The River Yoga Wellness Retreat at Xinalani

Talk about a once in a lifetime experience!

I signed up for this Xinalani retreat on a whim with my friend Sam about 8 months before, and it was seriously the best thing I have ever done on a whim haha.

The yoga studio that I went with, The River Yoga, was my practicing studio, even though at the time, I was teaching at a different studio. The River Yoga is an amazing, Denver local, yoga studio and every class I’ve taken there leaves me feeling like the best version of myself.

After signing up and paying for the retreat - I found out I was pregnant and would be justtt in my second trimester when I attended. I’m not gonna lie, this brought on a lot of stress and pressure for me!

I wanted my first yoga retreat to be about pushing myself in my practice and leaving with answers to the questions I had regarding my career - this was my intention going in. But what I found was so so much better. Through the week at Xinalani I found peace and even love in my new, growing body. I found that the answers I needed were already inside of me and that peace was only a breath or two away.

Ok let’s backtrack a little so I can share the details of this experience with you! After packing a week’s worth of leggies and bsuits, I arrived in Mexico. The moment I got there (until the moment I left) I prayed that I wouldn’t get any bug bites. My doctor cleared me to go and said that Zika wasn’t an issue where I was going but I thought the extra bug spray and prayers wouldn’t hurt! haha!

After a short flight into Puerto Vallarta and a boat ride to our remote location at Xinalani we were greeted with fresh juice and amazing views of both the jungle and the beach.

The retreat is on the side of the jungle and has a ton of stairs to get your room and the yoga studios but I was excited for my buns and thighs to get a nice lift! Our room was a three walled room with a beach view and the smell of saltwater waifed in with the breeze. It was pure luxury for a snow bunny Denverite!

Every morning and every evening we had a 75 minute yoga practice and as a yoga teacher, to have the privilege to be a student for a week, was unreal. Not only had I not been on my mat for almost a month but the two months before I was just struggling to not toss my cookies while I taught my own classes!

Our teachers and leaders for the retreat, Danielle and Jennifer, gave me lots of adjustments and helped transition my practice to that of a more mindful pregnant yogi. I can’t thank them enough for the care and attention they gave me. I learned so much about my body and how truly spectacular this carrying a child is as a yogi.

Sam and I brought a ton of books to the retreat and after our vegetarian prepared lunch, we always headed to the beach chairs. I powered through two and a half books while I was there and felt inspired to add a book list to my Instagram highlights!

The mornings were filled with invigorating practices and fresh meals, while the afternoons were full of relaxing and exploring the beach. After our evening practices we would meet up again as a group, at our long, oceanside table and get to know each other more. Xinalani made us food that, not be cheesy, nourished the soul and tasted so fresh! Dinner was followed by a fun activity like bonfires or salsa dancing!

Having this time at Xinalani with The River, was the perfect first time yoga retreat experience! I went in with expectations that were superseded. The only downside of the week was the bugs; and when I say bugs, I mean, I saw probably every genus of insect, amphibian and mammal on earth. Sam and I met a few of these in our room at night, encountered some on our night walk home, and even got to say hey to some as they bit our legs on the beach. Eh, what can ya do?!

I am happy and shocked to report that my bug spray and prayers worked and I got NO bug bites. Not one. Praise be! Others, were not so lucky but maybe the bugs could sense I was pregnant and were like, nah, she’s not worth it. haha The jury is still out.

All of that to say, if you have the opportunity to take a trip to either Xinalani Retreats or The River Yoga - take it. Taking the time for yourself to just let go and be present is invaluable and precious.