About Us

Aloha! I am Christie, founder and coordinator of Purely Balanced Retreats. I received my BA in Communication and a double minor in Spanish, and Women’s and Gender Studies. I was blessed to find yoga at a young age, but it was not until college that I found an Ashtanga teacher who guided me to take my practice more seriously. I took a semester long course to learn Ashtanga yoga before going on to receive my 200hr YTT in Rishikesh, India where I also learned the foundations of Ayurveda.

I used my newfound knowledge to start teaching hatha, ashtanga and gentle yoga in different countries including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Brazil and in different parts of the United States. After filling my cup with the joys of teaching, I was introduced to a wellness center where I not only learned the incredible benefits of vegan/raw vegan and plant-based diets, but I also found a love of yoga retreats. I had spent years seeing people relax and elevate their moods through a one hour yoga class but nothing could compare to the transformation that I saw in the men and women who committed to a multi-day yoga retreat. I knew right away that this was the teaching environment that I wanted to be a part of. This realization was the start of my own journey, and this path has lead me to incredible retreat coordinators andwellness centers. I deeply value the experiences and teachers who taught me new meditations, EFT (emotional freedom technique/tapping) and how to lead a group to true healing through the voice of my own heart. I was so moved by the transformations that were taking place in these group retreats and in myself, that I knew I wanted to expand this opportunity and begin hosting my own retreats. By divine intervention, I began working for a boutique hotel in Mexico that was looking to embrace wellness and yoga. When I arrived, I knew right away that I had just found a hidden gem that probably would not stay hidden for long. I am so excited to be offering yoga and wellness retreats in one of the most peaceful and lush places I have ever been to.

I am so pleased to share this beautiful space with you, and together find our pure, natural balance, and have fun along the way!

Meet Amanda, our snorkel guide and water expert! If you sign up for one of our Big Island yoga retreats you will have the pleasure of paddle boarding, snorkeling or scuba diving under her guidance and instruction. In addition to being a natural in the water, she is also a wonderful yogini and writer. With dozens of short stories and creative writing pieces under her belt, she offers beautiful wisdom and insight on how to tap into your creative writing flow, and channel that energy in healing journal entries or literature pieces. Come see her in Hawaii !