Relax This Winter With a Yoga Trip to Belize

If you’re looking for the ultimate, relaxing, tropical vacation, you can’t do better than Wilderness Inquiry’s six-day Belize Yoga Retreat and Adventure. Participants can walk along sun-drenched beaches, snorkel in crystal clear waters, head into the jungle to visit a jaguar preserve, travel along the coast to soak up unique Garifuna culture, and decompress and unwind with daily yoga sessions. To find out more about the benefits of the trip, we called outdoor leader Rebecca Barnes. The 35-year-old yoga teacher from San Diego has been guiding Wilderness Inquiry trips since 2001, and has been to Belize the past five years.

What’s the atmosphere like for yoga at the resort in Belize?
The place we stay has a yoga palapa so we can practice outside. It’s quiet. You can hear the sound of the birds chirping. The palapa is steps away from the ocean, so when there are small waves breaking, you can hear them. It’s the perfect place to get out of the hustle and bustle of daily life.

What types of yoga sessions will you lead in Belize?
I will lead a slow form of Vinyasa, suitable for all ages. You can do it even if you’re bound or use a chair. I lead three chair yoga classes a week in San Diego. The sessions will work for all levels and focus mainly on breathing and meditation, with movement being secondary.

Can someone go on this trip that is a yoga beginner?
Absolutely, I like teaching beginners! It would be really good for them.

Jungle Jeanie's

What things do you try to focus on in your yoga sessions?
What I focus on is entering a state of flow, where you’re not thinking about anything else. You’re giving yourself an hour to decompress, clear your mind, and be fully engaged in the present activity.

What effects do yoga trips have on people?
Yoga trips promote health, relaxation, rest, and resetting, which help you to start fresh with things like goal setting and new intentions. You’re really just giving yourself the time to relax, stretch your body, and meet new people.

Read more about the Belize Yoga Retreat and Adventure.