surfing
Yoga and Surfing at Playa Guiones, CR August 1 – 7, 2010
A Week of Surfing and Yoga~
at the Harmony Hotel
in Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
August 1 – August 7, 2010
Guests are greeted in Liberia, Costa Rica on Sunday, August 1st and depart the following Saturday, August 7th.
For more details, please read below.
Prices for the All-Inclusive Retreat Week
Single Occupancy: US$2,295.00
Double Occupancy: US$1,850.00* (per person)
*Shared King Bed at the Harmony Hotel
Yoga Instruction with Karl Spaeth
Surf Instruction by Innocent Surf School, Nosara
Yoga and surfing, a natural combination, is perfected in this program at Playa Guiones, one of the beaches of Nosara, the home of uncrowded surfing and unspoiled beaches. Start your day with surfing lessons on the warm water waves of the Pacific Ocean and in the late afternoon, enjoy a rejuvenating yoga practice amidst tropical beauty.
Learn more about the combined yoga and surfing experience!
If you are looking to begin or deepen your yoga practice, and learn or improve your surfing (and have fun, of course!) – join us in pristine Playa Guiones, on the Northwest Coast of Costa Rica! You’ll learn from outstanding yoga and surfing professionals, while taking in the tropical beauty and magnificent ocean surf of your surroundings. Our dinners are out on the town, offering exposure to the local vibe and nightlife.
“I have a huge crush on the place and hope that something always brings me
back to the beach there ~ thanks for introducing me to Nosara…”
- Carl von Bernuth – reflection of a yogasurfer a month later
This fabulous yoga retreat package includes:
• 6 nights deluxe accommodations at the Harmony Hotel
• Daily yoga classes and one massage
• Excellent Surf lessons
• Huge breakfasts
• Dinners
• Transfers from Liberia or Nosara airports
The Harmony Hotel is simply gorgeous! Inspired by the old school tropical destinations of the eras that appreciated low key glamor and total escape, Harmony Hotel is the perfect setting for people to unwind and get in tune with their natural rhythm.
The graceful simplicity of earth tones and crisp whites creates rooms that are rooted in nature and beach life at the Harmony.
All 24 accommodations reside on a path that meanders through a tropical garden overflowing with native vegetation. And the ears do not lie—that is the sound of waves. The path ends nearby at the warm, inviting Pacific Ocean.
Surf Instruction with Innocent Surf School 
About Us:
Teaching surfing is the most rewarding thing we know. Like all teaching, however, it’s not easy. You have to get stuck into the “hows” + “whys” of everything + then explain it in a way that is interesting + funny. There are lots of wonderful people teaching surfing for love or money, all over the world, but there are also some scallywags that just send you in the sea with an unqualified surfer. We don’t think that’s very fair. Being a surfer is very different to being a surf coach. Innocent surf instructors are all qualified BSA surf coaches which means we have, ourselves, been trained + tested in how to teach surfing. We are also certified beach lifeguards, qualified in ocean safety and first aid.
Daily yoga classes are held in the lovely yoga studio at the Harmony Hotel and combine traditional asana to invigorate and strengthen with restorative and yin yoga styles to relax and unwind. Poses that are especially beneficial to surfing, like ones that focus on balance and core strengthening, are also practiced and discussed in detail. This is a great program for both men and woman, from beginners to all levels of yoga.
How to get to Nosara
Nosara is just over a 2-hour drive from the airport at Liberia, served by Delta, American, US Air and Continental. Delta has added a direct flight from Los Angeles to Liberia, departing on Fridays and returning on Saturdays. Our package includes transfers from Liberia or Nosara airport on August 1st and August 7th, and we will assist with your transportation if you arrive on other days…
Or, for your convenience you can fly from San Jose to Nosara
If you fly into San Jose there are domestic flights to Nosara that are approx. 45 minutes in duration. For more information, prices, schedules and weight restrictions (small & strictly enforced) please contact:
Sansa Airlines: www. flysansa.com (Located at the International Airport, San Jose)
Nature Air: www.natureair.com (Located at Pavas Airport, a domestic airport 35 minutes from the International Airport)
If you want to rent a car
You can rent a car at Liberia airport or at Nosara Beach with National. Please contact the local agent Ronald Castro to confirm rates and availability (011-506-682-0254) or rcastro@ancar.com. There is only one gas station in Nosara, and bring cash, plastic is not accepted. For more info of this kind www.nosaratravel.com
A little more about Nosara Beach…
Nosara also offers a range of excellent dining experiences, and other recreational activities that include horseback riding, hiking, deep sea fishing, kayaking, and, the always desirable, but sometimes elusive, tanning of the soul.
