Athletic Playground Retreat

Aerial • Acrobatics • Handstands • Contact Improvisation • Thai Massage • Movement Exploration • Partner Acrobatics

with Shira Yaziv & Kerri Kresinski

March 13-20, 2027
Casa Chango Mexico, Puerto Escondido

BIPOC Half Scholarships Available.
Apply here by Dec 1.

Come experience a WEEK in a BEAUTIFUL RESORT IN MEXICO with sweet people, the beach, delicious, fresh, local food, and move your body everyday, while also learning new skills.

This is a retreat for movers of all kinds: dancers, aerialists, acrobats, handbalancers, circus artists, and anyone who loves to explore their body through movement. All sessions are mixed‑level, with progressions to support beginners and variations to challenge experienced practitioners. And best of all — everything is optional. Attend every session or choose your own rhythm.

Come to train. Come to rest. Come to play. Come to dance. Come to reconnect with your body and with a community of curious, supportive humans.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

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What to Expect

(No experience needed for any of the sessions)

Daily Movement Sessions

Each day includes a blend of technique, improvisation, conditioning, and exploration. You’ll build strength, mobility, coordination, and confidence while learning new skills and deepening your practice.

Movement Exploration  
A grounding way to begin the day. Tune into your body through listening, joint mobility, floor connection, and pattern‑breaking play.

Acrobatic Flow (Soft Acrobatics + Floorwork)  
Roll, arc, spiral, and soften into the floor. Learn accessible acrobatic pathways, somatic preparation, and possibly flowing sequences. No acrobatics experience needed— just curiosity and willingness to explore. 

Handstands & Inversions  
Explore kicking up, alignment, balance, and body awareness. Whether you’re working toward your first handstand or refining your line/balance, you’ll receive clear progressions and individualized support.

Partner Acrobatics  
Use each other for balance, lift, support, and shared momentum. Learn partner counterbalances, weight‑sharing, and playful acro pathways. No partner or experience required.

Aerial Skills & Conditioning  
Train on vertical apparatuses (silks and rope) with a focus on efficiency, technique, progressions, and sequences that build day by day. Strengthen your body while expanding your aerial vocabulary.

Thai Massage  
Practice giving and receiving, grounding Thai Massage sequences. Leave feeling more open, relaxed, and connected.

Contact Improvisation  
Explore presence, listening, shared weight, and spontaneous movement in solo, duet, and group forms. A space for curiosity, trust, and embodied communication.

The rest of your time will be spent eating delicious food, swimming in the pool, lounging in hammocks, and enjoying being in nature.  There will be time to explore local markets and beaches as well as the local night life.   

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Daily Schedule Sample:  

• 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. – Tea, Coffee and Breakfast
• 10 a.m.-12:30pm – Morning Sessions – Movement Exploration, Soft Acrobatics, Partner Acrobatics, Handstands
• 1:00 p.m.  – Lunch
• 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. – Free time (pool, hammocks, massages, naps)
• 3:30 p.m. – Afternoon snack and beverage
• 4 – 6:30p.m. – Afternoon Sessions: Aerial skills, conditioning, and flexibility
• 6-7pm – Sunset photos and videos (in the gym and by the infinity pool)
• 7:00 p.m. – Dinner
• 8-9:30 p.m. – Evening Sessions: Thai Massage / Contact Improvisation

We will take you to our favorite beaches for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, and releasing baby turtles into the sea. Optional evening adventures include a bioluminescent lagoon & local night market.
Read more about our excursions here.

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Prerequisites:

This retreat is for you if daily movement—of any kind—is already part of your life, and you’re able to listen to your body and go at your own pace.
If you wish to take aerial classes on this retreat, it is recommended that you already know how to climb, invert, and do some basic skills on aerial silks. The aerial classes will be taught at the advanced beginner to intermediate level.

Your coaches:

Student Testimonials

“Shira has been one my greatest teachers and inspirations for many years. Working with her has influenced not just what i train, but HOW i train, and the lessons I have learned from her have allowed me to excel beyond the realms of physical discipline. She is patient, kind, and experienced, and she knows how to provide an effective structure for achieving goals. Being her student is one of the smartest decisions that I have made.”

– Zach Fischer

“Shira offers clear, concise, humorous, and kind explanations of challenging concepts in dance and athletic movement. She approaches students with a calm and open demeanor that is encouraging to everyone, no matter their background and skill level. Because Shira is herself a master practitioner, her physical demonstrations are top notch. It is clear that she is skilled in a wide variety of styles, from contact improv to capoeira to acrobatics, and thus has insights that teachers with a more narrow practice do not have. Most importantly, when in a class with Shira I felt that she really cared about each student individually and wanted each of us to succeed.”

