Joyful Shift Retreat
practice and play in paradise
Roatan, Bay Islands
February 20–26, 2027
You know that feeling when the plane touches down somewhere warm and your shoulders drop about three inches?
This retreat starts there—and goes deeper.
Over seven days on a secluded Caribbean island, with just twelve guests, you’ll explore the habits and patterns that have kept you stuck. Not with judgment. With curiosity, practical tools, real science, and a lot of laughter.
Mornings begin with gentle movement on the water’s edge. Afternoons, you’ll discover why past attempts at change haven’t lasted—and what actually works instead. The rest of the time? It’s yours. Swim. Snorkel the second largest barrier reef in the world. Kayak. Read in a hammock. Watch an eagle spotted ray glide under your bungalow in the morning.
Most people come back from a week away feeling rested.
You’ll come back understanding—really understanding—that changing just one small daily thing, with the right support, can shift the course of your life.
This Retreat Is For You If…
✓ You’ve tried to build new or healthier habits before and they didn’t stick
✓ You know what you “should” do but can’t seem to make it last
✓ You want real tools, not just motivation that fades by Tuesday
✓ You’re ready for a reset that’s joyful, not punishing
✓ You’d love a week in paradise that gives you something lasting to take home
✓ Your partner wants to come for the ocean and you want both—everyone’s welcome
The Rhythm of Your Days
Mornings
Gentle movement on the yoga deck overlooking the water or in the lodge—yoga, Pilates, stretching, breathwork adapted to all levels. Then a family-style breakfast with fresh tropical fruit, local coffee, and nowhere to rush to.
Midday
This is yours. Swim or paddle board right off the dock. Kayak to world class snorkeling. Read in a hammock. Walk the 22 acres of gardens and creek paths. Get a beachside massage. Bake in the sun. Lunch appears around 12 or 1.
Late Afternoon
Our habit formation workshop—the heart of the retreat. These aren’t lectures. They’re interactive, personal, and often funny. You’ll learn why willpower fails, what actually makes change stick, and you’ll build your own plan that’s grounded in real science, not wishful thinking.
Evenings
Cocktail hour and dinner together—fresh local seafood, farm-to-table produce, beer, wine, and spirits all included. After that, it’s whatever calls to you. Some nights we throw a dance party. Other nights you’ll find yourself sitting on the dock, mesmerized by the stars or watching an octopus glide past in the dark water below.
Your Island Day
One day we leave the resort by boat, winding through the mangroves of Roatan’s secluded east end. On the other side: Pigeon Caye—a tiny island with white sand, pristine reef, and nothing else.
Snorkel over the reef. Float in water so clear it barely looks real. Eat a picnic lunch on the boat. Follow that up with a snorkel at a wreck!
It's the kind of day you’ll describe to people for years.
Come With Your People
Some of my favorite retreat moments happen when friends travel together; Spotting the rainbow parrot in the canopy, giggling while learning new dance steps, sharing cocktails on the yoga deck while chatting about the beautiful day.
If you’re thinking about bringing a group of four or more, I offer a group rate. Reach out and let’s talk about making it happen.
Where You’ll Stay
A boat-access-only eco-resort on the secluded east side of Roatan. Overwater bungalows painted in Caribbean colors, native hardwood floors, hand-carved doors, a hammock on your back deck, and the sea lapping right beneath you.
Twenty-two acres of landscaped grounds. Freshwater creeks. Banana groves. Terracotta paths. Almost no light pollution—the stars alone are worth the trip.
Everything is taken care of.
Your Guide
I’ve been teaching movement for 40 years and leading international retreats for over a decade. But this retreat comes from something more personal.
I’m a Certified Behavioral Change Specialist because I had to learn why for fitness class students, “the hardest part of class is getting TO class.” When people really WANT to come to class. Plus, late-diagnosed ADHD, a back injury that was supposed to require surgery, digestive issues the medical establishment couldn’t explain—I’ve learned firsthand that lasting change doesn’t come from willpower. It comes from understanding how you actually work and building from there.
