There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes with modern leadership, and women know it well. The packed calendar and constant visibility are one thing. The internal negotiation that never stops is another. The voice that wonders if you’re doing enough, being enough, leading the right way. Be strategic but not cold. Think like a man, act like a lady. Project strength while cultivating softness. Reconciling all of these asks can be incredibly daunting.
For years, the answer has been familiar: therapy on Tuesdays, meditation apps at bedtime, maybe a spa weekend when things get truly overwhelming. But a quiet shift is happening among women in C-suites, boardrooms, and corner offices. They’re choosing something different. Something longer, deeper, and decidedly less comfortable than a massage and a green juice.
They’re going to plant medicine retreats.
At Rythmia Life Advancement Center, nestled within the luxurious gated community of Hacienda Pinilla in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, women in business arrive seeking transformation, clarity, and deeper purpose. The kind that requires looking directly at what they’ve been too busy to feel. The kind that takes time.
Rythmia’s program is medically supervised and grounded in ancient wisdom through Colombian-inspired ceremony. The structure is built around preparation and integration through their exclusive RLife App, where guests work with experienced facilitators through multiple ceremonies, then return home with access to a structured 13-week program designed to turn profound insights into lasting change.
Why Leaders Seek Structured Retreats
For the analytical mind accustomed to tracking KPIs, UTMs, ROIs, and EBITDAs, data drives decision-making. Leaders who live in spreadsheets and quarterly reports often find that the same mindset that serves them in business serves them in transformation. They want an organized framework, not vague promises. A structured retreat speaks directly to this need for clear process and measurable outcomes.
In Julia Boorstin’s groundbreaking book When Women Lead, she argues that women leaders face significant institutional and cultural obstacles. But the lessons for those who succeed—the importance of leaning into often undervalued leadership strengths like empathy, resilience in the face of adversity, inclusive decision-making, and purpose-driven thinking—can help make all organizations more resilient, innovative, and just. These are precisely the qualities that deepen through intentional inner work.
Rythmia’s curriculum meets that need with daily classes, yoga, meditation, and breathwork designed to support the inner work happening in ceremony. The center has been tracking outcomes since its inception, and the data tells a compelling story: 98% of guests report their week at Rythmia as the most transformative of their lives. Over 20,000 people have completed the program, with documented breakthroughs that go beyond anecdotal evidence. This track record has made Rythmia a destination of choice for entrepreneurs and public figures seeking both profound change and five-star care.
Set and setting is also crucial. Traveling to a calm, private setting with modern amenities and accommodations removes the noise and performance pressure that follows leaders everywhere else. At Rythmia, women can focus entirely on their process, held by a professional team that understands psychological safety and the critical importance of discretion.
Safety and Professionalism Come First
Each and every guest that comes to Rythmia must go through a medical intake process that clarifies whether the program is a good fit, and addresses any health concerns.
On site, a medical team does yet another intake, to ensure you’re supported during the week, and facilitators uphold ceremonial integrity, with clear safety protocol this professional container allows high-achieving women to relax into the work. When safety and logistics are handled with care, the inner journey can receive full attention.
The Rythmia Way™: Preparation, Ceremony, Integration
Everything within the Rythmia Way’s approach builds upon itself. Each element is intentionally designed to deepen the experience and support transformation at every stage.
Preparation begins before arrival. Guests receive access to the RLife app with guidance on mindset, intention-setting, and what to expect from the experience. The goal is to arrive informed, grounded, and ready to engage fully with the process.
The program is the heart of the journey. Four nights of ceremony unfold in intentional progression. Monday offers a gentle introduction to the medicine, Tuesday goes deeper, Wednesday honors the divine feminine, and Thursday is the grand finale — the traditional Colombian yagé ceremony. Experienced facilitators and healers guide each night, supported by live music. The days between are structured with metaphysics classes, integration sessions, yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Fresh, nourishing meals prepared on-site fuel the body while the full schedule creates momentum and helps guests process what emerges.
Integration makes it last. The program extends for 13 weeks after departure, with coaching, breathwork sessions, and community connection designed to help insights take root in real life. For leaders, this phase is where transformation shows up in how they communicate, make decisions, and show up in relationship with others.
A Sanctuary Designed for Women in Leadership
Women leading companies and communities carry weight that doesn’t always show. Rythmia’s campus is designed to hold that reality. Privacy is protected. Schedules are clear. Staff know each guest by name and track their progress. The culture balances warmth with high standards.
The world demands constant output. Rythmia offers protected space to listen inward, recalibrate, and return with clarity that lasts.
Spotlight: Women’s-Only Week with Shay Levister
Dates: October 26 – November 2, 2025
For: Women in leadership and high-achieving professionals seeking a structured, safe, and supportive women-centric week of transformation and break-throughs.
What to expect: A focused program with clear preparation, guided ceremony, daily classes, and a robust integration plan. Privacy, professionalism, and community support are emphasized.
In Shay’s Words
“Rythmia is an integral part of my transformational program because of the powerful healing and breakthroughs that happen there in such a safe and controlled environment. I love that they are medically licensed, in fact, they are the only medically licensed center of its kind in the world!
The staff is incredibly supportive and loving. They know the name of every single guest and where they are in their journey, holding space in a way that makes everyone feel safe, known, and seen from the moment they arrive until the moment they depart.
From the initial medical clearance through the ayahuasca journey – where shamans and holistic team hold space for everyone – to the integration classes that ensure people have the tools for lasting transformation, Rythmia creates an unparalleled experience. This comprehensive approach makes it the only place I recommend for women seeking an ayahuasca experience to go deeper and explore the subconscious blocks and traumas that may be holding them back from their full potential.
Many women sense something deeper is holding them back from their full potential, but struggle to identify what it is on their own. Ayahuasca, within this carefully structured environment, provides the profound breakthrough they need to move forward in their healing journey.” — Shay Levister
How to Know If You’re Ready
Responsible participation requires an honest look at health history, current commitments, and available support. These factors inform not just timing, but whether you’re truly ready to make this commitment. Rythmia’s team walks prospective guests through intake criteria, determines eligibility, and assesses whether taper protocol is necessary for any medications. The process is thorough because safety comes first.
Some weeks bring in guest speakers and thought leaders. Shay Levister leads women-only weeks with a focus on helping female leaders find success in love. Throughout the year, Rythmia hosts other well-known figures like Michael Bernard Beckwith and Iyanla Vanzant, each bringing their own wisdom to the experience. Other weeks are quieter, offering more space for internal processing. Every week has unique value depending on what a guest needs or is searching for.
The work isn’t for everyone, and it isn’t easy. But for those who’ve gone through it, the results speak clearly: greater insight, deeper self-knowledge, and tools that travel home with them. For women ready to meet themselves with clarity and intention, Rythmia offers the structure to make that meeting count.