For more information, call us toll-free at 800-760-5099 or email us at hello@inwardbound.com.
Posted in Costa Rica, surfing | No Comments »
Yoga and Surfing in Playa Guiones, CR July 11 – 17, 2010
A Week of Surfing and Yoga~
at the Harmony Hotel
in Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
July 11 – July 17, 2010
Guests are greeted in Liberia, Costa Rica on Sunday, July 11 and depart the following Saturday, July 17.
For more details, please read below.
Prices for the All-Inclusive Retreat Week
Single Occupancy: US$2,295.00
Double Occupancy: US$1,850.00* (per person)
*Shared King Bed at the Harmony Hotel
Yoga Instruction with Karl Spaeth
Surf Instruction by Innocent Surf School, Nosara
Yoga and surfing, a natural combination, is perfected in this program at Playa Guiones, one of the beaches of Nosara, the home of uncrowded surfing and unspoiled beaches. Start your day with surfing lessons on the warm water waves of the Pacific Ocean and in the late afternoon, enjoy a rejuvenating yoga practice amidst tropical beauty.
Learn more about the combined yoga and surfing experience!
If you are looking to begin or deepen your yoga practice, and learn or improve your surfing (and have fun, of course!) – join us in pristine Playa Guiones, on the Northwest Coast of Costa Rica! You’ll learn from outstanding yoga and surfing professionals, while taking in the tropical beauty and magnificent ocean surf of your surroundings. Our dinners are out on the town, offering exposure to the local vibe and nightlife.
“I have a huge crush on the place and hope that something always brings me
back to the beach there ~ thanks for introducing me to Nosara…”
- Carl von Bernuth – reflection of a yogasurfer a month later
This fabulous yoga retreat package includes:
• 6 nights deluxe accommodations at the Harmony Hotel
• Daily yoga classes and one massage
• Excellent Surf lessons
• Huge breakfasts
• Dinners
• Transfers from Liberia or Nosara airports
The Harmony Hotel is simply gorgeous! Inspired by the old school tropical destinations of the eras that appreciated low key glamor and total escape, Harmony Hotel is the perfect setting for people to unwind and get in tune with their natural rhythm.
The graceful simplicity of earth tones and crisp whites creates rooms that are rooted in nature and beach life at the Harmony.
All 24 accommodations reside on a path that meanders through a tropical garden overflowing with native vegetation. And the ears do not lie—that is the sound of waves. The path ends nearby at the warm, inviting Pacific Ocean.
Surf Instruction with Innocent Surf School
About Us:
Teaching surfing is the most rewarding thing we know. Like all teaching, however, it’s not easy. You have to get stuck into the “hows” + “whys” of everything + then explain it in a way that is interesting + funny. There are lots of wonderful people teaching surfing for love or money, all over the world, but there are also some scallywags that just send you in the sea with an unqualified surfer. We don’t think that’s very fair. Being a surfer is very different to being a surf coach. Innocent surf instructors are all qualified BSA surf coaches which means we have, ourselves, been trained + tested in how to teach surfing. We are also certified beach lifeguards, qualified in ocean safety and first aid.
Daily yoga classes are held in the lovely yoga studio at the Harmony Hotel and combine traditional asana to invigorate and strengthen with restorative and yin yoga styles to relax and unwind. Poses that are especially beneficial to surfing, like ones that focus on balance and core strengthening, are also practiced and discussed in detail. This is a great program for both men and woman, from beginners to all levels of yoga.