I designed this retreat for people who are tired of the cycle of trying, failing, and blaming themselves or giving up. The struggle is omnipresent and real. You just haven’t learned the right tools yet.
Guest Testimonials
“I’ve learned that I have to start much smaller than I realized. But in doing so, for the first time in a long time, I’m making it stick!”
— Sally, Habit Workshop
“Affirmations have always felt forced and awkward to me. But you have helped me change my scripts that I tell myself. Wow! Just wow.”
— AH, Habit Workshop and meditation classes
“I feel like I’m on an amazing field trip for adults! I needed this much playfulness in my life and you’ve helped me reconnect with my joy.”
— Tracy
"Wanted to let you know that I’ve been able to stick with my new habit and it’s getting easier and easier. You did such a great job! Thank you."
Suzanne, Joyful Shift Retreat
After You Leave
The retreat doesn’t end when you fly home.
You’ll leave with a personal plan you actually trust—not a generic wellness checklist, but something built from your own patterns, your own life, your own insights from the week.
Then we stay in touch. Check-ins at 14, 30, 60, and 90 days—with support, tips, and space to ask questions. Because the real shift happens at home, and you won’t be doing it alone.
The Investment
7 days, all-inclusive. Every meal, every drink, every class, every workshop, every kayak, every sunset.
Double Occupancy
From $3,095 per person
Early bird rate through July 1, 2026
Triple Occupancy
From $2,595 per person
For groups of three traveling together
Single Occupancy
From $4,095 per person
Your own bungalow, perfect for the solo traveler.
$800 reserves your place. Payment plans available.
Limited to 12 guests.
Select your occupancy and reserve your place
Roatan Retreat FAQs
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The Joyful Shift Retreat Includes:
7 days/6 nights of interesting and lively adventures with beautiful eco-resort accommodation options
A pre-trip meeting and our guide booklet for your travel and packing preparation, and pre-retreat intention setting.
Airport transfers to/from Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport (RTB) on Feb 20 and 26.
Daily morning movement sessions focusing on core strength fundamentals, gentle stretching, and postural awareness
Four transformative afternoon workshops on habit formation and lifestyle integration
Comprehensive pre-retreat preparation guide
Daily intention setting and reflection materials
Three nourishing meals daily, plus snacks
Beer, wine, and spirits are included!
6 nights charming eco-chic accommodation
90-day post-retreat support framework
Small group setting (maximum 12 participants)
All retreat materials and workshop handouts
Snorkeling 101 for those who want help feeling more comfortable in the water with a mask
Use of snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, and kayaks.
Wandering the 22 acres of beautifully landscaped property
NOT INCLUDED:
International airfare
Travel insurance (with international travel you want to purchase genuine travel insurance, such as with Faye Travel Insurance. Credit card insurance is more of just an “add-on” service and does not provide the same level or ease of coverage.)
Add-on options such as scuba discovery, scuba diving (for certified individuals), fishing, and fly-fishing.
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Typical Day
Sunday - Friday
(exception on our excursion day)7:15 - 8:15am Morning movement practice
8:30 - 9:30am Breakfast
9:30 - 12:30pm Free-time - Lounge, play, swim, snorkel, journal, bake in the sun, scuba…
12:30 -1:30pm Lunch
1:30 - 5:00pm Free-time - Read in a hammock, get a beach-side massage, enjoy a cold drink, stroll or hike, swim right off your bungalow or our beach, scuba, fly-fishing…
5:00 - 6:00pm Afternoon workshop developing your habit plans. This will include short guided meditation.
6:00 - 6:30pm Cocktail hour or rest before dinner
6:30 - 7:30pm Dinner
Evening: As you wish — post dinner chats, supportive conversations, reading, star gazing, night-time snorkel or dive trips!
