December 26, 2026-January 2, 2027
A New Years to Remember
Chacala, México
Break the cycle of New Year's resolutions that are set in vain and discarded before the Winter snow begins to melt. Instead, join Flying Heart Retreats founder Willis Johnston and Ivorie Jenkins for a transformative 7-day New Year's wellness retreat that will stay with you all year long.
Picture yourself in beautiful Chacala, Mexico, just 90 minutes North of Puerto Vallarta. Here you will immerse yourself in daily meditation, phenomenal yoga sessions by the ocean, lovingly prepared farm-to-table meals and more self care in a week than you'll get all year. You will have plenty of time to simply be with yourself or connect with other really cool guests. Pool or spa time? Done. Sunsets from a hammock? Check. You can also pencil in a New Year's Eve party with guests from all over the world. This retreat is the perfect opportunity to set a clear purpose for the year to come as well as identify and discard those unhealthy patterns that may try to hijack your best laid plans for 2027.
Retreat Highlights:
Daily Yoga Practice
Enjoy high quality yoga classes with Willis and Ivorie, with mornings being more active and evenings restorative. We will have deep, long practices to take advantage of the gift of time. Time to move, be, and breathe.
New Years Eve Fire Ceremony and Party
A tradition at Mar de Jade! Guests will be invited around the fire with music and ceremony to release something to the flames and move forward into 2027 with intention. Afterward, we will ring in the new year with Mexican customs and a complimentary toast of champagne or sparkling cider!
Cacao Ceremony
Led by Kuku Cacao, you will enjoy an authentic Cacao Ceremony to open your heart and set your intention for the new year ahead.
Breathwork + Sound Ceremony
Guest Artist Xavier Olazabal will grace our group with his amazing way of leading transformative breath ceremony in a way that is accessible and deeply heartfelt. Be prepared to explore your energetic body through breath, while also resting in an incredible sound ceremony.
Guided Volcano Hike
Hike through the jungle, full of amazing plant life. Climb toward the top of an old volcanic crater, which has been taken over by stunning plant life. Enjoy the magic at the top, with sweeping views of Chacala bay.
Nourishing Meals
Meals at Mar de Jade are a highlight. Fresh, well-balanced dishes are served three times daily in an open-air dining room overlooking Chacala Bay, made from scratch using ingredients from their organic farm. The menu blends traditional Mexican and international flavors, with plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, as well as fish and chicken. A snack bar is available throughout the day with coffee, tea, fruit, bread, and house-made spreads.
This retreat is about balance
Movement and rest, exploration and ease, structure and space.
STAY
Mar de Jade is a yoga, wellness and vacation retreat center located in a peaceful fishing village that lies nestled between the tropical jungle and the pristine sandy beaches of Chacala, Mexico.
Playa Chacala, considered one of the jewels of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, is one of the most beautiful and tranquil beaches on the lush coastline known as Riviera Nayarit. It is home to approximately 400 residents who live an unhurried lifestyle. The town and surrounding areas have much to offer from jungle hikes, surfing, boating and ancient petroglyphs, to the simple pleasure of playing on the soft sand and swimming in the year-round warm ocean waters. Mar de Jade has easy access to Puerto Vallarta International Airport, just 90 minutes south, yet feels world apart from the big tourist developments. Mar de Jade is not only a stellar, seamlessly operated retreat center, but they are a facility with heart and soul, giving back to their community via their non-profit MDJ Community Project
Ocean
The Ocean Rooms are bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a private balcony with an Ocean view. Comfortable and well appointed, each room has a sitting area with a futon that can be made into an additional bed. Rooms are on high floors and require steps to climb.
Garden
Garden Rooms are either crafted in a Mexican style, with natural rock walls and hand painted mosaics; or with an airy Mediterranean feel with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light and fresh breeze. Located on the ground floor, they are easily accessed with either a few steps or a ramp, and are appropriate for anyone with mobility issues.
Guest
Guest Rooms are decorated in bright and cheerful Mexican textiles and colors, providing a cozy and well appointed option for those seeking simplicity and comfort. Rooms are located on both ground level and third floors, either jungle or garden facing.
