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Día de Muertos Oaxaca Ashtanga Adventure + Ancestral Connection Retreat 2027


We invite you to join us, Joey Paz & Jacquelin Molina Guillen, for the 8th anniversary of our most popular retreat: A week of gently weaving the traditions and customs of Día de Muertos with Yoga philosophy in our ancestral homelands of Mexico.

8 spots remaining in this retreat

This week offers you the space to delve deeply into your yoga practice in the tropical wilderness of Zipolite, Oaxaca, a gem of beauty and serenity off the tourist path. With the guidance and expertise of your teachers, you will receive the tools you need to continue a lifelong yoga and pranayama (yogical breathing) practice. Connect with the wisdom of your ancestors during the sacred celebration of Día de Muertos, as we light candles and lay cempasuchil upon an ofrenda, offering their stories and lessons through poetry. Together we will immerse ourselves in the customs of the land through exploring the wilderness of Oaxaca and experiencing the healing powers of Temazcal (Mexico’s indigenous purification and rebirth ceremony) with a local healer, becoming reborn into your highest purpose in life.

This retreat is suitable for all levels - complete beginners, as well as experienced yoga practitioners, are encouraged. We are experienced in meeting you wherever you are in your practice.

 

OUR WEEK TOGETHER

CASA FARO

Our retreat will be held in the stunning Casa Faro- a marvel of architecture and craftsmanship overlooking the holy Pacific Ocean. Built with love and intention, this venue offers guest the chance to commune intimately with nature with its open aired design. It is worth noting that this house was built with the vision of communal style living, but there are plenty of options for off site accommodations for those who wish for greater privacy, read below for more information regarding options.

DÍA DE MUERTOS

The week of Día de Muertos is the most vibrant and exciting time of the year to visit Mexico, and Oaxaca is considered to be the most traditional and colorful region of the country in its world-famous celebrations of this uniquely Mexican holy day. Together, we will create an ofrenda, or altar, at Casa Faro which we will adorn with candles, flowers, fruits, and photos of our ancestors as an offering to our passed loved ones.

ASHTANGA YOGA

A daily yoga practice is the pillar of our week together. Each morning we will begin the day with asana, practicing the ashtanga primary sequence in the lineage of BNS Iyengar, followed by pranayama with each day building on top of the previous practice. The evenings will consist of mudras, mantras and philosophy discussions with your guides and peers. Whether you are an advanced practitioner hoping to deepen your studies, or a beginner interested in practicing in an encouraging environment, this week offers something for every yogi to strengthen their union and to take with them on their personal journeys. 

TEMAZCAL

One of the highlights of our experience is a Temazcal Ceremony led by Irma Luz, a local Zapoteca medicine woman who welcomes us each year into her healing center. Temazcal (an indigenous healing & purification ceremony and sweat lodge) offers many spiritual and health benefits. This is a profound experience, and each year our retreat guests report feelings of lightness, newness, and being reborn into their life’s path.

PUNTA COMETA

Our retreat includes a guided nature hike to the stunning Punta Cometa coastal cliffs. This is the Southernmost point of Oaxaca, and a sacred ceremonial site for the original inhabitants of this land. The place where the sun and moon meet. A place of surreal beauty and highlight of our week together.

COMIDA

We will have all our meals provided on site for us at Casa Faro. In the morning, fresh tropical fruit will be available before we practice. Lunch and dinner is lovingly prepared by a local family who is experienced in fresh, authentic, regional vegetarian Oaxacan cuisine. Each meal during the retreat is an exquisite culinary experience!

POETRY NIGHT & WRITING

With Jacquelin’s experience as a poet and writer, she uses her skills to lead the group in a poetry night where all are welcome to share original work or poems that they love, or simply gather in a night of storytelling. This night serves as a cultural immersion experience and lesson on the literature of Mexico’s most influential voices that have shaped the spirit and pride of the land. During our week together, Jacquelin will give guests journal prompts to invoke deep introspection all on the themes of ancestral healing to channel the gifts and wisdom our ancestors have to offer us. So it is recommended to pack a journal! 

