A writer can heal with sound bath therapy, yoga, meditation, and time in the Pacific Ocean.
Peace in all directions: above you, below you, and all around. After her Divine Feminine Embodiment meditation session, Niki Trotsky, our ethereal breathwork facilitator, instructed us to internalize and carry with us this chant. It's a simple sentence to say, but it's far from simple to put into practice, especially for a control freak with anxiety like me.
2020 took a toll on me, and I have a feeling I'm not the only one. After a particularly gloomy winter, I struggled for 15 months to get out of a pandemic-induced malaise. I alternated between intense feelings of terror and hopelessness. I leaped at the chance to check out El Careyes Club and Residences' updated health program when I was given the chance. I spent a week of wellness in Careyes, Mexico, and the phrase "peace all around" truly captures what I had been looking for.
On the Mexican state of Jalisco's coast stands the opulent private estate resort known as Costa Careyes, a healing haven steeped in both mystery and wonder. Gian Franco Brignone, an Italian banker, built the private and enigmatic town in 1968, and since then, it has developed from an empty jungle into a community with brilliant villas, colorful casitas and bungalows, and opulent beach castles.
I take a brief flight into Puerto Vallarta and, armed with my necessary negative COVID test results, set out on the three-hour journey to Costalegre. I get there just before sundown at El Careyes Club and Residences. The welcoming receptionist greets me first, followed by the spectacular views of an infinity pool extending out into the Pacific Ocean. The resort's beachside restaurant and bar, La Duna, is where I change into new clothes after dropping off my baggage. There, I am greeted by one of the most breathtaking sunsets I have ever seen. The resort's five infinity pools reflect dreamy pink, purple, and orange hues, illuminating the entire area with a comforting glow that I will never forget.
I take advantage of my jet lag the following morning (and every morning after) and stroll to the beach right outside my villa for a peaceful period of introspection as the sun rises. I close my eyes to help stimulate my other sensations and dig my heels into the sand. I take deep breaths of the salty sea air while listening to the tranquil sounds of the waves and feeling the breeze brush my cheeks. I can get used to being alone with The Great Pacific.
I continue my morning routine by ordering a cup of green tea that is both healthful and not particularly nutritious (hey, I'm on vacation). I can't help but observe the other resort visitors as they trickle into the restaurant and around the property during breakfast. While I'm on my solo trip, I witness all different kinds of tourists enjoying their time in Careyes: I see couples holding hands as they stroll along the beach, families with young children having fun in the pools and a group of really athletic women on a wellness trip.
My days in Careyes are jam-packed with a variety of pursuits that highlight the range of what this close-knit town has to offer. Another day I'm touring the incredible palapa-topped bungalows, all equipped with infinity pools that feature stunning views of the ocean, and yet another day I'm indulging in ceviche and margaritas at Playa Rosa Beach Club after a relaxing boat ride to a secret beach where I come to learn about the work The Careyes Foundation has done to save over 1.75 million sea turtles from its beaches.
The resort's extensive wellness program is what initially drew me here, and it is also what makes El Careyes Club and Residences a top retreat for like-minded travelers looking for the ideal place to recover from pandemic fatigue, even though it is obvious that there are endless adventures to be had in Careyes. Careyes offers daily vinyasa yoga courses that are led by either resident yogi Niki Trotsky or one of the rotating visiting practitioners from around the world, in addition to customized spa treatments, meditation sessions, and private pilates instruction. One of the highlights of my trip is getting to take classes from both Trotsky and visiting practitioner Andrew Sealy.
I am less frightened to try advanced yoga positions because of Trotsky's magnetic energy and Sealy's calming presence. Even when I mess up or lose my balance, I laugh it off, take a deep breath, and try again. I try acro yoga for the first time in my life as if regular yoga weren't exciting enough for me. After many efforts and a spirit-boosting pep talk, I finally fall into Sealy's hands and I am flying, both metaphorically and practically. Sealy, who is always so confident in my talents, helps me conquer my rather illogical fear of acrobatics.
The most spectacular event of my trip takes place at Copa Del Sol ("Cup of the Sun"), the magnificent building designed by Careyes. The unique structure, which is perched on a cliff overlooking Playa Teopa and rises 35 feet from the ground to a diameter of almost 88 feet, provides the ideal acoustic environment for a sound bath.
Local healer Daniel guides our group on a restorative journey using a combination of meditation tools and his voice to assist us all to connect and reconnect with our deepest selves. A harmony that makes me cry is created when the vibrations from the therapeutic sounds ascend over La Copa and converge with the beat of the waves slamming on the shore. I can successfully filter out all of the extra noise in my head during the sound healing, and for the first time in a very long time, I feel completely at peace inside of myself.
On my last morning in Careyes, I make one more trip to the beach to see the sunrise and think back on the past five days that I've spent in this incredible and protected hamlet. I reflect on how much closer to nature and myself I feel, as well as how satisfying it was to step outside of my comfort zone and attempt something new. Finally, I reflect on the profound peace I was able to experience in this unique sanctuary and I tell myself the mantra I will carry with me when I return home: Peace above me, peace below me, and peace all around.