Finding Balance in the Breeze: Yoga & the Unexpected in Belize

I love to explore new places and experience new things. This desire extends beyond what I eat, drink, or where I go—it runs deeper. I seek the novel to experience life, to make memories that I can look back on to mark distinct moments and places along my untrodden path. This mindset is part of what leads my cousin and I to choose new places for our annual yoga retreat.

Last year, we experienced the magic of Costa Rica, complete with howler monkeys, sloths, morning silence, and rejuvenating yoga. We floated in the ocean, never wanting to come to shore. it was everything you would imagine a perfect yoga retreat to be. Yet, despite the perfection of that trip, we craved something new and booked Belize to see what our next experience would bring. We knew Belize would be different from Costa Rica, but we didn’t realize just how much. 

To ensure we didn’t miss a single moment of our retreat, we booked a few extra nights in Hopkins Bay. The retreat itself was nestled on an island, a 30-minute boat ride from Dangriga. Our decision to stay in Hopkins Bay beforehand proved to be one of the best we made. From the welcoming people to the turquoise waters to our attempt at learning to read tarot we loved every moment. But we were eager to get to the retreat. This trip, however, would become different from our previous retreats, and not just because I couldn't fully participate in the yoga. Did I mention that I’m still recovering from back surgery? Technically, I wasn’t allowed to do anything more than light yoga. No cat cows and down dogs for me.

The differences between Costa Rica and Belize became apparent immediately, starting with our ride from Dangriga to Hopkins Bay. Our driver, Orlando, gave us an impromptu but fascinating education on the political climate, which, I’m embarrassed to admit, I knew little about. He also shared personal stories from his life, transforming what could have been a routine transfer into an engaging and eye-opening experience. We were intrigued and hooked.

After two nights in Hopkins Bay, we needed to return to the airport to meet a driver who would take us to the boat. Eager to continue our conversation with Orlando, we were surprised to find we had a new driver: Golden. Golden shared with us the evolution of Hopkins Bay which had not always been a hotel district; in his youth, it was the jungle where his family foraged for food. 

Then things took a strange turn, instead of taking us to the airport as planned, Golden brought us to a boat launch in a run down part of Dangriga that didn’t feel right. We were confused and a little uneasy. Golden tried to reassure us that this was the normal location that the boat would leave from but we still felt like there was something off. Sensing our unease, Golden kindly drove us to the airport instead waiting until we confirmed with our resort that we were at the correct place. 

As we waited at the airport, we met Jimmy, a local artist with his own journey. He envisions his paintings and describes them to his mother, who brings them to life. I was drawn to one of the night sky and promised to buy it when we returned. Jimmy shared how a coma in his youth changed his life path, leading him from a future in medicine to healing others through art. I did go back and buy that painting which is proudly hanging in my house now.

When our next driver arrived, he took us just thirty seconds down the road—not ten minutes as Golden had suggested—to the actual boat launch in a much nicer area. Throughout the trip, we would wonder where Golden had truly planned to leave us, especially when we were leaving Dangriga five days later and went to a different launch associated with our retreat, still not the one Golden had tried to bring us to. This day however, we were went to a beautiful spot, the kind of spot where retreats begin, we enjoyed salsa and chips while waiting for our group. When all ten of us had gathered, we set off, sharing the buzz of excitement for the week ahead.

Upon arriving at the island, we were greeted by Avenar, who welcomed us with a fruit drink and a shot of coconut rum. You had to sip carefully because any empty space in your glass was quickly filled with more rum.

We checked into our private villa, complete with an upstairs deck and hammock. The first two days were everything we had hoped for. At the Starfish Bar, we met Junior, who quickly became our favorite—well, him and Jackson. Jackson, an animal and nature lover, took care of us during meals and ensured coffee was always ready by 6:00 a.m.

On the first full day of the retreat, we attended a yoga session at Serenity Point, followed by a journaling activity. Day two included an island crawl that we almost missed due to having a bit too much serenity. We visited seven islands by boat, an experience that felt like home to me, having grown up on a lake. However, this excursion came with an unexpected pressure to drink, and drink a lot. My cousin, a fellow retreater, and I opted to skip most of the shots, watering down our drinks with club soda instead.

Unfortunately, after this day, things took a turn, much like the wind. The first two nights had been magical, with dinners under the stars and deep conversations with fellow islanders. Then the wind forced us indoors, canceling our snorkeling trip to the Great Barrier Reef and moving yoga inside. We didn’t realize it at the time, but if we had wanted a picture on the swings over the water, we had already missed our opportunity as the wind was in charge from this point on.

So, instead of outward adventures, we retreated inward. We dove into tarot, journaled, and reflected on our past year and future dreams. That’s when we met Pablo. One breezy morning, while searching for seashells, he found us. Pablo told us how he had always longed to visit the U.S., specifically Ohio. Years ago, he had met missionaries and dreamed of traveling with them, but he never left because he couldn’t break his mother’s heart. He shared stories of his cattle farm and even invited us to visit and see his waterfall. From that moment on, whenever we saw Pablo on the island, he greeted us with the warmest smile.

We rode bikes against the wind, laughing when we couldn’t pedal. We read our tarot until the cards grew tired of us, repeatedly giving us two of the worst cards in the deck. We journaled and contemplated our goals, for the trip and beyond. At first, I was disappointed. I am a planner, and this trip had not followed the plan. But in retrospect, it was exactly what my soul needed. Our bodies may not have received the workouts we expected, but we found the respite we desperately needed from our stressful jobs. We took time for us, away from the demands of everyday life.

When all was said and done, we both Belizied that we couldn’t have had a more amazing time. The memories and people we met will be cherished for a lifetime. I wouldn’t trade this trip for any idyllic yoga retreat from a brochure. This trip taught me that I don't always know what I need. I need to lean into the present, to embrace spontaneity and not over-plan or over-expect. As I let life unfold and find joy in the unexpected, I realize that, like the wind, I can’t always control where I’m going, but I can learn to embrace the direction it takes me.