I turned 30 this past month, so I’m hoping that I can skip over the part about why I used all of my vacation time to go on a weeklong yoga retreat to another country by myself. Right? Okay, good. 
 
Earlier this month, I attended a yoga and surf retreat at the renowned Blue Spirit resort in Costa Rica. The retreat was led by Yogeswari, a senior Jivamukti teacher who teaches all over the world and in no less than five languages (an alternative blog post might be titled “10 Things I Learned from Yogeswari”).
 
I’d travelled for yoga before, but this was the first time I allowed myself to go away and practice yoga just to practice my yoga. I didn't return home with a training certificate or continuing education hours, but I learned quite a bit about myself and my yoga on this retreat: 

1. I am not my thoughts.  

Every morning at 6 a.m., Yogeswari held space for meditation and pranayama practice. It was optional, she told us. Well, I decided, I didn’t travel all the way to Costa Rica to sleep in. After seated meditation one morning, and with the help of Yogeswari, I wrote the following in my notebook: 
 
You have thoughts, but you are not your thoughts. 
You have physical discomforts, but you are not your physical discomforts. 
You have emotions, but you are not your emotions.
 
I keep coming back to this mantra. This was not only helpful in seated meditation while I was hot, a bit distracted, and feeling like I was covered in bugs, but this continues to resonate now that I’m back home.  

2. Yoga is an applied life philosophy. 
 
During one of her lectures, Yogeswari said, Yoga is not a religion. Yoga is an applied life philosophy. I suppose this was something I already knew, but the retreat served as a reminder to apply these practices, however challenging, for the entire week. 
 
It started with the 6 a.m. meditation and pranayama practice. Then we’d eat a vegan breakfast, compost any leftover food scraps, break for about an hour, and mindfully prepare for practice. Yogeswari would then lead a Dharma talk, then a challenging asana class, and then it was lunchtime. We’d have the rest of the day to ourselves: we’d walk on the beach, venture into town, get a massage, or read quietly by the pool. One day, we planted trees.

Everything we did, we did with intention. There was even a bathing meditation posted outside of my shower! 
 
3. When the opportunity presents itself, I should try something new.
  
Surf lessons were an optional part of the retreat. Having never surfed, I was hesitant. The mind started to spiral, as it does. What if I was too tired for practice the next day? What if I missed another activity? What if I got hurt? What if I got hurt and had to be life-flighted to the nearest hospital?  I ended up taking the lessons, and I stood up on a wave on one of the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica. I couldn’t say that a month ago. 
 
4. Hi. My name is Alicia, and I’m a FOMO.  

For a yoga retreat, there wasn’t as much R&R time as I’d expected. I brought three books with me, but ended up reading only three chapters from one of the books. The FOMO was real, folks. I participated in every activity because I didn’t want to miss anything. 
 
The Fear of Missing Out is really a matter of not being present to your current situation or needs. In retrospect, I should have allowed myself some more downtime. I should have allowed my body to rest and recover while I sat out of an activity or two. 
 
I said this would be an honest list of lessons learned... 
 
​5. No matter how much I prepare, there will be something I didn’t expect or can’t control (or, omg the mosquitoes).  

Having travelled to Costa Rica before, I knew to expect that I would be sweating the entire time. If it wasn’t a sports bra, bathing suit, or made of some sort of athletic lycra material, I didn’t pack it. I also prepared for the climate by packing sunscreen, my water bottle, hats, electrolyte replenisher, aloe, and a rain jacket. For me, it was important to be as comfortable as possible during the retreat (which otherwise tried to nudge me out of my comfort zone). 
 
The only thing (or 49 things) that got me up and out of bed on the last day of the retreat were my bug bites. I used natural deet-free bug spray all day, every day. I treated my bites with lavender oil. Still, I was uncomfortable. I woke up almost every night scratching. My next retreat might need to be in a less tropical climate. Maybe in the mountains?! If I were to do it again, I’d get those citronella bracelets for my wrists and ankles.

Prepare as I might, there will be something I didn't expect or can't control. The mosquitoes were just one example. A metaphor, if you will. I'm working through these control issues. The yoga helps. 

6. Though I hoped for some alone time on the retreat, it was actually connection that I craved.
   
When I left Costa Rica, I felt more connected. I felt more connected to myself, to my yoga, and to “pura vida,” or “the simple life.” I felt more connected to nature, and I felt more connected to the people around me. This introvert made new friends! Our group was small – there were only about 12 of us – but it was a diverse and VERY interesting group. I found myself opting to be with the group, exploring with the group, rather than wanting to be on my own. I am now connected with yogis from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, New York, and Costa Rica!

7. At the same time, it was also nice to be able to disconnect.   

On the second night of my retreat, a highly anticipated episode of Game of Thrones aired on HBO. I brought my laptop with me, with the intention that I would do some writing and obviously find an hour or so to stream this episode. Turns out, HBO cannot be streamed in Costa Rica. I tried HBO Go, HBO Now, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and I realized that each failed attempt was a sign: I needed to let it go. I needed to disconnect. 
 
