7 Day Restoration, Recuperation, and Foundations Yoga Retreat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Intensive Yoga Retreat in Mexico
Inward exploration, contemplation, study and reflection in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- Daily pranayama practice
- Daily asana practice
- Guidance of expert teachers and camaraderie of fellow practitioners
- Topdeck with one of the best sunset views
- Private swimming pool onsite
- 6 nights accommodation
- 2 nourishing meals each day
- Fresh fruit, tea, and water is available throughout the day
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Yoga styles
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Dining area
- Kitchen
- Terrace
- Internet access
- Wireless internet
Casa Dulce Vida is in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, located just blocks from El Malecón, the beach, popular shopping, and restaurants. There is a private swimming pool onsite and the top deck has one of the best sunset views in town.
The Casa is a charming, rustic, and unique family-owned villa that has hosted community retreats for over 25 years. It was designed after an Italian villa, with spacious rooms, 14-foot ceilings, and tall arched windows.
It is a collection of seven separate unique suites, each with a kitchen and private entrance. Accommodations are shared. Wi-Fi is available at the Casa as well.
Program
Inward exploration, contemplation, study, and reflection
XRI, Retreats + Intensives welcomes you to join them for a fruitful practice week together. This retreat format asks you to meet yourself through sustained practice, sequenced to progressively open the body through concentrated effort and awareness.
You will have the guidance of expert teachers, the camaraderie of fellow practitioners, the nourishment of fresh, healthy meals, and the beauty of the surroundings to inspire you.
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, it's explained that yoga practice should consist of effort or action, self-study, and surrender or letting go. He goes on by saying that practice should be for long periods of time, uninterrupted, and practiced with love and respect.
As a yoga practitioner, you face starting, stopping, restarting, irregularity, and procrastination. In these practice intensives, XRI, Retreats + Intensives aims to create daily structure, high-quality Iyengar instruction, and a supportive atmosphere and community.
This style of condensed practice gives time to consolidate what has been learned in the technical study. It helps a practitioner break undesirable habits and establish positive ones. Through the process, you will face yourself. You will face challenges and you will also unearth your sensitivity and strength, your inspiration, and your appreciation through a committed journey.
With the focus being more on practicing rather than learning new techniques and collecting more points, one has the opportunity to be in a more meditative state. Being with like-minded practitioners creates a supportive atmosphere to assist in going beyond, where you will go when practicing alone.
And finally, XRI, Retreats + Intensives aims to cultivate love and respect in order to stay the course of a lifetime of practice.
This retreat is for:
- Beginner students who wish to discover yoga or those with some experience in the Iyengar method
- Practitioners seeking deep recuperation and restoration
- Those who have practiced other methods of yoga and who wish to know the Iyengar method
- Those who have stopped practicing for a while and wish to take it up again
- Practitioners with a regular home practice and can hold sirsasana for five minutes with variations and sarvangasana for up to 10 minutes with variations
Week 1: Restoration, recuperation, and foundations
- Dates: Monday, February 23 - Saturday, February 28
- Arrival: Sunday, February 22
- Monday: Practice schedule begins
- Wednesday afternoon (after pranayama) and evening: Off for rest and sightseeing
Focus
- Restorative practice - Helps counter the stresses of daily life by focusing on ease and relaxation; postures are often practiced using props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks to help students stay in postures comfortably.
- Recuperative practice - Moves the practitioner from deep relaxation through the postures that open the body to progressively energizing poses; revitalization is cultivated through sequences that remove strain and bring vibrancy.
- Foundations practice - An introduction to the Iyengar yoga principles of action and alignment; addresses mobility, stability, and strength.
- Pranayama (breathwork) - The practice of controlling or conditioning the breath. Consists of techniques designed to gain awareness of the respiratory process while recognizing the connection between the breath, the mind, and the emotions.
Sample schedule
Sunday
- 14:00 - 18:00 | Arrival and check in
- 18:15 | Dinner and welcome
Retreat days
- 07:30 - 09:30 | Openings
- 09:30 - 10:15 | Tea
- 10:15 - 11:15 | Pranayama
- 11:30 | Lunch
- 15:30 - 17:30 | Asana
- 18:15 | Dinner and kirtan
Saturday
- 09:30 | Brunch (after openings)
- 11:00 | Check out and departure
Wednesday afternoon (after pranayama) and evening will be off for rest and sightseeing. XRI, Retreats + Intensives will be happy to organize reservations or ride shares for those who would like to see the area on their afternoon / evening off on Wednesday.
