Día de Muertos Oaxaca Ashtanga Adventure + Ancestral Connection Retreat 2026

We invite you to join us, Joey Paz & Jacquelin Molina Guillen, for the 7th anniversary of our most popular retreat: A week of gently weaving the traditions and customs of Día de Muertos with Yoga philosophy in our ancestral homelands of Mexico.

Week 1: October 26, 2026 — November 2, 2026 Week 2: November 3, 2026 — November 10, 2026 Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico

This week offers you the space to delve deeply into your yoga practice in the tropical jungle of Zipolite, Oaxaca, a gem of beauty and serenity off the tourist path. With the guidance and expertise of your teachers, you will receive the tools you need to continue a lifelong yoga and pranayama (yogical breathing) practice. Connect with the wisdom of your ancestors during the sacred celebration of Día de Muertos, as we light candles and lay cempasuchil upon an ofrenda, offering their stories and lessons through poetry. Together we will immerse ourselves in the customs of the land through exploring the jungle of Oaxaca and experiencing the healing powers of Temazcal (Mexico’s indigenous purification and rebirth ceremony) with a local healer, becoming reborn into your highest purpose in life.

This retreat is suitable for all levels - complete beginners, as well as experienced yoga practitioners, are encouraged. We are experienced in meeting you wherever you are in your practice.

Our week together

Casa Faro

Our retreat will be held in the stunning Casa Faro- a marvel of architecture and craftsmanship overlooking the holy Pacific Ocean. Built with love and intention, this venue offers guest the chance to commune intimately with nature with its open aired design. It is worth noting that this house was built with the vision of communal style living, but there are plenty of options for off site accommodations for those who wish for greater privacy, read below for more information regarding options.
Día De Muertos

The week of Día de Muertos is the most vibrant and exciting time of the year to visit Mexico, and Oaxaca is considered to be the most traditional and colorful region of the country in its world-famous celebrations of this uniquely Mexican holy day. Together, we will create an ofrenda, or altar, at Casa Faro which we will adorn with candles, flowers, fruits, and photos of our ancestors as an offering to our passed loved ones.
Ashtanga Yoga

A daily yoga practice is the pillar of our week together. Each morning we will begin the day with asana, practicing the ashtanga primary sequence in the lineage of BNS Iyengar, followed by pranayama with each day building on top of the previous practice. The evenings will consist of mudras, mantras and philosophy discussions with your guides and peers. Whether you are an advanced practitioner hoping to deepen your studies, or a beginner interested in practicing in an encouraging environment, this week offers something for every yogi to strengthen their union and to take with them on their personal journeys.
Temazcal

One of the highlights of our experience is a Temazcal Ceremony led by Irma Luz, a local Zapoteca medicine woman who welcomes us each year into her healing center. Temazcal (an indigenous healing & purification ceremony and sweat lodge) offers many spiritual and health benefits. This is a profound experience, and each year our retreat guests report feelings of lightness, newness, and being reborn into their life’s path.
Punto Cometa

Our retreat includes a guided nature hike to the stunning Punta Cometa coastal cliffs. This is the Southernmost point of Oaxaca, and a sacred ceremonial site for the original inhabitants of this land. The place where the sun and moon meet. A place of surreal beauty and highlight of our week together.
Comida

We will have all our meals provided on site for us at Casa Faro. In the morning, fresh tropical fruit will be available before we practice. Lunch and dinner is lovingly prepared by a local family who is experienced in fresh, authentic, regional vegetarian Oaxacan cuisine. Each meal during the retreat is an exquisite culinary experience!
Poetry Night & Writing

With Jacquelin’s experience as a poet and writer, she uses her skills to lead the group in a poetry night where all are welcome to share original work or poems that they love, or simply gather in a night of storytelling. This night serves as a cultural immersion experience and lesson on the literature of Mexico’s most influential voices that have shaped the spirit and pride of the land. During our week together, Jacquelin will give guests journal prompts to invoke deep introspection all on the themes of ancestral healing to channel the gifts and wisdom our ancestors have to offer us. So it is recommended to pack a journal!
Beloved

With our week in Oaxaca packed with so much culture, spirit, nature, adventure and ample time for relaxation it is no wonder why this is our most popular retreat and sells out so far in advance. Many guests have had impactful experiences and have returned year after year to replenish in the magic of this retreat.

