Restore + Return
Rediscovering Our Interconnectedness
November 7-12, 2027
at Sansara Resort
Cambutal, Panama
Join Michelle C. Johnson and Misty Gabriel for a regenerative and restorative retreat in Cambutal, a stunning coastal town on the Pacific coast of Panama.
Although we are inherently interconnected with one another and the world around us, it is essential to make time to tend our own inner sanctuary—heart, body, mind, and spirit. With this intention, Michelle and Misty have created a retreat designed to help you restore, reconnect, and return to what matters most.
Restore and Return is for anyone longing to come back to their center, cultivate peace within, and carry that peace into their daily life. Together, we will explore ways to replenish our energy and respond to the challenges of our time—both individually and collectively—from a grounded, steady, and resilient place.
The Place
Cambutal, Panama’s beautiful beaches and mountains provide the ideal setting for a relaxing vacation experience where you will find inspiration from everything that surrounds you.
Located on the pacific coast of Panama, Sansara resort seamlessly weaves luxury with nature to accommodate relaxation and transformation. It is a space that is deeply nourishing, an experience that is intensely personal and an environment to awaken the senses and seed your highest potential.
The Practice
Over five nights and six days, we will gather in a beautiful natural setting for rest, reflection, connection, and joy. Throughout the retreat, we will explore the yogic principle of Santosha—contentment—as a foundation for practice and daily living. Through meditation, asana, somatic practices, mindful movement, time in nature, and community connection, we will investigate the possibility that what we need to sustain ourselves, our communities, and the planet—and ultimately thrive—already exists within us and around us.
In addition to Santosha, Michelle and Misty will weave together other yogic and somatic teachings that support integration, helping participants carry the insights and experiences of retreat into their everyday lives with greater clarity, presence, and intention.
As dedicated practitioners, students, and facilitators on the path of yoga, Michelle and Misty share a deep commitment to healing—both for ourselves and for our communities. Together, they bring years of experience, diverse healing modalities, skillful guidance, humor, and playfulness to create a supportive and transformative retreat experience.
We invite you to join us for this unique opportunity to restore, reconnect, and return to yourself.
Play
We’ve designed this retreat to include lots of open space for rest and rejuvenation. From sunbathing to surfing to nature walks to star gazing, Sansara has everything you need to reset and renew.
Food
Food is an integral part of the Sansara Experience, and our world class chefs artfully craft locally sourced ingredients into mouthwatering, unforgettable meals. We proudly source our fruits, vegetables and eggs from independent farmers in and around Cambutal, and the fish we serve is caught daily from just outside our bay. This is fresh, healthy living in its purest form.
About Your Guides
Michelle C. Johnson
Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author, activist, spiritual teacher, racial equity consultant and educator, and intuitive and shamanic healer. She approaches her life and work from a place of knowing we are, can, and must heal individually and collectively. Michelle facilitates workshops and immersions, leads retreats and transformative experiences nationwide, and offers an array of healing services for individuals and groups. For over 25 years as a racial equity educator, she has worked with large corporations, non-profits, and community groups. Michelle is a six-time published author, and in May 2025, her sixth book, The Wisdom of the Hive, co-written with her best friend, Amy Burtaine, and published by Sounds True, was released. Her upcoming book, You Are Protected, published by St. Martin’s Essentials, comes out in September 2026.
Michelle was a TEDx speaker at Wake Forest University in 2019 and has been interviewed on several podcasts in which she explores the premise and foundation of Skill in Action, along with embodied approaches to racial equity work, creating ritual in justice spaces, our divine connection with nature and Spirit, and how we as a culture can heal.
Michelle leads courageously from the heart with compassion and a commitment to address the heartbreak dominant culture causes for many because of the harm it creates. She inspires change that allows people to stand in their humanity and wholeness in a world that fragments most of us. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, sweet dog, Jasper, and her honeybees.
Misty Gabriel
Misty is a yoga / spin instructor, connector of community, and lover of art, food, dogs and nature! Misty’s personal exploration of movement and mindfulness expanded through pilates, spin and yoga classes in her 20s but it was yoga’s ability to clear and calm her babbling brain that eventually led her to pursue her first yoga teacher training (RYT-200) in 2016 at Dancing Dogs Yoga (Greensboro, NC) and continue her studies (RYT-500) with Awakened Life School of Yoga (Bali, Indonesia) in 2019. Misty has deepened her skill set with numerous specialty trainings over the years including Yoga for Athletes, Advanced Art of Assisting and most recently the Skill in Action Yoga & Social Justice Course and Mentorship Program (lead by Michelle).
Expect a balance of effort & ease and always an invitation to clear & create S P A C E when taking one of Misty’s classes. Her grounded energy serves as a foundation for both the fiery flows and the slow somatic practices she weaves into her classes. Misty’s offerings are rooted in a desire to remind folks of their interconnectedness to self, community and all living beings.
Originally from Athens, Ohio, Misty and her husband Eric have been married since 2007. They relocated to North Carolina in 2008 and have called a few cities “home” since then but currently reside in Winston-Salem, NC with their two hound dogs Juniper & Ruthie.
