Jan 17-23, 2027
Puerto Vallarta, MX
When my dad died in August of 2024, after a six-year battle with throat cancer, I thought I understood what grief would be.
I expected the “Big Sad.”
What I wasn’t prepared for was losing the person I had been before.
Grief doesn’t just take the person you loved – it takes the version of you that existed alongside them.
Me and my dad, camping somewhere in Colorado in 2022.
The hardest part wasn’t the grief itself – it was how alone it felt inside it.
And what helped most wasn’t therapy, or productivity, or trying to “get back to normal.”
It was being with people who understood.
People who didn’t try to fix it.
People who didn’t expect anything from me.
People who let me be exactly where I was.
This retreat exists because of that experience.
It is a place to come exactly as you are.
Not as who you were or who you think you should be.
But as who you are now. 🫶
This retreat is for you if…
you’ve lost someone or something that has changed you for good
feel like the world expects you to be “okay” when you’re not
want to be somewhere with people you don’t have to explain yourself to
want to be around people who understand grief from inside the storm
But let me be clear…
this is not about moving on and you will not leave “fixed”.
But you may get home with…
a nervous system that remembers what safety feels like
permission to exist without pretending to be ok
feeling less alone in your grief
how the week will unfold
Each day will include mobility, movement, gentle structure, and plenty of open space.
Our classes and breakout sessions will cover everything from how to use Movement Mavens® Therapy Balls, to self-care practices to support you in your grief, to addressing tension and building strength for your hips, shoulders, core, ankles, feet and more.
Our group is intentionally small so every session can be accommodated to your unique body and needs.
Day 1
Arrival and check-in.
Meet the rest of the Body Nerd® Retreat attendees while you enjoy a delicious dinner. After dinner, you’ll cap off the night with some gentle movement to help you unwind from the stress of travel and slip into the deepest sleep of your life.
Day 2
Book Club Beach Day
Grab your favorite book and join us at the beach! Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the sand, just steps from our villa.
Day 3
Tacos + Sweets Tour
After our morning mobility session, we’ll spend the afternoon with a taste and tour of the Zona Romántica and the best flavors in all of Puerto Vallarta!
Day 4
Skin Fitness Session
Get your skin glowing from the inside out. In our Skin Fitness Session, you’ll be guided through an expertly curated facial (products included). If you’ve never learned how to properly wash your face or what the heck a toner is actually supposed to do, this is the session for you.
Day 5
Create Your Own Adventure
After a morning mobility session to build strength and flexibility throughout your body, enjoy a free afternoon to go exploring, shopping in town, get a massage or facial at the villa or sit on the patio with a book.
After dinner, we’ll curl up with snacks for Movie Night.
Day 6
Sunset Yoga on the Beach
After a relaxing morning, we’ll cap off our day by heading into town for sunset yoga on the beach with Alma. We’ll be guided through an all-levels and beginner-friendly session on Olas Altas beach. After class, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner in town.
Day 7
Breakfast and Departure
The worst part is goodbye 😭 But you’ll be heading home feeling grounded, well-rested, and with a new community and a mobility plan to help you continue to take excellent care of yourself.
*schedule subject to change
optional add ons
VIDEO VAULT APP REFRESHER so you can learn how to make the most out of the Movement Mavens™ Video Vault website. If you’ve been wondering where to find Trapezius Tension Tamer or the Knee Pain Workout – this session is for you.
HOUR LONG 1:1 WITH ALEX so you can check in on your form and get to the root of why you’re still having pain*
IN VILLA MASSAGE or FACIAL Immerse yourself in pure bliss as our skilled therapists work their magic, melting away tension and leaving your muscles relaxed and your mind at ease. Whether you crave a deep tissue massage or the soothing embrace of a Swedish massage, this exceptional experience will leave you feeling utterly pampered and revitalized.*
*additional fees apply
This retreat is 100% yours.
There is nothing you have to prove.
You are allowed to be quiet.
You are allowed to laugh.
You are allowed to cry.
You are allowed to rest.
Everything you are is welcome here.
