nature, and away from the many blinding distractions of a too comfortable modern day western culture. And by doing so, giving people the opportunity to glimpse themselves, and the other deeper side to life that is there right in front of us every moment, if we just learn to open our eyes to it.

A large part of our project will therefore involve camping-out in the middle of the forest, and living and working in a more secluded location with a group of other similar, like minded travellers from around the world.

Learning together about how to survive in the forest, and to live more in harmony with our beautiful Mother Nature. Seeing and experiencing for ourselves the magic and benefits of living the more simple life, in a more wild, natural, and more high energy environment.

Yoga and meditation practice, and giving you an introduction into the internal martial arts (e.g Taijiquan, Qigong), is an important element of the expedition as well. As it will help us clear the mind, connect with nature, and connect more with ourselves, by simply putting us more in the present moment.

Soul Projects also promotes and encourages interaction with the local communities as much as possible. Giving travellers a chance to be able to experience and gain a real taste into Guatemalan way of life, music, traditions, and Maya culture for themselves, seeing what it really has to offer the world.

An important part of our project is to give our viajeros the opportunity to live with and get to know a local Guatemalan family, work with the children and teachers of the schools, work with handicapped children from around the lake, get involved with local community projects, and play some sport (e.g. football and volleyball) in the village.

Environmental education and conservation issues have always been, and are, an increasingly important issue to the local communities around the lake, as it is has always been such a core part of their lives.

Therefore, the project also focuses on helping to educate and spread a positive message to the village of San Marcos la Laguna and surrounding communities. We do this through teaching music, the arts, environmental awareness and English in the local schools, and by actively taking part in a clean-up project on the lake through scuba diving.

Highlights:
- Living high-up in the mountains above San Marcos la Laguna on our forest camp.
- Combining together camping in the forest, yoga and meditation, teaching in the village schools, the opportunity to work with disabled children, a home-stay with a local family, community involvement, and scuba diving on the beautiful lake of Atitlan.
- All in all together, being a very cultural, spiritual, educational and environmental experience. Giving all those involved a true glimpse into REAL Guatemalan way of life, the deeper part of life life here on earth, and therefore the deeper part of ´themselves.´

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Guatemala Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of maximum 10 people

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad

Soul Projects Guatemala's Mission Statement: S.O.U.L aims to set-up a range of projects that will give people from all over the globe opportunities to work together in remote places, in different parts of the world, with different cultures. Giving real experiences that changes lives and enhance spiritual development. We want to spread a message of love, peace, beauty and internal balance through the creative human art of ideas, insights and action, throughout the world and throughout the cosmos. We aim to give people the chance to be a part of something positive, grow internally, and the chance to really make a difference in the world. We want to enhance people's awareness, feeling and sensitivity to life, the spirit, and the energy in the universe, through the interaction with other people from around the world, and our living breathing planet. We explore the mystery of life, question consciousness and reality, the power of the mind, and hope to help awaken the inner warrior that is in everyone. Encouraging people to follow their hearts and live their dreams. We aim to help restore our deep inner connection with the natural world, and in doing so, guide people in re-discovering the path to spiritual enlightenment, and understanding the power of "living in the now." We ultimately act as a "pointer tool" to the realization of who we really are. That we are already whole, complete, happy and perfect if we just learn how to "open our eyes" to it.

Year Founded: 2007