Costa Rica yoga retreats 2014 in Santa Teresa

Costa Rica summer is yoga season at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat on Santa Teresa Beach. Pranamar is offering 14 exceptional yoga retreats between February and June 2014.

Whether you are looking to deepen your yoga practice, or try yoga for the first time, a yoga retreat is an excellent opportunity for both. Retreats also add in fun activities like surfing or stand-up paddling.

Santa Teresa has been named one of the top 10 beaches in Central America and is an idyllic yoga setting at the southern tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. Host Pranamar Villas welcomes retreat-goers with elaborate oceanfront villas and bungalows in lush tropical gardens, a gorgeous river-theme swimming pool, and gourmet organic cuisine in the Buddha Eyes Restaurant.

See the selection of yoga retreats listed below, and visit Pranamar’s website for more information.

Costa Rica Yoga Retreats at Pranamar

Women’s Quest Adventures: Feb. 2-8 and May 4-10, 2014: Surf and yoga adventure retreat; yoga classes taught by Pranamar Villas yoga instructor, Nancy Goodfellow.

Vajra Sol Yoga Adventures: Feb. 16-22, Mar. 16-22, Mar. 30 – Apr. 5, Apr. 6-12, Jun. 22-28, 2014: Yoga retreat with surfing or stand-up paddling (SUP).

Yoga and Visioning Retreat: Feb. 22 to Mar. 1, 2014: Yoga, meditation and visioning retreat led by Chantal Russell.

TrueFlow Yoga Vacation in Costa Rica: Mar. 3-8, 2014: Yoga retreat led by Brynn Rybacek.

Soul Arch Yoga Retreat: Mar. 9-15, 2014: Yoga retreat and community philanthropic project

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Yoga Toes Retreat: Mar. 23-30, 2014: Yoga retreat led by MC Yogi and Amanda Giacomini with meditation, dharma talks, restorative yoga, storytelling and music.

Costa Rica Yoga Retreat with Colleen O’Brien-McFall & Kate Mak: Apr. 12-19, 2014: Yoga retreat in nature’s beauty at Pranamar Villas.

Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica with Cathy Daley: Apr. 29 to May 4, 2014: Retreat with daily yoga and meditation sessions.

Article by Shannon Farley

Holiday blessings and the meaning of Christmas

I drove through the city of San Jose last weekend. Everywhere the streets were clogged with traffic and shoppers, rushing around to cash in on Christmas deals and sales. Besides making a mental note to avoid the traffic until after Christmas, the scene made me adamantly think how much I do not want that chaos for my holiday season.

Sure, it’s fun to buy gifts for others; and it definitely is fun to receive them! Giving and receiving at any time, in all forms, is one of the most beautiful elements of life. But the stress of having to shop for and have that “thing” is not my cup of tea.

The most famous and timeless holiday stories elaborate on giving love, sharing kindness, being generous with joy, courageously helping others, and spending time with loved ones. Look at Charles Dickens’ Scrooge, or the Grinch who became the good guy, or even Rudolph who found acceptance after his heroics.

Here are two Irish Christmas blessings that sum up the holidays for me:

“May you be blessed with the spirit of the season, which is peace, the gladness of the season, which is hope, and the heart of the season, which is love.”

“This Christmas may you have … Walls for the wind, and a roof for the rain, and drinks beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, and those you love near you, and all that your heart may desire.”

My friend Susan Money, owner of Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat at Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica, shared with me that, for her, love, grace and gratitude are the three keys to the meaning of this time of year. “The specialness of the Christian and Jewish holiday season inspires me with a sense of love, grace and gratitude. I believe that we are all One and all connected,” she said.

Susan wrote a lovely message on the website blog of Pranamar Villas expressing gratitude to her hotel’s guests: “The holiday season allows us all time to reflect and appreciate. Pranamar has been blessed by all of you. Thank you. We hope to serve you always with love, kindness, grace and gratitude.”