Guest Loft
Guest Rooms with Loft are a simple yet spacious and economical option for 3 to 4 roommates in a dorm configuration. The bottom level has a king bed or two twins and a bathroom; the loft is accessed by a spiral staircase and has two twin beds. Some rooms feature an additional futon bed on the bottom level. Rooms are either facing the gardens or jungle. The loft is not recommended for people with mobility issues.
Practice Space
Classes will be held in one of Mar de Jade’s four yoga & retreat studios with hardwood floors, offering inspiring ocean views, fresh breeze and natural light.
Each studio comes equipped with yoga mats, blocks, straps, blankets, bolsters, yoga chairs and meditation cushions, so no need to pay for that extra bag or lug your mat and props with you through security.
Saturday, December 26th
Arrive in Puerto Vallarta and make your way north along the coast to Chacala, where the shift into retreat mode begins. Settle in and take a big exhale as you land by the sea. The evening opens with a welcoming dinner—simple, relaxed, and a chance to meet the group you’ll share the week with.
Sunday, December 27th
Your first full day begins with morning practices to ground into the yoga space, followed by a nourishing start to the day and a free afternoon. Whether it’s beach time, reading, or resting, the day is yours. It is whale season, so you could also choose to head out to sea to see the amazing whales that call the Mexican Pacific home in the winter. Evening practice as the sun dips into the ocean.
Monday, December 28th
Morning meditation and yoga create a steady foundation, followed by time to enjoy the surroundings at your own pace. Head out on a jungle hike to a volcanic crater, ending with stunning views over the bay of Chacala. Evening yoga drops you into full chill mode.
Tuesday, December 29th
The day starts with a familiar flow, with an added highlight: a cacao ceremony with Kuku Cacao. This experience invites a deeper sense of connection and reflection. The rest of the day remains intentionally open, with space to enjoy the sunset and slower pace.
Wednesday, December 30th
Morning practice gets the day going. If you’re wanting something more immersive, join the optional group temazcal (sweat ceremony) in the late morning. The group comes back together for an evening practice.
Thursday, December 31st
New Year’s Eve is approached with both intention and celebration. The day begins with meditation and movement, then opens into a relaxed afternoon for rest or reflection. In the evening, the energy shifts with a festive gathering, a special dinner, and a New Year’s fire ceremony to release the old and welcome what’s ahead. The night closes with a toast of bubbly or sparkling cider, along with Mexican New Year’s customs as you move into a new year.
Friday, January 1st
Day one of 2027 begins with practice and an easy, open day—time to integrate, rest, and move at your own pace. In the evening, the group gathers for a breathwork ceremony and soundbath with local teacher Xavier Olazabal, a powerful way to alchemize energy and connect with your animating life force. Dinner wraps up the final night on retreat.
Saturday, January 2nd
The retreat closes with a final morning gathering, creating space to reflect on the week and share the experience as a group, followed by departures.
Package includes:
- 7 nights Accommodation at Mar de Jade Wellness Resort
- 3 Delicious Farm to Table Buffet meals per day
- Coffee, Tea & Fruit All Day
- 2 Yoga Classes per day
- Daily Morning Meditation
- Guided jungle hike to an old volcanic crater with stunning views of Chacala bay
- Cacao Ceremony with Kuku Cacao
- Breathwork Ceremony with Xavier Olazabal
- New Year’s Eve Fire Ceremony+PARTY!
- Designated Round-trip Airport transfer from Puerto Vallarta to Mar de Jade. (To make the shuttle, your flight should get into PV no later than 2:30/3pm on December 27th. The shuttle will leave the airport at 5pm for Mar de Jade. If you are unable to make the scheduled shuttle time, transport to the retreat will be at your expense.)
- Use of all Resort Facilities
package does not include:
- Airfare to Puerto Vallarta
- Added Excursions like Temazcal and what watching.
