Grata Wellness Takes San Diego!

What an honor to return to San Diego for the second year in a row to lead wellness sessions at the ASU+GSV Summit! This trip was a full one with two incredible opportunities packed into one week, and I can't believe it's already over.

The week kicked off with the 17th Annual ASU+GSV Summit, one of the largest gatherings at the intersection of education and innovation in the world. And then I took a 40-minute drive to The Golden Door, a legendary wellness retreat tucked in the hills of San Marcos. Two very different settings, but a really great mix.

ASU+GSV Summit

As a former teacher and Teach For America corps member, the ASU+GSV Summit feels particularly meaningful to me. The energy is palpable in a conference full of people who care deeply about the future of learning: the thinkers, the builders, the ones asking hard questions. This year's focus was all about AI, and one of the key takeaways I gained (yes, I was able to sneak into some of the keynotes between my sessions) is that a human-focused approach, one centered on mental health and well-being, is the antidote to an overemphasis on tech.

This was my second year attending, and through Grata Wellness, I led daily mindfulness and nervous system reset sessions throughout the week with group sessions as well as 1:1 sessions for people who wanted something more personal. What struck me was how willing people were. These are driven, accomplished humans running on full throttle through a packed three-day summit and when given an invitation to pause and breathe, they took it. There is something so inspiring about bringing this work into high-energy, high-performance spaces.

The people who need nervous system support the most are often the ones who wouldn't seek out a wellness retreat. Getting to meet them between sessions on a sunny terrace is exactly what Grata is for.

A major highlight of this Summit is that my college bestie, former TFA roommate, and lifelong friend, Lucy, is the VP of Program for ASU+GSV Summit, which means she's the one doing months of planning, orchestrating the 800+ speakers (many of whom are VIPs), and putting out fires left and right. There's nothing better than seeing your friend shine and being able to hear from coworkers how much they value and adore her, too! Proud friend moment :)

Also, the closing celebration featured a drone show that truly blew my mind!!

The Golden Door

For the next part of the trip, I headed 40 minutes north to San Marcos to find The Golden Door. I'll be honest, from my first flight from JFK, I was nervous. Flying with my crystal singing bowls for the first time was nerve-wracking. They are precious, they are heavy, and they absolutely cannot be checked. But we made it in one piece, and the moment I walked through those gates, I felt my shoulders drop. To give you an idea, this is the description of the land on their website: "600 acres of native hills, meadows, Japanese gardens, and citrus groves, 12 mountain or meadow hikes of varying challenge on 30 miles of hiking trails." It's magnificent.

I led two sessions during my time there: a Restorative Sound Bath on Thursday evening that drew a full, beautiful room, and a more intimate session on Recalibrating from Stress and Burnout on Friday morning. The depth of openness in both groups moved me. When people feel safe enough to exhale, they can reflect honestly about how they feel and have the opportunity to leave feeling lighter. That's the whole reason I do this.

In between, I hiked on the trails, wandered the gardens, took a Feldenkrais class, swam in the pool, received a massage, relished the bathhouse, and absolutely did not want to leave. In just 24 hours I felt genuinely renewed. Golden Door does something to you. I left in complete awe of what they've built there, and so deeply grateful to have been part of it.

Looking Ahead

This week crystallized something for me: I want to do this more. To bring these practices to everyone willing to experience them. Into the spaces and retreats and gatherings where this work can land. The more I lean into immersive experiences as the heart of this practice, the more alive everything feels. So from now on, the bowls are coming with me!