Dear Friends,
And we're back!
Last week, 39 of us went from Monday to Saturday to Tulum, Mexico. It is impossible to describe the entire experience unless you were there, but it was truly magical. From the moment we stepped onto the plane and I got convinced to do a flash mob dance to "Can't Stop The Feeling" while in the air (yes that happened), I knew this trip was going to be unlike ANY other!
It was definitely a long ways away with a 5 hour flight plus a 2 hour shuttle ride, but it was well worth it. We checked into our eco-chic rooms at Amansala resort and adjusted to brushing teeth with bottled water and not flushing any toilet paper down the toilet... yup, you read that right.
On our first morning together, we took a group picture with our matching "Shine Your Light" tanks! We made it! We actually made it!!!
Each morning we began our day by eating a light and healthy breakfast, and then we gathered in a meditation circle, journaled individually, and shared with one another. This is where the magic really happened throughout the week and barriers came down.
Afterwards, we got hot and sweaty with our daily morning workout of 20 minutes of abs and arms, followed by an hour of dancing! And when I say hot and sweaty, I mean drenched from head to toe. We had a spacious, beautiful, open-air shala assigned to our group for the week and we filled it up with so much energy and excitement each day!
Lunch was next, and the food was always incredibly delicious, fresh, and flavorful. Since there were no snacks throughout the day, we all ate as much as we wanted during assigned meal times, and it was surprisingly satisfying. We also had a cooking class on our first afternoon at the retreat.
The afternoons were either for free time and lounging on the beach, walking/biking around town, getting massages, or joining optional tours such as the Tulum Ruins. On one of the afternoons, we all ventured to the Gran Cenote and wore life vests and snorkel masks to see the incredible underwater caves!
Pretty sure we set the record for number of people in a hot tub!
In the late afternoon, we gathered for our third workout of the day and took time to stretch our bodies with a yoga class in the Grande Shala. Sav - ahhh - sana!
After showers and celebrating our beach hair (no hair dryers allowed which made getting ready faster), we met for dinner and conversation together. Many of us lost our voices because we were such a loud group and we talked non-stop to one another!
In the evenings, we had a different cultural activity each night such as salsa dancing, sound healing, and a Temezcal sweat lodge! They were all unique and unforgettable experiences that got us out of our comfort zones.
On our last day, we participated in a Mayan Clay Meditation where we first meditated, and then went onto the beach to cover ourselves with a special yellow clay recipe...
Then we let it harden onto our bodies...
And together, we washed it off into the ocean, symbolic of leaving our worries and problems into the ocean's healing water!
We definitely had our share of hiccups and challenges throughout the week, but during the week we learned the Mayan term, "Veyo!" which means to "Let It Be." By the end of the week, we had emotional breakthroughs, stronger relationships, and renewed spirits as we returned to our normal lives yesterday.Thank you to this incredibly beautiful group of women who trusted me to travel internationally, came with open hearts and minds, and allowed themselves to be vulnerable and truly transform over the week. I am eternally grateful.
Pure magic.
What's happening this week
Our regular schedule is resuming starting tomorrow and we have a packed schedule of birthday celebrations! Please join us on Zoom or in-person and sign up online before you come:
- Tuesday, December 6th @UUMarin
- 9:30am 75 Minute Birthday Celebration for Laura Winter Williams (Seligsohn)
- Wednesday, December 7th @UUMarin
- 9:30am 60 Minute HIIT Camp 30/30 (bring dumbbells and mat)
- 10:45am 60 Minute All-Levels Yoga (bring mat)
- Thursday, December 8th @UUMarin
- 9:30am 75 Minute Birthday Celebration for Monica Jones' 50th Birthday (yes she is joining on Zoom from Orlando!)
- Saturday, December 10th @OneThorndale
- 9:30am 75 Minute Birthday Celebrations for Laura Briggs and Tiffany Singer!
During our time away in Tulum, Tanya Burdick found this beautiful quote posted somewhere on a fence, and sent a photo to me. I am sharing it to you and I hope it brings you inspiration and joy as you begin this new week!
"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don't and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get the chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it would be easy, they just promised that it would be worth it."
- Dr. Seuss
Love,
Grace
PS - Tanya secretly snapped this photo of me while I was sunbathing during the clay meditation... just soaking it all in with a full and happy heart.
