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You’ve started your path with the medicine and understand: The third-wave of psychedelic healing has arrived.
With the aid of psychedelic medicines like psilocybin, we’ve witnessed over 450 guests have an opportunity to break through lifelong trauma, mood issues and mental health barriers within a holistic container of care and love.
During this intensive training, you’ll learn how to harness the incredible power of psychedelic facilitation & therapy for your own practice.
We will open to doors for you to become part of the long-term vision for educating ethical, well-trained psychedelic practitioners who will help usher in the modern psychedelic movement.
Join the revolution now.
We are now accepting applications for 2024 Facilitator Training Dates Only.
The Buena Vida Facilitator Training Course has been developed primarily to meet the demand for trained guides, counselors and therapists to provide heart-centered, compassionate care for the treatment of various mental health conditions. We expect the need for trained guides to explode in the coming years.
Our training program follows the most modern best practices combined with the ancient teachings of our indigenous elders and medicine keepers.
This program is for you to undergo a rigorous test of resilience; finding comfort in discomfort.
Learn to regulate your breath, body and nervous system when faced with uncomfortable situations in your life and in the psychedelic space.
Ensures a cohesive, highly-focused educational experience by assigning all participants to small groups of 2, each group under the guidance of one of our leaders.
Thrilled to accept licensed therapists, wellness leaders and those with a desire to self-educate.
Inclusive, interdisciplinary approach that includes the study of scientific and indigenous traditions which culminate in the rite of passage that is the “Experience Retreat”.
Connects you to future psychedelic leaders in the field with the ability to facilitate retreats in the future.
Please note that graduation from the Psychedelic Facilitator Training with The Buena Vida does not authorize you to lead or facilitate psychedelic journeys at any particular center or with our center. It is a great chance to get to know our leadership team and to see each of you in your experience as a facilitator but there is no guaranteed work with Buena Vida. However, there are literally hundreds of opportunities at clinics and different retreats throughout the world where the training would be extremely beneficial. We will also be able, with the successful completion of the course, to recommend you to our network based on our professional observation.
The course will take place over a period of 2 months, with:
All classes via zoom on Saturdays, in Central Standard Time. A recording will be available after class.
Week 1: Creativity & Authenticity
Week 2: Parts Work & Handling Trauma with Amanda Schendel
Week 3: Culture & History of Shamanic Space Holding with Stefan Amthor
Week 4: Neuroscience & Modern Psychedelic Science with Rosalind McAlpine, PhD.
Week 5: Holding space with Compassion & Empathy-Sarah McCunn & All Teachers
ONLINE course can be completed at your own pace via recordings if you’re unable to join us live each week for 2 hours
The best way to truly embody the leadership experience is by the experience itself. The core of our training will be an 8-day intensive experiential retreat. We will be sitting with psilocybin medicine as well as facilitating others in our group. Our leaders will be providing step-by-step guidance, instruction and feedback so that we’re confident everyone is on their highest path. Each student will also have the opportunity to teach their own creative workshop to the group.
We will be focusing on 3 primary understandings:
EXPERIENTIAL———-SOMATIC———-VOCAL/VIBRATIONAL
Psilocybin Ceremony-EXPERIENCE
Sacred Herbs & Medicines – EXPERIENCE
Ecstatic Dance & Movement-SOMATIC
Singing Circle with Medicine Songs-VOCAL
Breathwork & Breathing Techniques-EXPERIENCE/SOMATIC
Singing Bowl Class-VIBRATIONAL
Medicine dosing & serving-EXPERIENCE
Cacao Ceremony – EXPERIENCE/SOMATIC
Please note that graduation from the Psychedelic Facilitator Training with The Buena Vida does not authorize you to lead or facilitate psychedelic journeys at any particular center or with our center. It is a great chance to get to know our leadership team and to see each of you in your experience as a facilitator but there is no guaranteed work with Buena Vida. However, there are literally hundreds of opportunities at clinics and different retreats throughout the world where the training would be extremely beneficial. We will also be able, with the successful completion of the course, to recommend you to our network based on our professional observation.
Sarah McCun
Lead Facilitator
Sarah’s childhood love and curiosity about the ‘otherworldliness’ of the natural world has unfolded into an ever deepening relationship with the plant kingdom and its power to support us in myriad ways. Her work with entheogenic medicines took flight 8 years ago in the Ecuadorian Amazon and set her life on a new magical course.
She’s worked supporting Ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremonies in Ecuador where she met Amanda, and is delighted to now be working with The Buena Vida team in Mexico as a Lead Facilitator.
She’s studied yoga, sensory herbalism, philosophy, music & soundscape production, all of which she weaves into her own life and the workshops she facilitates. She is passionate about the topics of polyvagal theory, trauma, shadow, archetypes, magic and the power of metaphor and music to help us liberate neglected aspects of ourselves.
Stefan Amthor
Wellness Director
Stefan spent the past 13 years traveling the world to study under the masters, gurus, shamans and teachers of various ancient medicines.
He joined ceremonies from Asia, Europe across the blue waters up to Central and North America. He brings with him a knowledge of traditional yoga & meditation practices from India, shamanic ceremony facilitation from South America and various holistic wellness practices from all parts of the globe. His spirit is always looking for new experiences in his life to become experienced instead of borrowing it from others. He recently came out from a darkness retreat in Mexico which once more showed him the importance of the way of our heart.
