One of the most intense experiences offered at The Vessyl is somatic breathwork. Facilitated by Dylan Baird and Ashley Marie, the session involves a quickened rhythm of "connected breathing"—three seconds in, three seconds out—for an extended period. Dr. Diva Nagula, the resort’s chief medical officer, explains the science behind the practice: "During active, connected breathing, carbon dioxide falls, temporarily raising blood pH and reducing cerebral blood flow. This activates the sympathetic nervous system, producing tingling, buzzing, and involuntary contractions that many experience as energy moving through the body."
For the author, who described herself as someone who rarely cries or loses control of her emotions, the breathwork led to an unexpected breakthrough. The physiological shift, combined with the Dome’s immersive soundscapes, resulted in a state of total relaxation and a release of tears that were not tied to a specific thought, but rather to a sense of "total nothingness."
The retreat also emphasizes the importance of grounding these tech-driven insights in the physical world. A visit to a nearby stable, led by horse whisperer Enrique Molina, provided a different kind of emotional mirror. Molina uses the temperaments of his Criollo horses to reflect the internal states of the riders, teaching that a horse’s reaction is based entirely on the energy presented to it in the moment.
It was during this portion of the trip, away from the transducers and the AI-generated scripts, that the author found a final, poignant connection to her life back home. After a ride through the jungle, she encountered a Doberman puppy whose playful invitation for a game of chase mirrored the early days of her life with Cooper. The moment served as a reminder that while technology can provide a roadmap or a "nervous system reset," the most profound moments of healing often occur in the simple, unscripted interactions with the world around us.
As the clouds finally dispersed to reveal the full majesty of the Arenal Volcano on the final day, the lesson of The Vessyl became clear. Whether through 4D sound or a ride through the rainforest, the goal of such a retreat is not to "fix" the person, but to create the conditions where they can finally stop intellectualizing their grief and start feeling it. In the transition from one decade of life to the next, the most valuable technology may simply be the one that allows us to be more human.
