Writer, facilitator, and vagabondess in motion

With years of movement, travel, and facilitation work behind me, I help people reconnect with their bodies, voices, and agency—through story, somatics, and practical tools for everyday life.

Toby Israel facilitating a group workshop in Costa Rica.
Toby Israel and a partner in conscious dance.
Healing circle during an empowerment self-defense workshop.
Partner dance at a connection workshop.
Circle breathing exercise on the beach.
Participants greeting the sunset on the beach.

I have spent much of my adult life wandering through inner and outer landscapes. Today, I am rooted between Costa Rica and Europe, but home isn’t a place; it is my body and the way it moves through the world.

If you ask me what I do for work, I will tell you I wear a lot of hats. I’m a writer, editor, brand consultant, facilitator, movement artist, and holistic self-defense instructor.

But if you ask me who I am, I will tell you I am just a girl pretending to be a wolf—or a wolf dressed as a girl, or a queen, or a nomad, or a dancer, or a serious professional, or speck of cosmic dust, depending on the day.

I believe to my bones that stories and movement are powerful medicines. That the unknown is a superb teacher.

I love to share what I love, in the service of growth, joy, and discovery. Whether I’m leading retreats, helping someone find the right words, or disappearing down the next half-hidden path, I am always on the trail of deeper connection: to self, to the other, and to the wild, terribly beautiful world that always offers something new to learn.

Where the work lives

Writing, retreats, facilitation, consulting, and the daily feed—pick a door.

Toby Israel garden portrait — Instagram directory card

Follow along

Movement, travel, and life behind the scenes—updated on the feed.

Writer desk and notebook — Substack directory card (Unsplash photo by Jess Bailey)

Read on Substack

Essays and travel writing from the road—subscribe for new posts.

Toby Israel speaking to a group about marketing for mission-driven brands

Brand & editorial

Content strategy, narrative positioning, and conversion copy for mission-aligned founders.

Beach twilight gathering on retreat.

Yoga & nature

Immersive retreats in Costa Rica—embodiment, empowerment, and reconnection.

Toby Israel facilitating a group workshop in Costa Rica.

Workshops & ESD

Trauma-aware facilitation—empowerment self-defense, somatics, and conscious communication.

Vagabondess book cover

Vagabondess

A guide to solo female travel—and the stories that shaped it.

Say hello

Questions, collaborations, or a simple “I loved that essay”—real messages welcome. I read everything that isn’t spam.