– Anna Botelho

“Shira is a special Movement teacher. She’s able to meet you at your current skill level and make the necessary adjustments. It’s clear she is in love with her teaching material and it is a very intuitive process. She is authentic, humble, and a joy to be around. If you’re interested in exploring Movement potential both solo and in interaction, I highly recommend the Movement Exploration Retreat. In one week I developed a close group of friends and grew exponentially as a mover and as a person.”

– Mitchell Hash

“Shira Yaziv is a world-class movement coach. She combines deep intuitive body wisdom with years of research, education, and teaching experience to provide students with safe and fun ways to develop their movement skills and take their training and creativity to the next level. Working with Shira has been an invaluable resource to my own development as a dancer, acrobat, and circus performer, and every session has been a joy and inspiration.”

– SAM Luckey

“Kerri’s teaching is accessible, creative, and empowering. This retreat was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. I can’t wait to go back. Taking what I’ve learned here and applying it in my home studio has inspired me to level up my aerial game; advancing my technique, my understanding of theory, and my creativity and intentionality. I cannot say enough good things about how enriching and powerful this experience in Mexico is, including the people I met along the way.’

– Kieran Stilson

Kerri imbues her classes with a really sweet combination of focused work, zany playfulness, and an earthy and body-positive sensuality. I walked away from my time as Kerri’s student more capable, skilled, and excited not just about aerial, but about the journey to reaching my goals. Kerri is skilled and optimistic, is genuinely there for you, and 100% rooting for you to “get that thing” and if you’re not there yet, can show you what needs to be done to get you to progress. I truly appreciate this woman and friend, and I now know that my time at Sweet Retreats was a workshop on many levels, and not just in the air.

– Elizabeth Ferretti

“Kerri has a gift for explaining things in ways that actually make sense – and sticks. She uses the most fun, creative imagery to break down complex moves, and it totally works… because weeks later, that image will just pop into your head and suddenly your body remembers what to do.
And then there’s the performance and expression side of Kerri’s teaching, which takes your individual skills into sequences and choreography that you can actually use for performances. Kerri has a way of showing you how a very simple move can be absolutely stunning. She shows you how to play with the little details and transitions in each movement. “

– Alara Rosenberg

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Retreat pricing:

Per person pricing in USD
Payment plans available.

Your choice of accommodations:	Early Bird Price	Full Price
Shared Dorm (mixed gender)	$2000	$2300
Shared Private Room (2 friends sharing a room) 1 king size bed or 2 individual beds	$2200	$2500
Shared Private Room (2 friends sharing a room) 1 king size bed or 2 individual beds	$2300	$2600
Private Room w Shared Bathroom	$2500	$2800
Private Room w Private Bathroom	$2800	$3100
Private Room w Private Bathroom & Air Conditioner	$3100	$3400

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What’s included:

• Ground transportation to/from the Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) to our accommodations*
  • Arrive on March 13. Depart on March 20, 2027.
• Accommodations for the duration of the retreat
• Daily meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, & desserts and treats!
• 2 daily classes
• Morning photoshoot
• Evening activities
• Trips to a local beaches and night market
• 24 hour use of swimming pool and community space
• Evening Jacuzzi soaks
• Ice Bath
• Starlink Wifi Internet

Links for more information:

• Casa Chango accommodations – room descriptions
• Meals and Food*
• How to get here**. Info and advice on booking your travel
• Weather in Puerto Escondido
• Testimonials
• Excursions

Discounts:

• Book and pay early and save $300!
• Refer a friend to any of our retreats and save $100 with our referral discount.*
• Sweet Retreats Alumni discount $200.

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Questions?  Email us at SweetRetreatsMexico@gmail.com

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*Food service begins with a snack and dinner on arrival day, and ends with breakfast on departure day.  All meals are provided.  The food is amazing! ** Your taxi to/from the PXM airport is included if you arrive/depart on designated days.   Click here for info about getting to Puerto Escondido.

Cancellation Policy:
At the time of payment for your retreat, we strongly advise purchasing a travel insurance policy. Make sure your policy covers the full cost of the retreat fee, as well as unexpected cancellation, trip delay, losses and other risks. Also, consider protection for canceled or delayed flights, lost luggage, medical needs while traveling. Please bring the policy with you in case of emergency. Click here for IM Global Insurance.  Click here for WanderWell Insurance. 

• No Refunds. 
• Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
• Cancel more than 60 days before 1st day of retreat: 50% of your tuition paid can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.
• Cancel 30-60 days before the 1st day of retreat: 25% of your tuition paid can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.
• Cancellations up to 30 days before the 1st day of the retreat will not be credited or refunded for any reason. 

See complete list of terms and conditions here.