Hosted by: Rosalia Dawn x Natalie Restrepo
This Podcast In Summary
In this episode of RetreatLab, Rosalia Dawn, Director of Retreats at Mizata by Antiresort and Natalie Restrepo, from House of Vibration dive deep into the transformative magic of retreats, sharing their personal journeys from the corporate grind to spiritual awakening. Natalie reflects on her time in El Salvador, where honoring the land and its ancient history plays a vital role in creating a sanctuary for healing and connection. Together, they explore the beautiful balance of being both physical and spiritual beings, the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and the undeniable power of investing in your own growth. With warmth and wisdom, they highlight how acts of kindness can create powerful ripple effects and why collaboration always triumphs over competition in the healing community. This episode is a heartfelt reminder of the beauty that comes from sharing, growing, and creating together.
Transcript
Rosalia (00:03.18)
Welcome to the Anti-Resort Retreat Lab podcast! My name is Rosalia, and I’m the director of retreats here at Anti-Resort in Mizata, El Salvador. I’m so excited to have the lovely Natalie with me. Natalie has been hosting a retreat with us for the last few nights, and I’ve watched her community absolutely blossom. Everyone’s walking around smiling. We’ve had some hiccups along the way, like pouring rain and other challenges, but I truly honor and respect you and your whole team for bringing your community here to share the magic of El Salvador.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your story?
Natalie
Of course! My name is Natalie, and I own House of Vibration, a small healing studio in Miami. My story is quite beautiful. I came from the business world, working as a sales consultant for ten years, helping businesses grow globally. I entered that field at 21, coming from a rebellious lifestyle typical of a Miami kid. Rosalia, you mentioned growing up around Miami Beach—when you went there, it probably meant hitting the clubs and experiencing so much. Shout out to my mom for holding my path during that time!
At 21, something dramatically changed in my life when I was hired by a highly respected real estate and business mogul, which completely transformed my trajectory. By 21, I was traveling around the U.S. helping businesses scale. By 23, I was a top executive in a Fortune 500 company, and by 25, I led a team of over 50 people. I had everything I wanted in life, and by 27, I had generated over half a million dollars.
Natalie (02:16.78)
Something I forgot to mention is that I was the “sixth sense kid.” Since childhood, I experienced supernatural encounters. Picture this: if you and I were sitting here, I’d say, “Rosalia, you won’t believe what I saw in Mizata’s ocean!” I’d talk about seeing sirens and mermaids, and you might think I was crazy. But those around me would eventually experience these supernatural things, too.
Fast forward, I grew up with this understanding, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. I spent my career helping businesses and teaching people how to make money. Coming from a family with limited financial resources, I initially believed that wealthy individuals were often corrupt. It was a challenge on a soul level to be in a money-hungry environment.
I had dreams of helping people, and I had a major realization: to truly help others, I needed to access money. So, I embraced it and found a love for the work. However, I noticed that many business owners creating wealth weren’t aligned on a soul level.
On the side, I had contracts that prevented me from showcasing my face, but I yearned to do more. That’s when I created a faceless brand, House of Vibration, which initially started without my personal identity attached. It’s been beautiful to see at this retreat how people can feel the energy from the start, without knowing who I was, but still transmitting that connection.
We got a puppy here; I hope he gets in the clip!
Natalie (04:35.982)
I thought, maybe if I start creating things that people are missing—like even just a quote or something—I could build a brand. I had experience creating brands, so why couldn’t I do something good for the world? As I developed myself on a spiritual and energetic level, helping people, I realized that my community of yogis, healers, light workers, and shamans was lacking an abundance mindset.
That’s when I felt the responsibility to help people realize they could have it all. You don’t have to choose between luxury and the essentials; being human allows us to experience both. That’s how House of Vibration began to expand. I opened a small studio, and from there, it grew into something I couldn’t ignore. We started hosting smaller events and circles, and the demand just grew. This is actually our first international retreat—congratulations!
Rosalia
Thank you! I’m in awe because it sounds like unlocking a part of yourself that the conventional world doesn’t understand is incredibly challenging. Many of us aren’t supported or celebrated for these aspects of ourselves. I’d love to discuss some of the struggles you faced transitioning from corporate life to your spiritual journey.
Natalie (06:53.74)
Absolutely. I’ve spent the last few days discussing that darkness within us. The truth is, when you discover your purpose, when that gift activates, there’s no going back. It’s like my friend who’s vegan; she feels she can never return to her old way of eating. When you’re passionate about something, it consumes you.
Initially, when you decide to leave your nine-to-five job, everyone supports you. They cheer you on, saying, “You should do it! Go for it!” But once you take the leap and need to find clients, prospect, and invest in yourself, it can take a while to see results. When I first quit my job, I was doing everything—email marketing, social media, sales, copywriting—you name it. My friends would ask how it was going, and I felt overwhelmed. I was busy, but I had nothing tangible to show for it.
