Joyful Shift Retreat: Practice and Play in Paradise
Roatan, Bay Islands - February 20 - February 26, 2027
Most people come back from a week away feeling rested. You'll come back from this one understanding — really understanding — that changing just one small daily thing, with the right support, can shift the course of your life.
The Joyful Shift Retreat creates a safe, intimate space for that kind of shift. Over seven days with just 16 guests, you'll explore the patterns that have kept you stuck — not with judgment, but with curiosity, practical tools, and a lot of laughter. Morning movement prepares your body and mind. Afternoon sessions give you real insight into why past attempts haven't lasted and what to do differently. Whether you've struggled with maintaining healthy habits, want to break a pattern that no longer serves you, or simply want a deeper understanding of yourself and what makes change last — this retreat offers both the tools and the tranquil space to begin.
And the rest of the time? Swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, lounging, walking, and hiking — all included. Optional extras include massage, scuba-diving, scuba training, snorkel and scuba excursions, fishing, and fly-fishing. Perfect for your partner who wants to come for just playtime in paradise.
You'll leave with a personal plan you trust, friendships built on something real, and 90 days of follow-up support to keep you grounded in what you started.
All-inclusive at a boutique family-owned eco-resort. Every meal, all classes with Samira, beer, wine, and spirits included.
Double occupancy starts at $3,095 per person until July 1, 2026. Triple and single occupancy also available. Just $800 today reserves your space! More details are below.
Beautiful over water bungalows
The Joyful Shift Retreat Includes:
7 days/6 nights of interesting and lively adventures with beautiful eco-resort accommodation options
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 16 participants)
All retreat materials and workshop handouts
Snorkeling 101 for those who want help feeling more comfortable in the water with a mask
Airport transfers to/from Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport (RTB).
A pre-trip meeting and our guide booklet for your travel and packing preparation, and pre-retreat intention setting.
Wandering the 22 acres of beautifully landscaped property
Stunning practice spaces
The Joyful Shift Retreat Highlights:
Expert-led gentle core strengthening, and movement sessions adapted to all levels
Progressive habit-building workshops that build on each day's learnings
Practical tools for creating and maintaining healthy routines, including reframing thoughts and changing internal scripts
Focus on foundational core strength and body awareness
Daily opportunity for reflection and community connection
Structured support for implementing changes at home
Beautiful beachfront and lodge movement spaces
Intimate group size ensuring personalized attention
Overwater bungalows - Tropical waters right at your door
Snorkeling 101! Mini-class to help you feel more comfortable when snorkeling
Beautiful excursion day - a boat trip to a private island with great snorkeling
Optional add-ons:
Massage visits on-site
Scuba-diving
Scuba lessons
Fly-fishing
Local walks, hikes, and more!
The Joyful Shift Retreat Benefits:
Master the art of sustainable habit formation
Develop a strong foundation in gentle Pilates and mindful movement
Learn practical strategies for maintaining wellness routines
Gain clarity on personal barriers to consistent habits
Experience the power of supportive community
Take home a concrete plan for lasting change
Connect mind and body through intentional practice
Option to access ongoing support through weekly meditation sessions and classes
Leave with not just inspiration, but practical tools and an actionable plan for lasting transformation.
The Wellbeing Blueprint Retreat is limited to 16 guests.
~ Reserve your space now with just $800
~ All-inclusive package price starts at $2595 (triple occupancy). Single, double, and triple occupancy available
- Transparent pricing. See inclusions below
~ Reserve early! Small group travel sells out fast
See Retreat Terms and Waiver
Downtime and playtime in paradise
Roatan Travel FAQs
If you do not see your question here, you may find the answer below. You are always welcome to contact me with questions, too.
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This is boutique small-group travel. My retreats vary between 5 and 12 guests.
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You can see a full version below. For this retreat we hold a movement class in the morning before breakfast. Then it’s free time and lunch until our afternoon session that starts around 4:45. That is followed by cocktail hour and dinner. Some evenings we throw a dance party, other nights we sit entranced by the stars or mesmerized by an octopus!
All activities are optional. This means your partner or friend who doesn’t want to take class before breakfast can simply sleep in. It means if you are feeling tired and want to miss a class or a tour, take some time for you! -
Samira Shuruk has been teaching fitness and movement for 40 years and leading international retreats for a decade.
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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The optional daily class is modified for all levels. Class will be a mix of yoga, gentle Pilates, strengthening and stretching, along with meditation.
The grounds have uneven paths, and you will want to wear sandals with good grip. Our beautiful island is part of the Bay Islands, which is on the second largest barrier reef in the world with abundant snorkeling opportunities. If you love to swim, you’ll be in heaven! If you need help, life jackets are available for you.
