Just outside Antigua in the mountainous rural village of El Hato, Earth Lodge Guatemala sits on a working avocado farm with a view of three volcanoes, one of which is active all day and night. A young couple founded the property in 2005, forging the road themselves and building it cabin by cabin into what became known locally as the treehouse resort. In 2023, Natasha Radick took over as its next steward, reshaping it into a boutique wellness resort and retreat center with daily yoga, farm-to-table meals, and a team drawn largely from the local village. Below, Natasha talks about that transformation, what it takes to run a retreat-ready property, and what she hopes guests carry home with them.
You have an extensive background in international marketing, plus 20+ years teaching and practicing yoga, aerial arts, and more. What drew you to Earth Lodge, and how did your background shape your vision for the property?
Fitness in all its forms has always been my personal passion. However, after working as CMO for several large multinational studio fitness brands, I realized that what would give me the most satisfaction wasn't promoting wellness from behind a desk, it was creating an opportunity for people to experience joy and wellness directly; to see the transformation happen when someone immerses themselves in an environment that nurtures these things!
Guatemala has always been a second home to me, and I bought Earth Lodge because I had an undeniable sense that this mountain could be transformed into a wellness haven open to all, to experience wellness and joy and transform body, mind, and spirit through self-care.
Much of your team lives on-site or comes from the local village of El Hato. How does the relationship with the local community shape the culture at Earth Lodge?
My relationship with the village of El Hato is extremely important to me. We have over 30 team members who live in the village generationally, and what fuels my commitment to grow and improve Earth Lodge every day is the philosophy of the dignity of work (which holds that all types of jobs are respected equally). Unlike many hospitality businesses, we employ our team year-round, even in the off-season, offering them health and retirement benefits, opportunities to rise up in the ranks, and most importantly, the chance to better the lives of their families for a brighter future. Our management team is 100% Guatemalan as it's very important to me to show by example that seniority is achievable, and to award senior positions to local Guatemalans.
We also host 6 to 10 exchange workers from around the world year-round, including a yoga teacher in residence! These exchange workers are all lovely human beings with one thing in common: a passion for wellness and joy. They live on the mountain with us and work in exchange for room and board. The minimum stay is six weeks, but most stay six months or longer and truly become like family.
How do you think about Earth Lodge's responsibility to the land and environment it calls home?
While we're just 15 minutes from the bustling UNESCO World Heritage city of Antigua, we are very much in rural Guatemala, where water, healthy food, and education are limited resources. On our own property, we practice composting, organic farming (we're also an organic Hass avocado farm!) and careful land and water management. We work to help the village by donating resources or workers toward infrastructure improvements, and we often pair retreats staying with us with a local NGO focused on after-school education and allocating donations to families most in need.
How do you approach building out the guest experience at Earth Lodge, and how do the daily yoga classes complement it?
We've created a “build-your-own” self-care experience, with a vast menu of wellness treatments and activities guests can choose from to create their own itinerary. Most guests start their day with locally sourced coffee or ceremonial cacao, followed by our daily yoga class. Our classes tend to be grounding, thanks to the energy of the mountain and the views of active volcanoes from the studio. After class, each guest's wellness needs and preferences vary, and we help them build the rest of their self-care agenda. Most guests stay two or more nights to fully regulate their nervous system and partake in all the treatments and activities they desire.
What kind of feeling or shift do you hope guests carry with them after their time at Earth Lodge?
My goal is that each guest leaves feeling nourished in body, mind, and spirit, that their nervous system has downshifted from survival mode into ease and restoration, and ultimately that they leave with a sense of joy and wonder. It's almost impossible not to feel this way after several nights sleeping in the peaceful jungle, eating and drinking nourishing farm-to-table food, and taking time for oneself!
What makes Earth Lodge a good fit for retreats and teacher trainings specifically?
Beyond the property, studio, and wellness offerings, this is where my corporate background comes into play! A girl can leave corporate, but some things always stick. When I work with retreat leaders and teacher training facilitators, I act as a personal concierge, not just giving advice, but actively organizing every detail of their group's stay so that facilitators and their guests feel taken care of from the moment they arrive. This allows facilitators to focus on holding space and doing what they do best, knowing the details are handled by me and my team behind the scenes. From facilitator feedback, this is the key to hosting life-changing and unforgettable retreats and teacher trainings — taking care of our facilitators and guests like family!
What inspired Earth Lodge to collaborate with Manduka, and how does the partnership align with the property's values?
I've personally used Manduka yoga mats for over 20 years. In fact, I still have my original mat from before I even completed my first teacher training, and it's still in good shape! In a tropical environment with a lot of people using the studio mats, durability and hygiene were vital, especially since we encourage barefoot walking around the property to aid in grounding. Manduka's mats are durable, supportive, and easy to clean.
Beyond the mats themselves, I've witnessed Manduka as a brand that truly cares about the value of human experience, the environment, and practicing what it preaches. Without a doublt, knew from day one that Manduka would be the right partner.
Practice with Natasha
On location at Earth Lodge's yoga studio, this 75-minute class uses the spiraling movements of kundalini to unstick and move energy through the body, stoking your inner fire while tuning in to your own breath and what your body is asking for in the moment.
About Earth Lodge Guatemala
Earth Lodge Guatemala is a boutique wellness resort and retreat center set on a working organic avocado farm in the hills above El Hato, 15 minutes from Antigua. The property offers: daily yoga classes, private yoga & aerials classes by appointment, all-inclusive resort rental for retreats and teacher trainings, and studio rentals for workshops and events.
Website: earthlodgeguatemala.com
Instagram: @earthlodgeguatemala
Partner With Manduka
Manduka has supported teachers, studios, and wellness spaces since 1997. Whether you're a yoga teacher, studio owner, or hotel wellness lead, there's a partnership program designed for you. Learn more about working with Manduka.
