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 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.

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.

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.

Ecotourism is a natural in Costa Rica considering the country covers a mere .03 percent of the planet’s surface and the country is blessed with 6% of all life forms on earth, which translates to an amazing 30,000 species of plants and animals.  Last year alone, there were 37 new bird species discovered!!!!

Travelers from around the world have discovered the incredible biodiversity that Costa Rica has to offer. The locals, affectionately called “Tico’s” realize the importance of preserving their natural surroundings which has been a major factor in tourism.  A quarter of Costa Rica’s entire area is protected in National Parks, wildlife refuges, and reserves – no other nation in the world has ever actively protected this percentage of land per capita.

The geographic diversity of Costa Rica runs from beautiful, pristine beaches to active volcanic areas, with lush rainforests, cloud forests, white-water rivers – all with an abundance of diverse wildlife.  Travelers wanting to explore this diversion may glimpse iguanas lounging in trees or riverbanks, monkeys in the trees and birdwatching just doesn’t get much better.

Not only does Costa Rica have an  abundance of wildlife and stunning scenery but it also is graced with an almost idyllic climate, with temperatures ranging from 70 to 90 degrees Faherenheit.  Costa Rica has rainy and dry seasons, with rainy season starting in May through the beginning of November, and is referred to as our “winter” or “green” season.  This can be the best season because of the richness – the jungle becomes so lush and green – ahhhh, the smell of this lushness is so good for the senses. You can watch the plants grow after a good rain – so good for the soul to witness nature so closely and vividly as you take quiet strolls through the organic gardens or nature trails.

Costa Rica is a land of endless adventure, contact Costa Rica Yoga Spa  today to see and experience beautiful Costa Rica.

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..”

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!