- Spa Treatments
- Bar Drinks/Specialty Drinks
- Resort Staff Gratuities
Ocean
SINGLE - $3,950 ($4100 after June 26)
One king bed or two full beds
DOUBLE - $2,900 per person ($3,000 after June 26)
TRIPLE - $2,550 per person ($2600 after June 26)
Two full beds, one futon.
Two full beds, one futon.
TRIPLE - $2,350 per person ($2400 after June 26)
Garden
SINGLE - $3,500 ($3,650 after June 26)
One or two beds.
DOUBLE - $2,650 per person ($2750 after June 26)
Guest
SINGLE - $3,200 ($3,300 after June 26)
One or two beds
DOUBLE - $2,400 per person ($2500 after June 26)
Dorm
SINGLE BED - $2,200 ($2250 after June 26)
Women only in a dorm room with 4 beds.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
To secure your spot, a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 USD is required.
Important: Your deposit is confirmation that you have read our Terms and Conditions.
Deposits are per person, not per room.
Please specify room category at time of deposit.
$1,000 USD deposit due at booking
$550 USD due by July 26, 2026
Final balance due by Nov. 15, 2026
aBOUT your hostS
@ivoriejenkins
Hi, I am Willis!
Since a very young age, Willis has been drawn to movement — the freedom, joy, and sense of peace it offers.
He began dancing at 10, earned a BFA in Dance Performance from SMU, and went on to perform professionally in New York City and Las Vegas with the Metropolitan Opera, The Chase Brock Experience, and Cirque du Soleil.
He found yoga in 2009 while navigating the demands of a professional dance career, and it was a game changer. In 2014, following the passing of his beloved mother, he left his dance career and dove heart first into teaching — completing his 200-hour training with Anna Laurita, his 300-hour with Noah Mazé, and later studying Katonah Yoga under Nevine Michaan and Abbie Galvin. He now serves as a mentor with the Katonah Yoga Center.
In 2022, he founded Flying Heart Yoga in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which is a space dedicated to communal practice, education, and self-cultivation. He leads classes, workshops, and retreats internationally, and is the founder of Flying Heart Retreats.
Willis believes yoga offers a powerful opportunity to inhabit the body, mediate our circumstances, and expand into our full potential. His classes are grounding and exploratory, rooted in breath, meditation, and thoughtful movement — held in a space that welcomes curiosity, depth, and self-discovery.
@flyingheartflow
Hi, I am Ivorie!
Ivorie, an EYT 500-hour vinyasa and meditation teacher and yoga therapist, has dedicated herself to the practice, study and teaching of Yoga since it revealed its healing benefits during her professional dance career.
After receiving a B.A. in Communication Studies from Northwestern University, Ivorie embarked on a fifteen-year performance career. She toured nationally and internationally, danced roles in film, television and commercial ad campaigns. At the peak of her dance career, she moved to Vegas to perform with Cirque du Soleil as an original cast member of the show, Viva Elvis. There she performed over 1,500 shows and began a lifelong friendship with co-teacher Willis Johnston!
During her time with Cirque du Soleil, Ivorie turned to yoga as a pre and post performance ritual. The practice offered a sanctuary from the stress of the entertainment industry and the negative self judgement that often plagues the minds’ of artists. Not to mention, yoga gave her the tools to heal a debilitating back injury and get her back on the stage.
Ivorie is now based in Los Angeles, teaching at studios, corporate offices and with private clients in their homes. Her studies include over 1000 hours with Senior teachers Annie Carpenter, Noah Maze and Loyola Marymount’s Advanced yoga therapy RX program with mentor, Dr. Larry Payne. This accreditation allows Ivorie to see private clients dealing with a wide range of ailments and offer a personal prescription of wellness via the holistic lens of yoga.
There is a soul and a depth that Ivorie brings to her classes. Her attention to alignment and thoughtful sequencing will guide you safely while still challenging you to move beyond your perceived boundaries. What she loves most about teaching is reminding students of their wholeness, their innate perfection and inner wisdom so they might become comfortable with befriending who they already are.
Mar de Jade: The Experience
