Very Mindful Living in Jamaica

It’s the perfect vacation.

Laying out at a beautiful beach in Jamaica on the edge of the shifting blues of the Caribbean Sea, a colourful cocktail in hand, your toes in the sand, a cool tropical breeze ruffling your hair, and a gentle reggae beat filling the air. Did you know, however, that a greater awareness of these elements and how they impact your emotions and well-being can take your time in Jamaica to a whole new level of Zen? 

Mindful Living

What exactly is Mindful Living? A simple explanation is that mindful living means connecting to moments on every level to embrace living in a way that maximises all that life can offer you. Staying mindful is a way of finding pleasure and fulfilment in everyday things and this can make a considerable contribution to your overall happiness. You’ll find no shortage of ways to embrace mindful living in Jamaica. Food, experiences, and activities, abound with opportunities to embrace the practice of living mindfully.

Natural Nutrition

Thanks to the island’s deep connection to nature, healthy dining experiences are easily accessible no matter what part of the country one visits. Most uniquely Jamaican, is a Rastafarian ‘ital’ meal. Ital living is designed to feed the vitality of your body with pure organic ingredients; there is no meat or salt, but it is more than simply veganism. It is also a spiritual approach to eating. For those looking for a more traditional plant-based restaurant experience, try Kamila’s Kitchen for organic and intentional dining. In Ocho Rios, Reggae Pot Rastarant on the main street is a local favourite, as is Miss T’s, known for serving up delicious versions of every staple of Jamaican cuisine.

In Ocho Rios, Stush in the Bush is a ‘bucket list’ vegan dining experience. What’s more, Chef Lisa Binns and her husband Christopher, bottle their amazing products so you can take some home with you.

Don't miss the Restaurant Robin this November at Stush in the Bush. Inspired by Jamaican round robin tradition, the series celebrates commnuity, food, and unity. Participating restaurants each host a special opening day, while the other restaurants close to show their support. It's more than just a meal - it's about bringing people together over food, drinks, games, and good vibes.

Go rustic out at Alligator Pond or Hellshire along the South Coast, where you can choose your freshly caught fish or lobster yourself and dine al fresco shortly after. There are farm-to-table experiences which transcend simple healthy dining, like a specially curated seaside dinner event, held only when there’s a full moon, by the culinary enthusiasts at Jakes in Treasure Beach. Jakes is a favourite getaway for those looking to connect with nature. Guests at the boutique hotel enjoy a saltwater pool, hikes, and cycling in the ‘breadbasket region’ of Jamaica and it is a well-known locale for yoga and wellness retreats. 

Mystic Movements

Deliberate practices, like yoga, or meditation can help you tune into your awareness. Although yoga isn’t a uniquely Jamaican experience, practising yoga in Jamaica certainly is. Retreats and classes are a constant here, as many Jamaicans have incorporated the practice into their daily lives. One-off retreats are always available, but there are other venues across the island that offer year-round invitations for you to join them for a day or longer. Go Natural in Port Antonio, is a true eco-tourism sanctuary where you spend your days napping in a hammock to the sound of the waves in between yoga classes, hikes, and delicious meals, including full vegan dishes, prepared from their locally sustained sources. On the other end of the island is Negril, which has been a slice of bohemian heaven since the 1970’s, attracting those seeking to chill out and explore their Zen. Jackie’s on The Reef hosts energy healing, meditation, yoga, and healthy food classes for those looking to analyse, detox and cleanse on a spiritual and cellular level.

Another way to explore mindfulness is feeling your body discovering its own potential and abilities. Test your endurance at Swim for the Sanctuary in Ocho Rios, an annual charity event supporting the White River Fish Sanctuary, or cross the finish line at Jake’s Off-Road Triathlon, the world longest running off-road triathlon. There’s nothing else like the annual Reggae Marathon which sees people arriving from all over the world to run alongside the famous Seven Mile Beach. High up in the cloud forest of the Blue Mountains, head off on a moonlit hike to reach the island’s highest point, Blue Mountain Peak, by dawn. Guided tours are available for day trip hikes as well, and there is no shortage of customised excursions and experiences around the island for both groups and solo travellers.

After all of that movement, it’s time to pamper your body. Many spas on the island incorporate the natural benefits of Jamaican herbs, spices, and plants like aloe vera, CBD, eucalyptus, lemongrass, coffee, chocolate, molasses, and even rum. Jamaica Inn’s saltwater pool, chiselled out of natural rock on a cliff overlooking the sea, is the perfect precursor to their blissful spa treatments, including their lymphatic and oncology massages. At Goldeneye in Ocho Rios, the organic spa ingredients are harvested from their own farm and their treatments made right on property. For even more indulgence, the spa at Round Hill includes a Vichy water and a natural superfood boost skincare treatment.

Some hotels offer spa services to those not staying on property, and some even include the option to hang out for a while after your treatment. In Montego Bay, The Grande Spa at Jewel Grande Resort, has plunge pools, a Himalayan Salt Room, steam and sauna rooms, and more to enjoy. Indulge in the Jacana experience at the Tryall Spa, an uplifting treatment that includes breathwork, sound healing, massage and chakra energy healing. Half Moon’s Fern Tree Spa is a sprawling haven of luxurious relaxation for mind, body and soul.

The island has its own natural ways to rejuvenate and revitalise you. Locations like the popular Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay, mineral spring soaks in Bath, St. Thomas, the Milk River Baths in Clarendon, the Firewater Mineral Healing Spring just beyond Ocho Rios, and the deep Blue Hole mineral spring near Negril, all have storied histories of their healing properties. Right across from the beautiful villas in San San, Port Antonio, is Pellew Island, also known as Monkey Island, where it is tradition to cover oneself in the rich mineral clay for a natural spa experience, a must for all visiting Blue Lagoon.

A visit to Rastafari Indigenous Village can ground you in a truly meaningful way, as you learn the properties of food and herbal medicine, how to cook ital, how to craft and play a traditional drum, and learn about the Rastafarian way of life.

Jamaica is filled with opportunities for unique experiences with locals who know their towns, their food, their communities, and how to connect to their island in dozens of different ways. You can give back to the community on your vacation by connecting with registered charities or foundations. Jakes, Sandals, Beaches, and others proudly support a ‘Pack for a Purpose’ programme that allows visitors to make a meaningful contribution. It's time to come back to your best self. Start planning your journey to a more mindful way of living – it all starts here in Jamaica.

“The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.”  - Tara Brach

About the Author

Deanne Allgrove has written for print, television, in-flight features, online publications, and websites. She has worked as the Managing Editor of Jamaica Experiences, a print and online travel publication, produced for TVJ's Smile Jamaica, and projects in the USA, UK, Europe, Jamaica, and Canada like KUYA Magazine, tourism magazines in Florida, UK's Rough Guides Jamaica, Sesame Street, Canal+, and TV5.”