It’s time to exhale.

The Exhale Collective is a space for women who are craving something real. Real rest, real adventure, and the kind of travel that actually changes you.

We go somewhere worth going, slow all the way down, and immerse ourselves in new places, cultures, food, and people. Along the way you learn about the world, about each other, and about yourself.

Every experience is designed and led by Amy Johnston, in small groups, in beautiful places, with people who get it. We move slowly and leave room for the kind of connection that doesn't happen at home. You come back different. In a good way.

What happens on The Exhale…

A rustic wooden porch with chairs and a vine-covered wall, overlooking a grassy area and a white building with black accents.

Disconnect

Put the phone down. Let the to-do list wait. This is the part where you actually stop, get quiet, and hear yourself think for the first time in a while.

Group of women walking down a colorful street with pastel buildings and a blue sky.

Immerse

Wander without a plan. Eat everything. Talk to strangers. This isn't sightseeing. It's belonging somewhere for a little while.

Lavender field at sunset with purple flowers, trees in the background, and the sun shining through the branches.

Replenish

This is the part where you remember yourself. Who you actually are underneath all of it. The laughter comes back. The lightness comes back. You leave fuller than you arrived.

Three women and one girl are leaning forward, engaging in an outdoor activity with smiles and joy.

The Exhale: Seen. Known. Loved.

Two women with reddish hair lying on grass outdoors, smiling and looking at each other, one with closed eyes and the other looking up.

October 17, 2026

A half-day retreat for moms & daughters.

Wildlight Yoga. Chicago, IL

This retreat is a rare chance for moms and daughters (ages 11–16) to step out of the rush of daily life and into something slower and more intentional. To really see each other. To say the things that usually get lost in the in-between.

The Details
An aerial view of a residential area surrounded by lush green trees, showing several rooftops and a swimming pool among the vegetation.

Wise Women: Nosara, Costa Rica

A coastal landscape with a large palm tree in the foreground, green bushes and trees, a sandy beach, and the ocean with a cloudy sky at sunset or dusk.

April 24-May 1, 2027

Yoga. Surf. Salt. Sea.

Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort

You’ve been craving this. A chance to slow down, soften your shoulders, and remember how good it feels to be in your body. Sunshine. Movement. Nature. Connection. A place to reset, reconnect, and feel fully alive alongside like-hearted women.

Inhale. Exhale.

The Details
Ancient stone ruins of a castle with multiple walls and towers, some with windows and barred openings. A person is walking up the steps leading into the ruins, and there is a well-maintained green lawn in the foreground under a partly cloudy blue sky.

The Exhale: Ireland Edition

The exterior of a stone building with a red door and a red sign that reads "ARD BIA AT NIMMOS" featuring a drawing of a pig and a stylized barn. There is a white gate in front of the entrance and several circular plaques on the wall, indicating awards or recognition. The sidewalk and pavement are visible at the bottom of the image.

September 4-10, 2027

Galway. Connemara. Boyne Valley.

You’ve been dreaming of this. From the vibrant streets of Galway City to the rugged beauty of Connemara and the tranquil valleys of County Meath, this trip is packed with unforgettable experiences. Farm to table. Music and arts. Connecting with nature.

Inhale. Exhale.

The Details

Traveler Reviews

  • "Cuba was amazing. Exceeded all expectations, the people, the food, the atmosphere. Trip of a life time!"

    On Cuba

  • "The views!! it was so peacful and calming, the rooms we're spacious and serene."

    On Finca Villaverde

  • "10/10 Would Recommend!!!"

    On traveling with Amy

  • -On Finca Villaverde "The decor, the hosts, the staff, it was outstanding. We each had our uniquely designed room and the overall aesthetic of the house was like walking into a designer mansion. The staff went above and beyond, we we're never in need of anything."

    On Elvira Mi Amor

  • "Did I feel safe? 100%. I had massive anxiety about going to Cuba, but the Cuban people are so helpful and kind. We were a group of women and I never once felt worried or uneasy."

    On safety in Cuba

  • "Cuba is absolutely stunning. The architecture, the places we stayed in, we couldn't have asked for better people, better views, better amenities!"

    On Cuba

  • "Very well organized. As always, Amy researches everything and never disappoints. Accommodations were gorgeous and fantastic."

    On traveling with Amy

  • "I love traveling with Amy. Everything is easy and taken care of and I just show up."

    On traveling with Amy

  • "Such a beautiful building with the most picture perfect rooms. Couldn’t have stayed in a better place anywhere. The rooftop area alone was worth it. And the food was delicious."

    On Elvira Mi Amor

Meet Amy

Amy Johnston is a mom, a 40-something, a social worker, and a survivor of burnout. She lives in Chicago with her husband and their two kids. She believes that travel can cure almost anything.

Over the past 20 years she has traveled extensively, but the trips she’s taken with the women in her life have been by far the most nourishing and the most transformative. Parenting, caregiving, building a career and sustaining a marriage is gorgeous, messy, sometimes exhausting work. Amy has found travel with brilliant, funny, wholehearted women to be the secret to resetting and reclaiming herself.

Amy is delighted to share her love of (organized) adventure with women who are ready to step out of the “busy” and allow space for connection, gratitude and joy. Let’s go.

Learn more
A woman taking a selfie outdoors on a city sidewalk, with storefronts, a sign advertising massage, trees, and people in the background.

Contact Us

Do you need some space to exhale? Tell us about yourself and we will be in touch shortly.

We can’t wait to hear from you!