Yoga In Jamaica

 

Finding My Inner Peace

 

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never ever jumped on the worldwide Yoga train. It was just not something that appealed to me as a “must do before I die” activity, although it looks pretty on TV when they do it on a beach in front of the ocean. I will also admit that I probably STILL wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t looking for things to write about!

For more than a year I’ve been randomly corresponding with Jessica Johnson Haughton on Facebook who lives in Negril and teaches yoga. Since it’s been longer than that since I’ve spent any time in Negril, we have never linked up. Well the perfect chance came up when I had to go there and do some work so I immediately took that opportunity to contact her and set it up! I called her the night I drove into Negril and we agreed that she’d pick me up at 8:00am the next morning and go do her yoga class in the west end.

I admit at first I was just going to go with her, pretend I didn’t have suitable workout clothing and just take pictures. I had no interest in doing Yoga. But then I checked in my overnight bag and realized I have no way of lying about attire because all I own is LuluLemon athletic gear! In fact I have the perfect clothing for yoga and decided to suck it up and see what all the hype is about.

So 8:00am rolled around the next morning and I was sitting at a cliffside cafe having my morning coffee when she pulled up on her scooter. I was excited to jump on the back and ride out to where ever we were going! The wind was cool this day and the sky cloudy so it was perfect exercise weather – not too hot. We scooted off up West End road….WAAAAY up West End road. I didn’t even know the road went this far! We went at least 15 minutes past the Negril lighthouse which I thought was pretty much the end of the road. How wrong I was.

Finally we arrived at the spot – a health retreat called Jackie’s on the Reef. I had never heard of this place before and wasn’t there to write about it, I was there to do a yoga class so I don’t have any information for you about the retreat. I can tell you, however, that the guests who were staying there really loved it. I have to agree that I can’t think of a better place to be at one with myself and try something relaxing (you can see my opinion changing already). The photo below shows exactly what we were looking at during the entire yoga session…does it get any better?

There were guests staying at this retreat who were also going to participate in the class so I chatted a bit and got to know where they all came from and how they liked it here. I also told them I would be taking photos for publishing and made sure they were okay with it. Then we all rolled out our mats and the session began.  I thoroughly enjoyed every stretch, movement and thought that passed through my mind. There were no sounds up here aside from our instructor’s calming voice and the overpowering ocean surf. The sea was like “white noise” which made it so very easy to drown out all my cares and concerns and just focus on the soothing sound.

Our session lasted at least an hour, maybe longer and I wish I could have done it all day! I had no idea that yoga could be so balancing for the spirit which is exactly how I felt when the session was finished. I suspect it had a lot to do with my surroundings up here and I don’t think I’d find an in-studio class as inspiring. It was a completely energizing way to start my day though. I admit I fell out of a lot of positions due to lack of balance but everyone was great and we all came here at different experience levels.

After the class we all sat on our mats and chatted again for a while. Some of these ladies have awesome life stories! One of them was an older lady who runs marathons and teaches others how to do the same. She said the teaching happened to her by accident but she was so happy to be inspiring others through running. After our group chat we all headed over to the breakfast bar at this retreat and were served with the most delicious and amazing peanut porridge, johnny cakes and fresh fruit. The breakfast tasted as fabulous as it looks in this picture.

So after all this was said and done I’m a believer in yoga. However, with this location being my FIRST experience with it, I highly doubt any other place will measure up. I have only done yoga once more since this first time and that was with a DVD in my basement – hardly inspiring but still felt good. I DO know that now I will be seeking out places across the island to experience it again. The only other place I’ve felt so at peace in Jamaica was at the top of the Blue Mountains.

I would like to sincerely thank Jessica for inviting me to her yoga class.  Ever since this first experience I have been dying to go back again and again.  It was very good for my soul.

If you’re interested in some very inspirational yoga classes in the Negril area contact Jessica at 876-483-4746 and she’ll tell you where she’s teaching.

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