The theme for a day in one of our Yoga Retreats at the Costa Rica Yoga Spa is often Shri, which means beauty and abundance. It is so easy to look out to the vista from the side of the Yoga pavilion and see the beauty of this coast in Nosara. Like pouring out the crayons in a mega box of Crayolas and finding a dozen choices of green, the lush rains of the season have sparked an abundance of color.  In the near distance, the waterfall becomes the melody for our practice of Yoga. In the far distance, the Pacific Ocean becomes a boundary of earth and sky.

In such a setting, it is easy to witness beauty.  The question that I ask of my yoga students as well as my yoga teacher training students in Nosara is, “Can you see abundant beauty within yourself?”  The practice of seeing  Shri is a bit more challenging when we are faced with a difficult position in life, whether it be in a yoga pose, stuck in a traffic jam, or facing an argument with another person who doesn’t see things the way we see them.

The first step in seeing the beauty of the inner or outer moment is to take an expanded view and pause for a moment to breathe. In the practice of Anusara Yoga, this connects us to the first (and most important) Universal Principle of Alignment, Open to Grace.

In aligning body, mind and spirit we must first begin with this bigger experience. Opening to Grace is a practice and a reminder that Grace surrounds us, but is also within us. When we tap into the potential of this bigger energy, we also find our own highest potential.

And, of course, being human, we will often forget to see this beauty within.  So, what happens when we forget again?  Take a step back, receive a deep breath, and remember that the beauty and abundance that is present in all forms of life is also within.  In the pause, we have the opportunity to reflect on the gift of life and see that we have the ability to choose to align with beauty and abundance.

The more the mind, heart and senses are trained to experience Shri, the more we become abundance and beauty itself.

Come find your Shri with us at Costa Rica Yoga Spa in Nosara, contact us today to learn more.