The hardest part was those lonely nights filled with fear. I often wondered if it was all going to work out. Being a business owner and following your gift can be a very lonely road. People are there for the celebrations and retreats, but during those difficult nights, you’re often alone. I want my guests at this retreat to feel a sense of community, but I also want them to leave with a toolkit, empowered to stand on their own. They come here to replenish and realize that everyone in this circle shares similar pains.
Rosalia (09:17.612)
Exactly. There’s no escaping the pain; it’s our superpower and our medicine.
I want to explore this concept of pain as medicine further, but first, I want to discuss your retreat here. Everyone seems so engaged and connected; they’re learning and transforming. Before that, though, let’s acknowledge the pain that exists in El Salvador. There’s a lot of suffering here, more than I can fully comprehend as a Filipino-American woman in Central America. I’d love to hear about your experience in El Salvador and what brought you here.
Natalie
El Salvador holds a very special place in my heart. My parents are Colombian, from Cartagena and Medellín. My uncle worked for the Colombian embassy here in El Salvador, and he eventually married a local woman, so I’ve been coming for a long time.
Rosalia
That sounds like a significant part of your childhood.
Natalie
Absolutely. My uncle lived in Guatemala, and when I visited, we would go to Guatemala and then to the beach in El Salvador. My parents instilled in me the value of embracing the community and exploring the authentic sides of the countries we visited.
Natalie (11:37.166)
When we first came to El Salvador, I remember my uncle telling me, “Listen, this isn’t Colombia or Costa Rica.” This was about 15 years ago. When we got off the plane, I was saddened to see the dangers in such a beautiful place. Yet, that didn’t stop us from coming back.
A few years later, it reminded me so much of Colombia’s story, as well as Mexico’s. Every country and community has its challenges, but witnessing their resilience and transformation is inspiring. If you didn’t know, El Salvador was originally called “The Jewel,” reflecting the beauty and potential of this land.
Seeing it embrace that identity again was beautiful, especially since this land has so much to offer. Historically, the issues associated with El Salvador, like the MS-13 gang, were cultivated in the U.S. They sent children back here who were already exposed to toxic environments. When I returned to El Salvador, I was amazed to see how much it had cleaned up. The people were rejoicing and reclaiming their power.
I wanted to contribute to that transformation story because it resonates deeply with me. If you’re going to attend a retreat, you should feel empowered and inspired by the land from which you’re receiving healing. When I first came to the Pacific Retreat Center with my partner, I focused on the land’s elemental energies rather than the facilities. The land seemed to say, “You need to bow down to me. What will you offer in exchange?”
So, for anyone considering a retreat—whether in El Salvador, Colombia, Tulum, or elsewhere—it’s essential to honor the land and perform an exchange. My purpose is to ensure everyone leaves with greater respect for their community and land, creating a ripple effect of positive energy. That’s why I chose to hold the retreat here; I wanted people to experience the true beauty of this land and its property.
Rosalia (15:04.972)
Absolutely! It’s incredible. I’ve seen you carry your group with such grace, providing them space to work within their journey while also taking care of them. As a retreat host, it’s challenging to show up for participants from sunrise to sunset while also protecting your own energy. How do you maintain that balance and still provide your own medicine?
It’s a tough question. Many hosts feel depleted after their first or second retreat, unsure if they want to do it again. How do you protect yourself in those moments?
Natalie
Great question! It took a lot of training. I hear similar concerns from my students and clients.
When you have a heart that’s so big—most of us humans are meant to have big hearts. That’s what makes us human. When we feel a need to help others, we often view it as a sacrifice. I used to think that way. I would say, “Lord, Creator, if my friend is in pain, I have so much love to give that I can take from myself.” Until I started to learn from my amazing teachers that there is an abundance of energy around us, and at no point do I need to draw from my own energy. I never feel drained. Of course, physically, I can get tired; for example, yesterday, I did a cold plunge, then jumped into a temazcal, then into a sauna, and then into something else. That can be exhausting for the body. But in terms of my ability to give, or even to cultivate and transform energy, I never feel drained. I always feel capable of doing more.
However, it’s essential to respect your spiritual boundaries. There are filters in place—filters, filtration, right? It’s important to understand what those filters look like. They don’t look like walls; rather, they are ways for us to allow good energy to come in while keeping the negative out. But at no point should we create walls. I don’t want to create walls; filters can be changed. There are ways in which I replenish and maintain my boundaries, like prioritizing my morning prayer, morning meditation, night prayer, and night meditation. You saw my partner here; he completely honors my rituals and regimens that allow me to replenish.
With every event, there are so many lessons to learn. I come from the events world, where I organized events for over 40,000 people. Those were draining! But I always say it’s important to have fun too, right?
Rosalia
You guys are having a party tonight!
Yes! I think that’s truly when we talk about the magic of El Salvador. Yes, Mizata! You can have your love moments and then also enjoy your parties. I love that.
