How Suzy Got Her Groove Back in Oaxaca

Suzy DiSanto–a 45-year-old wife and mother in Durango, Colorado was feeling bored and uninspired.

But attending a Salsa dance retreat in Oaxaca, Mexico put the spice back into her life.

THE TRIP: Salsa Retreat, an 8-day dance vacation and Salsa workshop in Oaxaca, Mexico.

WHO: Suzy DiSanto –45 years old, married for 20 years, and mother of a teenager. I love to dance more than anything in the whole world.

I moved to Durango, Colorado 12 years ago from San Francisco.  I’m a dance instructor and I enjoy teaching Salsa.

I grew up in southern California, and I have been very influenced by latin culture especially Mexican culture.  I have traveled throughout Europe and Mexico, and every time I travel to Mexico I come home trying to figure out a way to live there I love everything about Mexico!!!!!

WHEN: December, 2009.

WHY: I found out about the Salsa Retreat from a my friend Ann who I traveled with to the retreat.  She found the Retreat on the web.

I went on this trip at a time in my life when I was bored with my life.  I felt old and uninspired. I needed to be pumped up.

OAXACA IS:  easy to get to. Also, it’s a big enough city to have a metropolitan feel but it feels and is incredibly safe.

The dance scene there is second only to Mexico City. Also found out that there was about 20 dance studios there.

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED BY: the quality of the dancers and the instruction. I was skeptical that the dancing would be not so great, but it was very professional.

I think any one who loves dance would find the experience valuable.

ONE THING I REALLY LOVED: was how the dance instructors made me feel.

In Mexico older women are respected and looked up to for knowledge. The dance instructors, who were younger than me, valued my opinion about dance.

They made me feel important and they made me feel beautiful.

Plus, they taught me new things that I can use as a dance instructor. I’m planning a workshop for my students to share the new material.

THE ACCOMMODATIONS WERE: like an oasis in the middle of the city. It was stepping into a Frida Kahlo painting– loved it.

The retreat was the perfect blend of Yoga, dancing, and food.

The the meals were amazing. The Yoga sessions in the morning were the perfect way to begin the day.

I also enjoyed the guided tours and the  few hours of free time we had each day too.

The only thing I would have added was a cooking class. So next time I will stay a few extra days to get that in.

IF I HAD TAKEN A CRUISE OR STAYED AT AN ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT I WOULD HAVE MISSED: the culture in the streets, talking to the people. You would not get that on a cruise. Plus the food was incredible and LOCAL!!!! I loved that.

WHAT I GOT OUT OF IT: I left Oaxaca with my sexy back!

All told, this was one of the best trips of my life. I had a hard time coming home and can’t wait to go again.

Thanks to Salsa Retreat for sponsoring this blog post. Information about the dance retreats, including a schedule of activities and a listing of upcoming retreats is available on Salsa Retreat’s website.