Illuminate: A Full Moon Healing Retreat in Southern Mexico
February 19-24, 2027
The ocean has always known the moon—tides move in response to her cycles and so do we.
Illuminate is a five-night healing retreat on the shores of Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Aligned to the full moon and rooted in the ancient wisdom of Yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this week at a secluded beachfront sanctuary is your invitation to soften and let the light of La Luna illuminate what is ready to be seen, felt, and released.
Each day will open with meditation, the practice of Sun & Moon Salutations, and languid yoga flows that honour breath and body. You can expect gentle hands-on support and therapeutic touch to be woven into every practice, offering your nervous system the gift of being truly held. Evening practices will deepen into the quiet arts of Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra—long holds and supported rest will be further enhanced with Thai massage and TCM techniques before you drift into healing stillness.
Expect immersive experiences throughout the week: sound baths under open skies, a moon bathing ritual at the water’s edge, and, for those who feel called, an exhilarating cold plunge session to awaken the body’s vitality. Additional acupuncture and Thai massage sessions with our favourite practitioners from Toronto will be on offer to help clear stagnation and bring your system back into balance. Expect to feel things shift.
Possible offsite excursions include surfing in Puerto Escondido, swimming and snorkelling in sheltered bays and calm harbours, whale watching, baby turtle releases, and swimming with bioluminescent plankton.
Or lean into your monastic side and stay closer to home, where you have everything you need. Read, rest, converse, and manifest. Thoughtfully crafted journaling prompts woven throughout the retreat will invite you to track your inner landscape, map your intentions, and carry the clarity of this week forward into your year.
DATES AND ITINERARY
ARRIVE on Friday February 19, 2027. Check-in is between 2-5 pm.
DEPART on Wednesday February 24, 2027. Check-out is no later than 12 pm.
TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE
Optional sunrise meditation and Sun & Moon Salutations
Self-serve coffee, tea and fruit
Morning yoga
Brunch
Free time to relax poolside or head out for an optional excursion
Dinner
Evening Practice
WHAT'S INCLUDED
• Five nights accommodation
• Brunch and dinner each day
• Coffee, tea, and filtered water
• Daily yoga and meditation instruction
• All rituals, ceremonies, and workshops
• Many Moons 2027 Planner
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
• Airfare and ground transport
• Travel and medical insurance
• Alcoholic beverages
• Optional excursions and treatments
• Staff gratuities
ROOMS AND RATES
All payments are per person (rather than per-room) and are shown in US Dollars. Each room has its own ensuite bathroom.
Bunk Room (4 twin beds): $1450 USD per person
Queen Standard Room (2 queen beds. Ideal for two friends sharing): $2150 per person double occupancy
King Standard Room Shared (1 king bed): $2150 per person double occupancy
King Standard Room Single (1 king bed): $3550 single occupancy
Standard Suite Shared (1 king bed, ocean view): $2650 per person double occupancy
Standard Suite Single (1 king bed, ocean view): $5300 single occupancy
Primary Suite Shared (1 king bed, ocean view, living room, deck with hammock): $3150 per person double occupancy
Primary Suite Single (1 king bed, ocean view, living room, deck with hammock): $6300 single occupancy
Deluxe Primary Suite Shared (1 king bed, ocean view, living room, deck, large walk-in closet): $3350 per person double occupancy
Deluxe Primary Suite Single (1 king bed, ocean view, living room, deck, large walk-in closet): $6700 single occupancy
GETTING THERE
Fly into Puerto Escondido (PXM) or Bahias de Huatulco (HUX).
Our retreat venue is a 30-minute drive from PXM and 90 minutes from HUX.
Consider flying into PXM on Wednesday February 17 to take advantage of the direct flights offered by Air Canada on Wednesdays. Alternatively, flying into HUX and out of PXM may make sense if you do not wish to book a hotel in Puerto Escondido for two nights before our retreat start date.
Ground transport is NOT included in this retreat. Renting a car for the week will offer you maximum flexibility to come and go and it is by far the most budget friendly option. The driving is very relaxed in Oaxaca. Or let us know if you would like us to connect you with others who are arriving on your flight for the purposes of sharing a cab or chipping in on a car rental.
HOW TO BOOK
To inquire about room availability or reserve a spot on this retreat, please contact us via this email link. Confirm your spot with a non-refundable deposit of $1000 USD payable to our travel agent and Travel Industry Council of Ontario representative, Michelle Corbeil of TravelOnly. Your balance is due no later than January 11, 2027.
your instructors
YuMee (she/her) E-RYT-500 YACEP is a former securities lawyer who left a busy practice to engage more deeply with life. More than 25 years later, she is a card carrying yoga nerd, movement educator, writer, retreat leader, and mother of cats.
Known for her uplifting, breath-driven classes and intelligent, organic sequencing, she is a kind-hearted and relatable teacher who communicates about the most subtle and nuanced parts of the yogic journey with clarity and grace. Students can expect an impeccable practice that strikes a sweet balance between spirit and sweat.
YuMee knows firsthand the healing potential of Oaxaca and is excited to partner with her favourite body worker and healer, Mercedes, to share its potent magic with you.
Mercedes (she/her) is a Registered Eastern Medicine Acupuncturist (CTCMPAO) with a deep love for the healing arts. She is also a Thai Massage practitioner with over 10 years of experience. She has a gift for weaving her modalities together — acupuncture, restorative yoga, and sound therapy — in ways that feel organic and intentional, never the same experience twice. She follows what feels alive, and it shows.
Off the table and off the mat, you'll find Mercedes somewhere near the ocean, chasing the sun’s warmth, eating all the fresh fruit, and soaking up the full moon’s radiance. She recently spent a truly restful and cleansing week in Puerto Escondido with YuMee, and she's beyond grateful to be back and sharing it with you on retreat.