Costa Rica Yoga Spa has had its share of Ashtanga, Kundalini and Anusara-inspired yoga this month. Monica, our yoga instructor has returned from a yoga retreat she taught in Aruba. It’s so good to have her back.

We have a new guest chef, Hayley Andberg, from Santa Barbara, California. Hayley is learning Spanish and surfing in between cooking. We continue to use our remarkably talented local chefs as well, who always add that “gourmet” flare to our local cuisine. Our organic garden is being replanted with new goodies right now and our herb garden is expanding as well. Every couple of weeks different local fruits and vegetables begin to ripen and find our way to our table.

Marcelo, from Argentina, has been performing Temascal sweat lodges on Playa Pelada for Costa Rica Yoga Spa guest and the sweats have been unbelievably remarkable with everyone coming out of the lodge and going into the ocean then to the fire and then back for another round, amazing! Darin, one of the owners has been giving surf lessons and nature adventures in the mountains behind Nosara. The 50-foot waterfal next to the yoga pavillion has been flowing nonstop since the rains hit giving a pleasant sound during the yoga practices.

Looking forward to another amazing yoga teacher training from Ashley Ludman starting here July 3rd and again there will be an international mix of people. Surfing in Nosara has been really big lately wich was great for a national surf event last week. We are still waiting on the Olive Ridley turtles to come in on their arribada for all of us to view, hopefully this weekend! We are also looking forward to Sara Antes from upstate New York to be joining the staff her soon, very exciting stuff.

Well a whole lot of peace and a whole lot of love to you all and looking forward to rolling out a mat for you real soon at one of our upcoming retreats!

Namaste

On the first day of yoga teacher training our fearless leader Ashley introduced us to a new word: kula. She explained to us that kulas come in many shapes and sizes and that they are comprised of a group of people who co-exist and find support in one another. She also explained that by living together for three weeks up on this mountain we would be creating a similar type of community. Thus, the kula was born…

10: We always encourage each other to try new things, like backbends, inversions, and the first time they brought me out to the Tropicana bar.

9: We help push Darren’s car and/or golf cart to the mechanic each time it breaks down.

8: When in doubt we’re not afraid to palpate one another.

7: “disfunctional family” dinners.

6: We always share our “chit” with each other.

5: We read bedtime stories from the Bhagavad Gita. (just try it, you’ll sleep like a baby).

4: We’re not afraid to show our inner Shakti, or any other parts of our bodies.

3: We throw 30 second dance parties every time someone does something cool.

2: We love a good adventure, sweat lodge, visit to the witchdoctor, meditation at the graveyard, and generally anything else the rest of the population would consider taboo.

1: We know the true importance of our community and through the ups and downs of spending 200+ hours together in 21 days, we always stick by our KULA!

To learn about upcoming yoga teacher training retreats and other eco- adventures become a fan of us on facebook!

Jackie and Jill’s Oatmeal and Peanut Butter Smoothie

• ½ c organic oatmeal
• 2 frozen bananas – in chunks
• 4 TBS – peanut butter
• 1/c yogurt
• 1/c milk
• A few ice cubes

If you live in Costa Rica, you can substitute guanabana juice for the milk.

To learn more about Costa Rica Yoga Spa, and our organic garden visit http://www.costaricayogaspa.com.

“This picture means a lot to me; it was taken on the most beautiful sunset I have seen in a long time. After a little hike through the Jungle , we randomly ended up to Playa Pelada, and without exchanging many words, we all started to perform our favorite postures to honor this poweful ball of fire sinking into the Ocean. Perfect timing and perfect space to be a witness of the Universe’s divine Consciousness. Those Moments are pure and sometimes we need to stop and take time to appreciate and contemplate what the life is offering to us. The way I see this picture, I am expanding my fire chakra outward, grounding my heart side to the Earth, and reaching to the sky, hoping for my highest potential! Pura Vida !” – Yoga Teacher Training student Evita

To learn more about retreats that will enhance your inner and outer mindfulness of yoga  and self or to take advantage of all the things to do and see in beautiful Nosara such as surfing, kayaking, hiking, or wildlife exploration contact us today to begin your reawakening in Nosara.

At Costa Rica Yoga Spa, we encourage you to please support Nosara Wildlife.  SIBU, a monkey sanctuary, is a secondary release station and Refugio de Animales Nosara is the intitial care facility who work together to give initital medical care, rehabilitate and release beautiful monkeys back into the habit. In the picture to the left are two young monkeys at SIBU. They arrived to SIBU because their mother’s were electrocuted on power lines while they were on their mother’s backs. To learn more about SIBU and how you can get involved visit http://www.sibujungalows.com.

In December of 2009, I returned to Costa Rica for a well needed vacation, as I was preparing to close the yoga studio that I had owned for the past 8 years. For the duration of 2009, my heart was calling me in a new direction, one where I would be focusing my teaching energy towards training Yoga teachers and leading students on Yoga retreats, adventures and journeys into their highest potential. My mantra for 2009 became, “I am committing to teach Yoga Teacher Training and Retreats“. Although I have been teaching teachers for the past 8 years, I realized that my plate became too full with additional responsibilities and commitments, and I just wanted to simplify my work, life and intentions. I started to sound like a broken record, but stayed steadfast, not knowing how it would take shape or even where it would lead me in the new decade ahead.

