maya tulum....it keeps getting better

Since returning from Mexico quite a few people have asked me how this trip compared to past ones. I can say with all honesty, it simply keeps getting better.

First of all, I had a sweet surprise on the day the participants arrived. Ten was my magic number for this year. I went to Tulum thinking I had nine gals attending but learned the day the retreat started I had a tenth. Mary Jo, a delightful yogini from Chicago also joined us. So I was quite pleased to have exactly the number I was hoping for.

So how does the retreat get better? As far as the participants (or this is what I heard) this is what I'd say. The combination of yoga classes combined with the bodywork makes for a pretty fabulous, healing week in many ways. The yoga classes in Tulum are extra special for a few different reasons.

First off the space is amazing. Imagine our current space with thatched roof/ceiling, windows that look out to the sea on one side and the jungle on the other. There are three different light sources. We always have candles on hand AND they always provide a vase full of fresh cut flowers from the property. Between the ceiling fans and the ocean breeze it's just perfect.

Secondly we have so much more time to delve more deeply into the full spectrum of yoga. We meet for two hours in the morning (finished by 9:30 am so they still get a full beach/spa day in) and two hours before dinner. There is always a theme for the week (this year it was the idea of filling ourselves with something yummy each day...strength, compassion, acceptance, discipline, joy, gratitude). The theme is woven into the asana practice as well as yoga philosophy. The morning sessions are more vigorous and the evening sessions are more chill. It's a great balance.

The spa is simply outta this world. Words don't do the therapists nor the setting justice. As one of the gals recently said to me in an email, "I felt that the massage therapists were healers in their own specialities. I've never encountered so many experts in one short time frame--- they each seemed to care that clients on the table received what they were there for. Also, they made themselves available at unscheduled times!"

As many of you have probably heard we have a certain favorite therapist/healer/shaman by the name of Fabian. Imagine our surprise when we arrived at Maya Tulum and saw that he wasn't scheduled to be there while we were. The folks at Maya Tulum will do most anything to make you happy while there. So they arranged for Fabian to come in and just work with our group. All I had to do was pick the days and times we wanted to see him. They made it that easy. And he even led temalzcal (sweat lodge) for us. We. Heart. Fabian. And Adrian. And Chandree. And Elodia. And Gina. And Sergio.

I heard so many great things about so many other therapists that I haven't worked with. I'm not sure where they find such powerful people, but they do. And I am all the happier for them doing so.

This year I added a special treat for our closing night. I arranged for us to do singing/chanting with another local Shaman by the name of Pedro. When I was in Tulum in January with my brother and sister, Pedro led the sweat lodge and we did a lot of singing. He has the voice of an angel. I knew I wanted him to share with the group. So on our last night, they set our yoga hall up so beautifully with a big circle, lots of candles and extra special touches. For nearly an hour and a half we sang amongst the group, with Pedro and several other local ladies all dressed in white. It was beautiful. And powerful. And inspiring. We'll definitely do this again next year.

Other goodies.....On this trip you can be with the group as much as you'd like or you can have your own private time. It's very easy to do and I feel like everyone easily finds a balance between the two.

"I looked forward to meal times together, and to beach business with girlfriends." Beach business...I love that! And as far as alone time, it's so easy. You can rest in your cabana, find a quiet nook on the property, take a walk on the beach, walk to the shops just up the road, or read a book at the restaurant. And every ones fave alone time....getting a treatment.

The food was even better this year than last. I didn't think that was possible. Louisa is the new night chef and her food was ahhhhh. Heavenly. And she's so kind and humble. Every night she stands out by the buffet greeting our group and telling us all about the yummy food for the evening. She has a kind way and I swear her eyes twinkle.

I love going to Maya Tulum in the summer. And I say this even after being there in January. To me I really didn't notice that much of a difference with the temperature. And no I'm not lying. All the gals can vouch for me when I say, "It's really not that hot." Sarah was quite amazed really at how comfortable it was. The ocean breeze is so much more than what one would think.

But the two main reasons I love going in the summer:
1. It's so very quiet. Really, it's like you have your very own private beach, private resort, and private restaurant. It's fabulous.
2. It's cheaper. The airfare, the cost of the retreat. Pretty much everything.
Bonus #3. The timing is perfect for me. By the time the retreat rolls around, I've just finished teacher training and summer time is much more slow for me.

And mostly the retreat rocked this year because of the group. Aren't they so cute? Loved that we had two mother/daughter duos. Some recent graduates from teacher training, some friends, some newbies for me and it all worked out splendidly. I feel strongly that each one of us needed to be together at that specific time at that specific place with those specific people. In order to grow, to share, to teach, to learn, to heal and be healed.

Thanks to all you gals that attended. I feel blessed to have shared such a week with each of you.