A little about Pranamar Villas: Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat is a beachfront hotel at Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula. The Costa Rica beach hotel specializes in yoga classes, all-inclusive yoga vacations, surfing holidays and beach vacations.

Article by Shannon Farley

Six Reasons to Keep Traveling and Stay Young at Heart

We all love things that make us feel young (or remember our youth), feel free and be happy. Traveling is almost always in the top 10 – even if only to an old neighborhood where we once lived. Why?

1. Traveling opens up our world.

In today's world, where emails and smart phones often replace face-to-face interaction, traveling makes us get out and connect with humanity. Traveling changes our scenery. When we travel, we leave our daily routine and see new things which stimulate our mind and encourage creative energy.

2. Traveling teaches us to relax.

Whether we want to or not at first, we have to chill out to really enjoy traveling. Traveling for pleasure rejuvenates us physically and mentally so we can return to our daily routine with more energy and patience. Taking a break from our routine – work, school, daily to-dos of parenthood, household chores, etc. – refreshes our mind and gives us the freedom we need to renew.

3. Traveling makes us active both physically and mentally.

Traveling by its very nature makes us move. Whether we're exploring a museum, walking the streets of an ancient capital, shopping in a bazaar, hiking in the woods, or simply lying on a sunny beach in Costa Rica, we are being active. New places may make us want to try new activities … ziplining or waterfall rappelling, anyone? Besides being good for our bodies, physical exercise is also good for our brains. Mental stimulation, especially languages, improves brain function and protects against age-related losses in memory or motor skills. In other words, "use it or lose it."

4. Traveling helps us to discover new things. 

Traveling is education through experience. Travel brings to life things books only describe, no matter how well. When we travel, we learn there are many different ways of thinking and that other people have their own customs of living and doing things that work equally just as well. Traveling the globe makes us lifelong learners.

5. Traveling brings humility and connection.

Travel teaches humility. When we travel, we are often at the mercy of needing help from others. A kind, open, humble attitude gets us much farther than nastiness and arrogance. As we travel more, we learn that language, customs and exterior differences aside, that people share the same basic desires and concerns. We start to see that the world is both a big and small place, and how interconnected we all really are.

6. Traveling teaches appreciation – for home, loved ones, good food, good company, beautiful sights, art, music, freedom, your blessings … and the list is endless.

Travel to Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica

The laid-back beach town of Santa Teresa is near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Mal Pais, Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa and Playa Hermosa – once secret hideaways for surfers and backpackers are now popular beaches sprinkled with eco-lodges, beach bungalows and upscale luxury boutique hotels. Yet, this multinational paradise with world-class surf breaks remains off-the-beaten path.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat is a relaxing oasis on the beach at Santa Teresa, with elaborate oceanfront villas and tropical bungalows in lush tropical gardens. Designed in exotic Bali-style, the luxury boutique hotel gives daily in-house yoga classes, and all-inclusive yoga vacations and surfing holidays.

Article by Shannon Farley

10 top medicinal foods and herbs of Costa Rica

What if keeping a doctor's visit at bay is solved simply by what we eat? Even more, what if herbs grown right in our backyard and foods we can pick up at any corner store can heal what ails us, including the pesky common cold?

Humans have relied on foods and herbs for medicine for thousands of years. In Costa Rica, it turns out that plenty of easy-to-find familiar foods are actually just what the doctor ordered.

Here are 10 top medicinal foods and a list of herbs commonly found in Costa Rica. (Most information is taken from the book Medicinal Plants of Costa Rica by Ed Bernhardt.)

Pineapple: This nutritious, antibacterial tropical fruit contains bromelain, which is effective against certain throat and mouth infections. Pineapple is high in Vitamins A, B and C.

Papaya: The most common fruit in Costa Rica next to pineapple, papaya is effective at treating digestive problems – indigestion and constipation – as well as liver problems, as a diuretic for the kidneys, and to lower high blood pressure.

