One retreat, two transformative paths
This retreat takes you to the Papallacta Hot Springs in Ecuador, with two separate workshops: one to heal the heart, the other to awaken the mind. Come to the full retreat or choose the workshop that resonates most with you—you decide the journey.
Heart Centered Therapy
June 8-11
Brain I
June 14-17
Both workshops are led by the Chikly Health Institute and take place in the same location, surrounded by hot springs, Andean mountains, and pristine nature. Whether you choose to delve into heart healing, explore advanced brain structures, or experience both, this retreat is designed to adapt to your individual journey.
The Destination
Termas de Papallacta
Just 90 minutes from Quito, escape to Ecuador's premier hot springs destination. Glacial meltwater combines with natural thermal heat to create pools designed for pure relaxation—set against a backdrop of spectacular Andean peaks.
Papallacta: where thermal luxury meets wild nature.
Heart Centered Therapy (HTC1)
A Sacred Journey Within
Heart-Centered Therapy - Level I is a gift from the heart—a sacred journey within. This profound 4-day course teaches techniques guided by the wisdom of the heart, which naturally knows how to unify and heal our body and consciousness, and dissolve the beliefs that have kept us in pain, confusion, or separation.
This somatic therapy offers deep healing without reliving the trauma. Held in the safety, love, and compassion of the heart, we work both in the present moment and at the original trauma where painful decisions and beliefs were formed—identifying and transforming their emotional roots, as well as the ancestral patterns passed down through the family lineage. Within this respectful process is a direct approach that goes to the heart of the issue.
HCT provides individuals and families with the tools to heal relationships and deepen intimacy and communication. People come to heal, to be free, to love again, and to be loved. The heart is the key — the access point where the journey begins.
Who is this workshop for?
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Individuals seeking deep emotional healing
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Couples and families who wish to strengthen their communication and intimacy
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Therapists and mental or physical health professionals
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Anyone ready to reconnect with their true essence
About the facilitator
Alaya Chikly, LMT, is the creator of Heart Centered Therapy (HCT), a method that has guided thousands of people toward emotional healing for over 20 years. She has taught in 12 countries, and her work has been recognized by physicians, therapists, and psychologists worldwide.
Brain 1
The Brain Therapy Curriculum takes manual therapy to a new, advanced level, exploring the brain, spinal cord, white and gray matter, and deep brain nuclei such as the corpus callosum, thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, brainstem, and cerebellum. The body is frequently organized around these structures, which remain one of the most overlooked sources of tissue restriction.
Unlike other levels focused on cranial bones and membranes, Brain 1 works directly with brain parenchyma, gray and white matter, and cranial and spinal structures—requiring refined perceptual skills that students will develop through guided exercises.
You will learn precise techniques for releasing brain-centered restrictions, particularly valuable for conditions such as head trauma, whiplash, headaches, dyslexia, cerebral palsy, cognitive-behavioral dysfunctions, ADD/ADHD, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
Topics to be covered:
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Cranial bones and membranes
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Fluid dynamics (subarachnoid spaces, brain parenchyma, glymphatic system, ventricles)
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Gray and white matter (cortex and brain nuclei)
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Electromagnetic field (EMF) of the brain
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Emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of brain work
Who is this workshop for?
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Manual therapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors
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Physiotherapists and rehabilitation professionals
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Experienced craniosacral therapists
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Professionals seeking advanced tools for neurological dysfunctions
About the facilitator
Bruno Chikly, MD, DO, LMT, is the curriculum director for Brain Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage Therapy. A physician and osteopath trained in France, he is the author of the reference book Silent Waves and has taught his techniques in more than 20 countries.
Book your workshop
Lodging
Standard Room (1 person)
USD 178.00
Standard Room (2 people)
USD 198.00
Family Cabin (4 people)
USD 349.00
Accommodation rate includes legal taxes, use of the pools in the lodging area, buffet breakfast, entrance to the spa pools, self-guided walk along the La Isla trail and 15% discount on SPA treatments, does NOT include pools in the SPA area.
Other options
Located one block from the Papallacta Hot Springs, this cozy 12-room lodge offers views of the Antisana volcano and the Cayambe-Coca National Reserve. The rooms feature recycled wood finishes, heating, and breakfast included. Options are available for couples, families, and groups, including a shared backpacker room and a glamping option.
🔗 Book in Mamallacta Páramo Lodge
Note: The page does not directly display public rates — these are calculated based on dates and availability at the time of booking.
Book your workshop
En Papallacta y sus alrededores
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Laguna de Papallacta — un lago de aguas oscuras rodeado de vegetación andina, ideal para fotografía y caminatas tranquilas
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Reserva Guango — paraíso para los amantes de las aves, con una de las mayores concentraciones de colibríes de toda América
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Canyon Ranch (de Termas de Papallacta) — cinco senderos de caminata, algunos hacia cascadas, otros con vistas a los volcanes Antisana y Cayambe
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Reserva Ecológica Cayambe-Coca — senderismo por el páramo andino, con posibilidad de avistar osos andinos y aves como el cóndor
Un poco más lejos
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Reserva Antisana — el mejor lugar de Ecuador para avistar cóndores andinos en su hábitat natural
Quito (90 minutos)
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Centro Histórico de Quito — Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO, con arquitectura colonial, iglesias y plazas
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La Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús
