What Are the Best Yoga Activities in Puerto Escondido, Mexico?
Puerto Escondido is probably one of Mexico’s best surf and yoga towns! There is so much to discover and experience!
Many yogis, including myself, undergo a transformation during their time in Puerto! In fact, it’s common here to refer to Puerto Escondido as a “vortex”. Who knows, maybe you’ll get trapped too!
By walking the street of La Punta or Rinconada, you’ll quickly notice all the different flyers for yoga-related activities!
Yoga, Cacao Ceremonies, Sound Healing, Reiki, Kirtan… You can find everything you want here! So many things that you might feel a bit overwhelmed at some points…
I have been living in Puerto Escondido for the last 4 years and here are my recommendations:
I- Build a Safe and Personalised Yoga Practice with a Private Lesson
Yoga studios are everywhere in Puerto, and they have a lot of good teachers! If you still don’t know where to go, please read my article about the best places to practice yoga in Puerto.
When it comes to becoming a regular yoga practitioner, it’s always good to take a private lesson, at least once. With time, wrong alignments can seriously lead to an injury, and the teachers cannot always check on you during a public class.
Moreover, when you start practising yoga regularly, you will naturally feel the need to practice by yourself at home. Youtube videos are amazing for this but keep in mind that they’re not always safe, as no one is checking your posture and not every yoga posture are good for everyone.
I regularly give private lessons to my students and help them build a strong and safe practice that fits their specific needs.
Don’t hesitate to contact me for more guidance. You can also try a few classes with different teachers until you find one that you connect with.
II- Go to a Traditional Cacao Ceremony
A cacao ceremony is a spiritual gathering that involves the ceremonial use of cacao, which is the raw form of chocolate.
You might find it a bit strange to gather around a piece of chocolate, but cacao is big in Latin America, and it has nothing to do with your table of Cadbury that you eat at home! This one is so strong that you might even feel a bit high after a couple of cups.
Cacao has been traditionally used by indigenous cultures in Central and South America for its medicinal benefits and ceremonial purposes.
During a cacao ceremony, participants typically consume a specially prepared cacao elixir made from raw cacao beans. The ceremony is often led by a facilitator or shaman who guides the participants through various rituals, meditations, and activities.
The purpose of a cacao ceremony can vary depending on the tradition or intention of the facilitator. It is commonly associated with promoting spiritual growth, heart-opening experiences, inner exploration, emotional healing, and connecting with oneself or the natural world. The presence of cacao is believed to facilitate an altered state of consciousness, enhancing the participant’s ability to access deeper levels of awareness and introspection.
III- Sing your Heart Out with Kirtan
Kirtan is a devotional practice rooted in the ancient traditions of India. It involves the communal chanting or singing of sacred mantras, hymns, or devotional songs in a call-and-response format.
The chants and songs are often accompanied by musical instruments such as harmonium, drums, cymbals, and other traditional instruments.
More and more places are offering Kirtan in Puerto Escondido, as it’s a common yogic practice. In India, yogis practice Kirtan several times a week.
The purpose of kirtan is to create a sacred and uplifting atmosphere, where participants can connect with the divine, express devotion, and experience a sense of unity and oneness. It is considered a form of bhakti (devotional) yoga, where the focus is on cultivating love, surrender, and devotion to a higher power or spiritual essence.
IV- Let your Soul Dance with Ecstatic Dance
Have you ever been to an Ecstatic Dance event? – Then you will love gathering in Puerto Escondido or Mazunte!
If you’re wondering what Ecstatic Dance is, it’s a form of free-form movement and expression that encourages individuals to explore their bodies and emotions through dance.
In an ecstatic dance session or event, participants are often guided by a DJ or live music that creates a continuous flow of music without breaks. The environment is typically open and non-judgmental, allowing individuals to move freely and express themselves authentically. Ecstatic dance sessions often take place in a dimly lit space with minimal verbal communication, emphasizing the connection between the body, mind, and music.
The goal of ecstatic dance is to promote self-discovery, healing, and personal transformation through movement. It encourages individuals to let go of inhibitions, release pent-up emotions, and tap into their innermost selves. The dance floor becomes a sacred space where participants can connect with themselves, others, and the collective energy of the group.
Ecstatic dance gatherings are absolutely free of alcohol, it’s just raw dance, but the music is so powerful and vibrant that your body will become your guide!
I totally understand why this type of free “hippy dance” could be a bit daunting at first, but I promise, it’s a beautiful experience, and you’re in Mexico! Ecstatic dance draws inspiration from various traditions, including shamanism, trance, and sacred dance practices.
V- Embark on a Journey of Self Discovery with Embodiment and Somatic Therapy
Puerto Escondido truly has healing energies, and even if you weren’t planning on having a self healing journey while you’re here, you’ll probably end-up doing something that will change you.
One of the most direct way to heal yourself is probably by taking a Somatic Therapy session, or an Embodiment Therapy.
Somatic therapy, also known as somatic experiencing or somatic psychology, is a form of therapy that focuses on the connection between the mind and the body. It recognizes that our experiences and emotions are not solely cognitive but also embodied, stored in our bodies as physical sensations, muscle tension, and nervous system responses.
Somatic therapy can also be added to some practices like yoga, dance or meditation, which can result in a beautiful embodied experience.
To learn more about Embodiment and Somatic Yoga therapy, do not hesitate to contact me. I am a Somatic and Embodiment therapist in Puerto Escondido.
VI- Go to a Full Moon Ceremony
If you stay in Puerto during the full or the new moon, you will probably have conversations about full or new moon ceremonies!
A full moon ceremony is a ritual or gathering that takes place during the time of the full moon. It is a way to harness and work with the potent energy associated with the full moon phase. Full moon ceremonies are often practiced in various spiritual and cultural traditions around the world, and it’s actually something big in Mexico!
The purpose of a full moon ceremony can vary depending on personal intentions and beliefs. It may be used for manifestation, healing, releasing, setting goals, connecting with intuition, or fostering spiritual growth and connection.
If you’re lucky, you may find a full moon ceremony that includes a cacao ceremony, which would be a beautiful way to experience both rituals.
VII- Take Part of a Sound Healing Symphony
Now, imagine yourself with your head in the middle of a concert of all kinds of healing instruments: tibetan singing bowls, gongs, drums…
The sound healer plays with each sound and vibration of its instruments as if he was playing with the vibrations of your body to reveal or heal something about you!
Sound healing is very present in Puerto Escondido, and there are some excellent healers out there.
VIII- Realign your Energies with a Reiki Session
Restore your body and mind energies with a Reiki healing session in Puerto Escondido.
Reiki is a form of alternative healing that originated in Japan in the early 20th century. The word “Reiki” can be broken down into two parts: “Rei,” which means universal, and “Ki,” which means life force energy.
During a Reiki healing session, a Reiki master channels this universal energy to the recipient through their hands, promoting relaxation, stress reduction, and healing. The practitioner places their hands lightly on or near the recipient’s body in a series of positions, allowing the energy to flow. The recipient remains fully clothed and can either sit or lie down.
The goal of Reiki is to restore balance and harmony to the body, mind, and spirit. It is often used as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatments to support overall well-being. While some people may experience physical or emotional sensations during a Reiki session, it is generally considered a gentle and non-invasive practice.
IX- Take a Yoga Workshop
As you may have noticed by now, the Puerto Escondido yoga community is very big and everyone is so unique and so talented…
Luckily, some of these yoga teachers or healers regularly offer workshops in Puerto Escondido or Mazunte.
Yoga workshop, tarot reading, embodiment… you will have the opportunity to receive some beautiful knowledge and experience during your stay in P.E.
X- Take a Yoga Lesson on the Beach
If you wait in the line of one off the coffee shops in La Punta or Rinconada, you will probably see flyers of yoga teachers offering beach yoga classes.
Beach yoga is a form of yoga practice that takes place directly on the beach. It combines the benefits of yoga with the calming and grounding elements of being in nature, particularly by the ocean. Practicing yoga on the beach offers a unique experience due to the combination of the natural elements, such as the sound of the waves, the feel of the sand beneath your feet, and the fresh sea breeze.
Beach yoga offers a wonderful opportunity to combine the benefits of yoga with the beauty and serenity of the beach environment, allowing you to nourish your mind, body, and spirit in a unique and refreshing way.
I hope you have a better idea of the yoga community in Puerto. It’s an extraordinary place and you will fall in love with it…
If you have any more questions about yoga and healing activities in Puerto Escondido, do not hesitate to contact me. I’ll be happy to guide you!
Yoga & Embodiment
Namaste
My name is Caroline, but you can call me Cara. I am a Somatic Yoga Professional and Embodiment Therapist.
Because real therapy also involves the body, my goal is to help my yogi friends get to know themselves better and finally free themselves from all the tensions or traumas accumulated throughout their lives.