Coconut: Coconut palms are everywhere along Costa Rica's beaches. People here drink the young coconut water, called "Pipa", which helps revive you after too much sun, too much drink, being seasick, or when you are low on energy. Both the coconut meat and water are used for digestion problems, gastritis, ulcers and liver ailments.

Star Fruit: Called "carambola" in Costa Rica, Star Fruit hails from Malaysia and is a powerful antioxidant with lots of C and B-complex vitamins. The tart fruit is served as a natural juice in Costa Rica and as a garnish.

Cilantro: Cilantro, or coriander, came from Europe to the Neotropics and is used preventatively as an antioxidant and natural cleanser. As well it serves for an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. Wild spiny coriander, called "culantro coyote" in Costa Rica, is native to the Neotropics and has the same properties as regular cilantro.

Ginger: Ginger has been used for centuries in India and Asia as a spice and medicine. Ginger is antibacterial and antiviral and can help prevent infections. Use it to treat colds and flu, sore throats, morning and motion sickness, and circulatory, digestive, kidney, and bladder problems. As a natural stimulant, ginger is a good substitute for coffee. Easiest way to use ginger is to boil it into a tea or cook with it as a spice. Sucking on a small piece of ginger will relieve a sore throat and help ease motion sickness.

Turmeric: Bright orange turmeric (in the ginger family) has been a staple in Ayurvedic medicine for roughly 6,000 years. It is an antioxidant and has been used to purify the blood, relieve stomach problems, indigestion, liver and gallbladder diseases, arthritis and rheumatism, and for colds and flu. Raw turmeric applied to the skin is effective in treating inflammations, infections, bruises and sprains.

Lemongrass: Originally from India, lemongrass grows prolifically in Costa Rica. Lemongrass tea (made by simply boiling fresh leaves) is used to treat colds and flu, gastrointestinal disorders, nervous conditions, pain and inflammation. Add ginger and honey to your tea to really knock out a cold.

Honey: One of the most well-known antibacterial foods in the world, honey has been used medicinally by many different cultures for centuries. Long before synthetic antibiotics were developed, honey was used as an antibacterial treatment for wounds and illness. Studies have documented honey's effectiveness in treating cuts, burns, insect bites, yeast infections, various skin conditions, and fungal infections.

 Honey also is nature's natural energy and immune system booster.

Chan: This strange seed drink is still served in many Costa Rican "sodas," or local diners, though most people don't know what it is. Native to Central America, the seeds of this roadside plant have been used to relieve indigestion, gastritis and constipation. The drink – made by mixing dry black Chan seeds in water with honey for sweetener – looks like a glass of milky frog's eggs. However, Chan is very healthy … and it doesn't taste like frog's eggs!

Herbs: There are numerous beneficial herbs, which are a great way to flavor meals and prevent disease at the same time. Here is a list of herbs you can find easily in Costa Rica with antibacterial properties:

• Basil
• Bay leaf
• Cardamom
• Chili peppers (Cayenne)
• Cilantro (Coriander)
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Cumin
• Dill
• Mints – spearmint and peppermint
• Oregano
• Pepper
• Rosemary
• Thyme

All of these medicinal foods and more are served in the healthy gourmet cuisine of the Buddha Eyes Restaurant at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat at Santa Teresa Beach. The luxury Costa Rica beachfront hotel fronts the internationally-renowned Playa Santa Teresa on the southern Nicoya Peninsula. 

A TripAdvisor 2013 award winner, Pranamar Villas features daily yoga classes, yoga retreats and workshops, all-inclusive yoga vacations, surfing and yoga holidays, and has a beachfront spa.

Article by Shannon Farley

Santa Teresa, at a development crossroads, is still heaven.

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Santa Teresa, like many other small communities located in gorgeous locations in Costa Rica, finds itself at a development crossroads. Pave or not pave the road? How to solve the fresh water issue? How to avoid high-rise overdevelopment?

