I have visited Costa Rica twice before, hiking the jungle trails, visiting waterfalls and every morning awakening to the sounds of macaws and howler monkeys outside my window. I had heard that it was a popular destination for yoga retreats and, indeed, there are more than 200 to choose from, according to Book Yoga Retreats by Tripaneer.
There seems to be something for everyone, such as couples' retreats, wellness retreats and meditation retreats, many offering add-ins such as surfing, hiking and ziplining excursions.
Researching on the internet, I found a wide variety of retreats, each one focusing on certain types of yoga—hatha, kundalini, vinyasa and ashtanga—as well as holistic healing opportunities. All meals and lodging are included in the price, which can range from $1,500 for shared occupancy to $4,000 a week and run the gamut from mountaintop luxury to jungle casual.
I decided to sign up for a retreat at Vida Asana School of Yoga, just minutes from the Pacific Coast beach town of Playa Hermosa. I consider myself an intermediate level practitioner, dropping in and out of yoga classes over the past two decades. In recent years, however, I have become more committed to my practice. The retreat offered a combination of classes, workshops and daily excursions that fit my budget, my skill level and my desire to “get away from it all.”
Vida Asana offers a year-round schedule of yoga retreats, each one organized and led by different yoga studios or instructors. Mine was hosted by The Yoga Center Retreat in Minneapolis. I booked a roundtrip flight from Tampa to San Jose International Airport.
And so began my healing journey. My room was simple yet perfect, with a queen bed, air conditioning, a private bath and views of the lush tropical surroundings. Each morning began with an outdoor vinyasa flow followed by a buffet breakfast and another yoga class. All meals were vegetarian or vegan dishes with an abundance of organic fruits and vegetables, accompanied by fresh juices. Afternoons were open, with options to sign up for an excursion, hang out by the pool, read a book in a shaded hammock or take one of the resort bikes out for a ride to the beach.
I signed up for guided hikes at the popular Manuel Antonio National Park, which I found too crowded, and the Rainmaker Conservation Park, a secluded rainforest habitat of beautiful waterfalls, hanging bridges and tropical foliage. We could also sign up for surf lessons, zip-lining, massages and a visit to a sweat lodge, all for an additional fee. Guided mind and spirit conversations were held after dinner. Each evening closed with a relaxing outdoor yin class.
At a farewell circle on the final evening, each participant confessed to finding inner peace, healing and 13 new friends—and to never wanting to leave Costa Rica. As for me, the tranquility of the retreat was a soothing balm for my mind, body and spirit. I returned feeling renewed and refreshed, and in search of my next yoga retreat.
Visit vidaasana.com or theyogacenterretreat.com for more information.
