The People Behind Iluminado Tours
TRUDY WOODCOCK
When Trudy came to the Yucatan in 1978 she remembers sitting on the top of the pyramid at Chichen Itza and suddenly knowing there was something important for her here. In 1992 when she first visited Mérida she knew this city would be her home. Like many of you, she was doing her personal work, following her spiritual path, and saying “yes” more often than “no” to the many opportunities and challenges that came her way. As you know, there is a point along this path where you have to keep moving forward, there is no going back. In October, 2001 she left her life in Vancouver, Canada, and moved here to Mérida.
Trudy created Iluminado Tours in order to introduce others to the magic and excitement she found in the Yucatan. During this time she continued to learn about the Maya from books, teachers, and more importantly from her personal experiences at the sacred sites themselves. Then she met her teacher Miguel Angel Vergara and started to understand where this journey was heading. All the little “yeses” were adding up to the big “yes” that meant defining, accepting, and following her life’s purpose.
Part of that purpose is to act as a bridge between the vast knowledge of the ancient Maya and today’s spiritual seeker. At Iluminado Tours she creates programs that lead people to their own special experiences at the sacred sites of the Maya. To complement these spiritual journeys, she has joined forces with Miguel Angel Vergara and Erik Solis Puga to open the Maya Cosmic University here in Mérida. This school is a place for people to study specific aspects of the sacred Maya world in depth. Commenting on this phase of her life, Trudy says, “I am really excited about this school. There was nothing like this in Mérida when I first arrived in 1992. I couldn’t even have imagined it then. I am now looking forward to whatever is coming next. I can’t imagine what it could be.”
MIGUEL ANGEL VERGARA
Miguel Angel Vergara Calleros is a Mayan Cultural Teacher and leading authority on Chichen Itza and the pyramid of K'u-Kuul-Kaan. He is the author of several books on the Maya including two on Chichen Itza. He was Coordinator of Cultural Services for the Yucatan state government and the director of Chichen Itza for four (4) years.
He studied for 17 years with Mayan elder, Don Vincente Martin, who was a wisdom keeper, professional teacher and artist. Miguel Angel became a master in his own right, known as Master Nazul, and teaches seminars in Mexico and abroad on Mayan astronomy, philosophy, calendar, glyphs and symbols, medicine, cosmovision, traditions and prayers, ceremonies and healing. Miguel Angel teaches us how to connect with the masters of light who are available to teach and guide us now, as in ancient times. He conducts tours to the Mayan sacred sites so that we can experience first-hand the powerful activating energies of those areas. His knowledge and experience make the journeys come alive as we begin to understand how the messages were imprinted, what the glyphs mean, how the buildings were used and how the ceremonies were conducted.
Miguel Angel teaches in a heart-centered style that connects rapidly and profoundly with his audience. Those who experience him realize they are in the presence of a master and are being given an extraordinary gift.
ERIK SOLIS PUGA
Erik Solis Puga was born in Yucatán and is proud of his Maya roots which come through his maternal grandmother’s family, Balam, in the town of Ake. Erik was born in Progreso and grew up learning much from nature as well as from his family. He went to university in Mérida where he received his degree in Tourism and continued his education by working with many Maya teachers, elders, healers, and Maya Xmen and Hmen (Shamans).
Erik generously shares all he learns and strongly believes in teaching by example. He is a Mayan Walker, traveling on his path, sharing his personal experiences and vast knowledge while continuing to learn and grow as he helps guide people to find their individual paths to freedom, peace and happiness. He has traveled to Europe and the United States by invitation to teach at various Maya seminars and workshops. Erik’s generous, caring and gentle way of teaching allows him to connect easily with people.
In 2005 Erik created his travel agency, Mayan Connection, which offers authentic Mayan journeys to groups and individuals searching for more than the usual tourist experience. He currently works with Iluminado Tours organizing the Maya Sacred Tours and is a founding partner with Miguel Angel Vergara and Trudy Woodcock in the Maya Cosmic University in Mérida, Yucatán.
KATHRYN MCCUSKER
Eight years ago in Yucatán, Mexico, Kathryn McCusker discovered Kundalini Yoga. She is a certified teacher of Kundalini Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga and Children’s Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Kathryn trained with Guru Dharam Singh at the School of Kundalini Yoga (SKY) in the UK and with Karta Singh at the Amrit Nam Sarovar School in France.
Kathryn passionately shares this transformational practice, teaching throughout London and offering yoga workshops and retreats worldwide. Chanting with Kathryn takes on another dimension as she was principal soprano with Opera Australia for 7 years. Her career as a professional singer and teacher informs her approach to mantras, which are integral to Kundalini. Kathryn performs at Yoga festivals throughout Europe and travels widely in India, Tibet and Mexico.
LEONIDE MARTIN
Leonide (Lennie) Martin is a Priestess of Isis, Maya Solar Initiate, teacher and author. Emeritus Professor in the California State University System, she published and lectured extensively during her academic career. Her spiritual studies include mystical Christianity, eastern traditions, Egyptian mysteries and Maya cosmovision. Captivated by this great culture, she has studied with elders and performed shamanic rituals, while doing archaeological research. Her novel, Dreaming the Maya Fifth Sun: A Novel of Maya Wisdom and the 2012 Shift in Consciousness (Infinity Publishing, 2006) brings the ancient Maya world vividly to life and reveals their teachings and guidance about the end of the Great Cycle in 2012. Lennie lives in Mérida, Yucatan, México, where she continúes writing about the Maya, and conducts spiritually focused tours.
JULIA KALMON
Julia is a native of Oklahoma and spent many years in Arkansas where she raised her son, worked as a school nurse for eleven years, and as a volunteer first responder/fire fighter for nine. She returned to school as an adult and earned her BS Ed and was working in New York as a teacher when she decided to move to the Yucatan.
Julia first came to the Yucatan in 1997 as a tourist. After two days in the city of Merida she realized she had finally found her home. Not knowing any Spanish when she arrived she is now fluent and has started learning Maya. Julia is an avid baseball fan supporting the local Merida team, Los Leones, and has written a book about the subject. Her passion is learning about the wildlife, trees and plants of the Yucatan, and she is always happy to pass her knowledge on to her guests.
