This Cancún Resort Helped Get Me Out of My Comfort Zone and Face My Fear of Failure

Let me begin off by saying: I hate being unhealthy at issues. If I am not instantly good at one thing new, my intestine intuition is to by no means do it once more. All through my life, I’ve began and stop so many actions—ballet, gymnastics, diving, horseback using—and informed myself it was as a result of I’m an individual who merely will get bored too simply. I believe this perspective has one thing to do with “being a pleasure to have at school” all all through faculty; I received good grades, by no means received in hassle, and every thing got here fairly simply to me. Failure simply wasn’t one thing I used to be accustomed to.

Relaxation assured, I have been engaged on adjusting this inflexible mind-set (shout out to my therapist), and after I was invited to remain at Ava Resort Cancún in Mexico for his or her grand opening, I knew I might be offended with myself if I did not reap the benefits of some new-to-me actions they needed to provide. Certain, sitting by the pool all day is gorgeous—and not possible to fail at—however I needed to place my remedy abilities to the check. My aim: Strive issues I’ve by no means carried out earlier than, and actually be okay with not being good on the primary go.

However first, a bit about Ava Resort Cancún 

Ava Resort Cancún is an all-inclusive, five-star resort that lately opened in October 2024. It’s positioned in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, proper on the Caribbean Sea and solely a 10-minute drive from Cancún Worldwide Airport. An Ava shuttle was ready for me on the airport after I landed, however any visitor can prepare transportation providers via the resort.

The property has 1,700 rooms, all of which have oceanfront views (sure, actually). When reserving, you’ll be able to select from three choices, with costs beginning at $600 USD on the time of publishing:

• Oceanfront king or queen room ($600/night time):Incorporates a king mattress or two queen visitor rooms, a spa-inspired toilet, and a non-public terrace with a small spa tub.
• Ava Gala Suite ($1,900/night time): Options two bedrooms, two double beds, a lounge, a workspace, a grasp bathtub, and a non-public terrace.
• Ava Penthouse Suite ($2,500/night time): Incorporates a master suite with a walk-in closet and personal terrace, a second bed room with a non-public terrace, two loos, a lounge and kitchen, and a predominant terrace with a 6-person spa tub.

I used to be in an oceanfront king room for 4 nights, which featured the above facilities. Whereas on the costly aspect, it was truthfully precisely what I’d count on for $600 an evening—higher than any Hilton or Marriott I’ve stayed in. The non-public terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea actually sealed the deal for me. Even in the event you have been to spend the entire day lounging in mattress (which I definitely didn’t), you continue to really feel such as you’re in Mexico, because of the large sliding glass door to the terrace the place you’ll be able to nonetheless see the seashore.

First up, a breathwork class

In the event you’re not acquainted, breathwork workout routines contain a mixture of deep and shallow respiratory, often at quick paces, with breath holds in between. As a result of any such breathwork prompts your parasympathetic nervous system—which is answerable for stress-free your physique, per the Cleveland Clinic—it’s supposed to assist calm you down. (LOL at me being anxious about attempting one thing meant to be soothing.)

Our teacher, Ben Smith, an authorized breathwork and efficiency coach, had us lie face up on our yoga mats and placed on eye masks to create a little bit of sensory deprivation (analysis¹ has proven sensory deprivation can assist scale back stress, despair, anxiousness, and ache). Not going to lie, I used to be instantly uncomfortable. And although Smith stored repeating that it did not matter how foolish we appeared or felt, I could not assist however really feel like I might be judged for the subsequent hour, although nobody might even see me.

Subsequent, EDM music started blasting—I might really feel the bass pulsing in my physique. Quickly, Smith started taking quick, deep stomach breaths that we needed to observe together with. It was arduous to maintain up with, and because the breaths received sooner, I believed I used to be going to hyperventilate. I knew I needed to cease pondering a lot.

However then I remembered I used to be outdoors on a terrace going through the ocean—and whereas I couldn’t see it at that second, smelling the salty water and feeling the cool breeze snapped me out of panic. It was a way more calming ambiance than, say, a exercise studio in a landlocked U.S. state. At a sure level, I actually did let go of any intrusive ideas and forgot about how awkward I felt.

We spent the previous few minutes of sophistication in corpse pose (Savasana) letting our respiratory get again to regular. In my very own darkish little world, I felt the calmest I had in a very long time. (Severely, I had a spa session the day earlier than and did not even really feel as relaxed afterward as I did after the breathwork class.) After we took our eye masks off, I had tears in my eyes—positive, most of it was from how brilliant it was with out the masks, however there was a small a part of me that felt so moved and altered.

Then, taking a category with Julianne Hough (yep, that Julianne Hough)

In the event you’re like me, you in all probability bear in mind watching Julianne Hough on Dancing With the Stars within the mid-2000s. Now, she has her personal exercise methodology known as Kinrgy, a dance class that comes with parts of energy coaching, yoga, and meditation.

Hough taught this class particularly for the resort’s grand opening, and it was on the identical terrace overlooking the ocean the place the breathwork class had been held. Sadly, this additionally meant I’d be sweating profusely, because it was 80 levels and humid (although the offered chilly towels and cucumber water helped a tiny bit).