Yet Santa Teresa’s growth spurt has definitely brought positive outcomes like jobs and a thriving multi-cultural community.

Residents at the laid-back beach town, near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, say that despite the growing pains, Santa Teresa will remain the pristine paradise that first lured surfers and backpackers two decades ago “Santa Teresa will never be that big because the mountains and ocean won’t allow it,” said Mario Matarrita, manager at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat in Santa Teresa. “We’re just a narrow strip of land along the beach with large coastal mountains behind us.”Pranamar Villas special events manager, Larissa Chevalier, added praise to the enforcement of the maritime concession law in Santa Teresa. The nationwide law prohibits permanent structures on any beach within 50 meters of the high tide line. “You can walk down the beach in Santa Teresa and you don’t see any hotels or bars or any development right on the beach. You can look through the trees and see buildings, but nothing right on the beach. It leaves the beach pristine,” said Chevalier, who moved from Canada to Santa Teresa years ago.

"We’ve got issues with the road, water, crime – just like any growing area,” said Chevalier. “At the same time, there are positives with development, like recycling, beach clean ups, etc.”

The Tourism Board in Santa Teresa and Mal Pais actively promotes many projects, commented Matarrita. One of their main focuses now is improving public beach access, he said. Many of the hotels contribute to regular beach cleaning, and environmental groups are forming in the area.

“Santa Teresa still has something special and untouched, and at the end of the day, I’m still happy to live here,” said Chevalier. “I live in one of the most amazing places on the planet.”

Article by Shannon Farley

If you want to live for along time, live in Nicoya Peninsula!

What is a “Blue Zone,” It is a place where people live happily and healthily for a very long time. The term was popularized by author-educator-explorer Dan Buettner in his 2008 book, “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from People Who’ve Lived the Longest.” Published by the National Geographic Society, Buettner identified places in the world there is a high concentration of persons over age 100, and there is a substantial disability-free and disease-free life expectancy.

Why are they called “Blue Zones”? The name comes from a 2004 demographic study called “Identification of a Geographic Area Characterized by Extreme Longevity in the Sardinia Island: the AKEA study” (Experimental Gerontology by Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain, among other authors). The study identified Sardinia’s Barbagia region as an area with a very high concentration of men over age 100. As the authors discovered more clusters of long longevity in the world, they began drawing blue circles around them on maps, referring to the areas as “Blue Zones.” To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone – the Nicoya Peninsula! According to Buettner’s studies, the Nicoya Peninsula has the world’s lowest rates of middle-age mortality and the second highest convergence of male centenarians. Costa Rica indeed does celebrate its elderly citizens; every person who has a 100th birthday is featured on the national news. As of June 2012, our tiny country reported 417 citizens over the age of 100; the country’s official population is more or less 4.5 million. Costa Rican Photographer Mónica Quesada is creating a book and video documenting Ticos who have lived a century. More information at www.indiegogo.com/CRCentenarians. Buettner’s research with National Geographic also turned up longevity hotspots in Okinawa, Japan; the Aegean island of Ikaria, Greece; a Seventh Day Adventist community in Loma Linda, California; and we already know about the mountainous Barbagia region of inner Sardinia, off the western coast of Italy. So what’s the secret? Buettner’s team of researchers and specialists found interesting similarities among the Nicoyan centenarians that are common characteristics in all of the other Blue Zones:

• Have a “plan de vida,” or reason to live; it also can be called “why I get up in the morning”. Centenarians say they feel needed, with a sense of purpose that often centers on their family.
  
•  Focus on your family and friends. Having a good relationship with their family and maintaining a strong social network contributes greatly to centenarians’ sense of purpose and well-being. People of all ages are socially active and integrated into their communities.
  
• Have Faith. The Nicoyans’ strong belief in God and their “faith routines” help relieve stress and anxiety. Almost all of the centenarians interviewed around the world for Buettner’s book belonged to a faith-based community of some form.
  
