• Comments from some of our Participants •
"The trip to Oaxaca was a delightful experience. Sarah's incredible organizational skills, sense of humor, and equanimity in the face of any challenge made our lives flow with ease and fun. The cooking venues were varied and rich with traditional methods that engaged our interest and curiosity. Besides cooking, we enjoyed visiting crafts people in their villages, seeing ancient churches, botanical gardens, and sacred ruins. The accommodations and meals were excellent, and we quickly learned to easily navigate the city on either foot or taxi. I have recommended this trip to many since returning. I would without doubt go again."
"The culinary and cultural trip to Oaxaca was magical. Sarah put together a nice blend of cooking classes and excursions to nearby artisan villages to see potters, back-strap weavers, a maker of knives forged from scrap metal, and painters of carved wooden animals. I felt like I experienced a taste of ancient Oaxaca with trips to see the 2000-year-old Tula tree and the Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban. We were busy, but there was plenty of time to relax in beautiful gardens, go to museums, or shop in town. The food of Oaxaca is exquisite. Everything is so fresh and vibrant with color. Two of the highlights for me were cooking in a Zapotec family’s home—outdoors; and, the day touring the Etla market with our local guide Yolanda and then cooking tortillas on a comal with Susana Trilling at her ranch. Sarah took us to places that would have been hard to put together on our own. At each place I felt like I was in the home of a friend of Sarah’s rather than feeling like a tourist. It was a very special trip, an authentic experience of Oaxaca, and one that I will remember for a long time."
"I have such good memories of how well the tour group got along and what fun we had (laughter) and how helpful everyone was. I also loved the wonderful Oaxaxa food, the friendly people, the plethora of folk art and endless opportunities for cultural experiences. Thanks to Sarah for her enthusiasm and welcoming personality and the way she was able to help everyone get to know one another. She encouraged and created fun and festivity!"
"Sarah guided every aspect of our Panama vacation with knowledge and genuine understanding of each person's spirit of adventure and individual needs. She was a gracious and accommodating 'concierge'! As a natural 'connector' she created a wonderful experience AND a sense of community for our group."
- M. Tirk
"I enjoyed an exciting, fun, and seamless adventure in Panama thanks to the expert guidance and care of our leader, Sarah. We were able to experience a tremendous variety of activities, both educational and recreational, at a comfortable pace and in a number of locales, urban and rural. Two highlights—swimming naked and howling at the full moon and the impromptu friendship made with a restaurant owner in Panama City with whom we then went Salsa dancing!"
- N. Smith
"I had the good fortune to travel to the magical kingdom of Bhutan for the express purpose of raising money and awareness for the Bhutan nuns who long to be educated to help their fellow citizens. The trip was organized and led by Sarah, who is a natural born leader. It was a trip without a hitch, and even the weather cooperated. We learned so much about Bhutanese culture, traditions, and how they care for their environment. It was an inspirational experience, one that provided an opportunity for personal growth."
- L. Stevens
"I have never had such a fun and memorable vacation, and one of the best parts was not having to think or plan a single thing! Our days of yoga were in a spectacular mountain setting, with impressive accommodations and a truly marvelous chef. Sarah thought of everything and planned many wonderful excursions giving us the opportunity to explore many aspects of Panama. I look forward to having Sarah again as my guide anywhere in the world!"
- J. Bianchi
Writing:
"Thank you for the absolutely gorgeous experience, so I could be with my own heart. Your poems, meditations, and prompts were perfect offerings."
- DM
"What works for me writing in a group is having quiet interrupted time being with friends in a safe place to pour out what comes up first in my mind."
- HP
"What I love about the workshop is the way in which Penfield holds us all in her calm, assured, and thoughtful presence. She makes the occasion of our writing time feel special, and that's how it felt to me. I loved the sense that all of us recognized what a privilege it is to write together."
- CH
Yoga:
"I love being in Penfield's yoga classes. I always feel so nurtured there. Her guidance is gentle and deep and sure as the movements themselves. I feel a faith when with her that my body and mind will have the opportunity to find their own precious balance."
