Bienvenidos!

The Light Within Team

Risa Mara Machuca

EVENT MANAGER

Risa is an entrepreneur, champion surfer, producer, filmmaker, writer and swimsuit designer and a local surfer and sought-after surf instructor in Sayulita. Risa’s accomplishments include winning a number of medals and national championships in both SUP and long boarding. She even made history in 2019 as one of the first woman to represent Mexico at the Olympic qualifying Pan-American Games. Known for salsa dancing on her board, you can often find Risa surfing with her dog, Chia.

Risa has been monumental in the women’s empowerment and body positivity movements. She has been featured in a surplus of major media outlets such as CNNInternational, USA Today, Outside Magazine, Upworthy, as well as a collab with Salesforce. You can find more of her story featured in the book “Women Making Waves” on Penguin Random House. She is also the Founder/CEO of BelleCurves swimwear - a functional, swimwear line for women of all sizes.

Fathered by a fisherman and beach loving mother, the ocean is in her blood and diversity is her world. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and is an integral part of The Light Within retreats.

Todd Johnson

EVENT MANAGER, MEN’S RETREATS

Born and raised in the small coastal community of Pacifica, California. Todd is an all round outdoors enthusiast, and conservationist. When he isn't competing and coaching surfing and skateboarding he enjoys hunting and fishing with his friends and family. In 2002 at 19 he started working as a surf instructor at Surf Camp Pacifica, which he now owns and has operated for the past 5 years.

In 2006 he started shaping surfboards under the tutelage of his close friend and mentor at JZ surfboards, the late Joel Zemenick. He continues to shape surfboards and create resin/wood art pieces. 

Carly Chivers, RTC

THERAPIST

Hello, I'm Carly, and the journey to becoming a counselor has been a natural progression for me.

My background is rooted in physical pursuits, having competed as a collegiate athlete at Brandon University. The rigors of competitive training equipped me with the resilience to navigate most challenges. However, a series of injuries ultimately concluded my athletic career, leading me down a different path that emphasized introspection and a gentler approach.

In 2012, following years of exploration and travel, I co-founded a yoga and surf retreat company for women. This venture allowed me to share the enriching experiences of nature and foster connections through embodiment practices.

In 2020, I completed a three-year program in Transpersonal Psychology and Therapeutic Counseling, along with subsequent supervision and practicum hours, led to my licensure as a Registered Therapeutic Counselor (RTC) with the Association of Cooperative Counselors of Canada (#2854). Since 2021, I have been operating a private counseling practice and facilitating Support Groups. 

David Michael Almeida

SR. SURF INSTRUCTOR

Hola, my name is David Michael Almeida!

I’m 46 years old and a professional, certified Surf Instructor by ISA. I love to change peoples life by introducing them to the amazing sport of Surfing. I’m also a judge and organizer of surf competitions locally and across the Mexican Pacific coast — mostly focusing on kids. I love what I do.

I start surfing when I was 12, and became a surf instructor by the time I was 28. That is when I found the passion of teaching surfing and haven’t stop since. Watching people’’s expressions after catching that first wave is priceless for me!!

This part of the world makes my job easier by having beaches with white sand, blue water and fun long waves all year around.

Getting invited by Andi and Risa to this amazing project makes me feel grateful — grateful with life and especially grateful with the friends around me. And, I am grateful to be part of this story in your life.

Tanis Hofmann

YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Tanis has been in the process of waking up for more than a few decades. Her path, inspired by many great teachers and guides, continues to unfold with new insights. All her current practices involve remembering how to recognize, hear and respond to her inner voice, and the voice of breath. Oh, and of course, to WATER within and without!

Her latest deep dive into Fascia has brought results beyond what she imagined possible not only for her, but for those who have found her, and for whom she continues to support and inspire. She uses cedarwood, or what she calls her ‘consciousness tool,’ to access her inner voice, as it invites present moment awareness and a conversation with self. It is a very physical way to release held patterns from the fascia, to discover and to let go of emotions and trauma, restoring space, clarity and joy.

We are thrilled to welcome Tanis’s healing expertise to The Light Within retreats.

Owner: Wave Elements

Natache Radojevic

INTUITIVE SOUND HEALER

It is Natacha’s mission that each sound healing is a sacred journey. We embark not just to listen but to immerse ourselves, feeling our hearts amplify. The resonance leads us to a profound awareness of interconnectedness, guiding us to tune into the symphony of heart coherence. Using crystal singing bowls and an eclectic array of instruments and voice she facilitates in connecting with the harmonious rhythm of our interconnected hearts.

Paul Gibbs

GUIDED MEDITATION FACILITATOR, YOGI

My name is Paul. I'm 41 years old, a father of two and a husband to Daniela, my beautiful Mexican Love. I live on the outskirts of Sayulita, México and it's here that I discovered what it means to be alive, a human and create a life that I have value for, wish to grow and Love.

