Delaite Kassaye — Founder of Mantra Homestay/ Mental health Advocate | Sound Healing Practitioner | Registered Yoga Teacher | Reiki Master I was born and raised in Ethiopia and moved to the U.S. as a teen, finishing high school and college in Virginia. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Services and studied Applied Behavior Analysis at George Mason University. For several years, I ran a school for children with autism, where I trained doctors, educators, and families on how to support children both behaviorally and psychologically. That chapter of my life has shaped how I create safe spaces: with care, clarity, and compassion. But before I could create spaces for healing, I had to face my own. The pain began long before my mother’s passing—but the healing started with her death. Losing her shattered me, and I knew I couldn’t stay where I was. I chose to travel—not just to escape, but to survive. In that movement, I found peace, and tools like yoga and sound healing that helped me come closer to home within myself. Along this mental health path, I became a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, a certified Reiki Master/Teacher, and a trained sound healing practitioner. .

The neighborhood surrounding Mantra Homestay offers travelers a rare opportunity to experience Bacalar in an authentic, unhurried, and deeply connected way. Located within the town of Bacalar, this area blends residential calm with easy access to the lagoon, local culture, and everyday life, making it ideal for guests who want more than just a place to sleep — they want to feel where they are. Bacalar is internationally known for its breathtaking Lagoon of Seven Colors, a vast freshwater lagoon famous for its shifting shades of turquoise, blue, and jade. Yet beyond the lagoon’s beauty, Bacalar retains the soul of a small Mexican town, and the neighborhood around Mantra Homestay reflects that spirit perfectly. Life here moves at a slower pace, guided by sunlight, warm breezes, and a strong connection to nature.