What to know

All-Inclusive Retreat Price, Accommodation at Casa Faro (3 spots remaining)
Super Early Bird Price - $799 until July 31, 2026
Early Bird Price - $899 until Aug. 31
Regular Price - $999 After Aug. 31

Off-Site Accommodation Option (5 spots available)
Super Early Bird Price - $699 until July 31, 2026
Early Bird Price - $799 until Aug. 31
Regular Price - $899 after Aug. 31
*Discounted rates are available for citizens of Mexico. Contact Joey for more info.*

The earlier you register, the lower your monthly payment plan will be.
Your retreat fees go towards supporting the local economy, and local indigenous ways of life. We feel very strongly that as guests welcomed into their land and culture, we should be supporting and uplifting the local economy, people, and traditions.
Discounted rates are available for citizens of Mexico. Contact Joey for more info.

A $100 down payment reserves your spot and locks in the retreat price at the time the deposit is made.

Please note that due to the nature of this being an international retreat with very limited space and great cost/planning required, no refunds are possible for any reason once you commit to coming and begin making payments. You may however transfer your payments already made to another person who can come in your place if you have to cancel.
This retreat sells out very far in advance each year- don’t think about it too long! Get the best possible price and lowest monthly payment plan by registering early.
*This retreat is limited to 10 guests only. This is an intentional decision that allows us to create an intimate setting for the group and work with each guest individually. Each year, lifelong friendships and soul connections are formed at this retreat.
- All Yoga classes, lectures, and curriculum, including an extensive PDF study guide of all material covered for continued study
- All meals during the retreat
- Accommodation for 8 days/7 nights in Casa Faro (unless you choose the off-site accommodation option)
- A deep understanding and foundation for a lifelong Pranayama practice, one of the most powerful yogic tools for maintaining resilient health and well-being- including step-by-step PDF guides and video downloads of Joey’s online Pranayama courses, detailing the principles, practice, and philosophy of Pranayama.
- A free download of Joey’s HD-quality Primary Series instructional video
- A Temazcal ceremony with a local indigenous healer, Irma Luz, with whom we have been working for the past 4 years. This is a powerful experience and a highlight of the entire week- this year it will take place on Nov 2 - Día de Muertos, when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest.
- Guided nature excursions, including a hike to the famous Punta Cometa coastal cliff formations - one of the world’s most beautiful scenic spots, and a sacred ceremonial site for the indigenous inhabitants of the land.
- A new crew of friends and connections from around the world
- Memories to last a lifetime!
  
