Golden Circle Retreats
Mexico
January 18 – 24, 2026
Welcome
Golden Circle Retreats aim to connect you back to yourself. Through delicious, wholesome food, joyful movement, and connection to the land, your senses will be saturated, and your heart uplifted.
We create the container for restoration on a deep level, with slow, shared meals, mindfulness practices, meaningful connections, and inspiration for how to live a more balanced and holistic life. Our week-long experience will bring relaxation and vibrancy to all levels of your being.
We look forward to meeting you on the beach in Mexico, January 2026, and trust that if you are called to join, this opportunity is meant for you. Rediscover the pleasure of being in your body, connect with your food, commune with nature, and find the spark to reignite your own journey!
With joy,
Sarah & Mikkala
The Retreat
The Golden Circle Retreat curriculum is thoughtfully designed to inspire curiosity, restore balance, cultivate inner peace, and nourish your body from the inside out. Learn to take care of yourself on a deeper level, and feel empowered moving forward knowing what optimal wellbeing looks like in your life beyond our time together.
We start each day with a centring physical practice led by Mikkala, followed by breakfast, and an intimate cooking class or nutrition workshop with Sarah.
After lunch there is free time to enjoy a dip in the oceanside pool, take a restorative walk in the jungle or on the beach, paddle a kayak along the shore, snorkel in the crystal clear waters, take a surf lesson, visit the spa for a relaxing treatment, or simply chill in your beautiful room.
Afternoons are for resting, with restorative yoga and meditation with Mikkala, or a Breathwork session with Sarah.
Dinners are slow and delicious, often evolving into beach hangouts, bonfires, and star gazing.
Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in paradise to connect with yourself and like-minded women from all over the world, indulge in the most delicious, high-vibrational food, move your body in joy, and reconnect to the rhythm of nature on a magical jungle beach in Mexico! Let’s go!
Itinerary
ARRIVAL ~ Transport from PVR Airport to Xinalani
Opening Circle
Sample Schedule Day:
8 – 10 am: Morning Practice with Mikkala
10 – 11 am: Breakfast
11:30 – 1:30 pm: Cooking Class or Wellness Workshop with Sarah
1:30 – 2:30 pm: Lunch
4 – 6 pm: Restorative Yoga or Breathwork with Sarah or Mikkala
7 – 8 pm: Dinner
8:30 – 9:30 pm: Go With The Flow Evenings
Closing Circle
DEPARTURE ~ Transport from Xinalani to PVR Airport
The Retreat Package
From when you land in Puerto Vallarta everything is taken care of…
- Transportation to and from airport at designated arrival and departure times
- 6 nights accommodation in a room of your choosing
- 3 fresh, organic meals per day, including snacks, tea and coffee
- Access to Xinalani’s amenities including pool, sauna, and beach
- 3 cooking classes led by Sarah Britton
- 2 breathwork sessions led by Sarah Britton
- Daily movement sessions led by Mikkala Marilyn Kissi including all the styles of the Living Yolates Method
- Golden Circle Retreat cookbook and lifestyle guide
- Exclusive Golden Circle Retreat tote bag filled with some of our favourite goodies
- Complimentary access to My New Roots Grow and the Living Yolates Circle the month prior to our retreat to prepare for our in-person time together
Thoughts from Past Participants
“This retreat came into my life at exactly the right moment, when I needed to rest and recharge – it was deeply nourishing in every way. Most importantly, the experience helped me reconnect with myself and my feminine energy, and to listen to my intuition, something I have struggled with for too long.”
L.L., Canada
“After the Golden Circle Retreat, I have continued to feel much more connected to my body in a positive way. I feel like I have some new tools to process life experiences. I have been cooking even more than I did before. I feel like I know how to better take care of myself – body, mind, and soul.”
B.D., USA
“My posture has changed, the lines in my face have changed, my whole perception has changed. There are not a lot of retreats out there, besides this one, that have such a holistic approach to health.”