- EM
"Penfield was my first yoga teacher. I so appreciated her gentle encouragement and her ability to clearly guide me as I came to know some of the yoga postures. She was able to suggest variation to allow each of us to find confidence."
- SC
"The culinary and cultural trip to Oaxaca was magical. Sarah put together a nice blend of cooking classes and excursions to nearby artisan villages to see potters, back-strap weavers, a maker of knives forged from scrap metal, and painters of carved wooden animals. I felt like I experienced a taste of ancient Oaxaca with trips to see the 2000-year-old Tula tree and the Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban. We were busy, but there was plenty of time to relax in beautiful gardens, go to museums, or shop in town. The food of Oaxaca is exquisite. Everything is so fresh and vibrant with color. Two of the highlights for me were cooking in a Zapotec family’s home—outdoors; and, the day touring the Etla market with our local guide Yolanda and then cooking tortillas on a comal with Susana Trilling at her ranch. Sarah took us to places that would have been hard to put together on our own. At each place I felt like I was in the home of a friend of Sarah’s rather than feeling like a tourist. It was a very special trip, an authentic experience of Oaxaca, and one that I will remember for a long time."
"I have such good memories of how well the tour group got along and what fun we had (laughter) and how helpful everyone was. I also loved the wonderful Oaxaxa food, the friendly people, the plethora of folk art and endless opportunities for cultural experiences. Thanks to Sarah for her enthusiasm and welcoming personality and the way she was able to help everyone get to know one another. She encouraged and created fun and festivity!"
"Sarah guided every aspect of our Panama vacation with knowledge and genuine understanding of each person's spirit of adventure and individual needs. She was a gracious and accommodating 'concierge'! As a natural 'connector' she created a wonderful experience AND a sense of community for our group."
- M. Tirk
"I enjoyed an exciting, fun, and seamless adventure in Panama thanks to the expert guidance and care of our leader, Sarah. We were able to experience a tremendous variety of activities, both educational and recreational, at a comfortable pace and in a number of locales, urban and rural. Two highlights—swimming naked and howling at the full moon and the impromptu friendship made with a restaurant owner in Panama City with whom we then went Salsa dancing!"
- N. Smith
"I had the good fortune to travel to the magical kingdom of Bhutan for the express purpose of raising money and awareness for the Bhutan nuns who long to be educated to help their fellow citizens. The trip was organized and led by Sarah, who is a natural born leader. It was a trip without a hitch, and even the weather cooperated. We learned so much about Bhutanese culture, traditions, and how they care for their environment. It was an inspirational experience, one that provided an opportunity for personal growth."
- L. Stevens
"I have never had such a fun and memorable vacation, and one of the best parts was not having to think or plan a single thing! Our days of yoga were in a spectacular mountain setting, with impressive accommodations and a truly marvelous chef. Sarah thought of everything and planned many wonderful excursions giving us the opportunity to explore many aspects of Panama. I look forward to having Sarah again as my guide anywhere in the world!"
- J. Bianchi
Writing:
"Thank you for the absolutely gorgeous experience, so I could be with my own heart. Your poems, meditations, and prompts were perfect offerings."
- DM
"What works for me writing in a group is having quiet interrupted time being with friends in a safe place to pour out what comes up first in my mind."
- HP
"What I love about the workshop is the way in which Penfield holds us all in her calm, assured, and thoughtful presence. She makes the occasion of our writing time feel special, and that's how it felt to me. I loved the sense that all of us recognized what a privilege it is to write together."
- CH
Yoga:
"I love being in Penfield's yoga classes. I always feel so nurtured there. Her guidance is gentle and deep and sure as the movements themselves. I feel a faith when with her that my body and mind will have the opportunity to find their own precious balance."
- EM
"Penfield was my first yoga teacher. I so appreciated her gentle encouragement and her ability to clearly guide me as I came to know some of the yoga postures. She was able to suggest variation to allow each of us to find confidence."
- SC