January 17-23, 2027 | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
What’s included
💻 ONLINE MEET AND GREET with other retreaters before the trip
✨ LUXURY LODGING for six nights in a private villa just steps from the beach.
🥘 GOURMET MEALS prepared by an expert chef and catered to any and all dietary preferences.
🚐 PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION to and from the airport and to any of our group activities.
🫂 DAILY MOVEMENT SESSIONS to help you unwind stress, tension, and pain throughout your body, mind, and spirit.
😴 REST AND RELAXATION in whatever that looks for you. If you want to sit on the beach, read a book, or explore every inch of town – we’ve got you covered.
💕 SMALL GROUP that’s intentionally limited to preserve the container of our group
Plus, these bonuses:
🌮 TACO + SWEETS TOUR for a taste and tour of the Zona Romántica and the best flavors in all of Puerto Vallarta
🧖♀️ SKIN FITNESS SESSION with an expertly curated facial (products included) we’ll do together so you can pamper yourself from the outside in.
🏊♀️ DAILY POOL PARTY so you can cool off and because being in water helps improve lymphatic drainage and reduce swelling, and it. so it’s a win, win!
🛍️SWAG BAG with everything you need to stay relaxed, hydrated, and pampered.
What’s not included
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Airfare to PVR
- Pickup or dropoff to airport outside designated times
- Alcohol
- Additional optional excursions
- Souvenirs
- Tips for staff or trip guides
OUR PRIVATE VILLA, with a full staff, has everything you need to make the most of your week in Puerto Vallarta.
Every room comes equipped with ensuite bathroom, wifi, A/C and a ceiling fan.
We’ll have breakfast and dinner together daily. Every meal is prepared by our in-house chef and can be catered to dietary preferences.
You’ll have time to explore Puerto Vallarta and grab lunch at one of the many restaurants in town, or stay at the villa and snack.
I’ll send out a guidebook before our trip with a list of my favorite places to eat. The food is delicious no matter where you go and I’ve never had a bad meal in PV!
I am walking away from the Retreat feeling relaxed and refreshed. It’s fabulous hanging out with familiar faces, and wonderful to meet new people too. This was a truly terrific group of human beings.
I loved the Retreat because I got to see you! The location was fabulous. The food was delicious. There was a good amount of activation/mobility. And absolutely NO PRESSURE to do alllll the things.
PRICE
priority enrollment rate available through april 1, 2026
Deposit: $600
$3,900
shared room
(priority enrollment rate)
$4,400
private room
(priority enrollment rate)
✨ ONLY 9 8 rooms available ✨
reservations are first come, first served
Not sure if the trip is right for you? Click here to book a call with me or use the chat box in the bottom corner to send me a message.
How to Register:
- Click “Reserve Your Spot” to fill out the application
- Pay your $600 deposit
- From there, you can pay in full (and get a custom welcome present upon arrival) or pay in equal monthly installments.
- Alex will follow up to confirm your registration, set up payments, and give you more details.
This Priority Enrollment Rate is only available through April 1, 2026 – once we finalize the guest list and room layout, standard pricing will apply.
There is no fee for payment plans and all payments are non-refundable.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended and you may be able to purchase a travel insurance plan that includes “cancel for any reason” coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is retreat?
January 17-23, 2027 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
What airport do I fly into?
Where is the event being held?
What happens after I submit my application?
After you submit your application, you will be invited to secure your place with a deposit. Once your deposit is received, I will personally follow up with next steps, confirm your registration, set up payments, and give you more details.
Final retreat confirmation will be provided in writing once enrollment is finalized.
What is the villa like? Are there stairs?
Yes. The villa is located in Conchas Chinas, a beautiful hillside neighborhood just one mile from Old Town and a short walk to the beach. Because of its location, the villa includes multiple levels and does not have an elevator.
All guests should expect to use at least one flight of stairs each day to access shared spaces such as our movement area, dining areas, and common gathering spaces. There are also stairs leading to and from the beach.
During registration, you will be asked about your comfort level with stairs so I can assign you to a room that best supports your needs. However, the retreat environment does require the ability to comfortably and safely navigate stairs on a daily basis.
