In Conversation with Karen Gutierrez: Culinary Retreat Facilitator at Najil Chak

At Najil Chak, we believe that the most transformative experiences happen when passionate facilitators meet sacred spaces. This January, we had the privilege of hosting artist and designer Karen Gutierrez for her first culinary retreat, a journey that wove together Mexican culinary heritage, artistic expression, and mindful connection. Her approach to food as a universal language created the real experience our guests seek when they choose our Tulum retreat center.

Meet Karen Gutierrez 

Karen Gutierrez brings a unique perspective to retreat facilitation, one deeply rooted in Mexican culture and artistic expression. Originally from Xalapa, Veracruz — a vibrant city nestled in the Sierra Madre Oriental and renowned as a hub for art, music, and performance—Karen carries the creative spirit of her homeland into everything she creates. With a master's degree in textile design and experience working across multiple artistic mediums, she has spent years exploring how art connects us to our deeper selves and to each other.

After moving to Tulum in 2014, Karen launched Laguna Collective, her clothing brand and boutique that celebrates conscious design and sustainable craftsmanship. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a pivotal shift in her journey. After closing her boutique she chose to focus on intimate workshops and teaching, sharing her expertise in textiles, organic dyes, and ceramics. This transition revealed her true calling:

healing through art, holding space for others, and advocating for a simple, minimalist life filled with meaningful connections.

While this was her first culinary retreat, Karen's background includes running her own Art Studio and hosting art and wellness retreats, giving her a well-rounded understanding of how nourishment—whether through food, creativity, or community—feeds the soul.

Her Approach to Retreat Facilitation

Karen's philosophy centers on the profound truth that "we are all connected by food, and food

connects us to the earth." For her, cooking is far more than preparation—it's an everyday opportunity to share, create, enjoy, and learn together. Mexico's incredibly rich culinary heritage provided the perfect foundation for this culinary retreat, allowing participants the space and time to dive into ancestral depths that urban life rarely permits.

Traditional Cooks Petra & Juan Jose

This retreat was elevated by Karen's collaboration with culinary experts Doña Petra Valencia Velásquez and her son Juan José Antonio from Miahuatlán, Oaxaca. These guardians of regional cuisine are emblematic of Mexican craftmanship: possessing centuries of wisdom and deep knowledge of traditional recipes at the tip of their fingers. As representatives of the sacred relationship between land, ingredient, and tradition, their presence transformed the retreat from cooking lessons into profound cultural transmission—guests witnessed this portrayal of heritage through masters who embody Mexico's gastronomic soul.

Doña Petra and Juan José served as bridges connecting participants to Mexican culinary heritage and the living connection between people and their land. Beyond their technical expertise with ancient techniques and seasonal ingredients, they brought the essence of Mexican hospitality: joy, humility, generosity, and infectious laughter that permeated every workshop & shared meal. Their presence offered participants access to Mexican culinary heritage rarely experienced outside family kitchens.

Karen's method for holding space is deeply intuitive and nurturing. "I hold space through listening, gently guiding hands as we shape clay or weave fabrics; allowing my guests to be themselves and to feel a safe space unfold around them," she explains. Her approach deliberately moves participants from critical, guarded mindsets to creative, curious places. Through nourishing their creative energy flow, she creates conditions where guests naturally open up, share, and reflect with each other, allowing themselves to let go of usual defenses and shed armor and self-criticism in the process.

Her approach seamlessly blends culture, wellness, and spiritual practice because, as Karen explains, "Art and cooking are cultural practices! They are an essential part of our identities, both personal and communal, and have been passed down through so many generations." Rather than treating wellness as a separate entity, she integrates it naturally throughout the retreat in everyday Yoga practice, and complemented by sound meditation and the ancestral Mexican sweat lodge ritual of temazcal.

What makes Karen's facilitation style truly special is her belief that spirituality permeates everything. "I believe it is through spirit that we truly live, giving life to the objects, tapestries, or meals we create together," she shares. This perspective transforms simple cooking activities into sacred acts of creation and connection.

The Hosting Experience at Najil Chak

The synergy between Karen's vision, the ancestral wisdom of the mother and son team, and our Tulum retreat center created something magical. From the first morning's gentle sunrise over the jungle canopy to the final shared meal under star-filled skies, every moment felt intentionally crafted yet naturally flowing. Karen's thoughtful invitation to the Oaxacan chefs to lead the daily culinary workshops created a beautiful dynamic where traditional masters took center stage in the kitchen while Karen's expertise as a host & teacher helped guide the overall retreat experience.

Karen Gutierrez hosting her Traditional Pottery Workshop at Najil Chak

Each day, guests witnessed the profound beauty of traditional Mexican cooking techniques as these culinary masters became the true teachers and leaders in our open-air kitchen. Doña Petra's weathered hands moved with grace and precision, demonstrating generations-old methods for preparing indigenous ingredients with reverence and respect. Juan José shared stories embedded in each recipe, connecting every technique to its cultural roots and seasonal wisdom. Meanwhile, Karen's nurturing presence created the container for these sacred exchanges—she facilitated introductions, translated cultural nuances, and ensured each participant felt welcomed into this intimate culinary lineage.

