By Kate Tanner
A New Day. New chance. New effort. New compassion, peace, and gratitude. Peace. Each. Breath.
I wrote that in my journal one night so that I would see it the next morning.
By Nikki Lee
The second week of Yoga Teacher Training in Costa Rica briskly came and went filled with waves of emotions, challenges, and most importantly smiling bright eyes. We amped up our asana practice and our minds, feeling warn out by day 14 yet still yearning for more knowledge. My eager body rested whenever given the chance and was regularly replenished with the magical fruits and vegetables provided by the jungle of Costa Rica. Read the rest of this entry »
I am in constant awe of the transformative process of becoming “awake” in a higher way, through each day, each asana, each conflict and each delicious experience of bliss. This has been my journey. As I prepare to lead a new retreat of yoga teacher trainees in their process and journey of yoga at the Costa Rica Yoga Spa, I am amazed by the transformation of relationships and space that has occurred in such a seemingly small amount of time.
There is so much more that goes into being a yoga teacher than just guiding one through a series of poses. I signed up for this Yoga Teacher Training Retreat not knowing what being a yoga teacher entails. I still don’t for all that matters, but after being here a few days and being surrounded by fascinating teachers, I have been given a little glimpse of what it entails.
After several years of practice, I thought that I could possibly do a teacher training program to dig deeper into my passion and practice. At first I thought that being a yoga teacher is as simple (for lack of a better word) as guiding one through a series of poses that after years of practice we have somewhat memorized in our heads. I knew yoga as a way of life when off the mat, but didn’t, and perhaps still don’t, know the true essence of that meaning. Ashley has shown us that the physical aspects of yoga is just one small slice of yoga and that if one focuses on just the physical aspect, the mind and spirit do not get cleansed. Iyengar said, “To master any language, you must first learn the alphabet.” That is exactly how Ashley is guiding and teaching us. She is teaching us the alphabet of yoga, from A to Z. She and Erin will give us a letter here and letter there. I may not necessarily know how they are connected, but with due time, I am confident and trust that I will get a clear picture of how to connect the dots.
The beauty of this program is that Ashley allows for our own self-development and creativity to connect those dots ourselves rather than her holding our hands and telling us how to connect the dots. That method will make us grow into being a better yoga teacher who possesses characteristics of self-sufficiency, innovation, creativity, openness, blissfulness, and love. With just a few short days with Ashley and Erin, I have been enlightened with just a sliver of what that bliss could possibly be like from how they are their auras, souls and way of life. They both are amazing teachers, not only of yoga on-the-mat, but more importantly of yoga–off-the-mat. I am learning through them how to connect and thread the two in order to embrace yoga as a true and comprehensive way of living.
With the lessons and information I have thus far learned in this yoga teacher training and with my practice, I have realized that the practice of yoga is like a perpetual jigsaw puzzle. I am constantly being given and discovering new pieces and fitting them in place. Just when I get a glimpse of the puzzle’s image, the puzzle expands, thus, expanding myself. The more my practice deepens, the more I am ever so grateful of this experience because I realize there is an infinite amount of wisdom and knowledge to learn and embrace. The closer I get, the more I see how far I am. – Rumi
By Natasha
If you are interested in learning more about yoga teacher training retreats in Nosara, contact us today!
In Sanskrit parsvakonasana means side and angle so it’s only natural that in yoga this would mean the prayer twist pose. The prayer twist is one of our favorite yoga poses to have yoga teacher training retreat guests practice during yoga class because it stretches the back and works the legs at the same time.
According to yoga experts the Namaskar Parsvakonasana is supposed to build lower body strength, open the chest and help those with asthma problems breathe better, as well as stretch the back and nourish and realign the spine.
To execute the perfect prayer pose you will first stand with your feet together at the beginning of your yoga mat or in a space where you have room behind you. You will begin with your right foot and step back into a deep lunge. Once in this position you will place your hands at hearts center and rotate your torso so that your right elbow is on the outside of your left knee. Hold and breathe for 6 breaths. Then Repeat on opposite side.
If the standing lunge position is too hard you can always use the Ardha Namaskar Parsvakonasana, or the half prayer twist. In this version you will place your back knee on the floor to help with more support. Many yoga retreat guests who are just beginning to learn yoga opt for this variation and later progress to the Namaskar Parsvakonasana/ Prayer Twist Yoga Pose.
Keep pushing yourself in Life, Work and YOGA!
