Who We Are and Why We Walk

Red Monkey was started in 2014, after Rachael Sanborn took a life changing trip on the Camino de Santiago. She found that, especially in the digital age, walking was the only thing that effectively “turned off the mind." The ancient technique of pilgrimage seamlessly weaves deep meditation, without ignoring the body or earth.

The name “Red Monkey” references Hanuman, the Hindu god of joyful service. Red Monkey is devoted to facilitating trips that promote finding profound insight while having as much fun as possible.

A smiling woman wearing a hiking backpack on a narrow dirt path surrounded by foliage.

Rachael Corinne Sanborn

Rachael has been deeply engaged in hiking and pilgrimage as a spiritual practice for over 20 years. She has been cultivating a meditation practice for the same duration. Her passion for cultures has led her to live all over the world, but she regards Spain as a second home. Rachael was raised Tibetan Buddhist and "rebelled" by dropping out of college to meditate in India for a year. Since then, a great part of her life has been dedicated to balancing Eastern and Western meditation practices. Walking the Camino helps her do just that.

Rachael is a lay historian, art aficionado, and skilled facilitator. She is a certified yoga instructor, teacher of Bharata Natyam, and has walked over 1,500 miles on the Camino de Santiago.

When not leading pilgrimages, Rachael uses her MBA training to work as a consultant, helping small and mid-sized companies develop sustainable business plans. Her heart mission is to help people celebrate life while caring for the Earth.

A selfie image of a woman wearing a fisherman's hat with a dirt trail and green fields behind her.

Beth Erlander

Beth is a body-centered psychotherapist and “grief geek” whose passion is using the creative arts to help others through life transitions of all kinds. Beth decided to walk the Camino in 2015 with the intention to literally walk for her partner, who had had a paralyzing bicycle injury that radically altered their lives. She wanted to walk with her grief in order to transform it.

The result was a palpable sense of renewal and inner and outer strength. “I came away with so much joy and appreciation for life,” Beth says. “I was so grateful for the process that I am now hooked on walking the Camino. I am very excited to be co-facilitating this walking prayer for those living through life transitions."

Visit Beth's website.