Left : Organic vegetarian food is prepared for guests in the on-site kitchen . Right : The retreat ’ s peaceful setting allows for rest and relaxation .
for a touch of tradition while vibrant lights — typically , red in the morning and blue in the evening — add to the ambiance . Plus , Geo and Katresha lead most of the classes themselves .
Aside from the yoga space , the property ’ s saltwater pool doubles as a whirlpool spa and there are two saunas : a traditional space with healing green light that heats from the outside in , and an infrared option that warms you from the inside out . Four rooms are reserved for the daily massages , and Katresha also launched an organic product line called Katresha Pure Skin Care that is available in her office for guests to use throughout their stay .
When it comes to the accommodations , each guest room is unique , with some containing large beds , ideal for couples or male guests , while others are quaint spaces for solo travelers . One offers two beds for siblings , mothers and daughters , college roommates or close friends to stay together , and nearly every space has its own bathroom . A few also have wooden decks , where you can unwind and immerse yourself in the towering pine trees that surround The Pearl . Katresha also makes sure that each room is filled with fresh flowers when guests arrive for the week . “ And all are named after beaches in Laguna ,” Geo adds .
BUILDING BETTER HABITS Everyone that comes to The Pearl is seeking something , whether it ’ s to lose weight , improve mental health or simply build healthier habits that can be carried over into their everyday lives . “ We get amazing results ,” Geo notes . “ And it ’ s just about living naturally , you know ?”
He says that the most anyone has lost during the retreat is 32 pounds over the course of two weeks , though men usually lose between 7 and 12 while women typically lose 5 to 7 . While there are more females visiting The Pearl , the geographic locations from which they come vary drastically , with visitors hailing from Newport Beach , Chicago , New York , Australia , England , Saudi Arabia and beyond .
Each dish served is made entirely with organic ingredients , delivered to the onsite kitchen where the meals are prepared . Katresha herself developed the recipes and also decorates the tables so that each meal has a different design and vibe . “ Because the eyes , as you know , are the windows to our soul ,” Katresha says , “ and when people make a change with everything that goes inside [ the body ], the beauty is very important .” Those staying at the property eat as a group , cultivating a sense of connection as well . “ We like everybody to eat together , [ because ] they get to know each other and they become a group ,” Geo says . “ It ’ s really nice . Sometimes we have groups that come back … together again .”
Because The Pearl is located right across
the street from the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park , hiking is easy as can be . Large vans escort visitors to the day ’ s hike , with the particular spot changing daily , and guests are able to choose whether to opt for the harder trails or select an easier option , depending on their comfort and abilities .
“ It ’ s so good for the spirit to be in the wilderness ,” Geo says . “ We ’ re so overcivilized . We ’ re always on flat surfaces , but the feet aren ’ t designed to be , … so walking out in the hills is … really , really good for you .”
Rest and recovery is also crucial to the success of the program , as it allows visitors to decompress , unwind from the stressors of daily life and settle into a more natural way of living . “ There ’ s no rest , it ’ s just push , push , push ; go , go , go ,” he explains of our modern daily lives . “ But you have to rebuild . You have to recover . Take rest out and it doesn ’ t work . … It ’ s the same way that , without positive thoughts , there ’ s just too much negative out there . So positive energy and positive , loving thoughts are very powerful .”
While Geo , Katresha and their staff spend a lot of time and energy ensuring that everything at The Pearl is in line , he says that what they are really doing is just helping people rediscover what they already know they need . “ We ’ re human beings , … and we need rhythm ,” he explains . “ We need to get up at the same time every day and we need to
48 LAGUNABEACHMAGAZINE . COM