  *Off-Site Accommodation Option includes all of the above, except accommodation at Casa Faro. You will be responsible for your own accommodation. There are many nearby Airbnbs that are reasonably priced, and Joey will assist you in booking a place.
- Airfare to and from Oaxaca
- Food / Drinks taken outside the retreat center
- Transportation to Casa Faro *Please note that because many people tend to enjoy arriving early and staying later in the area after the retreat, airport pickup is not included in the cost of the retreat. We are happy to arrange airport transfer with our trusted taxi driver directly to the retreat or your airbnb for a fee of 1,000 Pesos.
- Any fees for off-site accommodations if you prefer not to stay at Casa Faro during your stay
- Taxi & transportation fees around town and to excursions
- Daily post-practice coconuts
DAY 1 - (Monday, Oct. 26): ARRIVE AT CASA FARO.
- 11am-4pm - Guests arrive, unwind, relax, soak in the sea breeze
- 4 pm - Introductions, Retreat Syllabus
- 6pm - Dinner
- 7-8:30pm - Documentary: Mysore Yoga Traditions
Day 2 - (Tuesday, Oct. 27)
- 7am-10am Morning therapeutics / somatic movement, asana, pranayama practice
- 10am-11am - Lunch
- 11am-5pm - Free beach time
- 4-5pm - Mudra/Mantra/Meditation
- 5-6pm - Dinner
Day 3 - (Wed. Oct. 28)
- 7am-10am Morning therapeutics / somatic movement, asana, pranayama practice
- 10am-11am - Lunch
- 11am-5pm - Free beach time
- 4-5pm - Mudra/Mantra/Meditation
- 5-6pm - Dinner
Day 4 - (Thu. Oct. 29):
- 7am-10am Morning therapeutics / somatic movement, asana, pranayama practice
- 10am-11am - Lunch
- 11am-5pm - Free beach time
- 4-5pm - Mudra/Mantra/Meditation
- 5-6pm - Dinner
Day 5 - (Friday, Oct. 30)
- 7am-9am Morning therapeutics, asana, pranayama practice
- 12pm-6pm - trip to Mazunte & Guided Nature hike to the famous Punta Cometa coastal cliff formations
Day 6 - (Sat. Oct. 31):
- 7-10am- Morning therapeutics, asana, pranayama practice
- 11am-12pm - Lunch
- 12-4pm - Free time
- 4pm - Temazcal (Traditional Mexican sweat lodge & purification ceremony)
  Day 7 - (Sun., Nov. 1)
- 7am-10am Morning therapeutics, asana, pranayama practice
- 10am- Lunch
- 11am-5pm - Free time
- 4-5pm - Final afternoon session
- 5pm - Farewell dinner together (Tamale night!)
Day 8 - (Mon, Nov. 2):
- 7am - Sunrise practice, closing ceremony
We will be staying and practicing in Casa Faro, a beautiful artistically constructed house perched high upon a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Casa Faro is the essence of serenity. With 180-degree ocean views from every arch and doorway, with the caress of the ocean breeze and murmur of the sea below; this spectacular rustic retreat is the perfect sanctuary designed to revitalize and restore your sense of awe, wonder and tranquility. Casa Faro is a beautifully constructed 2-story (+ Loft) cliff-side dwelling, hand-crafted of tropical hard-wood & red brick over-looking the blue Pacific and close-by, off-shore rock islands. The house is adjoined by a half-acre of fruit-trees and surrounded by patios on three sides. Situated right next door to Puerto Angel’s historic light-house, amazing ocean views greet you from every angle.
Please note that this house was constructed in the spirit of communal living, and as such, the sleeping arrangements are not private. The beds are located on the open air deck in the shared space. It is for this reason that we are able to keep the price of this retreat so low. If you wish to attend the retreat but have your own fully private accommodations, there are a number of hotels and Airbnbs within walking distance of the house, and you are fully welcome to arrange private accommodation. In this case, we can assist with the selection and location of alternate accommodations.
Location
Our secluded, end-of-the-road dwelling is situated half-way between the towns of Puerto Angel & Zipolite. It’s an 8-minute walk to the nearest small grocery store and main thoroughfare or a 15 -minute walk to the beaches of either Puerto Angel or Zipolite.
**Casa Faro only sleeps 5 people, so it will be a relatively small group staying at the house during the retreat. Although the sleeping arrangements are all the same quality and comfort level, the first person to sign up gets first dibs on the beds, and so on. Another reason to sign up well in advance! We feel this arrangement will evoke the “ashram” style of the yogic tradition and facilitate an intimate growth and learning experience. Consider it like sharing an open-air beach house with your friends at Yoga camp! For more information about the house, feel free to search “Casa Faro” in Puerto Angel on Airbnb or Tripadvisor and read the hundreds of gushing guest reviews. You won’t be disappointed!
The handsomely wood-crafted bathroom and (separate) Shower areas are located 15 feet from the front entrance of the house along the front patio’s stone walkway. Due to Oaxaca’s arid coastal climate we decided it prudent to provide an ecological/composting toilet to conserve water. There is little resulting odor in the bathroom and none in the house. The bathroom is supplied with sawdust, soap, toilet paper, and hand towels. The shower is connected to the bathroom but has a separate entrance and is supplied with its own towels. Both the bathroom and the shower have beautiful and very private views of the ocean.
If you choose the option of not staying at the house, but having your own private room, Joey will assist you in selecting nearby accommodation. Many of our guests each year choose to stay in a private airbnb near the retreat house, a lovely 5 minute walk to Casa Faro. Many guests prefer this option so that they can have their own private room.
Mazunte and Zipolite beaches are nearby the retreat center. Guests can choose to relax in Casa Faro all day without a care in the world (trust us, it is VERY difficult to leave), or spend afternoons relaxing at the nearby beaches.
One of the highlights of our experience is a Temazcal Ceremony led by Irma Luz, a local Zapoteca medicine woman who welcomes us each year into her healing center. This year, our Temazcal ceremony falls on Nov. 2, which is the actual Día de los Muertos, when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest. This synchronicity has the potential to be a life-changing experience for all participants.

Temazcal (an indigenous healing & purification ceremony and sweat lodge) offers many spiritual and health benefits. This is a profound experience, and each year our retreat guests report feelings of lightness, newness, and being reborn into their life’s path. The Temazcal ceremony is a powerful culmination of the week we will be spending together.
This retreat is a space for deep healing and shared energy among the participants and therefore a 100% alcohol-free event.

This retreat, like all of our retreats, honors the tried and true teaching and practice method of Sri BNS Iyengar’s Ashtanga system.

Sri BNS Iyengar was part of the peer group that developed in Mysore in the formative years of Ashtanga Yoga. Under the tutelage of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and Pattabhi Jois, he developed an alternative form of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

While it is nearly identical to the mainstream Ashtanga Primary Series of Pattabhi Jois, there are a few key differences that make this sequence its own.