Excursion — Private island and snorkeling day!7:15 - 8:15am morning movement practice
8:30 -9:30am BreakfastYou may choose a day of free-time and socializing, spa time, or join us on our beautiful snorkeling day. Roatan is known for its pristine snorkeling and diving and is located on the second largest barrier reef in the world. We will enjoy a boat tour through the mangroves of the secluded East End of the island. Once we make it past the end, we will see the small speck of land called Pigeon Caye. Here we will enjoy a white sand beach, pristine snorkeling on the reef surrounding the island, and a picnic lunch on the boat. A blissful day in paradise.
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We are staying at a boat-access-only eco-resort at the secluded Port Royal area of Roatan. Your accommodations are overwater bungalows painted in cheerful Caribbean colors. We are technically off-grid but have solar panels and generators for electricity.
Our comfortable rooms feature gorgeous native hardwood floors and furniture with hand-carved doors and details. There is no AC, but they are uniquely designed to capture the breeze and release heat.
We have Starlink WiFi, ensuite bathrooms, and a back deck with a hammock and lounge chair. Your rooms have outlets just like in the US.The grounds are beautifully manicured and feature a banana/plantain grove, terracotta-stoned paths, freshwater creeks, and more. Surrounded by parkland and very few houses, there is almost no light noise. The stars will mesmerize you!
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There are single, double, and triple occupancy options.
If you want to travel double occupancy but do not have a roommate in mind, please contact me before registering.
There is only one room available for triple occupancy, and that is only for people who already know each other.
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My retreats are boutique, small group travel. This one has a maximum of 12 guests.
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Samira Shuruk has been teaching fitness and movement for 40 years and leading international retreats for a decade. At her retreats she combines yoga, mobility stretch, Pilates, and more.
For this retreat she will also be applying her knowledge as a certified behavioral change specialist and trauma-informed somatic worker.
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Plenty! The morning classes are before breakfast and the afternoon classes are right before dinner. The daytime is mostly free time except for our boat excursion day.
You can see our daily schedule above. And of course all activities are optional. -
We will have a mix of Central American and American cuisine, with a focus on the abundant fresh local produce and seafood. Some of our produce will be from our own resort grounds, and the fish will all be freshly caught from local fishermen.
This retreat includes beer, wine, and spirits! (please drink responsibly.)All the typical food restrictions can be accommodated.
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Our eco-retreat center is accessible only by boat. Your airport transportation is included and includes a 45-60 minute car ride and a 15-minute boat ride. We will be coordinating our flight arrivals and departures from Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport (RTB)
Arrive: February 20, 2027
Depart: February 26, 2027 -
Roatan has been a traveler’s haven for centuries and as such has a “come as you are” attitude. They are friendly and welcoming, and my retreats are always inclusive.
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Every trip is different because the mix of guests changes. I have many repeat guests, and friendships are often formed.
Approach travel with intellectual curiosity and an open mind and heart. Be sure to also pack your sense of adventure and joy. You’ll fit right in!
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Massage visits on-site
Scuba-diving
Scuba lessons
Fly-fishing
Local walks, hikes, and more!
These are all weather dependent.
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$800 reserves your place.
Payment plans are available (4.5% added to the remaining balance).
Early bird pricing starts at $2,595 per person for triple occupancy.
Single, double, and triple occupancy available.
See full pricing above. -
Check-ins at 14, 30, 60, and 90 days post retreat with tips and Q&A support. Pre-retreat online meeting in mid-January 2027 with prep materials.
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All activities are optional. Partners are welcome to enjoy the resort, beach, snorkeling, and meals while skipping any classes or workshops they’re not interested in. Several past guests have traveled with partners who came purely for playtime in paradise.
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Always! Joining one of my small group trips is a perfect option for solo travelers.
A note from Samira
I built this retreat because I spent years trying to change things about my life through sheer willpower—and it never stuck. When I finally understood why, everything shifted. Not dramatically. Quietly. One small thing at a time.
That’s what this week is about. Not a dramatic overhaul. Not deprivation dressed up as wellness. Just real tools, real joy, real connection—and a plan you can actually live with when you get home.
If you have questions, reach out through the contact page or reply to any email you have received from me. I’ll give you an honest answer.
With sunshine and stretches,
Samira
