Elemental Alchemy

Elemental Alchemy is a seven-day yoga retreat at Xinalani Retreat in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, led by Sam Saldivar, Nicole Walter, and Cecily Kelly. It brings together Vinyasa, Aerial yoga, Somatic flow, Yin, and Restorative practice, using the five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether) as a map for movement and meditation. It is written for people carrying significant responsibilities who want a real recalibration, with an emphasis on nervous system regulation and presence.

What to Expect

The days follow a steady rhythm. Coffee and snacks are set out at 7:00 am, and the morning practice of Vinyasa Flow and Aerial Yoga runs from 8:30 to 9:45 am. Breakfast follows, and then a midday window from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm is given to one of several offerings: a wild dolphin encounter, a Temazcal ceremony, a sound bath, or simply time on the beach. After lunch, the evening practice of Restorative and Yin Yoga runs from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, with dinner at 7:30 pm.

The first day is for arrival: transfer, boat ride, check-in, orientation, and dinner. Days two through seven follow the daily practice above. On the eighth morning there is a final practice or rest, breakfast, and the boat back. Classes take place in open-air studios overlooking the sea, and the emphasis is on sensory awakening and guided nervous system regulation. The dynamic morning flows build vitality, and the evening Yin and Restorative sessions balance them with deep release.

About Sam Saldivar

Sam is a Master Restorative Yoga Teacher and Trainer with over a decade of experience. She is a student and mentee of Judith Hanson Lasater and specializes in nervous system regulation and Sacred Rest. Her teaching pairs somatic flow with Restorative stillness, and she is described as empathetic, witty, and down to earth while holding a strong container for the group.

About Nicole Walter

Nicole is an RYT 500, a Reiki Master Teacher, and a former college professor, and she brings an educational approach to wellness. Her Yin Yoga and Reiki offerings are grounded in presence over productivity, with self-inquiry and self-compassion as tools for growth. She credits her mentors, including Joe Barnett, a senior teacher for Yin founder Paul Grilley. She also teaches through Auluminate Reiki, offering accessible Reiki certification programs and mentorships.

About Cecily Kelly

Cecily has guided yoga since 2016 and teaches Vinyasa and Aerial yoga. In 2022 she opened her studio in San Clemente. She has hosted more than eight wellness retreats, from California's high desert to Costa Rica, and her work also includes essential oils and immersive trainings.

The Setting

Xinalani is an ocean-access sanctuary in the wilds of Quimixto, set between jungle and sea. Guests reach it by boat, and airport transfers and the boat ride are part of the retreat. Accommodation ranges from a Small Palapa shared by four, to double rooms, to single rooms. Double and single options include Deluxe Rooms (open air or air-conditioned) and Eco Chic Suites (open air). Three meals are served daily, along with coffee, tea, fruit, and granola.

Before You Go

The retreat is pitched at an intermediate to advanced level. Restorative and accessible practices are part of the program, but the curriculum assumes a foundation in yoga and a capacity for both dynamic and introspective work. Instruction is in English.

Included are accommodation, all meals, daily yoga classes, airport transfers and the boat ride, kayak and snorkel equipment, the Temazcal ceremony, the sound bath, the wild dolphin encounter, and all taxes.