Some places find a way of reaching right into your soul, gently reminding you of who you truly are.
Punta Monterrey is one of those places for me.
Last month, I had the joy of co-leading a retreat with my beautiful friends- Lorna Samatas and Sarah Thompson- at this eco-friendly paradise tucked along Mexico’s Pacific coast. And while the photos capture the beauty—the wild jungle, the private beach, the endless sound of waves—no camera could ever fully capture the magic we experienced together.
Every day started with movement and intention. As the morning sun stretched over the treetops, we gathered—sometimes in stillness, sometimes in sweat (often both!)—to reconnect with ourselves. Barre, yoga, Thrive fitness, meditation… it was all there. We moved. We laughed. We pushed our edges. We softened back into ourselves.
And the food? It deserves its own love letter—fresh, local, nourishing, and so delicious. Every meal felt like a celebration: lovingly prepared, joyfully shared.
But honestly? The connection was the best part. The deep, soul-opening conversations that spilled from the studio to the dinner table to late-night chats under the stars. Strangers became friends. Hearts cracked open. Old stories were remembered—and many were released. I watched us all slowly return to ourselves, shedding the stress, the noise, the expectations… and simply being.
Some favorite memories I’ll hold close:
- The Temazcal Ceremony — a traditional sweat lodge ceremony.
I’d never done anything like it before, and yes, I was nervous—but also curious and excited. It was beautiful, intense, and deeply grounding. And running straight into the ocean at sunset afterward? Pure magic. - The Spirit Animal Dinner Conversation — one night at dinner, we each answered the question: “What’s your spirit animal?”
I shared that mine are the hawk and the owl—hawks always remind me of my dad, and owls, my mom. They feel like little winks from the universe.
Sarah said hers was the great white whale—because, as she laughed, “because what is there not to love about whales?!”
It was such a fun way to hear everyone’s stories and connect in a different way.
This retreat reminded me—again—why I do this work.
Why movement matters.
Why gathering in beautiful places matters.
Why carving out time to listen to ourselves matters.
To everyone who came: thank you. You brought the magic.
And to anyone thinking about joining our next retreat to Punta Monterrey: I hope you do. I can’t wait to experience it all again—with you.
With love and so much gratitude,
Jill
