Founded by a lifelong traveler
Founders
Mark Michaelis
Catalina Carvajal
Catalina Carvajal will be your spiritual guide through this journey of self discovery and mindfulness. She is the visionary founder of Cata Just Being Yoga & Retreats. She is a certified 200HR Hatha Yoga and E-RYT 500Hr Yoga Teacher, Restoration & Yin Yoga, Aerial Yoga, and is a certified Sound Facilitator and Reiki Master. Born in Colombia, a vibrant country filled with cultural diversity and warmth, Catalina combines these qualities into her teaching. Though she is a teacher, she is continuously seeking opportunities to grow her practice and teaching. Her goal is to transform people’s lives through the power of yoga and find their true selves.
Who you’ll meet
Randall Stockton
Randall Stockton is the founder of Mezcal Educational Excursions of Oaxaca, combining decades of experience in Austin’s bar and restaurant industry with a passion for cultural travel. A University of Texas at Austin graduate, he moved permanently to Oaxaca after first visiting in 2003 and now explores the region’s family-run palenques. Federally licensed by the Mexican government, he educates travelers and professionals about mezcal, pulque, and local traditions, emphasizing ethical mezcal tourism and learning.
Gerardo Aguilar and Chef Kristen Leahy
Chef Gerardo Aguilar and Pastry Chef Kristen Leahy launched Aguamiel in 2020 as a Sundays-only, hidden land-to-table countryside restaurant rooted in integrative health and clean ingredients. Their vision centers on empowering conscious consumption and reconnecting with food as a source of healing and connection. As the project evolved, Aguamiel expanded beyond dining to reflect their own personal growth and deeper values. Today, it offers more complete ceremonial and healing experiences, including the ancestral medicine of the temazcal (sweat lodge), which our travel agency will visit as part of the experience.