How to get to Nosara
Nosara is just over a 2-hour drive from the airport at Liberia, served by Delta, American, US Air and Continental. Delta has added a direct flight from Los Angeles to Liberia, departing on Fridays and returning on Saturdays. Our package includes transfers from Liberia or Nosara airport on July 11th and July 17th, and we will assist with your transportation if you arrive on other days…
Or, for your convenience you can fly from San Jose to Nosara
If you fly into San Jose there are domestic flights to Nosara that are approx. 45 minutes in duration. For more information, prices, schedules and weight restrictions (small & strictly enforced) please contact:
Sansa Airlines: www. flysansa.com (Located at the International Airport, San Jose)
Nature Air: www.natureair.com (Located at Pavas Airport, a domestic airport 35 minutes from the International Airport)
If you want to rent a car
You can rent a car at Liberia airport or at Nosara Beach with National. Please contact the local agent Ronald Castro to confirm rates and availability (011-506-682-0254) or rcastro@ancar.com. There is only one gas station in Nosara, and bring cash, plastic is not accepted. For more info of this kind www.nosaratravel.com
A little more about Nosara Beach…
Nosara also offers a range of excellent dining experiences, and other recreational activities that include horseback riding, hiking, deep sea fishing, kayaking, and, the always desirable, but sometimes elusive, tanning of the soul.
For more information, call us toll-free at 800-760-5099 or email us at hello@inwardbound.com.
Posted in Costa Rica, surfing | No Comments »
Yoga and Surfing at Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica, April 4-10, 2010
A Week of Surfing and Yoga~
at the Harmony Hotel
in Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
April 4 – April 10, 2010
Guests are greeted in Liberia, Costa Rica on Sunday, April 4 and depart the following Saturday, April 10th.
For more details, please read below.
Prices for the All-Inclusive Retreat Week
Harmony Hotel: Single Occupancy: US$2,295.00
Double Occupancy: US$1,850.00* (per person)
*Shared King Bed at the Harmony Hotel
Cafe de Paris: Single Occupancy: US$1,800.00
Double Occupancy: US$1,550.00 (per person)
Retreat Leader & Yoga Instruction with Islena Faircrest, RYT
Surf Instruction by Innocent Surf School, Nosara
Rejuvenate yourself amidst lush tropical beauty: Click to watch the 4 minute video!
Yoga and surfing, a natural combination, is perfected in this program at Playa Guiones, one of the beaches of Nosara, the home of uncrowded surfing and unspoiled beaches. Start your day with surfing lessons on the warm water waves of the Pacific Ocean and in the late afternoon, enjoy a rejuvenating yoga practice amidst tropical beauty.
Learn more about the combined yoga and surfing experience!
If you are looking to explore and deepen your yoga practice, and learn or improve your surfing (and have fun, of course!) – join us in pristine Playa Guiones, on the Northwest Coast of Costa Rica! You’ll learn from outstanding yoga and surfing professionals, while taking in the tropical beauty and magnificent ocean surf of your surroundings. Our dinners are out on the town, offering exposure to the local vibe and nightlife.
“I have a huge crush on the place and hope that something always brings me
back to the beach there ~ thanks for introducing me to Nosara…”
- Carl von Bernuth – reflection of a yogasurfer a month later
This fabulous yoga retreat package includes:
• 6 nights deluxe accommodations at the Harmony Hotel or Cafe De Paris
• Daily yoga classes, workshops, and one massage
• Excellent Surf lessons • Eco-Tour Activity Options
• Huge breakfasts
• Dinners
• Transfers from Liberia or Nosara airports
The Harmony Hotel is simply gorgeous! Inspired by the old school tropical destinations of the eras that appreciated low key glamor and total escape, Harmony Hotel is the perfect setting for people to unwind and get in tune with their natural rhythm.
The graceful simplicity of earth tones and crisp whites creates rooms that are rooted in nature and beach life at the Harmony.
All 24 accommodations reside on a path that meanders through a tropical garden overflowing with native vegetation. And the ears do not lie—that is the sound of waves. The path ends nearby at the warm, inviting Pacific Ocean.
About your Yoga Instructor:
Islena Faircrest
is a Yoga Alliance certified, Yoga BC Senior Registered Teacher, BCRPA Advanced Yoga Fitness Leader, Doula (providing support to women during childbirth,) and Bowen Technique Therapist (bodywork re-balancing modality.) Mother of two, holistic practitioner, and former co-Owner of Samadhi Yoga Centre, she is a fun-loving yogini, whose classes and workshops have an inspiring learning environment relevant to all. Her passion for Yoga extends to teaching 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs. Her yoga modalities include Hatha Flow, Power Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Anusara, Prenatal, Mommy and Me, Kids Yoga, and Family Yoga, as well as a thirteen year dance performance background, and eleven years experience in early childhood and family development. A hobby writer while residing in Costa Rica with her family, her website is www.rooftopeco.com
Surf Instruction with Innocent Surf School
About Us:
Teaching surfing is the most rewarding thing we know. Like all teaching, however, it’s not easy. You have to get stuck into the “hows” + “whys” of everything + then explain it in a way that is interesting + funny. There are lots of wonderful people teaching surfing for love or money, all over the world, but there are also some scallywags that just send you in the sea with an unqualified surfer. We don’t think that’s very fair. Being a surfer is very different to being a surf coach. Innocent surf instructors are all qualified BSA surf coaches which means we have, ourselves, been trained + tested in how to teach surfing. We are also certified beach lifeguards, qualified in ocean safety and first aid.