I used to be intimidated as hell to take this class. The considered dancing in the identical house as knowledgeable genuinely made me wish to again out on the final second, but it surely was too cool of a chance to cross up. So in I went, taking a spot towards the center of the pack.

Hough started the category by demonstrating just a few key strikes that will be repeated all through and had us observe alongside. Regardless of her going via them slowly, I wasn’t choosing them up as quick as I needed to, which I knew can be a problem after we did the strikes for actual. As I appeared round, most individuals appeared like they have been naturals. Nice, they’re in all probability me like I don’t belong, I believed. Cue the anxiousness.

When the music turned on and we formally received began, the primary few sequences have been tough for me. It felt as if my limbs and mind weren’t linked as I went from one transfer to the subsequent, at all times off by a beat or two. However surprisingly (or possibly unsurprisingly), the identical factor occurred right here because it did within the breathwork class: Someplace between a grapevine step and a hip thrust, I finished caring how I used to be being perceived. I used to be letting myself have enjoyable, and I felt like a child once more.

Towards the tip of the session, we stopped dancing and Hough had us shut our eyes and take into consideration every thing we have been grateful for in our lives. The tune “Rise Up” by Andra Day was enjoying within the background (if , ), and after we all opened our eyes, there wasn’t a dry eye within the class. I went from feeling awkward and embarrassed to feeling such a connection to a bunch of strangers (a mixture of resort company and people specifically invited to Ava’s opening) in actually 60 minutes—one thing I did not suppose can be doable, and it would not have been if I might sat the category out like I initially needed to.

Having fun with the super-expansive meals choice

One factor I had no reservations about on this journey? Consuming. The resort’s all-inclusive nature means limitless meals and drinks all through the entire resort for all company, no matter which room you select. There are informal buffets, ice cream outlets, taco stations (actually the perfect tacos I’ve ever had), poolside meals and beverage service, and 17 advantageous eating eating places (solely open for dinner) that provide cuisines like Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, Japanese, French, and extra. Enjoyable truth: All of the cooks have been skilled by prime cooks from all over the world—and it reveals.

Exploring the resort’s actions

Despite the fact that I traveled on my own, I genuinely suppose that Ava Resort Cancún can be nice for households and solo vacationers alike. There are six swimming pools—one which’s adults-only—with three swim-up bars, non-public cabanas, deck chairs, sunbeds, and lounge chairs. There’s additionally the Ava Bay, a 2.8-acre artifical physique of water on property the place you are able to do water actions like crusing, paddle boarding, and kayaking.

If you wish to break up your poolside lounging, there’s a free fitness center and some actions you may must pay further for:

• A full-service spa
• A golf couse
• Laser tag
• Bowling
• Arcade video games

There are additionally free children and youths golf equipment on web site the place they’ll make associates and you’ll have some alone time. To not point out, you’ll be able to ebook non-public or group excursions outdoors the resort (for an added price) to see the ruins of Chichén Itzá, go scuba diving, swim with dolphins, do a jungle tour, and extra. Sadly, I didn’t get to do any of this as a result of brief time period I used to be there and an already-packed schedule of occasions *in* the resort, however I completely would have carried out all the above if I had the time.

Just a few notes

Whereas my keep at Ava Resort Cancún was actually pretty, I do have just a few notes that could be useful to think about earlier than visiting. The primary is the resort’s location. Whereas it has straightforward airport entry, it’s greater than a 30-minute drive from Cancún’s central “lodge zone” and downtown space. This implies it’s powerful to discover the eating places, bars, and golf equipment the town has to supply, as you’d must pay for a cab or Uber to get there, so it has the potential to really feel isolating in the event you’re there for an extended time period.

This leads me to the truth that due to the resort’s location, the seashore isn’t nearly as good of high quality because the others within the lodge zone. My shuttle driver from the airport stated to keep away from going within the ocean as a result of it’s extra “swampy” than the opposite seashores in Cancún. (Therefore the artifical bay I discussed earlier.) So you’ll be able to stroll alongside the seashore, however that is just about it.

I additionally discovered there wasn’t a lot to do within the resort itself, until you’ve gotten excursions booked or wish to pay further for the spa, golf, bowling, laser tag, or arcade video games. However by way of leisure, reveals, or stay music, you’d want to depart the resort to seek out it. So though there’s undoubtedly stuff to maintain you occupied, I’d say that Ava may be very a lot a resort for individuals who want a break from life and wish to largely simply lounge round.

Last ideas

Whereas I’m not inherently an all-inclusive resort girlie—I’d reasonably sightsee by myself in a much less extravagant means and never be confined to 1 house—I nonetheless had a good time and suggest it to anybody in search of an opulent getaway who desires to calm down by the pool with a taco and margarita in hand.

The resort is certainly on the costly aspect, however in the event you can afford it and luxuriate in all-inclusive holidays like this, I’d say my expertise was price it. The actions I did throughout my keep received me out of my consolation zone, and I’m happy with myself for attempting one thing new.