• Work hard. Nicoyan centenarians maintain a strong work ethic, which keeps them active and healthy while contributing to their sense of purpose. Moderate physical activity is a normal part of daily life – walking, bicycling, gardening, cooking, keeping up the house, taking care of animals, etc.
  
• Drink hard water. High amounts of calcium and magnesium, essential for bone and muscle strength, abound in Nicoya’s water. By drinking and cooking with this water, people here get their daily intake of calcium throughout their entire lives.
  
• Healthy diet. Most of the various Blue Zone residents in the world eat a primarily plant-based diet, especially legumes (all kinds of beans, peas and lentils). They also eat rich, colorful fruits – in Nicoya, they eat marañon, the red-orange cashew tree fruit that has more vitamin C than oranges, and noni, a pear-like fruit rich in antioxidants. Nicoyans eat their biggest meal during the day and their smallest meal at night. Japanese centenarians have a rule to eat only until their stomachs are 80% full to avoid being “overstuffed.”

• Get some sun. Nicoyans enjoy healthy doses of daily sun, enriching their bodies with Vitamin D. Getting at least 15 minutes every day can decrease the risk for osteoporosis and heart disease, experts say.

• Get Sleep. Nicoyans sleep an average of 8 hours per day. They more or less go to sleep soon after nightfall and wake with the sun.

• No smoking. Smoking is not common in Blue Zone communities.

Relax! It's Only a Matter of Life or Death.

A quick Google search on “the importance of relaxing” yields 49,100,000 results in 0.30 seconds. Apparently, a lot of people, everywhere, think it really is important. I know what you’re thinking, “I already know this.” The thing is we all do. And yet, most of us don’t heed the wisdom. We work, do, be in action, etc. often until we’re exhausted either physically, mentally or emotionally, or all three. There is always just “one more thing” to do, one more email to answer, one more task to finish. I’m as guilty of it as the next person. Amazingly enough, if you should ever happen to get sick or injured, you find very quickly that “the world goes on without you.” The planet does not stop revolving, civilization as we know it does not end, and countries do not collapse just because we take a day off – as in, don’t go to the office, don’t turn on the computer, don’t use our phone, don’t compulsively clean or fix one more thing at home, etc. 

There are whole institutes dedicated just to stress management. On the up side, stress is the body’s way of protecting you. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic and alert; but beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, productivity, relationships, and your quality of life, according to a study by experts Melinda Smith, M.A., Robert Segal, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. They say the most dangerous thing about stress is how easily it sneaks up on you. You get used to it. It becomes familiar or even seems normal. You don’t notice how much it’s affecting you, and the cost is high. So, what’s the price? Medical studies show that long-term exposure to stress can raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, create hypertension, cause digestive disorders, lower the immune system which leaves you more open to infections and viruses, and speed up the aging process.

If you don't do this, the prospect isn't pretty. So, what to do? Taken from many sources, the crucial elements are: get a good night’s sleep, eat healthy (filling your body with junk food doesn’t help the situation), exercise even 15-20 minutes every day (walk!), stretch, take breaks, breathe fresh air (combine with walking!), spend time in nature, laugh, and simply breathe deeply! There are many relaxation techniques out there like yoga, meditation, music, creative arts, and rhythmic and repetitive exercise like walking, running, swimming, kayaking, cycling, etc. where your mind can flow freely. One study even says that laughter, even deliberately induced laughter, provides emotional and mental release in addition to significant physiological benefits and relaxation on all levels. As clichéd as it sounds, vacation was created to give people time off to relax from work.