Daily Yoga classes are held in the beautiful open-air Yoga studio at the Harmony Hotel and combine traditional asana to invigorate and strengthen with yoga therapeutics and restorative styles to heal, repair, relax and unwind. Poses that are especially beneficial for surfing, like ones that focus on balance and core strengthening, are also explored deeply. This is a great program for both men and woman, from beginners to all levels of yoga.
How to get to Nosara
Nosara is just over a 2-hour drive from the airport at Liberia, served by Delta, American, US Air and Continental. Delta has added a direct flight from Los Angeles to Liberia, departing on Fridays and returning on Saturdays. Our package includes transfers from Liberia or Nosara airport on April 4th and April 10th, and we will assist with your transportation if you arrive on other days.
Or, for your convenience you can fly from San Jose to Nosara
If you fly into San Jose there are domestic flights to Nosara that are approx. 45 minutes in duration. For more information, prices, schedules and weight restrictions (small & strictly enforced) please contact:
Sansa Airlines: www. flysansa.com (Located at the International Airport, San Jose)
Nature Air: www.natureair.com (Located at Pavas Airport, a domestic airport 35 minutes from the International Airport)
If you want to rent a car
You can rent a car at Liberia airport or at Nosara Beach with National. Please contact the local agent Ronald Castro to confirm rates and availability (011-506-682-0254) or rcastro@ancar.com. There is only one gas station in Nosara, and bring cash, plastic is not accepted. For more info of this kind www.nosaratravel.com
A little more about Nosara Beach…
Nosara also offers a range of excellent dining experiences, and other recreational activities that include horseback riding, hiking, deep sea fishing, kayaking, and, the always desirable, but sometimes elusive, tanning of the soul.
For more information, call us toll-free at 800-760-5099 or email us at hello@inwardbound.com.
Retreat blog at CostaRicaRetreat.blogspot.com
Posted in Costa Rica, surfing | No Comments »
The Yoga/Surf Experience
Your body is immersed in warm tropical water as your feet slide underneath you and a perfect wave carries you to shore. This is followed by an afternoon stretch to ease sore muscles and yoga poses to invigorate the body.
So what is it that makes yoga and surfing such a great combination?
Hmm…without too much thought, the answer seems relatively obvious. As the popularity of yoga and surfing and yoga/surf retreats continue to grow, let’s take a deeper look at why these two disciplines are so complementary (and addictive).
Both yoga and surfing require balance, strength, focus and a clear head. A consistent yoga practice can help build both core and upper/lower body strength, improve your sense of balance and steadiness as well as teach you the importance of single-pointed attention and the power of full engagement. After practicing for several weeks, those who are new to yoga often feel a deeper sense of calm, even in challenging situations, better sleep and more energy – and begin to develop a more intimate mind-body connection. Many students often comment on how little body awareness they actually had until they started practicing yoga.
So, how does this translate into better surfing? Chronic aches and pains are often alleviated, especially when you incorporate Yin and more gentle styles of yoga, and recovery time after intense exercise is faster. Core strength helps with balance and gets you to your feet faster, and upper body strength increases your paddling power and helps catch waves more easily. Students also frequently find that after only a few yoga classes their self-limitations seem to lessen, and this often equates to more energy, confidence and endurance both in and out of the water. And, a quick 10 minute pre-surf stretch coupled with some basic yoga poses can warm up and loosen the body as well as prevent injury.