Sandra, Australia
The Location
Xinalani is set on a sprawling, pristine and private beach, beside a jungle of breathtaking natural beauty. Small trails and stairs lead through the greenery to the accommodation nestled between the trees, each overlooking the sea. The location is as spectacular as the view: Xinalani is only accessible by a boat ride! Be ready for a bit of adventure before you nestle into your room, and listen to the sounds of the sea and the jungle.
This venue is an eco-resort where great efforts have been made to minimize environmental impact both when constructing the buildings, and by using low-impact materials, low consumption light bulbs, water recycling, natural biodegradable cleaning products and composting kitchen waste.
Xinalani is located just south of Puerto Vallarta, which is 3 hours and 15 minutes on a direct flight from Los Angeles, US.
Your Hosts
Sarah Britton
The creator of My New Roots and My New Roots Grow, Sarah Britton is a Holistic Nutritionist, whole-food chef, retreat leader, and certified Breathwork Facilitator. Since October 2007, Sarah’s successful blog has inspired eaters from around the world alongside her two cookbooks and mini-series Food Network Canada’s The Substitute Baker. My New Roots Grow is Sarah’s very own wellness platform, an expansive resource for cooking techniques, holistic living, exclusive recipes, breathwork and movement classes, and so much more. Sarah’s deep love for nature’s bounty and seasonality shines through in all she creates.
Sarah is a passionate educator, and loves teaching in person. This retreat will offer intimate, participatory cooking classes, featuring mostly plant-based and gluten-free recipes with plenty of time for questions, conversations, and lots of laughs!
The holistic wellness workshops and guided breathwork sessions will help you understand the inner workings of your body, with hands-on skills and practices that will delight and inspire you, well beyond your week together. Sarah’s classes are energetic and fun, as she loves sharing her knowledge of holistic health, and helping people truly find joy in their own wellness practices.
Mikkala Marilyn Kissi
Mikkala Marilyn Kissi, founder of Living Yolates, has training in professional dance, yoga and pilates instruction, certified nutrition therapy, kinesiology and more. Mikkala’s holistic training method combines the best of yoga, pilates, dance, meditation and energy work, all inspired by the wonder of nature’s rhythms and cycles.
Full of vitality, bursting forth with energy and softness, Mikkala has a keen understanding of balance within the body, mind, and spirit and leads her classes with nothing but pure joy and love. Movement, meditation, breathwork, and restoration during Mikkala’s sessions will revitalize you from the inside out. Mikkala believes that you are your greatest teacher, your life’s creator, and by tapping into this power you will be able to live more from a place of feminine leadership, trust, intuition, and celebration.
The Food
The week’s menu will be prepared by Xinalani’s own chef and team in collaboration with Sarah Britton, using local, whole-food ingredients – think My New Roots meets Mexico! Sarah loves working with the skilled and knowledgeable kitchen staff at Xinalani, as she always learns so much from their traditional ways of preparing food.
Sarah’s approach to cooking is creative, fresh and vibrant, and her passion is bringing out the natural flavours in the ingredients she chooses, while preserving their precious nutrients. She finds a great deal of inspiration through travel, and humbly learning from other cultures and kitchens. Her many trips to Mexico over the years have been no exception, and she looks forward to sharing some of her most-loved recipes with you.
All food and non-alcoholic drinks are included during your stay*, and each meal at the retreat is a true celebration! Meals are served buffet and family-style, offering something for every taste. Fresh, real, and delicious, the menu will follow Sarah’s principles, use plant-based ingredients, with plenty of raw and gluten-free options to suit all dietary needs (eggs, cheese, chicken, and fish are also available). Local, and organic ingredients will be used whenever possible.
*the beach bar is open daily and any drinks or snacks enjoyed there will be added to your bill to be paid when you leave.
Accommodation
All of the rooms at Xinalani have spectacular ocean views. Most of them are located high on the mountain and they are open-air, spacious and palm-thatched roofed. They were designed with love, and built and furnished by local artisans.
For this retreat we offer beautiful single rooms with ensuite bathrooms, double rooms with ensuite bathrooms (two separate beds), a deluxe casita with private plunge pool, and a four-person dorm option to try to accommodate preferences and financial considerations. If you would like to share a room with someone, please let Cathy know to book you in the same room.
