Elements: A 7-Day Yoga, Movement and Nature Retreat in the Belize Jungle

The schedule is built around five elements — Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether — and each day's classes and workshops sit under one of them. Earth covers an introduction to permaculture, functional movement and Yin Yoga. Water brings Qi Gong, a cacao ceremony and a women's circle. Fire is a fire ceremony. Air includes slow Vinyasa yoga, a chanting workshop, sound healing and kirtan. Ether closes with a workshop on connecting to your inner guidance and a Family Constellations session.

What separates this from a standard yoga week is who is teaching. The sessions are run by Sattva's founders and residents rather than visiting staff. Clauco, a finish carpenter and one of the founders, teaches the permaculture introduction. Gloria Glo, also a founder and a certified 5Rhythms teacher, leads the movement work and teaches yoga and Tao-Tantric practices. Giulia Garofalo, a certified sound healing practitioner who has worked with cacao for a decade and makes Dragon Chocolate in Belize, runs the cacao ceremony and sound sessions. Sam Combs, the centre's general manager, holds space for the group across the week. Binny Kagedan, a somatic therapist and chant leader, leads kirtan and chanting. Rebecca Stone, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Brooklyn Somatic Therapy, facilitates the Family Constellations work. Yasmin Page, who runs Sattva's self-directed learning co-op, teaches the Walking the Path workshop.

Two excursions are included: a trip to jungle waterfalls and a cave kayak adventure. Both are half-day outings, leaving the rest of the day for classes or for doing nothing at all. The property has private jungle walks, a natural swimming pool and permaculture gardens you can wander.

Sattva sits on the Hummingbird Highway, 45 minutes from the Caribbean coast and 25 minutes from the town of Dangriga. It is about 90 minutes from Belize City's international airport and 25 minutes from Dangriga's domestic airport. The surrounding rainforest has rivers, waterfalls, caves and hiking trails, and Belmopan, the capital, is 45 minutes away.

The retreat runs once, 12–18 January 2025, and is being offered at a 20% launch discount across all room types. Airport transport from Belize City is included for participants arriving on 12 January and departing on 18 January.

What's included

- Transport to and from Belize City airport (for arrivals on 12 January and departures on 18 January) - 6 nights of all-inclusive accommodation - 3 meals daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner buffets) - Vegan and gluten-free meal options - Yoga classes (slow Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative) - Guided meditation - Qi Gong sessions - 5Rhythms movement sessions - Cacao ceremony - Sound healing sessions - Kirtan and song ceremony - Chanting workshop - Fire ceremony - Women's circle - Intro to Permaculture workshop - Functional Movement class - Walking the Path workshop - Family Constellations workshop - Excursion to jungle waterfalls - Cave kayak adventure - Access to private jungle walks, natural swimming pool and permaculture gardens

What's not included

- International flights to Belize - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Additional 3.5% surcharge if paying by credit card - Airport transfers outside the 12 January arrival and 18 January departure dates - Alcoholic drinks - Spa treatments or massage - Optional activities not listed in the programme