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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. 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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Plenty! There are classes before breakfast and before dinner. The rest is mostly free time except for our boat excursion day.
You can see our daily schedule below. And of course all activies are optional. -
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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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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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 fresh 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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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!
GUESTS AND STUDENTS SHARE
Your journey begins before you leave home
The Joyful Shift Retreat Itinerary
Mid-January, 2027, we will have an online get together to meet everyone and prepare for our journey. Before the meeting you’ll get a handout via email with activities to help you prepare for your Wellbeing Blueprint. If you are unable to attend you will receive a link to the recording of the meeting.
Every day includes morning movement class and afternoon lesson and session on building sustainable habits and creating your own embodied lifestyle, After our retreat we will have follow up check-ins at 14 days, 30, 60, and 90 days, complete with tips and opportunity to ask more questions and get support.
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 - 4:30pm 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 Breakfast
You 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.
Free-time activities
Join Joyful Shift Retreat and create your foundation for sustainable shifts! We will thoroughly indulge in self-care at this eco-resort. Included in your package is endless beach and ocean time, snorkeling, walking the 22 acres day or night, with lit paths, soaking up the sun, spending time with friends both new and familiar, hammock lounging, or snorkeling or kayaking in the sea.
Add-on options include scuba-diving, scuba lessons, massage, fly-fishing, snorkeling excursions, and more. If you choose a paid excursion, you will get a packed lunch. We will need to reserve those in advance, so start day-dreaming now!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Movement and Wellness Level:
Gentle Foundation
Cultural Immersion Level:
Wellness Focus
Retreat Style: Mind-Body Retreat
Choice Level: Guided Choice
Essentials for planning
Getting to Roatan and our retreat center
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
There are a gazillion stars
We are on an eco resort wired with 110v electricity and strong WiFi. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms and showers. All towels (beach and bathing) are provided. We are located on the secluded east side of Roatan. Be sure to enjoy the stars at night and the amazing sunrises and sunsets.
Over water bungalows and lodge rooms do not have AC. They DO have the benefit of screen windows and louvers to open, plus ceiling fans and fans for perfect sea-breezes and cooling.
Overwater Bungalow Accommodations
The gorgeous ocean, right below your feet!.
Only six bungalows available! Reserve now with a $800 deposit.
See pricing below and see full registration details here
Single, double, or triple occupancy
Lounge chair and hammock
Water lapping right at your door
Includes
Selected
accommodation
Delicious, farm to table meals
Airport transfer
to/from retreat
Coffee, tea, snacks
Guided meditations
Wine, beer, spirits!
Beach time
Movement classes
Habit workshops & handouts
Snorkeling
Peachy booty,
strong back
from swimming!
Taxes
Private island
excursion day
Early-bird savings!
Wellbeing Blueprint
pre&post retreat support
Kayaking
Accommodations & Prices
Single Occupancy
Overwater bungalow — $4595 $4095
Double Occupancy, per person
Overwater bungalow — $3575 $3095
Triple Occupancy, per person
Overwater bungalow — $3095 $2595
Retreat Testimonials
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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
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Traveling is almost always filled with aches and pains, and also hassles. You've changed all of that. We stretch, we move, my body feels good. And my mind is the most relaxed and refreshed I've felt in ages.
MT
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I learned that I can do things that I would normally be scared to do, and I loved them! And I love the acceptance and support I felt for taking the time I needed to decide. You have taught me courage, belief in myself., and self-acceptance that I've never felt before.
PJ
Why Choose Samira for Your Habit Transformation Journey
As a Certified Behavioral Change Specialist with nearly four decades of teaching experience, Samira understands that lasting change happens through small, sustainable steps—not dramatic overhauls that lead to burnout. Her unique approach combines evidence-based habit formation with gentle movement practices and the rejuvenating power of paradise, creating an environment where transformation feels natural rather than forced. "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!" shares workshop participant Sally.
What sets Samira apart is her ability to make wellness feel joyful rather than overwhelming. With over eight years leading international wellness retreats, she's perfected the art of balancing serious personal development with pure fun—morning movement sessions followed by snorkeling adventures, practical workshops paired with hammock time. Her retreats consistently create the conditions where participants reconnect with their joy while building lasting healthy habits and often brand new friendships.
The proof is in her community: many guests return for multiple retreats across Costa Rica, Kenya, Morocco, and beyond, becoming part of Samira's extended wellness family. As Tracy shared, "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." When you choose Samira's Wellbeing Blueprint retreat, you're not just booking a vacation—you're investing in a proven system for sustainable change, guided by someone who truly understands how to make wellness stick.
The Wellbeing Blueprint Retreat Preview Gallery
