After months of turning dreams into plans, we were ecstatic to travel to the beautiful Montego Bay, Jamaica with the Outrun Gravity family to participate in our 5-day Rise and Rejuvenate Wellness Retreat.

Thanks to our outstanding team that shares our passion for mindful action and health, the memories from this retreat will last a lifetime. If you’re curious to hear about the highlights and how you can get involved in the next retreat, keep reading!

DAY 1: Arrive and Replenish

Our OG team was so excited to get started on day one, beginning by welcoming everyone at the airport before sharing lunch together and exploring the area before heading to our villas. The goal was to offer our retreat participants a combination of luxury and simplicity, but nothing could have mentally prepared us for how stunning our resort was: sharing a Bali-esque architectural appeal with the paradise of Jamaica at heart, our lodgings were truly immaculate!

Upon arrival, each of our guests received a loaded goodie bag filled with a water bottle, Outrun Gravity T-shirt, wristband, journal, bug spray, and more. We tried to create a gift bag with useful items, and our participants definitely were able to take advantage of these items throughout the trip.

Old friends and new friends alike, our group instantly connected when we met this first day, and from that first moment, we knew it was going to be an incredible trip. On the first evening, we had one guest from Germany who arrived slightly late, but even then, she was immediately welcomed to the group.

To loosen up after a long day of traveling, Elise led us through a light yoga session before dinner: a scrumptious seafood medley prepared with that delicious Jamaican passion.

DAY 2: Move and Explore

By day 2 the essence of the retreat had begun, and we took advantage of every moment by starting the day with a light walk and a refreshing breakfast at our resort. Once we were fueled and satisfied, our group set off on a guided hike of Dolphin Head Mountain, the second tallest mountain in Jamaica. This was a moving and humbling experience as we visited rural Jamaican villages and got to experience parts of the country that may be poor in assets, but are the richest in happiness, love, and life satisfaction.

It was a good thing we had an experienced leader because our tour guide had to bushwhack his way through foliage as he led us along a lesser-known trail to the top. Throughout the journey, we loved learning how to identify which plants were edible and which were poisonous, but we knew to leave the classification to the experts.

Once we reached our gorgeous viewpoint, we celebrated by taking photos and engaging in a group meditation, where we could reflect on our journey so far as well as set intentions for the remainder of the retreat.

On the descent, we continued learning about the plants and animals before joining our local guides for a provided lunch of fresh Jamaican fruits, escovitch fish, curried chicken, and fresh coconut water. It was incredible to be immersed in nature as we ingested organic, delicious foods.

Exhausted from our active day, we enjoyed the rest of the evening relaxing at the resort and hitting Pineapple Beach for live music and vibes before calling it a night.

DAY 3: Gratitude and Farm Up Jamaica

Day 3 began with a restorative group walk outdoors followed by a nutritious breakfast to get us ready for the day. This aspect of our retreat was a warm experience as we saddled up in our matching OG t-shirts and donated our time to helping the team at Farm Up Jamaica. First, they gave us an intriguing tour of the ruins of an old sugar cane plantation. Interestingly, we had to sanitize our feet before stepping into the organic farm to protect the crops from bacteria and viruses.

During this excursion, we pulled weeds from pineapples, drug wheelbarrows of mulch, and planted new pineapples as we learned about the economic impact farming has on Jamaican culture. We were humbled and surprised that they provided us with a delicious jerk chicken lunch that we enjoyed together as well. Although it was challenging work, we all felt extremely grateful for the opportunity to give back to the local community as we learned about ourselves from the environment.

This evening, we reconnected for an incredible vision and goals workshop after dinner. It was incredible for everyone to take time to outline their personal ambitions through this exercise, and after an hour of dreaming, we got emotional as we shared with the group and provided each other accountability.

DAY 4: Rise and Reconnect

By day 4, we placed more focus on the fitness element of our retreat by engaging in our routine of a 50-minute high-intensity bodyweight workout led by Coach Courtney followed by a 15-minute full-body yoga session led by Elise. These morning workouts were instrumental in setting the tone for our day and encouraging us to continue to make healthy choices that challenge us to grow.

This was the day when retreat participants had the most freedom to pursue activities they love, so many of us spent the day swimming at the beach or taking swings on the golf course. We even had the opportunity to go rafting on a crystal-clear Jamaican river. It was great for us to embrace our connections in the community to find unique activities as opposed to sticking to a generic tourist checklist.

DAY 5: Reflect and Resume

Day 5 began like all mornings with a challenging workout, this time boxing, and strength, led by Coach Courtney. We followed this workout with yoga with Elise, and after lining our foreheads with a layer of sweat and getting our muscles pumped, we were ready to be present in the moment take on our last day in paradise.

We had a lot of free time this final day, but many of us embraced the opportunity to visit a natural lazy river where some people received limestone massages while others relaxed on the bamboo rafts in the crystal-clear water.

All in all, the Rise and Rejuvenate Retreat was a huge success. We shared feelings of gratitude about our time together before departing on our separate journeys, and thankfully all of our participants made it home safely with seamless experiences with COVID and travel protocols.

Everyone who came along for the adventure expressed that they had an incredible time on the Outrun Gravity Rise and Rejuvenate Retreat. During these five days, we practiced mindfulness, ate organic foods, exercised regularly, and embraced the present moment as we explored the beautiful island of Jamaica. We learned so much about ourselves during this experience and our group even set a record at the villa for the least amount of alcohol purchased ever – an amazing accomplishment for a group with a passion for wellness!

Check out Outrun Gravity for more highlights from Rise and Rejuvenate, and make sure you stay tuned for the announcement of our next retreat where we will Align with Intention in sunny Costa Rica.