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Have you been dreaming of leading your own yoga retreat? It can be an awesome experience. Organizing a yoga retreat, however, can be overwhelming. Beyond planning and teaching your classes, you’re responsible for choosing and booking a venue, planning the agenda, marketing, and more. You want to offer your students the best, but may not have a clue how to go about it. Planning a successful retreat is about designing an experience. Think about what you’d like to participate in if you were the one looking to join in on a retreat, visualize each day. Here are a few pointers to help you focused on some main ideas that need attention.
Step 1: Create the "to do" list. Before you plan, take a moment or two to contemplate the kind of experiences you want to give to your participants. Put pencil to paper on what you can see your group enjoying and where. This helps you stay focused. Where do you want to go? What factors are important to you? You can relate to your people and know what they want and like. They probably like many similar things. If you haven’t approached your students yet, do so now by planting the seed of a retreat and ask them a few questions. What does a day at the perfect yoga retreat look like to you? What sites would you like to see? The conversation will unfold from there. Step 2: Choose your location. Location is one of the biggest considerations for people interested in going on a yoga retreat. The options are truly endless but Costa Rica is known for yoga and nature! It's not by accident that one of the largest yogic centered retreat (Envision Festival) takes place in Uvita and they just celebrated their 10th anniversary! Yoga Maya Uvita is prepared to assist you in your retreats by hooking you up with our fab connections, planning assistance, and more, from whale watching to ATV jungle excursions, you can count on Uvita for the best experience possible. We have an 8 x 6 meter teak wood floored open air yoga shala with many yoga props. We have great wall space too. The shala overlooks the 50 foot long pool and the entire facility is very peaceful. Step 3: Do your math. Before determining your prices, consider any additional costs, such as paid advertising, travel expenses, and extras you plan on offering, if any. Ideally, your prices should cover your costs and leave you with a profit. One way to determine your pricing is to add a fee to the cost per student. For example, if you’re teaching five classes on your retreat and you charge each student $20 per class, you would add a $100 fee to your cost per student. Consider your students’ expenses. How much does it cost to travel to my retreat? How much time off work will people need to take? How much will they need to budget for food, activities, or excursions or are these included? I also look at how much other retreats are charging for a similar format. One popular venue is listed on the link below to see what's going on with the yoga retreat competition. Step 4: Plan the days of the retreat. Once you have the logistics figured out, You should start planning each day. What kind of experience are you hoping to offer your students? Is there a theme to your retreat? What could they need that may not be readily available? Retreats need not have every minute planned with an event, so be sure to leave enough free time in for spontaneity and other excursions like massages or shopping. Step 5: Start Marketing. Marketing doesn’t just happen. Genuine enthusiasm is contagious, word of mouth goes a long way so ask your people to spread the word. It’s organic marketing. Don’t be shy about it.Depending on your target market you may want to pay for adds on Facebook and/or Instagram. Google is a great way to spread the word also if you want to open it up for others to attend. Make sure you have a google business account and start learning SEO tactics, it comes in handy when marketing online. This sums up a few basics on retreat planning. There are a lot of details and things to think about and we hope this sort list will put things in action for your retreat! We are here for you. We are working hard at Yoga Maya Uvita and will gladly spend some time helping you figure out the costs of a retreat here with us. Whether it’s your 1st or 51st, we can coordinate events with local venues and advise what to see and do while here. For example a horseback riding yoga waterfall tour! Our location in Uvita is the closest retreat center to the Whale’s Tail National Park so getting around couldn’t be easier. With so many things to do in the area you can rest easy that your guests will enjoy every day in the Southern Pacific Zone of beautiful Costa Rica. Pura Vida.
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 Yoga on the Beach. Ballena National Park. I love yoga. If we’ve met we’ve probably had this discussion. For sure if you’ve been to one of my yoga classes, you know I love all things yoga. But is there more to do in life than yoga? Sometimes, I guess there is. So I came up with a few things yoga people would enjoy doing while spending a 1,2 or 3 days in the lazy little beach town of Uvita Costa Rica. Uvita, Costa Rica is the home of Envision Festival. A very large yoga centered festival that takes place every February, here in Uvita. It makes complete sense that I would move to Uvita and open a boutique retreat center here. This town feels stuck in time. Lost in time really, basically it’s the bomb. If you like waiting for random horses to get out of your way on the road. That’s our little Monday morning traffic jam. Sometimes it carries over into Tuesday. Maybe even Wednesday before someone decides to get them and put them back in their pasture. Don’t get me started on the cow traffic jams. You can get lost in time yourself if you don’t stay focused. A day at the beach can turn into three before you know it. So let’s make a short list of things that are fun to do in Uvita. What should not be missed while here?
