About Us
Will Pate
Will is a yoga teacher, bodyworker, and medicine guide who holds space for the collective through movement and musical magic. He has spent the last ten years working on his own healing process by exploring the interweaving worlds of ancient practices and modern understandings of mind-body. Some of the tools he uses to hold space are plant and animal medicine, breath and movement modalities like fascial maneuvers and yoga and sound healing, as well as conscious music creation. Co-creating improvised musical spaces are some of the happiest moments of his life. The ultimate goal for Will is to help create a world with more bliss, clarity and centeredness; with more beings walking around who know and live from their true selves. He has a desire to foster communal connection in nature, offering respite from the frenetic pace of urban living through grounding practices and the guidance of plant allies.
Yiz Mariposa
Yiz Mariposa is a Psychospiritual Coach, Ancestral Healing Practitioner, Authentic Relating Facilitator, Writer, founder of The Self-Discovery Sanctuary and creator of the Soul Share Connection Experience. She’s also the creator of the Soul Share Cards and Chakra Exploration Cards - transformational tools for individuals to discover their truth, deepen relationships, and empower their authentic expression in connection. Yiz lives a mission supporting individuals in liberating their most unapologetic authentic selves, creating intimate relationships, aligning with their soul purpose, and becoming the empowered hero of their stories. Yiz leads both in-person and online journeys that create safe, transformative spaces for individuals to experience deep healing, personal growth, and spiritual development.
Based in Kauai, Yiz has a deep connection to the elemental medicine of the ‘aina (land) and loves communing with the Earthen bliss we all have access to. She lives her life as one continuous ceremony - creating, playing, praying and devoting to her Dharma.
Alihan Aslan
Alihan is a spiritual guide, certified Heart-Brain Coherence practitioner, and nutritional counselor devoted to helping others awaken their highest potential. Rooted in the philosophy of pura vida — “pure life” — he weaves together modern understanding and ancient wisdom to create transformative experiences for mind, body, and spirit.
With a focus on deep body purification, Alihan guides individuals through sustainable plant-based living, raw food practices, and juice fasting as pathways to vibrant health and higher vibrational states. His ceremonies — including cacao, rapé, and guided meditations — offer safe, heart-centered spaces for release, renewal, and profound connection.
Alongside his spiritual work, Alihan brings a decade of experience as an electrical engineer, blending the precision of logical problem-solving with the depth of metaphysical insight. His unique perspective bridges science and spirituality, offering a grounded yet expansive approach to healing and growth.
Dedicated to living in harmony with nature and the flow of life, Alihan supports others in reconnecting with their innate vitality, embodying authenticity, and walking a path of balance, clarity, and empowered purpose.
Our Story
Gaia Circle brings together individuals on a spiritual journey with ancient heritage and timeless practices. Our mission is to reintroduce the sacred into daily life through communal gatherings, fostering a deep reconnection with each other and our shared longing for spiritual growth, clarity, and harmony with the Earth.
The vision for Gaia Circle emerged through experiences of ceremony, community, and soul-level connection:
In early 2023, Will and Alihan met at a breathwork event and immediately felt a powerful resonance. Both were passionate about creating spaces where people could gather in truth, heal through movement and music, and rediscover their authentic selves. As their friendship deepened, they began holding intimate ceremonies — often incorporating tobacco (rapé) and cacao — where they prayed, sought vision, and listened deeply for spiritual guidance. Through these sacred gatherings, a shared dream began to take form: to bring these transformative experiences to a broader community in beautiful, serene locations where people could reconnect with the Earth, their bodies, and each other through ceremony and song: Gaia Circle.
As they envisioned what form this offering would take, Will and Alihan were guided toward creating a yoga retreat in a tropical setting — a sacred container where participants could step away from the noise of daily life and fully immerse themselves in healing practices, soulful movement, and heart-opening connection.
When choosing the location for their first retreat, Lake Atitlán in Guatemala emerged as a clear and powerful choice. Known for its potent energy and ancient Mayan shamanic roots, the lake is considered a portal for ancestral connection, healing ceremonies, and deep meditation.
Later in 2024, the team traveled to Lake Atitlán to scout potential venues. In the tranquil village of Jaibalito, they discovered Sacred Garden — a sanctuary nestled between lush green hills and shimmering waters. Standing on the yoga deck, gazing at the majestic volcanoes, they felt an undeniable sense of “home.” It was clear that Sacred Garden was meant to host their first retreat: Earth Song.
Then in 2025 Alihan’s partner, Indigo, introduced him and Will to Yiz . The three of them immediately felt a profound connection, as if they had known each other for lifetimes. Through long conversations, laughter, and shared ceremonial experiences, they realized that their visions for community and spiritual work were deeply aligned. Yiz brought with her a wealth of wisdom in heartful communication, authentic relating, and ancestral healing — the missing piece to help Gaia Circle create truly transformative group experiences.
Inspired by their connection, they invited Yiz to join the team for their upcoming retreat. Together, they envisioned a sacred space where deep healing and spiritual practices would intertwine with the magic of authentic human connection. It would be a place where participants could not only explore ancient wisdom and embodied rituals, but also form meaningful relationships — a safe container for full expression, vulnerability, and transformation.
As they dreamed into this vision, the elements themselves seemed to guide them — earth, water, fire, and air — each carrying its own medicine and message. These natural forces became the pillars of the retreat, representing the balance of life and the journey of inner alchemy. From this shared inspiration, Elemental Alchemy Retreat was born —
a transformative gathering designed to help individuals awaken their inner power, harmonize with nature, and return home to their most authentic selves.
At Gaia Circle, our aim is to create nurturing environments where individuals can deepen their relationship with both the Earth and themselves. Through a blend of ancient practices and modern tools, participants are guided to release stagnant energy, restore balance, and awaken their inner song. Days are filled with ceremony, movement, singing, journaling, and moments of stillness — all designed to help each person reconnect with their authentic essence and the greater web of life.