I am relatively new to the world of yoga. Yes, my wife had dragged me to a yoga retreat class or two in Nosara. But, what am I doing? Stretching and twisting trying to look like all the other women in the class. Oh, I failed to mention that I am 61-yr-old, 6’ 8”, 215 lb. tall man with lots of sports and old-age wounds to think about and try to work around, but I have been able to fake it out so far.

Anyway, about three years ago, my wife and son and I decided to build a yoga retreat and Yoga Teacher Training facility on the ranch our son has owned for years in Nosara, Costa Rica. Originally, we were going to build a house and retire here on this beautiful ranch. But, what the heck, “Gotta have something to do.”

Fast forward, 17 months and here I am in a Yoga Teacher Training class inside the most spectacular setting – a 45’ round, thatched roof ranchito with the most beautiful teak wood posts and floor in Nosara. It is just as breath-taking as the view from high up on this mountain, facing the Pacific Ocean (that, by the way is about 80 degrees f.). The jungle between us and the beach is protected land and no one will ever develop it, so that means no noise, no pollution, no neighbors – just birds, monkeys, cows, chickens, butterflies, iguanas, and other wildlife – and us – forever! Just up the road is Playa Ostional where the Green Ridley turtles come to lay their eggs and that’s why it is protected.

I am now learning at my “old” age what cat and cow is, downward-facing dog, plank, cobra, warrior and tree pose and how to be balanced and not fall on my face anymore. I am taking notes like I did 40 some years ago in school, doing homework and reading the Bhagavad Gita, all to have a much better and understanding of on-and-off-the-matt yoga while practicing Yoga in Nosara.

Thanks to our special friend and teacher, Ashley Ludman, our schooling and guidance has moved us all in a pre-designed path of study and practice in such a way as to keep our stamina, enthusiasm and awareness as high as we can. Each day brings us further along in our physical and mental yoga practice. We start at 6:00-6:30 a.m. and finish at around 8:30-9:00 p.m., but, not to worry, the staff at Costa Rica Yoga Spa keeps us fed with absolutely the best tasting fruits and vegetables, most of which are grown on the ranch or purchased at the nearby organic market.

Working as hard as we do, the proper fuel keeps the body happy. The days and nights are not totally filled with practice – we do have activities in Nosara, from personal time to read, time to relax in our rooms or around the pool or if you are up to it, a hike to any one of the many waterfalls that are flowing at enormous levels as we are in the beginning of what is turning out to be a very, wet and welcome rainy season. I am looking forward to yoga on the beach and already have enjoyed many sunset yoga sessions during our yoga retreat in Nosara, Costa Rica.

I hope that today I have given you a little glimpse of my time and you, too, can remove your fear and open to the graceful yoga world we have here at Costa Rica Yoga Spa. If you don’t become a teacher you will be a better student of a very healthful and graceful life of yoga.

Namaste, Benito

To learn more about Yoga Retreats in Nosara, contact Costa Rica Yoga Spa 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.

Take a Long Deep Breath.

Notice how immediately the action of taking a deep long breath brings you into the moment. Now focus on taking 5 deep breaths. What happens in your body and in your mind? You slow down. The beauty of long, deep breathing is that whatever may be happening in your environment, the breath brings you back into your Self, to your center. This is a gift. The only power that truly exists is in the Now. You can’t change the past, you aren’t yet in the future, but you are here now.

At the Costa Rica Yoga Spa we are surrounded by nature, trees, birds, monkeys, and so much more. Few distractions and a lot of organic inspiration makes this a unique place for heart opening transformation.

Every yoga class, offered with our yoga retreats, begins with Pranayama (Prana=breath/life force, Yama=technique/restraint) or “breathing techniques”. Whether simple Long Deep Breath (LDB) or powerful Kapalabati (breath of fire), the focus always begins with the breath. In Costa Rica we are blessed with a temperate climate that allows for warm clean air to practice outdoors all year around.

I invite you to take a moment and stop. Where ever you are take a moment and take a Long Deep Breath. Imagine your lungs filling like a glass, from the bottom to the top. Belly gently relaxes and expands, ribs and chest lift, all very natural with out strain. Pause for a brief moment before the exhale and empty the lungs, just like a glass, from the top to the bottom. Chest softly falls, ribs collapse inwards and navel point reaches toward the spine.

Take 5 LDB and imagine a peace, balance and harmony in your life, mind and body.

Give Thanks for all your blessings.

Here at the Costa Rica Yoga Spa we spend time on the little things to uplift our minds. Practicing Yoga, breathing deep, eating clean, enjoying the nature that surrounds, making a difference, any small or large way that we can.

Come and visit. Life really is good up here at Costa Rica Yoga Spa, contact us today to learn more about retreats such as Yoga Teacher Training or Spirit of Yoga offered in Nosara.

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

“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.

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!