That’s an interesting point because I see a world where people feel they must strain to fit into one box—who they are as working individuals—and then struggle to fit into another box as their normal selves. What does it look like when we can embrace both? The duality!
Natalie
Exactly. What sign are you?
Rosalia
I’m a Virgo Sun, a Virgo Moon, Aquarius rising.
Natalie
My God, let’s see, are we twins? Because I’m Virgo Scorpio Scorpio.
Rosalia
My God, I gotta be like, I’m a Scorpio rising, but okay, I get it. No, we actually must be, and I think that’s why we’re alike. I’m like wow.
Natalie
When’s your birthday?
Rosalia
September 9th.
Natalie
Okay, September 1st.
Rosalia
Wait, what? Yeah.
Natalie
What year were you born? 94.
Natalie
Okay, you’re baby.
Rosalia
So this is my 30th.
Natalie
I’m 92. I’m 32.
Rosalia
What was that, 32?
Natalie
Yeah. 32. Yeah.
Rosalia
Happy birthday.
Natalie
Happy birthday. Thank you for celebrating with us!
Rosalia
Yeah, I know. So cool. I want to talk about what the hell are you doing? Like, what is this retreat thing that you’re doing? Because I see you with notepads and books, and I see you with seminars, and I see you with movement, and I see you with sound, and I see you with tamazcal, and I see you with dancing. What are we doing here, and how can I join?
Natalie (20:43.554)
Honestly, it comes back to that duality, right? I’ve had the opportunity to learn so many beautiful skills. The art of sales changed my life, and I found that sales can be incredibly spiritual. It’s true that everything in life is a big sale, but from an ethical and spiritual standpoint. Everything I teach is about bridging spirituality and business together. Business, in this sense, is about the energetics of it. An offering to our planet is an energetic exchange, right? When you want something, it wants you even more. Rejection is not an objection; an objection is not a rejection. When you hear “no” from someone or something, it’s not actually a no; it’s just not yet a yes.
We live in a world that often says rejection is just a redirection, and I totally disagree.
Rosalia (22:54.828)
Okay, let’s talk through that.
Natalie
Yeah, I hear that all the time—rejection is just a redirection. I’m like, no! I’m going to do everything I can to achieve that goal and hit that target. I want it to be tough; I want it to be a challenge.
Rosalia
It always ends up being meant to be. You see it that way.
Natalie
Exactly! And the follow-up is so important. We often leave things half-finished, you know? We have these ideas that get implanted in us, and then we think, “I didn’t get clients, so I’m just going to give up on it.” But that’s just a reactionary defense mechanism from the universe. Would you say that your thematic approach is a play on discomfort?
Rosalia
Yes! Because we play on discomfort with the concept of what medicine looks like. Medicine can be the heat, the sun, the sea, or the wind. It can be as complex as a plant or as simple as this conversation between you and me—that’s medicine. So, you play with discomfort to help people understand that their gifts are welcome here.
Natalie
Exactly! We allow that discomfort to transform into something greater. I guide people through interesting exercises to help them clarify what they want. A lot of times, we simply haven’t dedicated the space and time to sit down and figure out what we truly desire. I strongly believe that when we come to this planet, before we arrive, the great spirit or creator—whatever you believe in—has placed us here for a reason. There’s something much greater than us at play.
Rosalia Dawn
It’s incredible.
Here’s a cleaned-up version of the transcript:
Natalie (24:54.83)
I know! It’s insane. The synergy we experience with others is powerful. You start to feel it, and it’s like you have to open up that portal, you know? I believe that when God sends us here, right before, there’s a conversation. He says, “I want to show you what’s available on this planet.” He shows you love, children, and all these big, beautiful things that can happen to you. But He also shows you heartbreak and betrayal. Still, you’re so focused on the beauty, you say, “My God, I want to go there.” You see yourself on roller coasters, bungee jumping, doing all the fun stuff. And then He says, “But there’s one thing: you’ve got a mission, a target to hit.” And you’re excited, ready to take it on. You’re sent here on a mission, whatever that mission may be.
I think that’s what my client Jesus is discovering—he’s realizing he’s always been that peaceful, guiding light for his family, and now he wants to create a space for men to heal. Because where do men heal, right? Sometimes, it just takes a moment to sit down and figure that out. I guide people through a subconscious exercise, almost like a deep meditation.
Rosalia Dawn
Is it like yoga nidra?
Natalie
Yeah, kind of, but they’re writing the entire time, free-flowing. And we dive deep into this question: if you had all the resources in the world, what would you even want? If everything was perfect, what would you do with it? The truth is, many of us don’t know what we want. This exercise unlocks so much. Once you hit that one goal or target, you become so giving. But many of us are selfish in a sense, thinking, “I don’t need much. I’m simple. Why would I want all that?”
Rosalia (27:18.946)
So you can do good things.