BELOVED

With our week in Oaxaca packed with so much culture, spirit, nature, adventure and ample time for rest and relaxation, it is no wonder why this is our most popular retreat and sells out so far in advance. Many guests have had impactful experiences and have returned year after year to replenish in the magic of this retreat. 


WHAT TO EXPECT

Platicas with Irma Luz, the Zapotec medicine woman who guides us in ceremony

Preparing to enter the Temazcal

Mazunte and Zipolite beaches are nearby the retreat center. Guests can choose to relax in Casa Faro all day without a care in the world (trust us, it is VERY difficult to leave), or spend afternoons relaxing at the nearby beaches.

Relax in the breathtaking views of the retreat center during your free time, or head down to one of the nearby beaches.

The 2023 retreat crew at Mazunte Beach

Adventures on the wild, beautiful coast of Oaxaca

Each day after practice we drink fresh coconuts to rehydrate!



Meet your guides

It is Jacquelin and Joey’s greatest honor to curate sacred space for Mexican yoga practitioners–both locals hoping to deepen their practice and relationship to these teachings and those born abroad hearing the call from the land that says “It’s time to reconnect.” And it is among their greatest joy and highest duty to be intentional stewards of these customs for those who are curious and excited to immerse themselves in the magic of Mexico, for we all have ancestors who walk with us in spirit through this life by guiding us with their wisdom. Now more than ever, they are calling on us to remember, heal and celebrate them.

“Lo recibo con amor, Te lo doy con amor”

We come from immigrants and believe firmly that immigration is an inalienable human right as it is embedded in our ancestral ways to migrate across lands. Currently, the right to immigrate is becoming increasingly threatened—posing great challenge for families who have chosen to make the difficult choice to cross borders for greater freedom and quality of life. This is a concern we hold close to our hearts and with our privilege to move between borders with greater ease to host retreats in our ancestral lands of Mexico, we are determined to extend our blessings to support those who do immigrate from Mexico to the United States. 

This year a percentage of all registration fees paid for this retreat will be donated on a monthly basis to The Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights (CHIRLA), a non-profit based in Los Angeles, California (where Jacquelin’s parents first immigrated to and met) that supports the welfare, rights and empowerment of Mexican immigrants and their families. 


Testimonials From Previous Guests

“The Oaxaca retreat with Joey was amazing; more than I had ever imagined. The space was surreal; a rustic villa overlooking the ocean surrounded by a tropical paradise. As an amateur ashtangi,  the practice was challenging but not aggressively so. The mantras and pranayama were a perfect culmination of each day's practice and the temazcal ceremony was a powerful experience. Looking forward to more yogic journeys in the future. Thank you for this magical experience.”

Tanvi B. , Cleveland, Ohio

(2023 retreat guest)

"This retreat is a truly magical and transformative adventure. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a real and authentic yoga experience. It has no modern luxury, instead it provides what we are really striving for and are often missing in our daily lifes. Living in harmony with nature and all it's creatures as well as getting up with the sun, going to sleep when it's dark, eating healty food, that was prepared with love and care. Having the time to reflect and think and just listen. Be part of an accepting and loving community. Practicing yoga as a holistic approach to life and not as a physical excercise. 

Moreover, Oaxaca - especially during the time of Dia de Los Muertos - is a mystical place, where you will feel the power of Mother Earth. It's beaches are breathtakingly beautiful, nearby villages enchanting with a laid-back vibe, locals welcoming and life-affirming. 

I would strongly encourage everyone to participate at least once in a lifetime an ancient ceremony like the Temascal.

Love and thanks to Joey and the whole crew."

Sophia F, Vienna, Austria

(2024 retreat guest)

Ready to join us? This retreat sells out very far in advance each year, so don’t hesitate to make your deposit and save your spot. Feel free to send Joey a message on WhatsApp at +1 4058239919 with any questions or for more information, and to discuss alternate payment options.

Oaxaca Ashtanga Adventure 2027
$100.00

$100 deposit saves your spot in the retreat. Once you make your deposit, I’ll be in touch with you to set up a payment plan.

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