Rooms
This cabana is elegant and comfortable, including two handcrafted king sized beds or four twin beds, a large stone and subway tile shower with double sinks, and a huge covered outdoor patio which is right next to the pool and steps away from the Pacific Ocean.
This cabana is a perfect getaway suite for the family or friends of four, as the two king sized beds can be converted into four twin sized beds. You will find inside this beautiful room handcrafted tropical wood ceilings, a handmade drift wood door separating the washroom and suite, and handcrafted drift wood furniture to place your belongings.
Peaceful, relaxing, and luxurious are the perfect words to describe what you can expect when lodging in our Hanuman suite.
Hanuman Quad Cabana
$2330pp
This tranquil master bedroom suite is located on the ground floor, and steps away from sinking your toes into the warm black sand. Inside this beautiful cabana includes one king bed, and a handcrafted twin bed for an optional third guest. Luxurious textures and delicate color palettes create a warm and welcoming stay. This cabana is equipped with a tastefully designed open concept bathroom, private patio, and outdoor shower to rinse the salt-water away.
Anahata Triple Cabana
$2440pp
This tree house inspired second story cabana. Located oceanfront and amongst the treetops, you can enjoy the views from your private balcony; the perfect place to re-establish your connection with nature and watch the sunset paint the sky in a bright array of colors. This room has two queen beds.
Inside your private room, you will find indigenous wood ceilings, beautifully laid slate tiles, all which join together as pieces of art.
Cedro Espino Double Cabana
$2625pp
One of our most luxurious rooms, located directly in front of the Pacific Ocean and right next to our pool, this romantic cabana allows you to wake up to the view of the most magnificent outer reefs directly in front of Sansara.
There's no better way to start your day then to sip a cup of coffee on your private terrace, or end your adventurous day with Ganesha's large stone and subway tiled shower, equipped with all organic spa products to soften your skin, followed by a restful night’s rest in the plush king sized bed with fine linens and five-star pillows. Inside this private cabana receives sunlight from all directions, with beautifully handcrafted tropical wood ceilings, and handcrafted drift wood furniture to place your belongings.
Ganesh Double Cabana
$2795pp
Awaken from your luxury king bed with soft and sustainable linens to a 180 degree oceanfront view, with abundant natural light.Local craftsmen have made the natural wood, colonial tile, and stone shine in this artfully decorated honeymoon suite. Enjoy a deluxe bathroom with dual rainfall showers, as well as organic shampoo, conditioner and soap. The coffee station and minibar allow you to enjoy your morning brew or evening cocktail on the expansive private patio.
Prana and Apana Premium Double Suite
$3030pp
Bringing the relaxing and revitalizing atmosphere of the beach to this artfully designed loft cabana; Ranchito is the perfect getaway room for friends or family. Our local artisans of Cambutal have incorporated the traditional techniques of using renewable materials such as clay tiles, local woods and palm leaves to create this special cabana. This spacious room offers the best atmosphere to kick back and relax. The Ranchito cabana is equipped with two king size beds, and a private terrace facing the luscious tropical vegetation and exotic plants.Inside your private room, you will find indigenous wood ceilings, beautifully laid slate tiles, all which join together as pieces of art.
Ranchito Deluxe Double Cabana $3060pp
Pricing
The cost of each room is listed below and includes room, meals, an excursion, and Transportation to and from Panama City to Sansara (Pickup/drop-off from one of our recommended hotels).
Register today and pay a $500 nonrefundable deposit. In addition, we have a limited number of early-bird spots for our retreat. The early bird rate is $300 off the total cost of the retreat, and will be redeemed when you pay your second or third installment for the retreat. All you need to do today is pick your room and pay your deposit, and we will be in touch with more retreat details and future payment information. The second installment for the retreat is due on April 30th, 2027, and the third installment is due on September 30th, 2027.
*Note: Once you click the button to sign up and pay your deposit, you will be taken to a page to indicate your room choice and can either pay your deposit or pay for the retreat in full. As noted above, if you do not pay in full today (which is just fine), we will follow up with details and reminders about when to pay your second and third installments for the retreat.
If you need other payment options or plans, please contact Michelle Johnson, info@michellecjohnson.com.
What’s Included in the Base Price:
5 nights of luxury accommodations in beachfront cabanas
Arrival day dinner and departure day breakfast for each registrant
3 healthy, balanced meals daily (4 days) for each registrant
Transportation to and from Panama City to Sansara (Pickup/drop-off from one of our recommended hotels)
1 Complimentary Dry Land Group Surf Lesson
Complimentary Rentals for SUP
Unlimited use of bicycles
Organic bathroom products shampoo/conditioner/soap
Hypoallergenic beddings and towels
Beach towels included in room
Beach Bonfire Celebration (weather permitting)
What’s Not Included:
Airfare/Transport to Panama City
Travel insurance (recommended)
Gratuities
Alcoholic Beverages
Snacks/Smoothies/Juices
Spa Treatments
Additional excursions, surf school and/or rentals
Items of a personal nature/souvenirs