Why You Need A Yoga and Meditation Retreat in Baja, Mexico
I have been hosting retreats for the past five years. Until now, each one has been hosted at my beautiful oceanfront Salt Spring Island property. While I love Salt Spring, I have yearned to live in Mexico—or at least spend the winters—for decades. Hosting a yoga and meditation retreat there, too, was a distant dream. It became a possibility when one retreat participant at a previous retreat asked if I would consider hosting a destination retreat. No need to ask me twice!
In December 2022, I packed my bags, drove with my friends down the Pacific coast with my two dogs, a few yoga mats, teaching materials and set up my life in Todos Santos for the winter.
The retreat, Sheer JOY!, was held at Yandara Retreat Centre, a picturesque retreat centre on the white sandy beaches near Todos Santos. I’m honoured to say that this retreat exceeded my expectations. Seventeen wonderful women arrived and ‘showed’ up to share their truest, most authentic selves with each other and uncover true joy in their lives.
Aside from the fresh food, sandy beaches, soothing sunsets and incredible people, here are some other benefits of attending a yoga and meditation retreat in Baja, Mexico.
Warmth
If you’ve experienced a winter in Canada—no matter the coast—you’ll know that powering through the darker months takes some serious mental and physical strength. Although west coast winters are milder than other parts of Canada, they’re cold, dark, and wet nonetheless. Once the holidays are over, the next few months can be a tough slog.
Baja winters? Say no more. In Todos Santos, where Sheer JOY! was, it rarely—if ever—rains in the winter. You get more than 12 hours of sunlight each day, a stark contrast to the West Coast’s 4 PM sunsets. The air is dry and hot, but temperatures cool off at night, so you can sleep soundly. The sound of the waves washing over the delicate sand is a symphony for your ears.
The daily dose of Vitamin D makes a significant difference. The chronic, autoimmune condition that has plagued me for decades has improved greatly since being in the warmth and heat of the Baja. Others have experienced similar benefits in their health. Moving your body with yoga and calming your mind with meditation certainly moves energy and stimulates the renewal response!
Warm weather—even if just for a week—is sometimes just what you need.
Community
People attend retreats to reconnect to a truer version of themselves. But you are often surprised by how deeply you connect with others, too.
Retreats are designed for connection. At an Enso retreat, you spend every day with an intimate group of people who share similar values, goals, and interests as you.
You are held in brave space to be vulnerable, honest, and authentic. You open up to others, and they open up to you. The results are powerful. Despite arriving not knowing anyone, you leave with lifelong friends.
A bonus to our retreats are the care and attention given to you before, during and after the retreat. We have Preparation, Immersion and Integration phases so you can begin connection before the retreat and stay connected long after.
And when you attend a retreat in a different country, you often connect even more deeply. You revel in the immersion of a new culture. You bond over your travel journey and unique daily experiences. You are experiencing something new together, and that lends to its own kind of magic.
nourish
Oh goodness, the food. While you may be a great cook, there is something so. nourishing and nurturing to have delicious, wholesome food prepared by cooks and holistic nutritionists who prepare with care and love. Arriving at the food table to discover an array of colours, tastes, and textures is a gift to savour. On Salt Spring Island, we are blessed to have Meg de Jong cook for all our retreats. At Yandara, the cooks are exceptional and source local and fresh food.
Travel
If you like to travel, but you’re looking for a more fulfilling vacation, a destination retreat could be the experience for you.
A destination retreat offers you the chance to travel and explore—while learning, growing, and evolving along the way.
At Sheer JOY!, and Flourishing Beyond Mastery, our mornings start early and are full with meditation, yoga, connection circles and dynamic holistic learning. The afternoons are spacious. You are offered free time each day to explore. Unlike many retreats, where you may usually only have one day of free time, you can explore the artisanal shops of Todos Santos, go for a picturesque hike up the local mountains, take in a massage or astrology reading or simply sit in solace on your own—every day. The time is yours to spend how you wish.
Unlike normal travel, the planning is done. You don’t have to worry about booking a car, finding accommodation, organizing meals, waiting in lines, scheduling, or reservations. This type of travel truly allows you to decompress, unwind, and gain the mental clarity you may be seeking.
For your next holiday, consider a destination retreat. It’s one form of travel that gives you long-term benefits, long after you leave.
Enso Learning and Retreat Centre offers a range of yoga, meditation, and creative retreats. Find an upcoming retreat that matches your interests.