The Menopause Gut A Women's Metabolic Health Retreat with Cynthia Thurlow, NP January 15 - 18 2027 wellness retreats at best resorts

Retreat Overview

What if you could stop fighting your body and finally understand it?

Midlife can change everything: your energy, your sleep, your metabolism, your body composition, your hormones, even the way you feel about yourself. And too often, women are left trying to piece together the answers on their own.

This is your opportunity to step away from the noise and spend four transformative days with Cynthia Thurlow, in person; one of the most trusted voices in women’s metabolic and menopause health. Cynthia brings her clinical expertise, straight-talking approach and deep understanding of the changes happening in a woman’s body during midlife into an intimate retreat designed to help you understand what is happening, what you can actually do about it, and how to feel better moving forward.

This isn’t about another diet, another quick fix, or simply managing symptoms.

It’s about getting your energy back. Feeling stronger. Sleeping better. Understanding your hormones and your gut. Rebuilding your metabolism. And leaving with a clear, practical plan for the next chapter of your life.

All of this happens at Alila Mayakoba where mornings and afternoons are devoted to learning directly from Cynthia, and the rest of the day gives you space to breathe, move, restore, connect and simply enjoy being somewhere beautiful.

Come for the answers. Stay for the experience. Leave with a different relationship with your body and a plan for your future.

Community in Midlife

Every woman in this room is somewhere on the same road — perimenopause, menopause, or rebuilding after it. Between sessions there’s time to talk, compare notes, and be understood without having to explain yourself first.

Alila Mayakoba

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Is This You?

This retreat is built for women who:

Not another wellness fad — the actual physiology of what's changing, and what to do about it.

Blood sugar, energy, and body composition are trainable at every stage of midlife.

The gut is central to how estrogen, cortisol, and metabolism behave in midlife — Cynthia's specific focus.

Six workshops, in order, built to compound.

A small group, four days, no explaining yourself.

A deliberate decision to prioritize the next decade of health.

Meet Cynthia Thurlow, NP

Her mission is simple: help women feel like themselves again.

After nearly two decades in emergency medicine and cardiology, Cynthia felt pulled toward a different kind of care, one focused less on treating symptoms as they show up, and more on helping women truly understand their bodies through perimenopause and menopause. That shift, and her own experience navigating midlife, became the heart of her book The Menopause Gut, her much-loved Everyday Wellness podcast, and a TEDx talk on fasting now watched more than 15 million times.

What makes Cynthia’s approach different isn’t just the science behind it –  it’s the warmth. She teaches the way she’d talk to a close friend: gently, honestly, and always with the reminder that this stage of life isn’t something to get through, it’s something you can feel genuinely good in.

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What Four Days Looks Like

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Six live workshops

morning and evening sessions with Cynthia on metabolic and hormone health

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Daily movement

guided yoga and strength-focused sessions suited to midlife bodies

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Spa & lagoon time

unstructured hours for the resort's spa, pools, and mangrove canals

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Metabolic-health menus

meals built around the same protein, fiber, and blood-sugar principles taught in the workshops

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Small-group connection

structured conversation time so the group becomes a real support system

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Your next 90 days

a closing session that turns everything learned into a concrete plan

Six Signature Workshops

One morning session, one evening session — every full day.
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Metabolic Health

How blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and energy shift in perimenopause — and the levers that actually move them.

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Gut Health

The gut-hormone axis: microbiome shifts in menopause and how to rebuild it.

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Hormone Harmony

Estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol in midlife — what's happening, and how to support the shift.

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Heart Health

Cardiovascular risk changes after menopause and how to protect against it.

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The Power of Protein

Preserving muscle and strength through menopause: protein targets, timing, and resistance training.

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Stress & Sleep

Cortisol, sleep architecture, and recovery in midlife — plus a wind-down protocol to keep.

WHAT YOU WILL WALK AWAY WITH

  • A metabolic health protocol built for your stage of menopause
  • A working model of your gut-hormone connection
  • A protein, movement & sleep framework you’ll actually use
  • A community of women walking the same road

Are You Ready?

If something in you knows it’s time to stop looping and start rising — this is your invitation.

This work is deep.
This work is honest.
This work changes people.

Itinerary

DAY 1

All Day Arrivals, check-in, free time to settle into your suite
Evening Welcome reception & dinner with Cynthia and the group

DAY 2

8:00 AM Sunrise yoga on the beach
10:00 AM Metabolic-health Brunch & group welcome circle
11:00 AM Workshop: Hormone Harmony
Noon – 4:00 PM Spa and Pool time
4:30 PM Sound Healing
6:30 PM Dinner

DAY 3

8:00 AM Sunrise yoga on the beach
10:00 AM Metabolic-health Brunch & group welcome circle
11:00 AM Workshop: Gut health
Noon – 4:00 PM Spa and Pool time
4:30 PM Workshop. Gut Health (Evening)
6:30 PM Dinner

DAY 4

8:00 AM Movement Session
10:00 AM Closing Brunch and Discussion
11:30 AM Departures

Your Venue Destination

Alila Mayakoba

Discover a quieter side of the Riviera Maya at Alila Mayakoba, an elegant beachfront hideaway immersed in the natural beauty of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Surrounded by mangroves, tropical greenery, and calm turquoise waters, the resort offers a thoughtful blend of understated luxury and authentic Yucatán spirit. From restorative wellness rituals and exceptional culinary experiences to encounters with local culture and nature, every stay is an invitation to experience Mayakoba at a slower, more meaningful pace.

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Retreat Inclusions & Booking Details

Reserve your place with a $750 non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the retreat. Spaces are exclusive and limited to ensure a personalized, transformative experience. Secure your spot today and join us for this life-changing retreat. Airfare is not included.
  • Single Occupancy
  • $ 3,650
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    • Luxury Accommodations
    • Six delicious Meals at Alila Mayakoba
    • Guided workshops
    • Arrival evening experience
    • Breathwork journey
    • All core exercises and rituals
    • Facilitated group and partner work
    • Integration tools
    • Retreat materials
  • Double Occupancy
  • $ 2,950
    --
    • Luxury Accommodations
    • Six delicious Meals at Alila Mayakoba
    • Guided workshops
    • Arrival evening experience
    • Breathwork journey
    • All core exercises and rituals
    • Facilitated group and partner work
    • Integration tools
    • Retreat materials

Your Evolve Perks

Making your wellness retreat simple, convenient, and stress-free from start to finish.

Flexible payment plans available—contact Tammy Petersen to arrange yours. (tel. 312-961-3280)

Need help getting here? Contact Barbara Khan at Pro Travel, Inc. for support.

A credit card at check-in covers extra charges like spa treatments, excursions, or drinks.

Pay later and reserve your spot with a $750 non-refundable deposit; balance due 30 days before retreat start.

Guests can fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN)

Request a roommate when signing up; single occupancy adjustments made if needed.

Questions?

Have a question before you book? We're here to help every step of the way.