After that night, I committed to limiting my screen time during the retreat. I shared a few photos and videos during the week, but I made a concerted effort to be present and without my phone. I went the entire week without mindless scrolling, without checking work email, and without knowing how the Battle of Winterfell ended. 

8. It’s incredibly special to be immersed in another culture.   

Part of the appeal of a retreat is the opportunity to see a new place and to be immersed in the culture. Nosara, Costa Rica provided a remarkable backdrop for a week of mindfulness and ease. I wrote a little bit about Blue Spirit Costa Rica in my previous post. 
 
There’s something so special about experiencing new places. It’s like you’re being let in on a secret. Every time I tried a native dish or managed an entire (albeit simple) conversation in Spanish, I felt overwhelming gratitude for the opportunity to travel. 

9. I can and will continue to step outside of my comfort zone.  

Travelling alone and outside of the country is intimidating. Meeting new people is hard. Trying something for the first time (like surf lessons) can be scary. These moments serve to teach us. They remind us of our capacity to fear and to be brave. 

10. Yoga retreats are worth the price tag.  

As I write this, I’m just paying off the last bill from my trip. Retreats are expensive, and, well, they’re not exactly a vacation. I think I used the word “challenging” twice in this post. But, as I think I’ve listed out here, the investment is worth it. It’s an investment in mental and physical health. It’s an investment in wellbeing. 
 
Before I left for Costa Rica, someone asked me what I was hoping to get out of my trip. I thought about this. The retreat turned out to be so much more than a milestone birthday crisis. Even as I continue to reflect on my time away, I uncover some new lesson. The investment is worth it. 


There you have it. 10 things I learned on my first yoga retreat. In addition to these lessons learned, the retreat inspired new practices. I’ve been trying on a few things I learned from Yogeswari, both as a student of yoga and as a teacher. And after staying in the eco-friendly Blue Spirit resort, I have also been motivated to take on a few more sustainability practices at home.

I think that's the point, right? We don't just leave the mindfulness or lessons learned on our yoga mats. I didn't go on the retreat and just leave all that I learned there. It's about taking it with us, wherever we go. It's an applied life philosophy. 

Blue Spirit resort is my happy place. I often end up there in meditation, walking quietly along the remote beaches, or in daydreams as a carefree barista, suntanned and tattooed, making smoothies at the resort café. 
 
A girl can dream, right? Let me tell you more about my happy place. 
 
Blue Spirit is dedicated to yoga, wellness, and environmental sustainability. Located in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica, the resort is tucked away on a tree-covered hill that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and miles of white sand beaches. It’s an oasis. It’s home to beautiful gardens and Costa Rican wildlife. It’s a refuge for those looking to re-connect with nature and the self. It’s a place for wellbeing and personal transformation.

​I completed a yoga teacher training at Blue Spirit in August 2015, and I’ve been wanting to return ever since. This time around, I opted for a yoga retreat. My retreat included morning meditation, daily yoga classes, locally-sourced meals, a bonfire on the beach, surf lessons, and oh my goodness, I think I’m going to have to write a second blog post to cover it all.  

Blue Spirit was co-founded by Stephan Rechtschaffen and Annette Knopp. Stephan, who also co-founded the Omega Institute, is a holistic physician who lectures on health, wellness, nutrition, and longevity. These ideas are put into practice at Blue Spirit, from the incredible plant-based meals to the sustainability practices in each and every guestroom. 
 
On the first night of the retreat, Stephan spoke to guests about his purpose and his intentions for the space. He explained what attracted him to Costa Rica, and what attracts so many visitors to Blue Spirit:
 
Costa Rica has no army. Instead, money is invested in education and healthcare for the people. The Nicoya Peninsula, where Blue Spirit is located, is considered to be a Blue Zone, or one of five “longevity hotspots” in the world where the people are the healthiest and live the longest. Costa Rica has sunshine, the Pacific Ocean, and a rich landscape, and they’re working toward preserving it all by going carbon neutral within the next three years. 
 
“Pura Vida” is a common greeting in Costa Rica. It means “simple life” or “pure life,” and it’s more than a sentiment. It’s a way of life. Can you imagine a more perfect setting for yoga practice?

​Blue Spirit embraces “Pura Vida.” The retreat center is appealing for yogis, adventurers, and anyone in need of space or healing. Here’s a little more about the resort: 
 
Offerings: Throughout the year, Blue Spirit hosts hundreds of yoga retreats and trainings, wellness seminars and workshops, concerts, and more. You can join an intimate retreat or attend a world-renowned training program. 
 
Practice Spaces: There are multiple practice spaces at Blue Spirit. Sky Mind Hall accommodates larger groups and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. You might actually be able to hear the ocean from one of the smaller open-air shalas. If you’re practicing in El Silencio, you’ll feel like you’re in the jungle (monkey spottings are likely!). 

You know how near the end of a vacation you think, Yeah, I’m ready to home? Well, I was not ready to leave Blue Spirit. By Friday, I was just starting to feel settled and very deeply connected (to myself, to the place, to my yoga). 
​
Now that I’m back home (and not at Blue Spirit working as a barista, unfortunately), I’m already looking forward to my next yoga retreat. I will prioritize this kind of experience for myself as often as I can, and I will go back to Blue Spirit again. Someday!  
​