While these differences between the BNS Iyengar method and the mainstream Ashtanga method are few, they are intentional and do have philosophical and physiological reasoning behind them which is expertly explained by your guide.

The BNS system has a large emphasis on mantras, mudras and pranayama as a means to deepen ones practice and access higher levels of meditation or a state of union.

Whether you are a practitioner of the BNS Iyengar lineage or another method, a week spent with this system of technique is sure to strengthen your practice.

The “Other Side” of Ashtanga

Meet Your Guides

It is Jacquelin and Joey’s greatest honor to curate sacred space for Mexican yoga practitioners–both locals hoping to deepen their practice and relationship to these teachings and those born abroad hearing the call from the land that says “It’s time to reconnect.” And it is among their greatest joy and highest duty to be intentional stewards of these customs for those who are curious and excited to immerse themselves in the magic of Mexico, for we all have ancestors who walk with us in spirit through this life by guiding us with their wisdom. Now more than ever, they are calling on us to remember, heal and celebrate them.

By combining their strengths and expertise the pair are able to honor your own sacred practice and ceremony.

Certified Wandering Yogi (E-RYT 500)
Joey has been a devout practitioner of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga since 2008. Practicing daily for many years with Andrew Eppler, Bryce Delbridge, and Jennifer Engleman at Ashtanga Yoga Studio in Oklahoma, he began to travel regularly to India in 2013 to initiate ongoing in-depth study of Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Mantra, and Yoga philosophy with Sri BNS Iyengar, a direct student of T. Krishnamacharya and the world's elder living master in the Ashtanga lineage.
In addition to his E-RYT 500 certification from Andrew Eppler at AYS and the Himalayan Yoga Association of Rishikesh, India; Joey has studied in-depth with a wide array of old school Ashtangis including David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, Danny Paradise, David Garrigues, Gilad and Miriam Harouvi, Baptiste Marceau, Dominic & Stephanie Corigliano, John Scott, as well as Srivatsa Ramaswami

Beyond asana, Joey is a student of chanting with Yoga history & Sanskrit phonology/pronunciation with Seth Powell of Yogic Studies; and Yoga Darshana with Dr. M.A. Alwar of Maharaja Sanskrit College and his father Dr. Lakshmi Tatachar, founder of the Samskrti Foundation in Melukote, India. Currently, he is immersed in in-depth studies of Yogic chanting with Dr. M.A. Jayashree and Narasimhan of Ananta Research Foundation; and Yogic texts with Dr. Nagaraj Rao and Dr. M.A. Alwar, 2 of Mysore’s top yogic scholars.
In addition to his devoted practice and study, Joey is co-producer of the film “Mysore Yoga Traditions," a groundbreaking documentary that provides an in-depth look at the fabric of Yoga culture in Mysore; and currently co-hosts the annual Mysore Yoga Traditions Retreat and Conference held every year in Mysore- the birthplace of modern yoga.

Joey currently travels the world as a nomadic teacher, adventure guide, and storyteller, living the Yogic life 365 days a year.

Certified Lover Girl who wanders occasionally (200 HR YA-C)
Jacquelin (she/her/ella) is a poet, yogini, muse, teacher and a divine feminine. She began practicing yoga in 2018 following a car accident that left her with a neck and shoulder injury. A daily practice helped alleviate her pain and discomfort, from here she felt inspired to inform others on the benefits of yoga. This led to her first 200 hour yoga teacher training with Yoga Punx PDX in Portland, Oregon, under the guidance of Sandee Lawless, and Ashley Low. Here she began her own personal practice of ashtanga.
Shortly after completing her training in the summer of 2021, Jacquelin apprenticed beneath Lawless, and studied philosophy with Sri B.N.S. Iyengar before beginning her teaching path as a restorative yoga guide.
It was after a year of teaching, Jacquelin heard the gentle guidance that it was time to resume her role as a student so she spent another year and a half in intensive training, this time with the world as her teacher.
After beginning a meditation practice with the Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple, and completing a Yoga philosophy course with the Bhakti Yoga Movement center (located in Portland) and an Ashtanga Apprenticeship program where she learned how to teach the primary series under the guidance of Lawless, Jacquelin pursued a year of full time travel around Europe, Mexico and Asia where she helped teach and assist at retreats with Joey Paz.
This journey would take her to first visit to India, the birthplace of this sacred philosophy in the winter of 2025, here she would complete 5 back-to-back training sessions, immersions and intensives studying beneath the lineage holders of the practice. Among them would be Sri B.N.S. Iyengar, Sri Srivatsa Ramaswami, and Sri TRS Sharma–all direct students of Krishnamacharya.
Jacquelin has a gift for grounding people in the present moment by creating a calm atmosphere and guiding others toward an awareness of their body. With a trauma informed approach to teaching, she enjoys creating supportive sequences for all bodies by playing around with props and including various meditation techniques in session. As a poet, she guides guests in mindfulness through journaling and hosts poetry nights at the retreat. She hopes to use the privilege she’s had in her education and background to honor and support your practice and encourage your voice to express your truest expression. 𖤓

