New Year's Retreat (Monika Kaufman, Lisa Carlsson)

Monika Kaufman and Lisa Carlsson lead this New Year's Retreat, a seven-night yoga retreat at Xinalani, an oceanfront retreat center in Quimixto, Jalisco, Mexico, just south of Puerto Vallarta. The week is built around mixed-style yoga, rest and restoration, and personal growth and healing, and it is open to all levels.

It suits anyone who wants to begin a new year somewhere quiet, with practice, good food and time outdoors set between the jungle and the Pacific Ocean, in the company of people who came for similar reasons.

What to Expect

The retreat runs seven nights. Its three themes are mixed-style yoga, rest and restore, and growth and healing, so the week leans toward a balance of movement and slowing down rather than a single intensive style. Monika Kaufman and Lisa Carlsson shape the teaching and the particular flow of the days.

Xinalani describes a typical retreat day as moving between practice, meals, ocean time, restorative moments and space to simply be. At Xinalani that rhythm usually looks like this:

- 8 AM: all-levels yoga by the ocean
- 10 AM: breakfast of tropical fruit, homemade pastries, Mexican favorites and lighter options
- 12 PM: free time to swim, rest by the pool, visit the wellness area or book a massage
- 2 PM: lunch on the oceanfront terrace
- 5 PM: restorative yoga, meditation, cacao or another mindful practice
- 7 PM: sunset over Banderas Bay, then dinner with local cuisine and homemade desserts

Each retreat sets its own schedule, so the exact timing of this week's sessions is shaped by its teachers. Beyond the daily practice, Xinalani offers wellness experiences, ocean adventures and time in nature for those who want them.

The Setting

Xinalani sits on the coast between the jungle and the sea, and the rooms are designed to bring that closer. Guests wake to ocean views and fall asleep to the sounds of nature. Accommodation ranges across several categories:

- Beach Casita: the most spacious and private, steps from the beach, with a king bed and a private plunge pool
- Eco Chic Treehouse: an open-air stay above the jungle with ocean views and a private terrace with a hammock, in air-conditioned or open-air versions
- Deluxe Room: a private room with a terrace, suited to couples and solo travelers
- Small and Big Palapa: shared open-air rooms with 4 or 8 individual beds, the most accessible way to stay

Xinalani looks after the stay, meals and practical details, so the week can be spent on practice and rest rather than organizing.

Before You Go

The retreat is open to all levels, so no prior yoga experience is required. Those who want a more private stay can choose among the room categories above, while the palapas suit travelers who would like to share the experience with others.