Renew & Reset

Renew & Reset is a seven-night yoga retreat at Xinalani, an oceanfront retreat center in Quimixto, Jalisco, Mexico, just south of Puerto Vallarta. It is led by Pam Smith and Lisa Waddle and suits all levels. The week combines mixed-style yoga with aerial yoga, alongside time in nature and the chance to try something a little adventurous.

What to Expect

The retreat runs for seven nights, with yoga in more than one style. Mixed-style yoga forms the foundation, and aerial yoga adds a different way of moving and playing with the practice. The retreat is listed under Nature & Adventure, so the days are meant to reach beyond the mat.

Xinalani describes the rhythm of a retreat week as unfolding between practice, nourishing meals, ocean time, restorative moments and space to simply be. Each retreat has its own pacing, but a typical day at Xinalani looks like this:

- 8 AM: all-levels morning yoga by the ocean
- 10 AM: breakfast of fresh tropical fruit, homemade pastries, Mexican favorites and healthy options
- 12 PM: free time to swim, relax by the pool, use 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 fresh local cuisine and homemade desserts

Teachers shape their own retreats, so the exact schedule for this week may differ from the general pattern above. The aim is a week away from the usual rhythm, with days of movement, body therapies, nature and rest that shift your pace.

The Setting

Xinalani sits between the jungle and the Pacific Ocean, and the rooms look out over both. Guests wake to ocean views and the sounds of nature. The center takes care of the stay, meals and details so that you can spend less time organizing and more time being present.

Rooms come in several categories:

- Beach Casita: the most spacious and private option, steps from the beach, with a king bed, private terrace, plunge pool and air conditioning.
- Eco Chic Treehouse: an open-air stay perched above the jungle, with a private terrace and hammock, a king bed or two double beds, and air-conditioned or open-air options.
- Deluxe Room: a cozy room with a private terrace and small hammock, a king bed or two twin beds, and air-conditioned or open-air options. It suits couples and solo travelers.
- 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

This retreat is open to all levels, so you do not need an established yoga practice to take part. Come with an interest in moving, resting and spending a week by the sea in the company of people who came for many of the same reasons you did, with plenty of space left to make the time your own.