Our Story

Jacquelin and Joey met in 2021 during a long weekend yoga workshop in Jacquelin’s hometown of Portland. Their attraction was immediate and the pair connected through their shared reverence of their Mexican roots and an equal desire to reconnect to the culture as Mexicans born abroad. It was through the honoring of ancestral customs during the holy celebration of Día de Muertos in Mexico that the two fell in love and from this a vision was born which would reveal itself to be their shared dharma:

By combining their forces of feminine and masculine energy, and intentionally weaving together the customs of their ancestral practices and yoga philosophy, the couple inspire others to live bold lives of passion through being true to their hearts.

“Lo recibo con amor, Te lo doy con amor”

We come from immigrants and believe firmly that immigration is an inalienable human right as it is embedded in our ancestral ways to migrate across lands. Currently, the right to immigrate is becoming increasingly threatened—posing great challenge for families who have chosen to make the difficult choice to cross borders for greater freedom and quality of life. This is a concern we hold close to our hearts and with our privilege to move between borders with greater ease to host retreats in our ancestral lands of Mexico, we are determined to extend our blessings to support those who do immigrate from Mexico to the United States.

This year 2% of all registration fees paid for this retreat will be donated on a monthly basis to The Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights (CHIRLA), a non-profit based in Los Angeles, California (where Jacquelin’s parents first immigrated to and met) that supports the welfare, rights and empowerment of Mexican immigrants and their families.

Ready To Book?

Ready to join us? This retreat sells out very far in advance each year, so don’t hesitate to make your deposit and save your spot. Feel free to send Joey a message on WhatsApp at +1 4058239919 with any questions or for more information, and to discuss alternate payment options.

BOOK NOW ON JOEY PAZ’S WEBSITE:

Book on JoeyPazYoga.com

Testimonials

“The Oaxaca retreat with Joey was amazing; more than I had ever imagined. The space was surreal; a rustic villa overlooking the ocean surrounded by a tropical paradise. As an amateur ashtangi, the practice was challenging but not aggressively so. The mantras and pranayama were a perfect culmination of each day's practice and the temazcal ceremony was a powerful experience. Looking forward to more yogic journeys in the future. Thank you for this magical experience.”

— Tanvi B. , Cleveland, Ohio

(2023 retreat guest)

"This retreat is a truly magical and transformative adventure. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a real and authentic yoga experience. It has no modern luxury, instead it provides what we are really striving for and are often missing in our daily lifes. Living in harmony with nature and all it's creatures as well as getting up with the sun, going to sleep when it's dark, eating healty food, that was prepared with love and care. Having the time to reflect and think and just listen. Be part of an accepting and loving community. Practicing yoga as a holistic approach to life and not as a physical excercise.

Moreover, Oaxaca - especially during the time of Dia de Los Muertos - is a mystical place, where you will feel the power of Mother Earth. It's beaches are breathtakingly beautiful, nearby villages enchanting with a laid-back vibe, locals welcoming and life-affirming.

I would strongly encourage everyone to participate at least once in a lifetime an ancient ceremony like the Temascal.

Love and thanks to Joey and the whole crew."

— Sophia F, Vienna, Austria

(2024 retreat guest)

“A truly epic and transformational week! Honestly, I had reservations about coming, as I had never practiced Ashtanga method. During opening ceremony when I saw how advanced the group was, not to mention how young, I asked myself, ‘am I in the right class?’ However, with your expert knowledge of body movement, vast/various tips & techniques to improve, as well as your attentiveness I really enjoyed your style and energy and felt comfortable very quickly. Your encouraging sutras/stories quickly allowed me to understand philosophy and teachings. The group was also so amazing. Turned out to be the best I could have asked for. More importantly, you allowed me to be comfortable in my silence as I pushed and eased my way in and out throughout the day. You are truly a kind spirit with a gentle soul, thoughtful, and patient and I cannot thank you enough. I felt so much lighter upon returning home.”

— Jailan, Los Angeles

(2024 retreat guest)