RECAP: Body Care on the Beach 2025 — Troncones, Mexico
Once again, our annual ‘Body Care on the Beach’ Retreat (BCOB) in Mexico was a big success!
Not only was the weather perfect (it always is!), but the ocean was warm, the breezes were cool, and the sand between our toes felt more grounding than ever.
Leaving our lovely boutique hotel at sunrise each morning, we passed surfers on our walk around the rocky, windswept point to find the spectacular Casa Verde yoga studio where we met twice daily for gentle movement classes. On a platform high above the beach, the open-air studio’s expansive views of the ocean are perfect for tracking the pelicans and herons, the fisherman on the rocks, plus the many whales in the distance breeching almost daily—sometimes two or three at a time.
During the classes, we explored a blend of multiple movement modalities that I have developed from years of working with many kinds of bodies. Keeping it slow and safe, I included a mix of gentle poses from the Iyengar tradition, as well as restorative yoga, breath work, and MUCHO Somatics which everyone seems to love, especially during the hotter, afternoon sessions. This year, I also had fun sharing freestyle movement with music, some partner stretching, and a little bit of salsa dance, because… why not?
Between classes, we all had opportunities to discover the artisan markets, local restaurants, and the many treasures to be found in the local tiendas. There were also guided adventures to join, including kayaking in the estuary, a boat ride to Ixtapa Island for snorkeling and fancy pineapple drinks, boogie boarding on long deserted beaches, and shopping in the bigger town of Zihuatanejo.
And of course the food!!! Sweet mangos, papayas, coconuts and limes are in abundance; perfectly ripened avocados, and deliciously spicy salsas grace every table; fresh mahi mahi, snapper, swordfish, camarones and lobster are caught daily right off the beach. The local chefs are seafood masters, creating the most amazing ceviche, tiritas, and aguachile.
We saved the best for last, visiting one of my fave places, El Pedacito de Cielo or “a little piece of heaven”, for the most delicious tuna dishes ever.
It makes my lips tingle and quiver just writing this!
Our local hosts were as generous as always. The hotel staff catered to everyone’s needs with friendly smiles and incredible patience listening to our awkward but passionate spanish. The rooms are very comfortable, and the hotel bar and restaurant has grown over the years to offer deliciousness all day long, not to mention that their margaritas and mezcalitas are some of the best on the beach. We tried them several times just to be sure! Haha.
And then for the last night of the retreat week, we gathered in the beautiful living area of Casa Verde for a final night of fun together. We started with a wine tasting from the winery of one of our participants from California and then finished watching the sunset with either wine or a home-made margarita concoction that I have perfected. Next, we were served by a wonderful local caterer who made us a fantastic feast of tostadas, guacamole, camarones, pasta, and salad, all followed by her infamous ‘pye limon’ which is more lime than lemon and more of a cake than a pie, but delicious nonetheless. Thankfully, after only a few minutes of sitting around groaning about our full bellies, our wonderful retreat manager, Miriam—who has always had a side hustle as a DJ—turned down the lights, plugged in her traveling disco light (who knew?), turned on her BCOB dance party playlist that she had created that afternoon, to get us all up and dancing. Our bodies were more loose and supple than ever after a week of bodywork on the beach, so once again, why not?
The stars guided us all back to the hotel where we had one more sleep before farewells the next day.
Another year. Another beautiful gathering.
Thank you, Troncones!
***
Read below to hear some of the guests’ comments and check out some of our favourite images from the retreat in the gallery below!
And if you’re interested in coming next year, be sure to join the waitlist!
“Martha’s retreat is a perfect combination of work and play: yoga and somatics twice a day on a platform overlooking the ocean then lots of opportunities for investigating the town and surroundings or just swimming and reading on the beach. Restful, peaceful, invigorating. A terrific way to spend a week with a great bunch of people and a wonderful teacher. Five stars!” - BC
---------
“This year was exceptional for me. I can't pinpoint one reason, but rather a recipe of things colliding together to create a great experience. I think this year was different b/c I was in the right frame of mind, being exposed to Martha's training and the program I was more open this year, Martha's guidance this year was different - the rhythmic and confident elocution, breathing exercises, the history and important context, the care, deepening friendships, new friendships. These were all important ingredients into a great experience. This years experience has improved my personal practice, mainly with breathing and thoughtfulness of the practice.
I came away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the somatic practice. I also came away with a greater appreciation of my friend Martha's wisdom and deep understanding of yoga and the spiritual connections that it can influence. I also came to appreciate the care that is at the centre of the practice for those that need and respond to the somatic practice. Awkwardly, I'm also coming to recognize the loss of connection that eventually happens between our brain and bodies - it's in equal ways alarming and rewarding. The final insight is - I need this in my life. I will endeavour to make this an annual retreat of physical, mental and spiritual alignment.
Body Care on the Beach is an impactful program that helps re-centre you and reconnect your body & mind. Having been involved in this program now for multiple years, I can't say enough about the program, the thoughtful guidance of Martha, the program admin, and the network Troncones businesses that help create an exceptional experience year after year.
Many many thanks 🙏🙏” - CJ
---------
"Many thanks for your invaluable teachings. I really gained a lot of body mind awareness… more than I knew that I could!” - MM
