MORE HOSTS
Burcu Yilmaz
Cappadocia, Türkiye
Sound Baths & Inner Awareness Practitioner
Burcu’s lifelong curiosity about human nature and life has led her to explore psychology, philosophy, human behavior, different schools of thought, meditation, and sound.
With over 20 years of professional experience across diverse sectors, spanning management, communication, and experience design, her journey gradually led her toward a deeper exploration of how we relate to our inner worlds.
In 2020, she began practicing the Jean Adrienne Clearing Method and offering individual consultations. As she deepened her work with meditation and sound, these different strands of experience came together in the approach she practices today in Cappadocia, through individual sessions, group gatherings, and retreat experiences.
At the heart of Burcu’s work are centering, remembering, listening to one’s inner voice, and embracing one’s essence as it is.
Set within the distinctive silence and mystical atmosphere of Cappadocia, each gathering is an invitation to soften the noise of the outside world, turn inward, and listen.
Emel Efe Göksel
Türkiye
ChiGong Practitioner
Emel Efe Göksel is the creator of Urban ChiGong, a contemporary practice inspired by the ancient wisdom of ChiGong and designed for the modern world.
With a background in international law and business, Emel brings a unique blend of analytical thinking, intuitive awareness, and holistic practice to her work.
Her methodology weaves breath, gentle movement, energy, and mindfulness with influences from Reiki, Prana Therapy, the Five Elements, Aromatherapy, and Sufi traditions.
Emel’s philosophy is beautifully simple: we do not have to escape our lives to find peace—we can learn to create it within them.
Through Urban ChiGong, she invites participants to slow down, reconnect with their bodies, quiet the mind, and return to their inner center.
Wherever you can breathe, you can find peace.
Sinem Mengi
Türkiye
Yoga Practitioner
Sinem Mengi is devoted to yoga as a path of transformation. Her practice began at Cihangir Yoga in Istanbul and has grown through years of study with internationally respected teachers.
Her training encompasses Hatha and Bhakti Yoga, philosophy, anatomy, meditation, and women-centered approaches to the practice. Her studies have taken her to India, Nepal, and Thailand, where she immersed herself in Bhakti traditions in Northern India, Buddhist teachings at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, and women-centered yoga training in Koh Phangan.
For Sinem, yoga is an invitation to come home to yourself. Her teaching encourages a deeper connection to the body, greater awareness of the present moment, and space to listen to what lies beneath the noise of everyday life. She creates an inclusive and nurturing environment where each person can explore the practice in their own way—whether through movement, meditation, breath, or stillness.
Sinem is an E-RYT 500 and YACEP registered with Yoga Alliance. She also leads her own Yoga Alliance-registered 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, combining online learning with a 108-hour immersive retreat in India.
Nancy Samuel
Reiki Master | Shaman
Nancy has studied and practiced natural indigenous forms of healing for 30 years. As a certified Reiki Master, her healing methods incorporate crystals and metaphysical knowledge rooted in traditional Afro-Caribbean diasporic spiritual practices.
Nancy works with the earth and nature elements to bring about daily transformative healing on the spiritual, physical, and emotional planes, understanding that true healing encompasses all aspects of the human experience in the restorative process.
Nancy’s certified healing modalities include Reiki Healing, Integrative Healing, Crystal Therapy, Customized Crystal Orgonite Wearable Art, Metaphysical Spiritual Healing, Life Coaching, and Earth Connection and Healing.
Alzerina Gomes
Cape Verde
In-Country Ambassador
Alzerina, a renowned jewelry and clothing designer known for her work with Swarovski Crystals, is excited to serve as the in-country host for the Escape to Cape Verde Retreat.
Born in Portalzinho Garca on Santo Antão, Cape Verde, she discovered her passion for creating beauty at a young age, learning sewing from her mother. After moving to Paris and later New York, she launched Alzerina Jewelry in 2005, with her designs gracing celebrities, fashion magazines, and even Times Square.
Recognized internationally for her entrepreneurship, Alzerina has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Somos Cabo Verde Diaspora Award and the Merit Award from Cape Verde’s president. She continues to empower women and preserve Cape Verdean culture through her work and advocacy.
