5 Reasons Why a Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica Needs to Be Your Next Getaway
If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re feeling an urge to get away from your daily life. This may sound a bit dramatic, but hear me out…
This desire to be somewhere new could be because of the weather — maybe you’re in the middle of endless snow storms and subzero temperatures (like I am in NH 🙋♀️).
Or maybe you’ve been mulling over the idea of a big life transition — you know there’s more out there for you than what you’re currently living — and there are certain patterns, habits, relationships that need to pivot, and we mean ASAP.
Or perhaps, frankly you know you just need to get out of your city for a while — who doesn’t need that time for themselves?
I was feeling the same thing just a couple of months ago.
It’s safe to say that this has happened to everyone at least once over the last 2 years. Our worlds were rocked upside down — leaving us more isolated, self-contained, and in fear than ever — and with little practical tools to relieve the ongoing feelings of worry or anxiety.
If you’re looking for something to help cure those feelings of loneliness, lack of inspiration, or doubt, look no further.
The solution that has been missing from this equation is a yoga retreat in Costa Rica.
Yes… it really could be that simple.
A trip to Costa Rica has the potential to completely renew yourself on every level:
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Spiritual/Energetic
You name it.
If you’re nodding your head in agreement, read on my friend. In this article we’re diving into the top 5 reasons why a yoga retreat in Costa Rica will have you feeling recharged, inspired, and ready to face your world head on.
Costa Rica’s nature & biodiversity are unmatched by most countries
If you’ve seen Costa Rica on a map, you know how little this country is compared to some of its neighbors, let alone the rest of the world. And yet, this 19,671 sq ft country holds about 6% of the entire world’s biodiversity.1 🤯
Now, if you’ve visited CR in the past and stayed at a resort, hotel in the city, or somewhere more populated, you may not have gotten the chance to see some of the jungle life roaming around.
The benefit of partnering your experience of visiting Costa Rica with a yoga retreat is you’ll have the added luxury of activities and excursions that take you out of the physical location you’ll be staying in.
This means you’re getting an up-close and personal look at what everyday life is like in this part of the world.
Some animals that you may run into during your stay in Costa Rica could be:
Pelicans ( & lots of other birds)
Geckos
Monkeys
Sloths
Crabs
You might also spot (from a distance) the not-so-friendly animals like poisonous snakes, frogs, or spiders.
With an abundance of wildlife comes an array of geographical wonders such as islands, beaches, rain forests, active volcanoes, hot springs, caves, river canyons and waterfalls.1 Depending where in the country you’ll be visiting, you can be sure to see something very different than you do at home.
Being in a new place has the ability to shift your perspective on the world you live in. Surrounded by vibrant nature like this, you start to feel small as a human — but not in a bad way. In a way that helps you understand that there really is so much more at play within our universe than we’re led to pay attention to.
A yoga retreat is a chance for connecting with like-minded people and total strangers
Raise your hand if you felt lonely at any point during the last two years…🙋♀️
Just me? Sadly not — more than a third of Americans have reported feelings of “severe loneliness” since the pandemic started and that number is only increasing in young adults.4
As humans who are biologically designed for connection and intimate relationships, it makes sense that the majority of us have suffered greatly during lockdowns. Once you’ve formed a new habit of being less social overall, gaining the courage and confidence back to travel to a new place is no easy feat!
Once you’re immersed with the rest of the group, this socialization with total strangers is actually benefiting our brains on a biological level — not just a happy-hormonal level. There are tons of studies that suggest that interaction with perceived strangers on a daily basis helps our brain to anchor us in the world and give a sense of belonging to something larger.3
And, don’t you miss those feelings of big belly-laughs and tales told by new friends?
Going on a yoga retreat in Costa Rica allows you to connect with not only the people in your group, but locals, resort staff, other travelers and so many more humans!
The local food will have you droolin’ before your first bite
(Quick PSA: if you’re someone that tastes soap whenever they eat cilantro…. you may want to proceed with caution. Also, i’m v sorry you were born with that gene.)
As someone who’s always had a special soft spot in my heart for Mexican and Latin-inspired cuisines, I had no idea what kind of treat was in store when eating in Costa Rica.
During our last ADzenTURE to the western coast of the country, all of our meals were included and the resort cooked us authentic breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The nutrient dense foods that we ate gave everyone a vibrant new sense of energy.
We tasted a lot of different traditional dishes such as:
Gallo Pinto (rice & bean combination)
Ceviche (fish)
Patacones (fried plantains)
Lots of salads with fresh, local veggies
Flan
I could keep going, but I started drooling on my keyboard…
What I’m trying to say here is this: coming to Costa Rica and getting authentic cuisine is only going to elevate your experience while traveling here. It’s also something that we specialize in on our yoga retreats — we want your experience to be as close to everyday life as possible.
The sunshine and overall weather will instantly shift your mindset
The weather is going to vary from coast to coast, and also depending on if you’re in the mountainous parts of the country. Unlike that of the states with summer and winter (or in my case: all four seasons) the weather in Costa Rica has a dry and a rainy season.
The dry season is referred to as the summer (in [MONTHS]) and the winter is referred to as their rainy season.
During our last Adzenture (Middle of feb 2022), the resort that we stayed at was on the pacific-side of the country, right on the ocean.
I’m talking.. .could hear and see the waves (& pelicans diving in them for fish) as we were moing through our morning yoga practices.
The weather forecasted a bit of the rain for each day the week before, but when we arrive we had nothing but clear skies and sunshine everyday. The clouds started rolling in in the afternoon providing anice overcast, but there was not a raindrop in sight.
It’s more than just yoga: An ADzenTURE Retreat offers a safe environment for you to try new things
For some people, the thought of going on an international vacation with no one they know can be a bit intimidating….
But once you step beyond that fear, your life starts to unfold for you in a new way.
You begin to see and understand that you’re capable of doing much more than you give yourself credit for.
There’s such power in being able to step away from a group to say, “you know what… I’m craving alone time” and have that same group cheer you on to fulfill that need of yours.
When you sign up for a yoga retreat, specifically in Costa Rica but it works anywhere, there’s this underlying understanding that you’ll be working on different pieces of your mindfulness, body awareness, and overall perception of the world throughout the week.
How do you know if you’re ready for a yoga retreat in Costa Rica?
This may seem like a rhetorical answer, but there are only so many blogs you can read about traveling somewhere for the first time.
Only so many times you can follow the hashtag on instagram…
Internally you know whether or not you’re ready to take an international trip by yourself.
Or get on a plane for the first time, or practice yoga for the first time, or whatever your first may be.
An ADzenTURE Retreat is the perfect combination of yoga, mindfulness, adventure, culture, and FUN! Immersing yourself in a place as tropical and lush as Costa Rica is a healthy way to switch up your routine, feel a new sense of inspiration in the middle of the winter, and to connect with humans on a deeper level.
Dying to see where else we’re going this year? Click here to view our upcoming retreats!
References
http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/12
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202109/why-you-should-talk-strangers
https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports/loneliness-in-america