Spa & Wellness MexiCaribe 34, Verano 2019

WELLNESSING
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
With an all-star lineup of guest presenters both
national and international, the 6th Wellnessing
Getaway by Grand Velas, hosted at their
impressing Riviera Nayarit resort was certain to be a huge
success. The concept of the Wellnessing Getaway retreat
was inspired by Velas Group spa consultant, Diana Mestre,
there to welcome us at the first morning yoga session and
to introduce each of the workshop or session leaders
throughout the 3-day program.
GETAWAY
Sherrie Baptiste, author of Yoga with Weights for Dummies,
based in San Francisco at the Baptiste Power of Yoga
Center, led us through a yoga sequence reminiscent of a
guided meditation. She called for us to move with intention,
feel our breath and connect with our bodies.
Ana Paula Dominguez, the Founder and President of
the Mexican Institute of Yoga, introduced the group to
Kundalini Yoga, explaining the basics and the purpose,
while encouraging us to challenge ourselves and improve
our breath of fire and core strength. We finished with a bliss
inducing sound healing meditation provided by Roberto
Gopan.
Claire Grieve shared her love of yoga and music with fun,
uplifting Vinyasa flow classes as she glided through the group
encouraging and assisting with adjustments to deepen our
practice and improve our flexibility.
Colleen McCann of Style Rituals guided us through the
mystical process of selecting and working with crystals,
teaching us the basics of cleansing, charging, combining
and working with crystals and pendulums. We created a
despacho, where we intentionally placed various treasures:
crystals, feathers, chocolate, seeds, salt, petals, beans,
leaves, herbs and even gold stars - for beauty of course! The
despacho is wrapped and tied with string (all elements are
biodegradable), it’s then burned, buried or thrown into the
ocean - we chose the latter, of course!
Adriana Azuara of All4Spas and AgaveSpa brought product creation to life with
fresh ingredients, creams, clays and scrubs, essential oils and even mezcal. All
custom blended by each of us in a pestle and mortar. We finished this interactive
workshop with a body soak, a scrub and a body mask to use back in our suites.
Rebecca Sutton of Dyna Training in Mexico City energized the group with a morning
workout of cardio, strength, yoga and dance combined and choreographed to
uplifting and motivating music to get us moving on the beach.
Chef Yogui, notorious for his creative food preparations on yoga retreats in Mexico,
concocted an array of dishes to suit all tastes and catering to all diets at several
mealtimes during the event. My favorites included a cacao based smoothie and
chickpea sopes with a peanut salsa – an imaginative take on a Mexican favorite.
Javier Bautista led a musical narration or ‘Kirtan’ around a firepit on the beach as
the sunset lit up the circle of attendees. We danced and sang before Javier invited
us to maintain the dance in our soul while our bodies sat still once more around
the fire.
Roberto Gopar of Oaxaca, Mexico, enchanted the group with the healing vibration
of sound. A harmonious collection of indigenous Mayan instruments including
shells and drums are played alongside Tibetan singing bowls to create harmony
and align cellular energy in the body. A magical experience!
www.vallarta.grandvelas.com.mx
By Sara Jones, Editor