Claire Fitzmaurice - Retreat Facilitator - Yoga, Conscious Breathing and Meditation Guide Ceremony co-host

As the founder of The Conscious Evolution Retreat, Claire is an insightful and empowering Personal Growth Mentor, a trauma informed Yoga Teacher, Conscious Breathing and Meditation Guide. She leads clients through evolutionary experiences, combining holistic wellness practices with personal development, specialising in psilocybin therapies and facilitation. With a background as a professional horse rider and 14 years of running her own successful business, Claire brings a unique perspective on resilience, personal evolution, and the power of inner growth. Her mission is to help others relax, release, restore balance to their nervous system, and reconnect with themselves in the natural flow of life.

At the retreat, Claire is a co-ceremony host and guides yoga, conscious breathing, and meditation, utilising these powerful tools to support clients during periods of transition, renewal, or personal development.

As a 200-hour YYT trauma specialist trained in Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, with a blended focus on Yin and QiYoga, Claire’s holistic approach empowers individuals to reconnect with their true selves, restore balance, and move forward with greater ease and clarity. Her guidance is fluid and intuitive, meeting each person where they are. With a strong emphasis on accessibility, she adapts her approach to suit individual needs, creating an inclusive space where everyone can experience the benefits of practice in a way that feels natural and supportive.

Having navigated her own intense healing journey following a pivotal health crisis, Claire is passionate about sharing the tools that helped her restore her health, happiness and harmony. Her mission is to help others achieve their goals and experience lasting evolution while enjoying the journey toward their boldest, brightest, most joyful future.

Yvan Colacicco - Osteopathic Wellness Specialist, Ceremony co-host

Yvan primarily works with osteopathic tools, including craniosacral, visceral (organ-related), and parietal (joint-related) osteopathy. Over the years, he has refined his ability to apply these techniques on various levels—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. His approach offers a deep, holistic experience, supporting clients on their path to healing and evolution in a way that honours the connection between body, mind, and spirit.

Yvan has been working in the therapeutic field since 2001. He began his studies with Shiatsu before deciding to train as a medical masseur, which provided him with a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, and various massage techniques, including reflexology.

In 2003, Yvan discovered osteopathy and pursued his studies at the Swiss College of Osteopathy. Since then, he has collaborated with doctors, dentists, and psychologists in a variety of clinical settings, gaining valuable experience and broadening his expertise across multiple disciplines.

In 2012, Yvan faced a significant health challenge when he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. While conventional medicine managed the initial inflammation, long-term treatments were limited to cortisone and immunosuppressants. This led him to take responsibility for his own health and delve deeper into understanding his illness.

Through favorable circumstances, Yvan met a Colombian shaman who worked with ayahuasca. With the support of these ceremonies and an intensive healing diet, he was able to restore his health. Since then, he has worked with many plant medicines and has participated in, led, and assisted with numerous ceremonies, witnessing remarkable healing in both himself and others. This profound experience ignited Yvan’s passion for sharing the wisdom of these special medicines with those seeking healing and deeper transformation.

Yvan will be at the retreat, providing daily specialist osteopathic healing. He will work closely with each guest, using a range of osteopathic techniques to achieve optimal outcomes, ensuring a deeply personalized and transformative experience.

Maria Navarro - Shiatsu & Sei Ki Practitioner | Qi Gong Instructor

With a deep-rooted passion for the healing arts, María’s journey began in the world of performing arts before she discovered the transformative power of Ki arts in 2004. Since then, she has devoted herself to exploring and sharing these ancient practices, weaving together movement, energy work, and deep listening.

María trained as a Shiatsu therapist at the European Shiatsu School, graduating in 2008, and has been part of the teaching faculty since 2011. Her path has been enriched by postgraduate studies with renowned teachers such as Carola Beresford, Nick Pole, Gill Hall, Diego Sánchez, and Patrizia Steffanini.

Her dedication to energy work led her to train as a Wudang Qi Gong teacher at the Confucius Institute and the University of Granada in 2009, followed by studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion at the Neijing School from 2010 to 2014. In 2017, María deepened her practice through Sei Ki seminars with Kyoko Kishi, Paul Lundberg, and Alice Whieldon. Most recently, she completed training in Ba Han Sheng style Qi Gong at the Neijing School (2020–2023).