All beds are covered with mosquito netting to protect you from insects at night and there are closed AC rooms available. All rooms have a private terrace, hammock, sitting area, private bathroom and closet.
There is wifi available in shared spaces, though we encourage you to disconnect and embrace wifi as a rare bonus, not a necessity.
Rooms and Rates
Shared 4-Person Room
Four twin beds, shared bathroom
$3250 USD pp
Shared Deluxe Room
Two twin beds, private bathroom
$3500 USD pp
Shared Deluxe Room with AC
Two twin beds, private bathroom, air conditioning
$3650 USD pp
Shared Eco Suite with AC
Two double beds, private bathroom, air conditioning
$4100 USD pp
Single Deluxe Room
One king bed, private bathroom
$4600 USD pp
Single Deluxe Room with AC
One king bed, private bathroom, air conditioning
$4900 USD pp
Single Eco Suite
One king bed, private bathroom
$5950 USD pp
Single Luxury Casita
One king bed, private bathroom, private plunge pool, air conditioning
$6950 USD pp
Payment Terms & Conditions
A non-refundable deposit of $1000 USD is required at time of booking.
Final payments are due October 28, 2025 and are 100% non-refundable from final payment date to departure date.
Airfare is not included. Transportation to and from PVR at designated times is included. Other transportation arrangements outside of these offerings are not included.
Please note: you must arrange your flights so that you arrive into Puerto Vallarta before 2:00pm the first day of our retreat and ensure your flight out is booked to depart after 11:00am.
Book Now
Bookings for this retreat are handled via email to our travel coordinator Cathy Wassermann of Wassermann Retreats.
Click below to email Cathy who will provide export support as you fill out your registration forms, choose your room, and to pay your deposit for our Mexican adventure, January 2026.
For any questions you may have about the location, programming, or any other concern, please feel free to contact Kaitlin from our team directly at info@goldencircleretreats.com, she’ll be more than happy to support!
(clicking above opens an email window)
Additional Details
In order to create an intimate and relaxed atmosphere for all, this retreat is for women only, and participation is limited to 15 guests.
Our retreats respect and honour where you are right now in your health journey. The classes and workshops are for women of any culinary skill level and any physical condition. We welcome everyone with open arms. Please write to us with anything we may need preparation for in order to make your retreat as comfortable as possible!
Prices are per person. A separate booking must be made for each person in a group, please note if you wish to share a room with a friend or relative. If not, and you choose a shared room, you will share it with a friend you haven’t met 🙂
All bookings are final with no refunds. We require a $1000 USD deposit at sign up which is non-refundable. The remaining balance of your retreat price will be due October 28, 2025. There is no refund after the balance is paid.
In case of illness or force majeure, we will do our best to find a solution/have another participant take the space and trip insurance is available through our retreat planning company, Wassermann Retreats. It is possible to give your space to a friend, just inform us at least 1 week before the retreat takes place via email info@goldencircleretreats.com.
Flights to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico are not included.
Additional food and beverages, and additional services outside of our retreat offerings are not included.
When signing up for a retreat you agree to our general terms and conditions. Have any questions? Please write us an email at info@goldencircleretreats.com
Location: Playa Xinalani, Quimixto, Jalisco, Mexico
Venue: Xinalani Retreat
Check-in: 2 pm
Check-out: 11 am
Please note: Staying at Xinalani prior to the retreat is not possible, as Sarah and Mikkala are preparing the space for you. If you are traveling from overseas and would like to stay nearby, please get in touch with us for recommendations.
Questions?
Contact us with questions about the classes and retreat programming at info@goldencircleretreats.com
Bookings will be made through our travel partner Wassermann Retreats, an affiliate of Direct Travel, 93 Main Street S, Georgetown, ON L7G 3E5,
TICO 50023504
Contact: Cathy Wassermann
Email: cwassermann@dt.com
Phone: +1 905.873.2000 ext. 1232
(EST – please respect the time zone)