As a retreat leader, Mygella creates immersive experiences that combine meditation, nature, and intentional meals. During her retreats she provides participants with an opportunity to pause, reset, and reconnect with themselves and their surroundings. We had a lovely moment to talk with Mygella about her work and the power of food.
Growing up, her family would blend Christianity with Afro-Surinamese Winti traditions. “I remember watching my grandfather pour libations and perform rituals for our ancestors,” she recalls. “Back then, I didn’t fully understand it, but I was fascinated. Now I see it as a way of honoring not just our past, but the land we live on and the forces around us.”Her understanding of this connection deepened during her time in Jamaica in 2020, when she began exploring spirituality on a deeper level. “Jamaica and its Rastafarian culture reminded me of Suriname in so many ways—the rhythms of life, the connection to nature, the importance of ancestry,” she explains. “It made me see that the things I grew up with weren’t just rituals—they were ways of belonging, of grounding yourself in something bigger.”
"Jamaica taught me that food is energy."
In 2020, Mygella experienced a pivotal moment in her life. While living in Jamaica during the pandemic, she began to reassess her relationship with food and spirituality. “I decided to stop eating meat,” she recalls. “Not because anyone told me to, but because I realized it was that it would allow me to reach my inner me without any interferences."
That decision led her to experiment in the kitchen, creating plant-based dishes that soon became a way of life. "I started sharing my dishes on social media, and people were intrigued. They’d message me asking for recipes, and eventually, they started asking me to cook for them."
What began as a personal journey has blossomed into a growing platform, and as a now personal chef she released 2 cookbooks and organizes retreats across Suriname and Jamaica. Good food is always central:“We think about where it comes from, how it feeds us, and what we give back.”
“I think people are craving something real. When they come to a retreat or follow me online, they’re not just looking for inspiration—they’re looking for connection. And I feel honored to create a space where that can happen.”
Her retreats have steadily gained popularity, attracting both locals and international visitors. “It’s amazing to see how people from different walks of life can come together and share something so meaningful,” she reflects. “The community we build during these retreats is often the most powerful part.”
About her retreats, Mygella says: “It’s a chance to pause and reconnect. We meditate, eat together, share stories, and spend time in the healing presence of nature. The group dynamic is so powerful. Being in a space where people feel safe to open up creates a sense of connection that stays with you.”
For Mygella, Suriname’s natural beauty is an integral part of the experience. “The rivers, the jungle, the untouched beauty—it does half the work for me. It’s the perfect environment to let go and reset.”
Although Mygella spent years away from Suriname, she always comes back. “Suriname is home. It’s where I feel most grounded and connected,” she says. “There’s so much here that people don’t realize. Suriname has everything you need to feel at home in yourself and in nature. For me personally there’s still a whole world out there in Suriname waiting to be explored.”
“It’s not about finding something to do all the time; it’s about being present and appreciating what’s already around you.”
Her retreats offer exactly that: space to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and be in nature. And judging by how radiant she looks, it seems Mygella’s energy is proof that her methods work.