My life job is to share a passion into supporting and loving people that have gone through, continue to go through, or are just starting to look for support within their own discomforts.

From an early age, I had a very acute understanding and fear around what death was. This was the guiding force behind my entire life and to some extent continues to be so up to my present day, but in a very different way now. A close friend passed away 10 years ago and it was this accident that exploded all of my anxieties, depressions, insecurities and suicidal tendencies to the forefront. It was an insanely uncomfortable period of my life, but thankfully with a little divine intervention, I stumbled upon the beautiful and loving practice of Yoga.

I feel very fortunate to still be here with breath in my lungs and Love in my heart. I still have a long way to go, but I believe that these practices can also support all humans into finding our deeper truths.

This is my passion and this is my life's work, this is my Dharma.

Kennedy Morgan

SPIRIT MEDIUM

Born in Vietnam and later adopted, Kennedy grew up in Renton, Washington. At the time it was a suburb 30 minutes South of Seattle. Having gone to a community college where he got his associates, his plan was to study psychology with focus on group dynamics and organizational leadership. Life would have a different plan for Kennedy.

From college years to his early 30’s, it was a path of self-discovery, search for belonging, acceptance, and a sense of family, amongst the other mundane aspects of life. Up until his early 30’s, Kennedy felt he was always trying to survive mentally and emotionally due to the tumultuous childhood he experienced. It wasn’t until he met his biological family for the first time was he able to truly feel centered. No longer having to survive mentally and emotionally from his experiences, Kennedy’s focus shifted in a way that allowed him to explore his highest and greatest self; learning to become acutely aware of physical and non-physical energies. Ultimately, the experiences along this path helped to unfold his true calling as a medium.

Currently, Kennedy has a flourishing mediumship practice bringing healing, comfort, inspiration and hope to people all over the world through in-person and online sessions.

Kristine Mendoza

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Kristine Mendoza brings a wealth of experience and skills to the table as a seasoned professional in graphic design, marketing, copywriting, and photography. She runs all things social media for The Light Within and for our parent company, Platinum Coaching Group. Living in the East Bay of California, Kristine manages the content strategy, social media marketing, and online communities for all our guests. Kristine’s expertise lies in capturing a distinct voice, aesthetic, and persona behind the scenes, enabling us to focus on providing a safe and healing guest experience.

Born and raised in the East Bay, Kristine’s connection to the Bay Area region runs deep. After studying in San Francisco and spending 13 years in the city, she has returned to Oakland, which she proudly calls home. When she’s not working, you’ll find Kristine at one of the local dog parks with her faithful companion Murphy, indulging in various creative pursuits such as macrame, or ceramics. She also enjoys roller skating along the Oakland Estuary or engaging in a lively game of skeeball with her league.

Laurita Polvorilla

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER

Laurita is a photographer specializing in surf, water, and lifestyle. With a keen eye for detail, Laurita expertly captures the fleeting moments where interactions, emotions, and the calmness of water meet the exhilarating action of surfing.

Andi Zemenick

FOUNDER, THE LIGHT WITHIN

Andi Zemenick is an international business & life coach with over 30 years working with top companies and entrepreneurs to help them grow their companies and reach their highest potential. She has coached 100’s of leaders and sales teams in her decades as a global business consultant. She is now the CEO/ Founder of Platinum Coaching Group — where she advises top female business owners on leadership, diversity, sales & marketing tactics, and family/life balance.

Raised with roots in the “Deep South,” Andi now spends her time working across the US, Mexico, and Europe as a digital nomad. When she is not traveling to visit clients in California and beyond, you can find Andi in her home in Punta Mita — where she has decided to operate The Light Within as a deeply personal project and mission.

In February 2022, Andi and her husband, Joel, were married on a sailboat in Punta Mita. Eight months later, Andi lost her new husband and partner to suicide. Now, she hopes to provide solace and a place of community for others who are facing mental health issues, suffering from grief, and trying to negotiate life after suicide. You can read more of Andi’s story here.

Nate Singer

PRACTITIONER TEAM LEAD, NERVOUS SYSTEM COACH

I'm Nate and my guiding light is to do my best to understand, empathize with, and support people who are going through the hardest things a person can go through. My own battle with chronic illness and pain has led me to this path and I try every day to be the person I wish I had met when I was struggling my hardest.

I’m a lifelong lover of sports, cooking, creative writing, and being in, on, and around the water. I have taken a bizarre and winding career path to end up here including building fancy coral reef aquariums for dentists, editing books of poetry, owning a hiking and kayaking guide company, and coaching poker.

Now I specialize in assisting people to feel at home and safe in their body and use a variety of methods based on what resonates most with each individual. I am certified in Tension and Trauma Release Exercises, Counseling, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and Nervous System Coaching.