Where we’re at: I’m sharing my journey in 2022, including this trip to Mexico in February. Don’t miss our next aerial arts trip this June!
Oh hey there! Did you catch part one of my Tulum Retreat Recap? Today we’re back with part two, wrapping up a retreat I poured my heart and soul into while trying to make a home base in Mexico last year (a journey you’ll read more about, someday!)
Day three of our retreat brought us where mermaids belong — the beach. While we’d originally set this day aside for the monthly Daydream Aerial Arts Festival my friend Colleen of Lucid Aerial Arts developed, the omicron outbreak had other plans. Still, Colleen was kind enough to run a private event for our group, which was not a bad Plan B in the slightest!
So that’s how we found ourselves rotating through a day of workshops in silk hammocks with Colleen, handstands with Shiney, and fire bubbles (the perfect mermaid tie in!) with Alex of Tulum Fire. When not in workshops, everyone bounced between Tulum’s chic beach boutiques, the ocean, and Raw Love, my favorite water-front smoothie bowl spot.
We ended the day with the fire bubbles workshop and I will give it to you straight — I had no idea what a fire bubbles workshop was, and asked shockingly few questions. I just knew it was something aerial mermaids needed to do.
Normally I’m what some might call a “control freak” — I just don’t know where people get these ridiculous ideas! — as I obsessively micromanage every ten minute increment of planning my retreats. But this was a reminder that sometimes trusting the process and my people is worth it. We laughed, screamed and cried as Alex led us through fire meditations and facing our fears. (Okay, maybe not everyone was scared but let’s just say I was terrified enough for everyone. Fire deserves our respect, guys!)
Can we talk about how Daniella truly understood the packing assignment with that fire bikini, by the way?
It was quite the euphoric high note to end the day on. But, there was more to come.
After a magical transformation courtesy of Ahau’s gorgeous outdoor beach showers, we headed to Casa Banana, one of Tulum Beach’s OG restaurant picks. Actually, this was a new spot for me and I was so thrilled! Even our amazing driver Jorge, a born-and-raised Tulumer, had named it as one of his favorite picks for a splashy night out.
I could see why everyone raved about it! In our closing circle, this meal was consistently ranked as a favorite.
Most of Tulum’s beachside restaurants boast incredible design and an ethereal atmosphere, and many can brag on incredible and creative small plates and cocktails — however, just a few can claim truly warm and welcoming service. Casa Banana is one of them!
The next morning, we started our day once again at Holistika’s onsite restaurant, Tierra. An outdoor health food restaurant nestled in the jungle was a welcome daily treat for all of us escaping hard February winters!
And then once again, we made our way to Holistika’s aerial studio. This is a little bit of behind-the-scenes sharing, but when I started planning retreats, I had no idea that transportation would often be the piece of the puzzle that would lead me to drink meditate. So, it’s hard to express my joy at how much of this retreat happened right here at Holistika, or within walking distance.
We had a fairly mixed level group on this trip, and for this aerial silks workshop, rather than dividing into beginner and advanced halves like we had the previous class, Brenna broke everyone into little pods (is this word still triggering for anyone, post-COVID?!) with some members at each level.
I love the aerial community so much and trips like this remind me why it’s so special and supportive — sharing knowledge and encouragement and this infectious love for movement and play! It was a good day.
Next, it was time for an afternoon adventure. I’d offered up two options for lunch: one, my favorite plastic-stool type taco joint, or another cute Tuluminati-style cafe more than worthy of an Instagram feed post. While everyone was free to do their own thing, the group was unanimous: tacos cerdos, here we come.
Taquerio Honorio is no longer a hidden gem and the line often gets lengthy during lunch. Luckily Jorge knew a guy (he knew every guy!) and we got right down to business ordering up a storm. My go to? A cochinita gringa — kinda like a quesadilla — with a jugo de melón. Heaven, for under $5USD.
After some free time to make a last minute shopping dash around Tulum Pueblo, we headed back once again to the jungle. This time, a very exclusive corner of it — an afternoon at a private slice of paradise in Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve, a well-deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I spent December 31st, 2020 with SUP Yoga Tulum. What I thought might be a fun way to end a oft not fun year was actually something much more significant. The reserve had a healing energy to it, and the teacher, Mila, had just the calmly radiant aura I craved.
When I started planning Brenna and I’s retreat in Mexico, I knew this would be a part of it. There’s even an aerial silk hanging from the private palapa — I couldn’t think of a more magical mermaid aerialist playground to splash away the day in.
And it was! We started, after an incredibly hospitable welcome from SUP Tulum owner Nancy, with a beautiful class with Mila, who I’d specifically requested as not only is she a beautifully bilingual yoga teacher but an aerialist herself too.
I loved swimming around with my underwater camera, flying my drone, and capturing this magical moment from every angle.