Convinced yet that you deserve – even your life depends on – that break and vacation? In Costa Rica, there’s a place that can help you relax your way back to health. Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat, set right on the shoreline at Santa Teresa Beach, is a gorgeous, intimate boutique hotel with luxury two-story villas, elaborate beachfront bungalows, abundant tropical gardens, an organic healthy-cuisine restaurant and a free-form saltwater pool. Santa Teresa Beach is located on the remote lower Nicoya Peninsula of the Pacific Coast – worlds away from stress; it was voted the #1 beach in Central America for 2012 by Trip Advisor. Pranamar Villas, also winner of the 2012 Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice Award, offers you daily in-house yoga classes, regular yoga retreats and workshops, all-inclusive yoga vacations, and surfing and yoga holidays. As well, they offer an abundance of bodywork treatments (massage, etc.) to benefit your body, mind and spirit, and keep you healthy. Check out their selection here. Just tell your boss (or yourself!) that a vacation is the answer to a better, more productive you.

The best Adventure at Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

To start with, it’s an adventure getting there! Santa Teresa is on the outer edge on the Pacific just above the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The roads are not paved here, and you must either come by way of small plane or ferry and then by 4-wheel-drive vehicle. The beach itself is awash with possibilities – from first-class surfing to stand-up paddle boarding, in-shore and off-shore fishing, snorkeling, tide pool exploring, horseback riding on the sand, long walks and splendid sunsets.

There is the jungle – vibrantly green, splashed with color, buzzing with life. It pours down from the mountains along the coast, hugging the shoreline of white sand beaches and clear aquamarine sea. Hike its trails and you are in the heart of nature; fly through the treetops on a canopy zip line and you know what it is like to be a tropical bird. Two major landmarks are close by to visit – the famed Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve and the unforgettable Montezuma Waterfalls.

Playa Santa Teresa is a growing beach town that has been hailed as one of Costa Rica’s most spectacular beach destinations, Home of Pranamar Villas Hotel, The gorgeous, intimate boutique hotel features luxury two-story villas and elaborate beachfront bungalows in abundant tropical gardens. Take advantage of their all-inclusive yoga vacations or surfing and yoga holidays taught by certified, professional instructors.

Pranamar can easily arrange all of these adventure activities and more during your stay in our outstanding exquisite resort.

Yoga Retreats restore Your Mind, Body & Spirit

Yoga retreats, or “holidays” as they can be called, are incredibly popular nowadays as a way to have a healthy vacation. While traditional vacations often leave you feeling exhausted, yoga retreats actually energize and rejuvenate, the way a vacation is supposed to do. A yoga retreat is perfect if you are looking to deepen your practice, or try yoga for the first time. Connecting body, soul and mind At Pranamar you can get back to the basics ... simplicity at its finest while you reconnect with yourself and enjoy the pure joy of a Costa Rican paradise.

As committed students of Yoga, over the years of practicing we began to notice, with curiosity and awe, subtle yet profound awakenings in our daily lives. These shifts occurred on so many different levels, appearing spontaneously and increasing our connection to life and spirit, that we began to feel more happy and free. Stress  is one of the most common health disorders in the new world, people have to work everyday, go study, work at home,etc, Many doctors now recognize the benefits of yoga, and that by attending a yoga retreat (or many different retreats whenever possible) you can learn techniques that will lessen the likelihood of developing a stress-related illness. Short-term and long-term benefits of yoga include flexibility, physical strength and coordination, improved cardiovascular and neurological health through better breathing, and “staying younger longer” by maintaining a flexible and strong spine.

 

In front of beach, practice Yoga could be one of most relaxing experiences in the life,  travel to Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica, one of the most beautiful ones.We in Pranamar Villas will help you to forget all problems , preoccupations and obligations. Throughout the year we will be hosting Yoga retreats and workshops with international teachers and our resident Yoga teacher. We offer all-inclusive yoga vacations that may be arranged and created according to your desires and needs, or simply drop-in for our daily classes taught by certified, professional instructors.

We offer all-inclusive yoga vacations, surfing and yoga holidays, or simply drop-in during your stay for daily yoga classes taught by certified, professional instructors.

Rediscover your inherent connection with yourself and nature in the astounding beauty of Costa Rica with us!