Vinyasa Yoga Retreat

This Vinyasa Yoga Retreat takes place at Xinalani Retreat, on the coast near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. It is a yoga retreat for people who want to practice with room to choose: join every class and outing, or step back and do your own thing. Casey Petersen, certified in vinyasa and yin, leads it.

The group tends to be large, so there is space to blend in, make connections or keep to yourself. Classes, excursions and days are all meant to be what you want them to be.

What to Expect

Yoga classes run 75 to 90 minutes, opening and closing with slow, long, grounded stretches of practice. No two classes are alike. There is no set sequence, only creative sequencing that often links breath to movement. The practice is strong, and each class aims either at opening the whole body or at working toward a peak posture.

The sessions feel more like workshops than public studio classes. Themes include chakras, Ayurveda and the energy bodies, along with mudra, mantra and storytelling. Expect some journaling exercises and partner work, which here means supported stretching rather than acrobatics. Meditation classes are part of the program too.

A typical day follows an easy rhythm:

- 7:00 to 7:30 am: morning coffee and snacks
- 8:30 to 9:45 am: yoga
- 10:00 to 11:00 am: breakfast
- 2:30 to 3:30 pm: lunch
- 5:30 to 6:45 pm: yoga
- 7:30 to 8:30 pm: dinner

The hours between are open for rest, the water, or the excursions on offer: hikes, trips to nearby beaches and towns, and tequila tastings.

About Casey Petersen

Casey Petersen has been certified in vinyasa and yin since 2009 and lives and teaches in Seattle. This is her 14th retreat at Xinalani. She describes herself as a connector, an athlete and a mother of two, and her classes are known as fun, flowy and deep.

The Setting

Xinalani Retreat sits by the ocean outside Puerto Vallarta. Guests arrive by airport transfer followed by a boat ride to the retreat center. Three healthful meals are served each day, with coffee, tea, fruit and granola available as well.

Accommodation comes in several styles. The Small Palapa is a quadruple-occupancy option and the most economical per person. Double occupancy is available in a Deluxe Room (open air or air-conditioned), an Eco Chic Suite (open air or air-conditioned) or a Beach Casita with air conditioning. Single occupancy is offered in the Deluxe Room and Eco Chic Suite, both open air or air-conditioned.

Before You Go

The retreat is led in English. Yoga is taught at a pace and in a style that suits those who enjoy a strong, flowing practice, while the choose-your-own-adventure structure lets you set your own level of involvement.

Included in the stay:

- Selected accommodation
- Three meals daily, plus coffee, tea, fruit and granola
- Daily yoga classes and meditation classes
- Airport transfers and the boat ride to the retreat center
- All taxes
- Kayak and snorkel equipment
- A jungle trek