How can I live a healthier and better life? The answer apparently lies in the wilds of Belize. Now in its 12th year, Global Wellness Day is celebrated every second Saturday of June to promote a balanced lifestyle and raised awareness of living well. Define it how you’d like, but I’d throw my hat in the ring with time spent reconnecting in nature, intentional movement, and farm-fresh ingredients—and the tranquil Mountain Pine Ridge region promises all three. In this rejuvenating 4-day Positive Vibration yoga retreat with certified instructor Brice Dial, Gaia Riverlodge is offering an exclusive deep-dive into wellness for Global Wellness Day spent in Belize.
Wellness 365 Days A Year
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- Photo by Carolee Chanona
If cave yoga, serene waterfall visits, and daily yoga classes while indulging in delicious meals sounds like your kinda wellness getaway, keep reading. Surrounded on all sides by verdant valleys, go where the WiFi is weak and reconnect to self, thanks to yoga sessions led by local yogi Brice Dial.
The 4-day sanctuary starts with a cacao ceremony led by a Maya Shaman (after the welcome cocktail, of course). Thereafter, you’ll settle into your waterfall or mountain view room. Besides having all meals included and welcome amenities, you’ll also enjoy a Maya cooking class—where hand-ground corn transforms into fresh tortillas, made puffy and slightly charred on the hot comal over an open-flame fogon. Hint: fresh coconut oil and a pinch of salt make this a simple yet savory delicacy. It’s the perfect fuel ahead for classes led by certified coach Brice; as the owner of Positive Vibrations Yoga, she takes a holistic approach to wellness—mind, body, and spirit. Besides destination-centric twists like cave yoga inside the yawning Rio Frio Cave, all guests have full access to Gaia’s onsite waterfall, trails, and mountain bikes.
Double occupancy rates start at $2,114 USD per person, with the retreat dates scheduled for June 9-12, 2023.
Gaia: Adventurous By Nature
Gaia is nestled into the Mountain Pine Ridge. Image via Gaia Riverlodge
A 2.5-hour drive from Belize City and less than an hour from San Ignacio Town, the award-winning Gaia Riverlodge is enveloped by the lush Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. On the sloping bank of the Privassion Creek, a backdrop of the Maya Mountain mastiffs and the Five Sisters Falls offers spectacular scenery for its 16 rooms, which include cabanas, suites, and villas.
Its tagline “Adventurous by nature” is fitting considering Gaia feels landscaped into the earth— thatched-roof cabanas are constructed using indigenous materials, its “beach” is the sandy spits of the onsite waterfall’s freshwater pools, and the organic garden that supplies its Five Sisters Restaurant. Not to mention, the Mountain Pine Ridge’s high elevation makes for pretty pleasant weather year-round. That also means you won’t miss the air-con at night, and biking through forest trails have an extra cooling effect.
Images via Gaia Riverlodge unless stated otherwise.