On my return to Nosara, I synchronistically ran into a good friend who I had met 10 years ago, while I was in Nosara completing my advanced teacher training with Don and Amba. I saw Yesim across the restaurant, and it was as though time fast forwarded from the year 2000 to the present moment. We immediately recognized one another, and, like a best friend, whose spirit you just don’t forget, we picked up the moment from where we last left off. She invited me to visit her at the Costa Rica Yoga Spa, where she was the chef.

The next day, I made my visit to the land that I had passed many times before. I often drove past this spot and felt that there was something special beyond the Aztec wall that marked the entrance. One moment led to the next, and the next thing I knew, I was in a business meeting with Jill, planning out the next phase of my Yoga and teaching journey. Standing at the top of the land, overlooking the mangrove trees and the Pacific Ocean, I felt as though I was “home again”. I saw and felt this home in the reflection of the surroundings of nature and this new community of support that welcomed me.

I am deeply honored to be a part of this creative endeavor and spirit filled land, and am so excited to facilitate Costa Rica Yoga Spa’s inaugural Teacher Training program. Each day, I am more and more inspired to create a unique training experience, where the nature of the surroundings supports the Yoga journey. Join me on an amazing adventure ahead!

Yes! It is official – almost!! Costa Rica is the country with the Happiest People in the World! Nicholas D. Kristof, columnist from The New York Times doesn’t feel it is a coincident that “Costa Rica is one of the very few countries to have abolished its army and it’s also arguably the happiest nation on earth. There are several ways of measuring happiness in countries, all inexact, but this pearl of Central America does stunningly well by whatever system is used. For example, the World Database of Happiness, compiled by a Dutch sociologist on the basis of answers to surveys by Gallup and others, lists Costa Rica in the top spot out of 148 nations.”

“Scholars also calculate happiness by determining “happy life years.” This figure results from merging average self-reported happiness, as above, with life expectancy. Using this system, Costa Rica again easily tops the list. The United States is 19th, and Zimbabwe comes in last.”.”

“A third approach is the “Happy Planet Index”. devised by the New Economics Foundation, a literal think tank. This combines happiness and longevity but adjusts for environmental impact such as the carbon that countries spew.”

“Here again, Costa Rica wins the day, for achieving contentment and longevity in an environmentally sustainable way. The Dominican Republic ranks second, the United States 114th, because of the large ecological footprint and Zimbabwe last.”

“Maybe Costa Rican contentment has something to do with the chance to explore dazzling beaches on both sides of the country…Costa Rica has done an unusually good job preserving nature and it’s surely easier to be happy while basking in sunshine and greenery than while shivering up north and suffering from “nature deficit disorder.”

Not only is Costa Rica the Happiest Country in the World but according to Dan Beuttner, National Geographic, we are one of the 4 Blue Zones in the world! More on that later.”

As we like to say here on our mountain overlooking the ocean at Costa Rica Yoga Spa in Nosara where people are happy and healthy, “Life Is Good Up Here”!

To relax and rejuvenate and experience the Pura Vida, visit Costa Rica Yoga Spa, contact us today..”

January was a surrealistic surfer’s dream!  Moonlight surfing!!!  And, without wetsuits! The bonfires on the beach were blazing often, as everyone waited for the moon to throw some “light” on the ocean.  The bonfires were built for landmarks and socializing – not warmth!

The weather and the water were both perfect!  The waves were often perfect for an evening of a “once in a lifetime” experience for many of those on the beach.  Some Canadians visited from, “Good Grief, how many degrees below zero?” – I don’t think they stopped smiling or laughing the whole time! Some of our guests landed at a bonfire on the beach. They came back with a whole group of new friends!  What spectacular evenings! The stories of this surrealistic experience continue……Lifetime memories for everyone!

To learn about suf and other retreats at Costa Rica Yoga Spa, contact us today.

Organically grown foods are rich in nutritious value and often taste much better than their counterparts, and growing food organically is a lot easier on the environment as well. You can grow your own natural food or buy it from stores specializing in whole foods. Often, you can also buy organically grown foods at local farmer’s markets, but it is important to ask the vendor some questions before you purchase their produce, as it may not have actually been organically grown. The benefits of choosing these products and natural foods are numerous. The primary benefit experienced by most people is the improvement of their overall health and well being. Health foods like organic produce are known to help with weight loss and nutrition, disease prevention, and are also widely accepted as remedies and cures for the ailments of common health problems such as asthma and diabetes.

It is our goal, here at Costa Rica Yoga Spa, to organically grow enough vegetables, fruit and nuts to serve all of our guests and sell our surplus to local organic restaurants and markets.

Organic Recipe of Costa Rica Yoga Spa

Beet Salad

• 3 medium uncooked beets – grate and put in salad bowl

Dressing:

• 1/4 c. olive oil
• juice of 1 lemon
• zest of 1 lemon
• finely grated ginger – about a tablespoon or so – or more
• finely grated garlic – to taste – we use a lot
• salt
• honey – to taste – depends on the lemon or citrus used

It’s better to let this sit for about an hour or more and then enjoy!