Participants will be responsible for arranging their own lunch and dinner on this day. In previous years, participants have ventured to Boca, Yelapa, San Sebastian, Sayulita, and Bucerias for the afternoon.
Instructors
Sharoni Fixler
Sharoni is the founder and co-director of CIY. Beginning her third decade of practice and study, Sharoni took her first workshop with Faeq Biria in 2007. She has a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy. She completed teacher training with Margot Kitchen in 2009 and has also practiced locally with Norman Sjoman. Sharoni continues regular training with Corine and Faeq Biria and Jawahar Bangera. She has taken trips to India, to study with the Iyengars and is an Assessor-In-Training for the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada (IYAC). She holds a Level 3 Iyengar yoga teaching certification.
Ty Chandler
Ty has been studying yoga since the late 80s and brings her years of dedicated practice, precision, and devotion to her teaching. Her vibrant, warm personality and generosity along with her focus and discipline bring light to her students and her community. Ty resides in Victoria where she studies, teaches, and also serves on the PD and Teacher Training committee at the Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria. She is a long-time student of Shirley Daventry French and continues her training by making trips to Pune to study with the Iyengars and to France to study with Corine and Faèq Biria.
Retreat location
The retreat will be held in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast in Jalisco state. It is known for its beaches, watersports, art, culture, and tourism scene. Its cobblestone center is home to boutique shops, art galleries, and a range of restaurants. Puerto Vallarta is also easy to get to, with most Canadian and American airlines flying directly.
There is a beautiful garden and a great lunch spot at Vallarta Botanical Gardens. Puerto Vallarta has a number of interesting shopping places, market choices, and dining options. There is also a recommended massage studio nearby that participants have enjoyed on the day off.
Unique features
Activities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
General
- Dining area
- Kitchen
- Terrace
Services
- Internet access
- Wireless internet
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
XRI, Retreats + Intensives serves two nourishing meals each day, lunch and dinner (fresh and vegetarian) to sustain practice. Participants will be responsible for arranging their own lunch and dinner on Wednesday after the morning practices. Dinner will be served on the arrival day and brunch will be served on the departure day after the opening practice.
Fresh, washed fruit will be available throughout the day, along with self-serve tea and water. All fruit, vegetables, and food will be washed / cooked with filtered water and microdyne.
XRI, Retreats + Intensives is able to provide options for all dietary restrictions. Please advise them in the registration form if you have any restrictions / sensitivities.
Karma duties are asked of each participant and include meal set up / take down.
The following meals are included:
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
Participants have also enjoyed the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, which has beautiful grounds to explore and a restaurant serving up delicious options for lunch. Puerto Vallarta has a number of interesting shopping places, market choices, and dining options. There is also a recommended massage studio nearby that participants have enjoyed on their day off.
Laundry can be taken to a trusted contact - a 10-minute walk from the Casa.
What's included
- All classes as mentioned in the program
- Daily pranayama and asana practice
- Bolsters, chairs, straps, foam chip blocks, wood bricks, and extra blankets
- Private swimming pool onsite
- 6 nights accommodation
- 2 nourishing meals each day (lunch and dinner)
- Brunch on departure day
- Fresh fruit, tea, and water is available throughout the day
What's not included
- Flights
- Transfers
- Tip for the Casa staff - Group gratuity of approximately 950 MXN (55 USD) per person
- Tip for the chef - Welcome and left to your discretion
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport
8 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by plane
February / March is part of the high season in Mexico. WestJet and Air Canada fly directly from several Canadian cities to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Air Transat has charter flights. Seat sales do come up every so often.
After clearing customs at the Puerto Vallarta airport, look for the airport cab / transportation kiosk in the terminal just before exiting. Use a taxi to get to the venue. Please follow further instructions below.
Arrival by taxi
Use official taxis only. Do not go with anyone saying they can give you a free ride. Purchase a one-way fare per person to the address below. Please show the address to the cab driver, as much can be lost in mispronunciation.
The fare will be approximately 30 to 35 USD. You will be provided with a Mexican tourist document upon arrival. Please keep a copy and store it in a safe place as you will be asked to provide it to Mexican customs when you depart.
- Casa Dulce Vida, Calle Aldama #295, El Centro
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.