I Went on a Twenty-One Day Reset Retreat

Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to escape and recharge somewhere with no work and no responsibilities.  I can see you, trust me.  Last summer I was burnt out to the max.  I had spent the year acclimating to a new role at a new organization.  I sold my home in NYC and purchased a new one in Miami.  I also had the brilliant idea of buying entirely new furniture in Miami to match my new neutral aesthetic.  But most of all, I was coming off surviving a global pandemic like the rest of the world.  It was not all a ton of fun.  Especially the part about trying to purchase furniture during a global merchandise shortage.

So here I was sitting in my beautiful new, very white, and sparsely decorated apartment thinking about how exhausted I was.  My inner décor did not match my outer décor. Don’t get me wrong. I was very grateful to be working living and working somewhere that resembled a beach paradise rather than a concrete jungle.  I may have left the Big Apple but every day still felt like a hustle.  It was filled with work, working out, finding furniture, fixing the apartment, making new friends, attempting to date, trying to get my health in check, and just getting by each day.  It was exhausting. I was exhausted.

 The voice in my head grew louder and louder.  You need a break.  You REALLY need a break.  I wasn’t sure exactly what I was looking for, but I knew I wanted to feel better and get grounded.  I wanted to be somewhere beautiful with delicious, healthy food and a focus on relaxation and wellness. I wanted plenty of physical activity to get strong but even more time to rest in order to calm my nervous system.  I wanted to have fun and to be around other wellness-minded individuals.  I wanted to learn how to heal and reconnect to my body. I wanted somewhere to relax, reset, and recharge. I wanted it all.

 So, like I do with all other questions I need answers to in life, I asked Google.  I found a few options that seemed to fit the bill but like Goldilocks searching for her bed they didn’t seem quite right.  They were too far or too close or too long or too short or too young or too old.  Then I came across Rē Precision Health on Instagram and finally something called out to me straight away.  It might have been the stunning, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from the hilltop retreat villa located in Sayulita.  It might have been the extensive series of modalities they use to bring guests back to optimal functioning. It might have even been the private chef cooking anti-inflammatory, delicious-looking meals daily.  Heck, it might have even been the art and chocolate-making classes.  The inner child in me will always want to play with art and chocolate.

I jumped on a call with founder Lucy Oliver and was impressed with her programming for the retreat and her ability to calmly answer my fifty anxiety-driven questions.  Lucy’s desire in creating this escape and program was to enable people to find freedom from their physical pain and mental prisons resulting in joy, health, and purpose. Lucy herself experienced many years of undiagnosed health issues and mental anguish.  She knew firsthand what it was like to feel lost and barely able to function. I could tell that she had felt my pain before. I also felt confident that she knew exactly how to help.  I was in.

The Reset retreat is a 21-day program designed to address the physical, mental, emotional, nutritional, and existential stresses that affect well-being. Re Precision recently changed the reset retreat to 15 days since they found they can make you feel just as good in fewer days and not everyone can get away for three weeks.  They go all out to ensure that each of those pillars is covered extensively.  There’s individual talk therapy, progress sessions, and education on a variety of psychological modalities and support tools.  There are biohacking tools galore including red light modulation, a pemf mat, hrv training, compression therapy, neurofeedback, and even a special pool version of an ice bath.

There are daily group movement options including yoga, strength training exercises, hikes, and functional movement classes.  All guests are put on a gut healing program including daily supplementation and all the food is anti-inflammatory and organic.  Think no dairy, no soy, no grains, no processed foods, and no alcohol. There’s also a weekly assortment of group classes ranging from Neuroception to Yogic Sleep Theory to Nutrition for Mental Health.  There are special events and excursions throughout the retreat such as sound baths and breathwork. There’s hiking to a hidden clay beach in order to cover oneself in ancient, healing mud and even a Temazcal ceremony with a local medicine woman.

I made my way to Sayulita from Miami and was lucky enough to be sitting next to another attendee on my connecting flight.  It was a universal high-five. We both were making our way to the retreat for similar reasons of burnout and needing an energy fill-up.   The center had pre-arranged a pick-up for us and we headed over to our new home about an hour outside of Puerta Vallarta.  We had some beautiful juices and snacks waiting for us upon arrival.  I don’t think I had ever been so happy to get to a retreat before.  It felt like walking through the gates of heaven.

The villa has 11 suites so there are no more than 11-15 participants for each reset. Each room varies in swagger and that reflects in price as a result.  You’re essentially either looking at the ocean or at mountains so they’re all beautiful.  My retreat group was entirely women except for one gentleman who fit right in with us ladies.  I hear that was quite unique, however, and there is typically more of a mix of men and women. I love a strong feminine energy so I was quite pleased. We had lovely ladies of all ages from all across the country (plus a Canadian) in all different careers and places in life.  It was incredibly empowering and educating to be around a group of such strong but different women (plus our one guy) during this time. 

At the start of each week, you’re given a personalized agenda with your daily individual sessions and the group events and classes. Every day starts off with movement class at 8:30 am unless there’s an excursion that day. I took classes some mornings and on others I opted to hike down to the beach and swim in the ocean for about 60 minutes. I found it to be the perfect way to move and reconnect with myself. Although it seems like a lot of activity the schedules are thoughtfully planned so some days have more and others are for rest.  Everything is optional as well so if you feel like skipping out on some activities then you are free to do so.  However, other than my daily beach hikes I didn’t feel the need to skip out on much.

The staff is extraordinarily talented and attentive to each guest’s individual health needs. There are several retreat managers who oversee the day-to-day activities and needs of the group.  There are also several experts on staff including doctors, licensed therapists, fitness coaches, yoga instructors, and even a neuroscientist.  The Director of Therapy and Integration whom you’ll be meeting with for weekly talk sessions is also trained in therapeutic psychedelic psychotherapy so if you’re seeking a Nine Perfect Strangers moment think of him as your potential Nicole Kidman.

So, what did happen after I spent 21 days at a reset retreat in Mexico?  Everything. As promised, the retreat completely rebooted my body, my mind, and my soul.  After just a few days in, I was sleeping 8-9 hours a night which I had not done regularly EVER.  I was falling asleep on my own by 9 p.m. most nights.  I began waking up every morning without my dear friends anxiety and dread.  I found spending time on my own every morning in nature helped me reconnect to my future desires and goals. I felt a stillness I had not felt in some time.   

My body felt less inflamed and my stomach less bloated.  It became leaner and stronger by the end of the trip. My intense and constant sugar cravings decreased.  Eating three daily meals made of real foods and ingredients helped break my addiction to the healthy processed foods I existed on back home. My skin cleared up and took on a subtle glow. With the help of talk therapy and the additional psychological support and education provided, I worked through some deeper issues that I had kept pushing down below the surface for many years.  Mostly, I think removing the loud noise of the regular every day allowed me to hear what I really needed to hear.  It's not only the staff and professionals but also the entire retreat group. You spend so much time together laughing, learning, exploring, creating, and crying.  You learn most of all from each other.

For several months back home after the retreat, I continued to incredible. I was able to bring my sleep and eating patterns back with me for some time.  It is hard to maintain that level of homeostasis with all the noise of work and life brought back into the mix. Stress can derail you in the snap of a finger. However, I was more resilient to it physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's been almost a year since the retreat and I’m feeling the itch to return back to Sayulita and back to myself.  The Reset retreat at Re Precision Health was absolutely life-changing.  There's no better gift in this life than feeling your absolute best. 

For more information on RE Precision Health retreats head over to their site here.