Can surfing help your yoga practice? Without a doubt, paddling builds strong arms which are a must for arm balances and more yang/power styles of yoga. One also quickly finds out about the perils of not staying focused in the water – which are a little less dangerous in a yoga class, but nonetheless, a wandering mind distracts from the full experience. If you know first-hand or have heard stories of the mystical occurrences people have in the water and the “soulful” nature of surfing, it’s that same connection to the pulse of life and creation that many yogis are seeking in the first place. When you’re in this transcendental state, there is nothing to be done or accomplished other than the pure joy of existence itself. It is this feeling of connectedness that we all want more of…
What can you expect in a yoga/surf retreat? If you’re with qualified and passionate surf instructors and yoga teachers, it can be a life-changing experience. For example, the instructors at Innocent Surf School equip their students with a strong foundation by breaking down fundamentals into “building blocks” for initial safety and familiarity. After the basics are mastered, students can later analyze and build upon these blocks as their surfing improves. The idea here is that you are now a “surfer-for-life” and empowered beyond the week-long retreat to take it to the next level. And, fun-loving, knowledgeable yoga instructors draw on a variety of styles and asanas that are complementary to surfing and work to help open the body.
As a veteran yoga/surf teacher myself, I like to use meditation, breath work, stretching and traditional yoga poses in a sequenced flow that really harmonizes with all elements of the experience. Participants are removed from their day-to-day life, on a beach in the middle of the jungle (!!!) so earthy, grounding practices are very beneficial. It is also nice to give people tools that they can incorporate into their everyday lives for more ease and mindfulness. As Stephen Cope so eloquently states, “Retreats don’t change our lives as much as they change where we stand in relation to our lives.”
Experience for yourself the yoga surfing experience at our exquisite Costa Rica yoga surf retreats scheduled in April, July, and August!
See you on the beach,
joy
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Welcome to the new inward bound site!
I am THRILLED to launch our new site which includes this blog that I will be updating weekly and our highly anticipated store that will feature the Leila Yoga collection and other lovely items from Bazaar de Nosara, Gonca Gul’s store. You can browse and find out why all the girls in Nosara look soo lovely. (I am particularly fond of the Zoe Yoga pants right now!)
Of course, our wonderful retreats will hold center stage. The menu we have for this spring/upcoming high season is exceptional – starting off with a yogaSurf at our beloved Harmony Hotel, a cleanse at Hacienda del Sol – a beautiful place that I consider to be an oasis of healing & renewal, followed by an amazing Anusara Yoga Retreat with a fabulous teacher who is currently on yoga tour in South America. We’ll finish out the season with 2 yogaSurf weeks at the Jungle Beach House, one of my favorite properties in Nosara, which is just steps away from the beach and the epitome of glorious tropical living.
For the US summer, I’m currently working on 2 family weeks at the Greystone Inn on Lake Toxaway, a spot that I like to describe as “the Lake Como of the south.” A beautiful, thoughtfully designed destination that is perfect for families and offers a little something for everyone: golf, tennis, swimming, boating & beautiful hiking …and we’ll bring in the yoga!
A trip to India is in the works for 2010. A friend and co-worker of mine from my days at the Chopra Center, a very special woman named Corrine, just married a wonderful man from India where they now spend 6 months a year. They are running tours around Southern India and I just can’t wait to co-create and/or participate in any way that I can in their company and travel itinerary. They believe in treating their clients as guests, a philosophy that I strongly identify with, and love introducing people to beautiful places. And, did I mention that Corrine has the voice of an angel and offers nightly kirtan?! We are also planning to add a week of yoga study post-tour…
Back to the new site – I worked with Minima Designs, a company out of Richmond and I will forever sing the praises of Michelle Martinello, the owner and head designer. She is so talented and just a pleasure to work with. We wanted the site to reflect the essence of the inward bound experience, which in my mind is to create a sense of spaciousness and ease, helping guests reconnect to their inner selves via the ocean, surfing, yoga, meditation or experiencing a new place. The site conveys what I feel when I walk out onto the beach in Nosara, or a beautiful beach anywhere – ease, openness and a reverence for nature and all it has to teach us. The word, or concept, I’m actually meditating on these days is “spaciousness” and the idea of creating space around everything, especially challenging situations or relationships.
Let’s commit to doing the work in this lifetime – enjoying the journey, both inward and outward, and growing and learning in the process.
I hope you enjoy the site as much as I have enjoyed creating it with Michelle.
Please email with any thoughts, feedback, comments or suggestions for the site, or future retreat locations or ideas, or whatever is on your mind – I will love it!
joy@inwardbound.com
See you on the beach,
joy
Posted in personal thoughts, surfing | No Comments »
