PAINT-STRETCH-PLAY: An Artistic Adventure
with Sonya Sklaroff
Costa Rica Yoga Spa
January 11-16, 2020

Whether you're a serious artist or you’ve never painted before, start your 2020 with Sonya and Ricki, painting landscapes in one of the most beautiful natural settings in the world - on a mountain overlooking the majestic Ostional National Park and beaches of Nosara, Costa Rica!

We’ll start each morning with gentle stretching and meditation to awaken our senses and get our creativity flowing. We'll spend the day learning and practicing the art of landscape plein-air oil painting with world renown painter, Sonya Sklaroff. Each painting session will take place in a different stunning location - mountain summit, jungle river, picturesque beach, etc, and will include a master demonstration, and one-on-one instruction and guidance.

If you’d like to include other adventures in your days, you can choose from a host of activities from surfing lessons to horseback riding to zip lining and more. You can also choose to spend time relaxing on a secluded beach or by our pool, or indulging in a spa or wellness session. Yoga, stretching and mindfulness exercises will be offered each day to help us drop more deeply into our bodies and tap into our creative core. Some days we'll close with optional meditation, silent nature walk (though the jungle will be loud!) or maybe even dancing.

The retreat is yours to customize exactly how you want. You can immerse yourself in painting morning, afternoon and night, or you can mix paint, stretch and play!

​Come start your year being inspired from the inside and out! Paint, stretch, play with us in our own jungle wonderland.

The retreat experience will include:

  • Five nights accommodations at Costa Rica Yoga Spa, all level of rooms have spectacular views
  • Organic breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day (vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian options)
  • One night out to celebratory dinner at one of the best local restaurants (transportation and meal included)
  • Eight 3-hour landscape plein air oil painting instructional/experiential workshops with Sonya
  • Daily stretching, meditation and mindfulness explorations with Ricki
  • Guided hike to mountain summit with 360-degree views and possibly other guided nature inspiration hikes (time permitting)
  • Tour of on-site permaculture garden (where we'll be getting lots of our food each meal)
  • Daily shuttle transportation to beaches.
  • End of retreat mocktail/cocktail "gallery" reception
  • Gracious and generous hosting from Costa Rica Yoga Spa on-site managers.

 What is not included:

  • Airfare to/from Costa Rica (nearest airport Liberia Int'l Airport)
  • Transportation between airport and Costa Rica Yoga Spa​ (we can assist in booking)
  • Art materials. Suggested list: 1 portable wood french plein air easel box, 11 tubes of oil paint, 2 paintbrushes, 8 12x16" canvases, 1 disposable paper palette, 2 clip on medium cups (This will make up "Art Kit" which we will provide easy instructions for one-step ordering upon registration. Or you can bring your own)
  • Off-site activities such as surfing lessons, horseback riding, stand up paddling, zip lining, visit to a monkey rehabilitation center, private tennis lessons, and more! You will have opportunity to choose activities evening before and all prices will be posted
  • Spa and Healing Arts services (including massage, sound healing, private stress management, yoga and life/career consultations with Ricki)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Gratuity for staff *We recommend 10%*
  • Traveler's Insurance (highly recommended).

Pricing:

Four in Quad·                  $1,550
Triple Shared Suite·       $1,950
Double Shared Suite·    $2,300
Single Suite·                    $2,800

Your Instructor: Sonya Sklaroff

Sonya has been a professional artist in New York City for 27 years and a professor at Parsons School of Design for the past 20 years. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries and museums in the US, France, and Switzerland, and are represented in public and private collections around the world. She received her BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and holds an MFA in painting from Parsons School of Design.

Sonya is thrilled to be leading this creative group of artists at the Costa Rica Yoga Spa to teach the fundamentals of plein air oil painting and to help each participant find their artistic voice and personal form of expression.

Website
Instagram

​Your Instructor: Ricki Grater

Ricki is a licensed psychotherapist LCSW, a certified yoga therapist and yoga teacher, and a certified dance-movement therapist of over 20 years. Ricki has a thriving psychotherapy and yoga therapy practice in Brooklyn, NY, where she sees individuals asking the "who am I" questions and seeking help navigating life’s challenges and mysteries. Both Hatha and Kundalini Yoga certified, Ricki integrates her many body-mind-spirit trainings and wisdom to customize private yoga and yoga therapy sessions in addition to traditional talk therapy and movement therapy. Ricki’s nonjudgmental presence, playful spirit, and deep belief in the creative process provide a safe space for personal inquiry, expression and growth.

Website
Instagram

    Request more information on this retreat: