Open Heart Journeys
Open Heart Journeys is a quality yoga retreat service created in 2005 by Francisco Morales-Bermudez.
We offer magical retreat experiences, as well as providing retreat leaders and yoga teachers the resources they need to create retreats for their students.
It is our intention to inspire you with the magic, culture and beauty of the locations we visit, while creating time for you to relax, connect with friends and practice yoga, during this heart-opening experience.
Our wish is that these deep, majestic journeys
will hum in your heart
and resonate in your spirit
for years to come.
The signature elements of an Open Heart Journey include:
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Retreat Locations
The locations we choose are nurturing and healing environments to relax, retreat and develop long-lasting memories in culturally-rich communities.
- Our journeys have taken us to the mountains of Peru, beaches & temples of Mexico, volcanoes of Hawaii and The Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.
- Ideally we look to stay at locations with holistic and sustainable practices that support the local community
- We like to offer a range of accommodation from budget to luxury to suit the group dynamics - this can vary from one journey to the next
- We visit these areas with the understanding that local cultures hold wisdom we can learn from and contribute to.
- Each journey is unique to the area we visit.
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Daily Yoga
Francisco & Esak practice Yoga daily so we've integrated this into our retreats for you to take your practice on the road.
- The intention of most classes are to challenge and ground us for the day ahead.
- We welcome all varieties of yoga practice. Typically we start the day with Bikram Yoga and end the day with Synergy Partner Yoga. In the past we have included Vinyasa classes and other forms of yoga depending on group requests.
- Classes are guided by an experienced yoga teacher. All Levels of ability are welcome and encouraged to take part
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Healthy Food
We believe delicious & nutritious food not only feed the body but nourishes the soul.
- Meals during the retreat are catered daily, prepared locally using organic produce and consider all special dietary requirements.
- Our favourite chefs are flown in to cater specially for the group when possible.
- We plan each meal to support the flow of our daily activities - you won't go hungry!
- When we dine, we dine together, communing and creating memories over good food
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Adventure Excursions
In addition to daily yoga, each retreat includes Adventure Excursions to connect with our surroundings. We explore the Earth's natural beauty as well as the cultures and people that inhabit it.
- We have taken groups to swim with Humpback whales in the northern pacific coast of Peru & to the Biosphere in Tulum, Mexico
- We have offered surfing lessons for beginners, hikes to waterfall of Hawaii, and we have visited the temples of Machu Pichu, Chichen-Itza and Tulum
- One of our favourite Adventure Excursions explores the cenote caves of the Mayan Riviera. These are a few examples of excursions we have led for our open heart journey participants.
- We believe these experiences are expansive and enriching.
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Karma Yoga
Our lives are enriched by the communities & places we visit and we believe in giving back to them.
- The Karma Yoga program consists of going to a community and making a contribution
- Often we lead yoga classes or take on service projects. These create fun opportunities to connect with the local people in the places we visit
- Sometimes we like to support fund raising campaigns. In the past, we have contributed to building schools and bathrooms in rural areas
- Karma yoga is a way to learn more about the lives and challenges of the communities we visit.
Want more insight into how to lead a retreat? Ready to co-create an Open Heart Journey? Then email us at and we will explore the needs of you and your group.