For The Buena Vida, Stefan is healing masculine energy in part of this wonderful group of female leaders. He’s honored to watch as they not only help to heal individuals but the whole world and so the Universe in its entire being. As an integral part in existence, Stefans knows his place as a male during ceremony, which is to let the intuitive nature of the divine feminine unfold.
Stefan’s work is to hold space as well lead guests to find their true mind, body and soul connection. As the Wellness Director, he uses his skills as a Yoga therapist, Kundalini and Breathwork facilitator, and meditation teacher, to design a unique program for each retreat.
Amanda Schendel
Ceremony & Retreat Leader/CEO
Amanda’s goal as a Psychedelic Leader & Guide is to bring warm, loving service to humanity. She serves unique medicine not only to guests, but also facilitators in their growth and development, education and well-being. Her work includes showing people their true nature, where they’ve lost connections, and giving them the tools to continue the daily work outside of the retreat setting. As an advocate of the safe, responsible use of psychedelics, she strongly supports the use of medicine traditions surrounding their ancient healing.
Amanda plays many roles; retreat producer, leader, facilitator, joke maker and shaman-in-training. She just may provide you with a song or two during ceremony.
She is a highly intuitive guide and has trained, assisted and facilitated in over 500 psychedelic ceremonies using ayahuasca, San Pedro (Huachuma cactus), psilocybin, cannabis, tobacco, and rapé.
Amanda brings a seasoned, varied and light-hearted approach to even deep medicine work.
She spent the past 5 years studying native plant medicine and ceremonial healing with over 500 guests in Ecuador, (Gaia Sagrada), Mexico, Jamaica (MycoMeditations) and around the world. She has been producing retreats, events, parties, and community-centered happenings since 2000 in San Diego, Los Angeles, Madrid, Seattle, New York, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador.
Rosalind McAlpine, MRes, PhD (pending)
Scientific Advisor
Rosalind completed her BA in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, where she specialized in neuroscience, social psychology, and developmental questions in science and religion. She then completed her MRes in Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology at University College London, followed by a year working as a Post-Graduate Research Fellow at Yale University.
Her PhD research focusses on psychedelic mechanisms of action, as well the comparison between the use of psychedelic substances in traditional/ceremonial retreat settings and their place in Western psychiatric models.
She is currently researching effective psychedelic preparation strategies (e.g., meditation, yoga, breathwork etc) as well as investigating the importance of set and setting for personal transformation, within both clinical and retreat settings.
***EACH PRICE IS THE TOTAL PRICE INCLUDING $1,000 DEPOSIT***
Scholarships available to select students
Large Shared or Private rooms
Daily 1-on-1 access to facilitators & leaders
Chef-prepared organic menu, Vegan and Veg available
A/C, Fans, WiFi
Beautiful view of the Tepotzlan Mountains
Pool, hot tub, and Turkish steam room
*Starting at this price. Room rates may vary
Tandava is located in beautiful and sunny Tepoztlan, Mexico in the state of Morelos, we are just a 90-minute scenic ride south of Mexico City airport. The weather is extremely pleasant and we are surrounded by large, dramatic mountain scenery that lovingly cradles the lush valley.
You can relax poolside in the afternoons and soak in the hot jacuzzi in the evenings. Our property is set up to have communal space, as well as private nooks to reflect in peace. We are happy to accommodate your dietary needs, our menu is generally healthy and vegetarian, however, meat and fish can be served at your request.
Your private room will be waiting with a king-size bed, fresh towels, flowers, and greenery. WIFI is available throughout the property, complimentary laundry, and there will be staff at your service around the clock
The Buena Vida and Sol Medicine does not supply, manufacture, distribute or condone the use of any illegal substances. The goal of The Buena Vida Retreats is to facilitate access to trained shamans who work with sacred plant medicines within an accepted, sacramental and ceremonial context. The shamans personally evaluate each guests’ needs and work strictly within the laws of their training and all local and national laws where the retreats will take place. We do not guarantee any results or outcomes, specific medicine usage, etc. We DO NOT INCLUDE any specific type of medicine in the cost of the retreat. Each participant is responsible for informing themselves about possible pharmaceutical drug contraindications, including but not limited to SSRI and other stabilizing medication. They assume all responsibility for due diligence required for their participation. For more information and additional resources, email [email protected]
Retreat prices include: accommodations, meals, transportation, massage, session facilitation and integrations services. For these services you will be billed electronically by Paypal. These prices DO NOT include the cost of mushroom medicine for your retreat. Psilocybin is legal in Mexico when done in a ceremonial and sacramental context. Due to current regulations outside of Mexico, The Buena Vida does not include the cost of the mushrooms in the retreat package price. Guests will be served medicine at the discretion of the medicine man/woman at the retreat under their guidance and our collective decision. Guests will be asked to pay a service fee to the shaman, whatever they decide is fair, for the medicine and their time. Shamans will always give medicine for free if someone cannot pay. In this challenging landscape we are committed to providing our guests with the safest, most legal option in psilocybin-assisted retreats.
Please note that graduation from the Psychedelic Facilitator Training with The Buena Vida does not authorize you to lead or facilitate psychedelic journeys at any particular center or with our center.