Back To You – Women's Yoga Retreat

Back To You is a women's yoga retreat led by Kate Moynihan at Xinalani, an oceanfront retreat center just south of Puerto Vallarta on the coast of Jalisco, Mexico. It is a seven-night stay that centers on hot yoga and strength and movement, open to all levels, in a setting between the jungle and the Pacific Ocean.

What to Expect

The retreat runs for seven nights, and the practice is hot yoga with a focus on strength and movement. It is a women's retreat, so you share the week with other women who came for many of the same reasons you did.

Xinalani describes the rhythm of its retreats as days that unfold between practice, nourishing meals, ocean time, restorative moments and space to simply be. Each retreat has its own pacing, and the daily outline at Xinalani typically looks like this:

- 8 AM: morning yoga by the ocean, all-levels practice meant to move and awaken the body
- 10 AM: breakfast of fresh tropical fruit, homemade pastries, Mexican favorites and healthier options
- 12 PM: free time to swim, rest by the pool, use the wellness area or book a massage
- 2 PM: lunch on the oceanfront terrace
- 5 PM: a restorative session such as restorative yoga, meditation, cacao or a mindful practice
- 7 PM: sunset over Banderas Bay, then dinner of local cuisine and homemade desserts

Kate Moynihan's own schedule for the week may differ in its details, but this is the frame the days sit within. The afternoons are left open on purpose, so you can make the time your own.

The Setting

Xinalani sits on the Pacific coast south of Puerto Vallarta, with jungle behind it and the ocean in front. The place is set up so that meals, the stay and the practical details are taken care of, leaving you free to be present. There is a pool, a wellness area where massages can be booked, and wellness experiences, ocean adventures and nature activities beyond the daily practice.

Several room types are available, and all of them have ocean and jungle views:

- Beach Casita: the most spacious and private option, steps from the beach, with a king bed, private terrace, plunge pool and A/C.
- Eco Chic Treehouse: an open-air room above the jungle with a private terrace and hammock, available with a king bed or two double beds, in air-conditioned or open-air versions.
- Deluxe Room: a private room with a terrace and small hammock, suited to couples and solo travelers, with a king bed or two twin beds, in air-conditioned or open-air versions.
- Small and Big Palapa: open-air shared palapas with four or eight individual beds and a private terrace, the most accessible way to stay.

Before You Go

The retreat is open to all levels. Because the focus is hot yoga, expect a heated, strength-oriented practice, though you are welcome whatever your experience. The stay and meals are looked after by Xinalani, so you can spend less time organizing and more time practicing, resting and enjoying the coast.