Jyll Hubbard-Salk
Cape Verde
Healing Movement Instructor
Jyll Hubbard-Salk, founder of Urban Asanas in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has been a yoga instructor for nearly 30 years, fostering diversity and inclusion in the wellness community. Her studio offers a range of yoga styles and wellness modalities, creating a safe and empowering space for individuals of all backgrounds to explore self-care and personal growth.
Guided by her motto, "Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready," Jyll inspires others to embrace their journeys of self-improvement. A certified Thai Yoga and Reiki practitioner, doula, and experienced retreat leader, Jyll has shared her transformative energy worldwide, from Jamaica to Ghana.
Jyll was a guest favorite at the 2025 Cape Verde Women's retreat and is excited to return in 2026, continuing to uplift and empower Black women.
Ngone Mbaye
Senegal
In-Country Ambassador
Ngone Mbaye is a certified yoga teacher and founder of Greene Moments Studio in Brooklyn, NY.
Originally from Senegal, she offers grounding, heart-centered yoga rooted in self-discovery, healing, and joy. With over a decade of experience particularly in creating safe, empowering spaces for women.
Ngone brings a nurturing and culturally rooted approach to every class. She loves supporting wellness retreats across Africa and beyond, offering movement as a bridge to deeper connection and collective care.
MEET YOUR HOSTS
Arlene Stewart
Owner
Arlene Stewart, Founder of Cocosine Wellness Retreats, is a culinary powerhouse with over 20 years of experience working alongside renowned chefs like Marcus Samuelsson and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Originally from Trinidad, her cooking reflects the vibrant flavors of her heritage, inspired by childhood memories of cooking with her grandmother.
As a personal chef to celebrities like Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, and Denzel Washington, and a culinary curator for high-profile clients including former President Bill Clinton, Arlene combines her belief in the healing power of food with a passion for wellness.
In 2016, she began hosting retreats blending culinary artistry, wellness, and community, culminating in the women-only Cocosine Wellness Retreats.
Abdullah Acikgoz
Türkiye
In-Country Ambassador
Managing Partner | Türkiye Travel & Cultural Experiences
I was born in Ürgüp, Cappadocia, and from an early age, Türkiye became not simply the place I called home, but a world I wanted to share with others.
My journey in tourism began while I was still in high school. I was drawn to the energy of meeting people from different cultures and introducing them to the beauty, history, and hospitality of my country. After graduating from university with a degree in Business Management, I made tourism my full-time profession—and it has been my passion ever since.
Today, I serve as a Managing Partner of a travel company specializing in tailor-made journeys throughout Türkiye. My work is centered on creating experiences that are personal, thoughtful, and authentic—journeys that allow travelers to experience Türkiye beyond the expected.
Being from Cappadocia has given me a particularly intimate connection to this extraordinary region. I know its landscapes, its stories, its traditions, and many of the special places that are not always found in a guidebook. I enjoy opening those doors for my guests and introducing them to the Türkiye that I know and love.
I believe the most meaningful journeys are those that create a genuine sense of connection—to a place, to its people, to its culture, and ultimately to ourselves.
It is a privilege to welcome travelers to Türkiye and to create experiences that they will remember long after their journey has ended.
Welcome to Türkiye. I look forward to sharing my country with you.
Özkan Güleç
Türkiye
In-Country Ambassador
I was born in Ürgüp, Cappadocia, and I have had the privilege of growing up surrounded by the beauty, history, and culture of this extraordinary region.
Tourism has been a part of my life from an early age. In 1995, I became a professionally licensed guide, beginning a career that has allowed me to share Türkiye with travelers from around the world for more than three decades.
Throughout my career, I have focused primarily on private, personalized journeys, creating meaningful experiences that allow my guests to discover Türkiye at their own pace and in a more intimate way. Many of my guests have traveled from the United States, and over the years, I have developed a special connection with American travelers and their families.
I also travel to the United States several times a year, which has given me an even greater appreciation for the relationships and cultural connections that travel can create between Türkiye and America.
For me, being a guide is about much more than sharing historical facts. It is about telling the stories behind the places, introducing people to the culture and traditions, and creating moments of connection that make a journey truly memorable.
After so many years in this profession, I remain grateful for every opportunity to welcome guests to Türkiye and to share the country I am proud to call home.
I look forward to welcoming you and sharing Türkiye through my eyes.