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Meet Johanne
From accountant to retreat host in the Peruvian Amazon
A rescued 3-toed sloth and me. Picture taken a few minutes before we released her in the wild.
My Specialties & Passions
Rooted in mindful living and heart-led service
Yoga Instructor
Health / Wellness Coach
Reiki Master / Teacher
Vegetarian / Vegan Cook & Instructor
Retreat Leader & Host
Co-Founder of a Retreat Center
Beyond the Retreat Program
A retreat is shaped not only by the activities you participate in, but also by the place, the people, and the simple moments that unfold along the way.
At Tambo Ilusión, the natural beauty of the Peruvian Amazon is part of everyday life. From the spring-fed lagoon and peaceful gardens to quiet moments in the company of horses, there are countless opportunities to slow down, explore, and connect with the world around you.
Nourishing plant-based meals, thoughtful hospitality, and the pleasure of sharing time together are equally important parts of the experience. These are often the moments guests remember long after returning home.
I invite you to explore some of the elements that make For the Love of Nourishment retreats special, each contributing in its own way to an experience of rest, replenishment, and connection.
With my beloved horse, Ayla. We rescued her from a difficult life as a working horse, and she has now been part of our family for over 12 years.
Spending time with her is one of the most grounding and restorative experiences I know.
I’d love to share that experience with you.
Nourishment, Food & the Psychology of Eating
My studies with the Institute for the Psychology of Eating deeply transformed the way I understand food, nourishment, and healing.
What we eat certainly matters — but equally important is how we eat, the state of our nervous system, our relationship with ourselves, and the emotional patterns we bring to the table.
Each of us has a unique relationship with food shaped by our upbringing, experiences, beliefs, stress levels, emotions, and environment. For many people, that relationship can become complicated, frustrating, or disconnected.
Over time, I came to understand that nourishment is about far more than nutrition alone. It’s also about presence, relaxation, self-awareness, pleasure, rhythm, and learning to feel safe enough to truly receive nourishment.
This is why my approach is deeply holistic and compassionate rather than rigid or perfectionistic.
Together, we explore gentle and sustainable ways to support health, vitality, emotional balance, and a more peaceful relationship with food and with the body.
Ask yourself:
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Does stress affect your appetite, digestion, or food choices?
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Do you often eat while rushing, multitasking, or feeling disconnected from the experience?
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Do you long to feel more at ease in your body and daily life?
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If so, you are far from alone.
A Slower & More Human Way of Living
Much of my work today is inspired by the belief that some of the moments that nourish us most are often the simplest.
A butterfly catches your attention.
A hummingbird hovers nearby.
You notice monkeys chattering and playing in the trees while practicing yoga.
A sunset suddenly reaches your heart.
Or you find yourself sharing a breath with a horse.
These moments ask very little of us other than to be present enough to notice them.
And sometimes, something shifts.
We soften.
We breathe a little more deeply.
We remember what it feels like to simply be here.
These are the kinds of experiences I hope people have while they are here—not because I can create or predict them, but because I can create more space for them to happen.
This philosophy is at the heart of the retreats and experiences we offer at Tambo Ilusión and of the future vision for Santuario Alquimia.
My hope is to continue creating spaces where people can slow down, feel cared for, reconnect with what nourishes them, and simply feel more human—welcomed not for who they should be, but for who they already are.
An Invitation
Are you ready to feel more at home in your body?
To nourish yourself with greater ease, awareness, and compassion?
To slow down, reconnect, and create a way of living that feels more nourishing and true to you?
I would be honored to walk alongside you.