If you are unsure whether this retreat environment is the right fit for your mobility needs, please feel free to reach out before registering. I want you to feel supported and at ease during your stay.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yep! Monthly payment plans are available until September 2025. There is no fee for payment plans and options are available at checkout. See the full terms and conditions for details.
What if I need to cancel?
Your payment is non refundable, which means it will not be refunded by me, for any reason, including if you change your mind, are unable to attend due to illness, canceled flights, or any other reason.
I strongly recommend trip insurance (especially if you are concerned about emergency cancellation).
What’s included? What isn’t?
Included: 6 nights stay in a private villa with ensuite bath, airport transfers, transportation to/from events, daily movement and mindfulness classes, breakfast and lunch, snacks and drinks, equipment, gratuity, and taxes.
NOT included: airfare, and any add-ons.
What should I wear?
Bring comfortable clothes you can move in. You’ll want something for movement in the morning and something for relaxing/activities in the afternoon.
You won’t need shoes for meditation or movement, but will probably want at least a pair of sneakers/hiking shoes and flip flops.
Bring a swimsuit if you want to go to the pool, hot tub, or ocean.
Is this only for women like your other retreats?
No. This retreat is open to everyone.
Grief impacts us all, and this space is intentionally designed to welcome people of all genders and identities. What connects us here is the shared experience of loss and the identity shifts that follow — not who you are, but what you’ve lived through.
If you are grieving, you are welcome here.
Can I bring my family?
This is an adults-only (21+) retreat. This is your chance to unwind and relax without any responsibilities so you are welcome to leave the rest of your crew at home 😉
What if my grief is different from everyone else’s?
Grief is never identical from one person to another.
Some guests have lost a parent, partner, child, or friend. Others are grieving the loss of a relationship, their health, a future they thought they would have, or a version of themselves that no longer exists.
There is no hierarchy of grief here. There is no comparison.
You do not need to justify your grief in order to belong. You only need to be honest about where you are.
Grief moves in waves, and emotions may arise unexpectedly — sadness, anger, relief, laughter, or even numbness.
All of it is welcome.
This retreat is designed to be a space where nothing needs to be hidden, minimized, or explained. You will be supported, not judged, and never asked to contain yourself for the comfort of others.
I'm not in shape! Is this still right for me?
What if I don't know anyone? Can I come alone?
Absolutely! Most of our retreaters are returnees and/or traveling alone. You will be with your people. I promise. And, if you need alone time, you do you, boo. This retreat is 100% what you need and want it to be. Spend as much or as little time with the group as you want.
We will also have two pre-trip kick-off virtual calls so you can get to know one another before your feet hit the ground in PV.
Check out this video to meet some of the folks who join me for retreats.
I think I want to do this but I’m nervous
That’s completely normal. Many guests arrive feeling uncertain — unsure if they’re ready, or what it will feel like to be in a space centered around grief.
There is no right way to be here. You are never required to share, participate, or do anything that doesn’t feel supportive. You are free to move at your own pace and simply exist as you are.
This retreat is designed to be a space of safety, understanding, and gentle connection. You will not be alone. 🫶🏻
What's it like to travel with you?
Think of me as your nerdy party planner who is there to make sure you have an amazing time.
I will push you in class to work harder and laugh harder than you ever have and help you get deeply relaxed.
That being said, I also have 2763912 different variations for everything we do so that you have the best experience that feels right for you and your body.
And that’s the best part of being together in person! I can see how you’re moving and make changes in the moment so you can safe and strong in every exercise.
You can expect not to take anything too seriously – except the guacamole. Because that’s very important.
I have another question.
2027 BODY NERD RETREAT STARTS
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Hi, I’m Alex Ellis
Mobility Coach and host of The Body Nerd Show
Hi I’m Alex 👋
I am not here as someone who has solved grief.
I am here as someone living inside it.
Someone who understands how disorienting it is to become someone new without choosing it.
This retreat is not about teaching you how to move on.
It is about creating a space where you don’t have to.
I’m not perfect and I don’t have all the answers – but I can help guide you toward the most relaxed version of yourself. And give you all the tools you need so you can help yourself.