| | |  Travel & Outdoors | January 2009 
Vacation in Mexico with Yoga on the Beach
 Eric Pero - Reformer
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Winter is only three weeks young, but the cold, snowy and icy weather is already taking its toll. To help combat "winteritis," two locals are organizing a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga trip to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico - and they want you to come along!
The trip takes place during Winter Vacation, Feb. 19-26, and is based in Puerto Morelos, a quiet fishing village with beautiful beaches and great snorkeling on the world's second largest reef. Unlike the "all-inclusive" packages sold on the Internet these days, participants will stay in a small bed and breakfast owned by a Mexican family and enjoy seeing real Mexican culture.
"It's not a big resort atmosphere," said Ann Newsmith, co-organizer of the trip. "(Puerto Morelos) is very relaxed and still has a lot of charm. It feels like you're really in Mexico!"
This is the 10th year that Newsmith, CCV marketing director and PAX exchange program coordinator, and Thea Lloyd, a local attorney, mediator and yoga teacher, have organized the Mexico yoga trip. More than 100 area residents have participated over the years and Newsmith says people can feel comfortable signing up because the trip has a 10-year history and it's run entirely by locals.
"We're community folks," Newsmith said. "You're not signing up for a trip through a company in Chicago or something."
Each morning starts with a gentle, relaxing yoga session on the beach, followed by an open day to explore the region's many interesting features, including Mayan ruins and world-class snorkeling. Newsmith said it's a "non-group group" so individuals don't need to stick with the herd all day. The yoga sessions are also very relaxed and no yoga experience in necessary.
"People think you have to be proficient in yoga to go on this trip," Newsmith said. "That's not true. Because it's outside, it's a very gentle type of yoga. And looking at the ocean while doing it is magical."
The morning yoga sessions will be led by Thea, who says, "Doing yoga on the beach is both calming and energizing. Being in direct contact with the earth and having the sun overhead allows us to draw those energies into our bodies while being surrounded by water is very soothing."
Newsmith said this trip is open to everyone - men, women and families with children - and it takes place during Winter Break for schools to accommodate that. Eight to 10 people usually sign up to come along and Newsmith said people always enjoy seeing the "spirit of Mexico."
"We want people to get a chance to have cross-cultural experiences," Newsmith said. "Mexicans have a much simpler lifestyle and are very happy, warm, outgoing people."
The cost of the Yoga in Mexico trip is $800 per person for a double room (or less for a triple) and airfare right now is cheaper than Newsmith has seen it in at least five years.
For more information about traveling to Mexico with the group, visit www.solarhillyoga.com and click on the "Vacation in Mexico with Thea" link. Contact Ann Newsmith at ann.newsmith(at)gmail.com. |
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