"The team at Najil Chak are so helpful & professional. Their knowledge of the area, including sourcing local experts and awareness of hidden gems to visit, is unparalleled. Communication in the build up to a retreat is so important and it is vital for me to trust in order to work comfortably with art & healing. They are very experienced in handling logistics and problem-solving, taking care of every detail in the background so I could focus on leading the group," Karen reflects. This seamless support allowed her to orchestrate the beautiful dance between her role as retreat host and the mother and son team's role as culinary teachers. She created space for the chefs to share their gifts authentically while ensuring participants felt supported in their learning journey. Her gentle guidance helped guests navigate cultural

exchanges with respect and openness, making room for the deep transmission that occurs when traditional knowledge keepers share their craft.

What Karen loved most about Najil Chak was "the numerous spaces and the versatile nature of the venue. It allowed me to setup meals in different locations, create varied tablescapes and take advantage of all the areas for our wellness activities. This in particular made everything feel fresh—nothing ever felt repetitive. And of course, the whole indoor-outdoor feel of the property: it feels cosy and grounded yet vibrant and alive. The colour palette is perfect. I love the lush tropical gardens and how the light filters through creating atmosphere. Its enchanting." This variety meant that guests moved fluidly from the herb gardens where they harvested ingredients, to the spacious kitchen where they learned traditional

preparation methods, to quiet corners perfect for reflection and integration.

The real experience unfolded in these transitions between spaces, where casual conversations deepened into profound connections, and where the simple act of preparing a meal together became a ceremony of gratitude and presence.

Lessons They Shared with Us

Throughout the retreat, the daily culinary workshops led by Doña Petra and Juan José became the heart of the experience, with Karen facilitating the deeper integration of their teachings. Karen's central teaching resonated in every shared moment: "Slow down, life is art." This isn't just a poetic sentiment—it's a practical invitation to find meaning and connection in daily rhythms. Under the masterful guidance of the Oaxacan chefs, she encouraged participants to approach cooking with the same mindfulness they might bring to painting or sculpting, especially through the toasting and grinding of cacao seeds or the

layering of flavors in making mole.

The knowledge shared by Doña Petra and Juan José in each workshop transformed meal preparation from task into celebration. Doña Petra demonstrated how to grind spices by hand, her movements a meditation passed down through generations, while Juan José shared the stories behind each ingredient, connecting guests to the land that nurtures these foods. With Karen's gentle facilitation, participants discovered not just techniques but the cultural reverence embedded in every gesture, leaving with both new culinary skills and a deeper understanding of Mexican culinary heritage.

Karen's insights on meaningful retreat experiences center on the principle that "slow living means taking the time to fully engage with what we are doing in each and every moment." This philosophy permeated every aspect of the culinary retreat. From the meditative process of grinding spices to the unhurried conversations that emerged while bread rose in the warm Tulum air.

Upcoming Work and Collaborations

Karen's commitment to transformative experiences continues to grow. She's leading both an art and wellness retreat and another culinary retreat, building on the success of her inaugural food-focused gathering. Her enthusiasm for returning to facilitate more retreats at our Tulum retreat center is infectious —when asked about future collaborations, her response was an immediate and enthusiastic "Of course - I already have my dates booked!"

This ongoing partnership represents exactly what we value at Najil Chak: relationships with facilitators who understand that true transformation happens through authentic connection to place, culture, and community. Karen's unique blend of artistic vision and cultural wisdom makes her an ideal collaborator for guests seeking meaningful experiences that honor Mexican heritage while supporting personal growth.

You can follow Karen's journey and upcoming workshops through her Instagram account

@tulumartstudio. There she shares insights into her artistic process and announces new retreat opportunities.

Final Reflection and Connection

The impact of Karen's first culinary retreat at Najil Chak extends far beyond the delicious meals shared and techniques learned. It demonstrated how food becomes a bridge between cultures, a pathway to mindfulness, and a catalyst for genuine human connection. Her ability to hold space for both learning and healing created an atmosphere where guests felt safe to explore, experiment, and express themselves authentically.

Working with Karen reinforced our belief that the most powerful retreats happen when passionate facilitators meet supportive environments. Her expertise in creating meaningful experiences, combined with our commitment to providing versatile spaces and seamless logistics, produced the kind of transformative retreat that guests carry with them long after they return home.

For those inspired by Karen's approach to conscious living through art and food, we encourage you to explore her work and consider joining one of her upcoming retreats. Her Instagram account @tulumartstudio offers glimpses into her creative process and announces new opportunities to learn from her unique perspective.

Ready to experience your own transformative retreat at Najil Chak? Browse our upcoming culinary retreats and discover how food, art, and mindful connection can create the real experience you're seeking in Tulum.