If you are interested in take your practice of yoga to a higher plane, contact us to learn more about yoga retreats in Nosara, Costa Rica.
Namaste
My first week doing the 200 Yoga Teacher Training at Costa Rica Yoga Spa has taught me more than I could learn in months elsewhere. With all of the distractions of daily existence, it is easy to go through the motions of practicing yoga and really, practicing life.
My inspiration to come here rather than doing a training in my hometown was to remove all of those distractions and allow myself to be fully immersed in the spirit of yoga. Through this I have found myself unspeakably open to grace. Open to the grace that is a deep understanding of fundamental postures, to the grace that is spiritual and emotional rebirth and personal discovery, to the grace that is experiencing the elements of nature and the elements within. We have covered so much in so few days already while having a wonderful time becoming a family and creating our own little community of curiosity and love.
The Costa Rica Yoga Spa is helping me experience the magic that is yoga and Nosara, Costa Rica together sharing meals, insights and joys. We are the luckiest people in the world to have so much one-on-one time with our amazing teacher, Ashley Ludman. She possesses the ability to guide through the difficulty and really develop our understanding of the full-spectrum of anusara teachings and philosophies and postures.
We have asked questions, found some answers, and asked even more questions. The structure of teaching creates an insatiable desire to learn…about the world, about the self, about the living prana of yoga. We have learned about the energy-charged chakras, but more importantly about how they relate to finding ourselves more aligned with our optimum blueprint and achieving our greatest potential.
With a little less than two weeks to go, I am looking forward to continuing to absorb every bit of this experience as I can whether it be on the beautiful beaches or on the mat in the tranquil ranchito.
To learn more about yoga retreats at Costa Rica Yoga Spa, contact us today!
When I began yoga teacher training, I had many intentions: to become a fantastic teacher, to make yoga a more integral part of my life, to conquer really difficult poses that have eluded me in the past. I wanted to cultivate a healthier lifestyle, and respect my body more, as well as improving the way I look physically. Because my intentions were mostly focused on external work, I wasn’t prepared for how introspective the teacher training process turned out to be. Instead of launching into poses, there was thoughtful repose in each movement. While I was used to looking at the external qualities of the posture itself, it became more clear that however imperceptible, the inward movement was the catalyst for all the places my body goes. This shift in awareness helped me to quiet my ego (why cant I just overextend into my flexibility?!), and hone in on what proper alignment really means (this feels right).
There is nothing wrong with asking someone to help you out when it takes 3 hands, or you’re in a jam, or to use a ladder or step stool to reach something high. So, don’t be afraid or think less of your ability when it comes to props while doing yoga, espcial during your yoga retreat. Props come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and materials – even, possibly another yogi! We have been using blocks, straps, blankets, walls, posts and each other. An assist is almost as important in basketball as the basket itself. It shows teamwork and it keeps everyone aware.
I was assisted the other day by one of my “Kula” members when we were working on twists and rotations. I don’t remember the posture or the yoga pose we were in but I had one leg over here and the other one crossed over there and my hands down here. There wasn’t much of a twist. I felt really good because I thought, “Wow, I’m really getting this; breathe into the move, exhale, move.” When a fellow classmate said, “Your hand goes on the other side! What? “Your hands belong over there!” Well, so much for what I thought was easy yoga. When done properly and with a little help from a friend I was now in the proper position to receive the most from that move and the entire morning practice of yoga in Nosara. And what a great laugh we had.
I’m the new, big guy in class. 6’8”, 61 yrs old and 215. Just finishing week 2 of a 200-hr-RYT Yoga Teacher Training Class at Costa Rica Yoga Spa and already have experienced things I thought were for the young and very flexible. I am very flexible and touching the floor flat-handed and knees straight has been a constant in my life – while doing sports or preparing for a work day.
Balance is another story. While working on Tree Pose, I have difficulty standing on one foot. I’ve never needed to stand on one foot, so I never learned how. There are a lot of reasons why you should learn and I have found out a few while in my yoga teacher training class. Of course, balancing – but also meditation, focus, centering, staying within yourself and proper body alignment. I found using a post while focusing on the jungle before me to be a very relaxing and calming prop to use. Just a finger against the post while getting into Tree Pose is a very gentle help. Holding on is too much and your focus changes from balance to grip. I have also nearly crushed our yoga teacher, Ashley Ludman when I was learning to do a Forearm Stand Yoga Pose, or a Pincha Mayurasana.
The props? Having a well constructed wall for one and a knowledgeable spotter. Ashley is a very experienced yoga teacher, a registered physical therapist, has years of dance and has worked with many big guys so that helped ease my fear of what seemed impossible. Ashley reminded me of the principle of the three A’s – Attitude: Yes, I can do it! ALIGNMENT: Foundation, balance and strength (and Ashley and the wall) ACTION: Ready, Set, Go – INVERSION COMPLETE!!! Costa Rica Yoga Spa, we have lift off!
I have achieved all of this thanks to a little help from my friends (kula), guidance from a great Yoga Teacher, and the use of Props. I have now gone further in my learning and understanding of yoga and how and am benefitting how it has helped my body feel young again and given me the confidence to look each pose as a possibility not an impossibility.
Enjoy your yoga time and invite a friend to a yoga retreat with you! BYOP (Bring your own Prop)
To learn more about yoga retreats in Nosara, contact us today!
As a Yoga Teacher, I have been facilitating Yoga Teacher Trainings for the past 8 years. Each time I step into this role, I learn so much more than I expected at the onset of the journey. Coming back to Costa Rica for July Yoga Teacher Training in Nosara, we have a much smaller, more intimate group this time. It is exactly what I needed. After closing the Yoga studio, moving from my house into a new home and studio, I felt like my root chakra was spinning as fast as my third eye (which is entirely way too fast for comfort!)
Arriving here again, I found the space to begin to settle and take some deeper breaths. It’s green season, and the cleansing rains are wiping away the dust from the roads and trees, offering a brighter landscape, and with it, new challenges of living in the flow of nature here in Costa Rica. I am ready to begin instructing Yoga Retreats.
The rains and the circumstances are teachers to me. I take some steps back and realize that being a yoga teacher is not just about the agenda that I have. Learning to be the most skillful teacher is about living consciously and with the highest intentions, in relationship with nature. Of course, through it all, we are diving deep into hours upon hours of Asana practice, Alignment work, Meditation, Pranayama and Theory. Already, I have some amazing yoga teachers surrounding me in the circle. They are reminding me again that Yoga is the fullness of the experience.
So, we have enjoyed flexibility in our days to celebrate during the World Cup finals, take a hike to the waterfall, stop by the neighboring farm to pick up fresh eggs and cheese, dance in the rain, meditate by candlelight and guitar of a local Kundalini teacher, and sit around the dinner table discussing life, dharma and the flow of it all. There are so many wonderful activities in Nosara.
Yoga Teacher Training is the journey of Ananda (supreme bliss) of the complete experience. We accomplish this not only through Jnana (wisdom), but also through the practice of Svadyaya (self-study). In order to see the (S)self in the deepest way, we must be in relationship with the world around us. Every person, element and moment can be a teacher to us, if we allow it.
Pura Vida from Costa Rica!
If you are interested in expanding your knowledge of yoga and becoming a yoga instructor yourself, contact us today to learn about the yoga teacher training retreat we offer where you can receive your 200 RYT certificate.
The Last Week of Yoga Teacher Training!!! It literally is putting one foot in front of the other and pushing through – determination and tenacity took me through. And, knowing all of the benefits I was receiving – and enjoying were great motivators for me. This journey reminds me of the Little Engine that kept saying, “I know I can, “I know I can”. Yes, I can!
I thought forward to Sat. when I will have accomplished something that was completely unexpected – being a certified Yoga Teacher! What an accomplishment that will be – so surviving the rest of the week in poses and contortions that I didn’t think this body could do anymore. But, really, at 67, the thought about wrapping my body into the Bird of Paradise pose – and a handstand – whew, the thought of that one… I keep the mantra, “I know I can, I know I can…in my mind and heart each day during my retreat“.
I peeked at what was on the agenda for the next couple of days – they were written in Sanskrit, but I am learning more of this beautiful language every day – enough that I can only imagine what twists and lifts I will be accomplishing the next day in Nosara. Every day I have embraced and done what a month ago, I would have deemed impossible for a senior, novice yogi. Each day gave me more strength, flexibility and balance which brought me such joy. I loved my eye-opening adventure in this amazing Yoga Teacher Training class.
I look forward to learning more lessons this week – about life and yoga in Nosara.
Come accomplish what you thought wasn’t possible! Start the journey of learning yoga and more about yourself! Contact us today to learn about a retreats at Costa Rica Yoga Spa.