Today, María offers Shiatsu treatments in the tranquil setting of her geodesic dome in the Monachil mountains of Granada. Her approach is both intuitive and grounded, creating a space where energy flows freely and balance is gently restored.

Sheila Andión Eclectic Creator, Artisan, Plant Alchemist and wild soul

Sheila is a multidisciplinary creator and wild soul deeply connected to nature. After years of city life, she left urban living behind 12 years ago to immerse herself fully in the natural world. Since then, she has been actively involved in ecological, self-sufficient, and community-based projects, always in places where nature holds a strong presence.

Her journey has been one of deep learning—exploring the wisdom of plants, sustainability, and the everyday magic that weaves through life when in harmony with the land. Now based in the Alpujarras, she dedicates her time to craftsmanship, symbolic art, and plant alchemy.

Through her project, Alma Silvestre, she leads workshops on reconnecting with the land and reintegrating into natural cycles, helping others rediscover their bond with the rhythms of nature. The forest is her greatest source of inspiration—a place where textures, forms, and colours become a canvas for creativity, reflection, and healing.

At the Into the Light retreat, Sheila guides the San Juan ceremony, a ritual deeply rooted in ancestral traditions. As part of this, she leads a pilgrimage to collect the seven sacred waters and seven medicinal plants that form the heart of the ritual. This practice honours the land, the sun’s energy, and the cycles of renewal, offering a profound experience of connection with nature.

Sheila is also the creator of the wonderful Forest Folk featured on our website—handcrafted figures made from foraged natural materials that capture the magic of the wild.

Chari Lopez Robles - Shiatsu Specialist

Chari is a specialist and teacher in Shiatsu, having trained for four years at the Shiatsu Nord School in Lille. Since 2013, she has embraced Shiatsu as a transformative practice, initially seeking to work through her own internal energy and blockages. What began as a personal journey soon blossomed into a professional passion.

While pursuing her Shiatsu studies, Chari was also engaged in sociological research at the University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, where she was completing her doctoral thesis. After obtaining her Shiatsu diploma in 2017, she felt a strong calling to shift her focus entirely to her practice. Although she continued her research in sexual education and gender studies, her role as a Shiatsu therapist became increasingly central to her life

Chari has enriched her expertise through workshops with esteemed Shiatsu masters, including Wataru Ohashi, Paul Lundberg, Gabriella Poli, Wilfried Rappenecker, Gill Hall, Alice Whieldon, and Nick Pole. In addition to Shiatsu, she has practiced yoga and Transcendental Meditation since 2017, completing her training as an instructor in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, and Vinyasa Krama.

Ultimately, Chari decided to leave her university career to fully pursue her dream of sharing the benefits of Shiatsu and teaching yoga. Three years ago, she returned to her native region of Murcia to establish “Libera,” a Shiatsu and Yoga studio.

Chari has a wealth of experience supporting individuals who are grieving, both in her current practice and during her time in France. She incorporates a specialised meridian technique known as “Vasos Maravillosos,” the eight extraordinary meridians which is particularly effective for addressing trauma and providing comfort to those in grief.

On ceremony day in La Manga, Chari will provide personalised Shiatsu treatments, tailored to each guest’s unique needs, creating a grounding and harmonious experience that balances energy and nurtures well-being.

Diego Chico de Guzmán - Mountain guide

Diago was born and raised in Barcelona, but the city never truly felt like home. Drawn to a deeper, more authentic way of living, he found himself questioning the sterility of his surroundings—socially, spiritually, and environmentally. His studies in philosophy only intensified this longing, fuelling his pursuit of coherence between thought and action.

Twelve years ago, he left behind the familiar to explore wilder landscapes, seeking a life more in tune with nature. From the desert to the mountains, he has immersed himself in the raw beauty of the land, developing skills in survival, permaculture, and self-sufficiency. As a mountain guide, he brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to Return to the Wild, helping others navigate both the physical terrain and their own personal journey into the wilderness.