2. Whale’s Tail National Park. Costa Rica is known for its natural beauty but I guarantee you that there is nothing like this naturally formed whale’s tail beach at low tide. Spend an hour or three here in the calm waters or just sit under a tree on the beach. Either way you will likely see some wildlife like dolphins, whales, Macaws, Tucans, Anteaters…You get the idea. @ http://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/ac/acosa/pnmb/Pages/default.aspx 3. Uvita Waterfalls This place is only $4.00 entry fee and so much fun you will smile, laugh, and get back to being the calm happy person you were born to be. With two naturally formed swimming pools, a waterfall to jump off of or slide down, and an additional platform to jump from you will have a great time in the shady jungle that is the shortest hike that I wouldn’t even call it a hike. Maybe a better word is a stroll. 4. It’s not all zen and namaste in Uvita. Get your energy up and laugh like a kid by giving surfing in Uvita a try with a lesson with Julian at www.surfinguvita.com. Whether you are a solo traveler or a group of 30 people, Surfing Uvita can have you up and riding waves in no time. And the fun you will have! The stories you can tell of how you caught that “big wave” will live on forever. www.surfinguvita.com 5. I’m hungry, you hungry? You can’t miss the newest and cutest outdoor restaurant on the way to the Uvita Waterfalls. I’d suggest visiting the waterfall in the am and stopping at Indomitos Cafe for lunch. Or eat first and then visit the falls. Either way, you are going to want to try this place. Every single thing on the menu is made to perfection with love and attention to detail. If you are vegan you are going to flip for not only the main menu but the deserts. Indomitos also serves a great breakfast. @ https://www.facebook.com/indomitoscr There are many other sites to see and restaurants to enjoy in the Uvita area that are very worthwhile. Carlitos, Los Laureles, The bus station restaurant.... I’ll post more about other restaurants and things to do soon. This is just a little teaser for those of you who have been wondering about some main attractions in the Uvita area. Hasta pronto amigos!  What can I say, I'm a bit of a nut for waterfalls. This may be why I decided to make Uvita, Costa Rica my home and where I wanted to start my YTT and Retreat Center. We start the day early with yoga and the sound of the howler monkeys in the distance. The peaceful cows are next to the shala roaming around one of four gigantic pastures. After a bit of fruit and cafe we hop in the car and off we go to the closest waterfall.
We will need to stop at the panaderia to say hi to my girls...they got me through some rough times in the beginning and I love them. Plus, there are baked goods. I suggest the torta chilena. The Uvita Waterfall is so close to town it's a bit of a surprise that it's even there. It’s a little reminder of just how close you always are to the jungle here in Costa Rica. The hike is short and easy. If you park in the first parking area you come to (before you start going up the hill) they've built the cutest little butterfly sanctuary and the plants are fun to check out. Some vines are on the walk that take you back to a Tarzan style living and most visitors love to stop for a photo op by these thick twisty vines. With currently 788 reviews on Google it rates a 4.6. You can't please everyone (egg slicer Airbnb lady). Uvita Waterfall is for sure a must to visit while heading down the Southern pacific coast whether you stay in Uvita or not. It's quick, easy and cheap. The entry fee is still just $4 USD and you could easily visit for a few hours and enjoy watching everyone get up the nerve to slide down the waterfall. There's another natural pool for swimming a few meters away with a platform for jumping too. Locals and tourists mix with ease. The common love of nature makes life a little less stressful and everyone is smiling and laughing or just sitting there with open hearts soaking in all the glory of mother nature. Lush vegetation surrounds you with looming bamboo stalks that are over 20 meters tall that grow in clusters and provide plenty of shade therefor sunscreen isn't needed. I knew the first time I went there that I loved Uvita. It's proximity to the glorious beaches of Ballena National Park, and now this! I am convinced heaven has a few waterfalls, just like Uvita. I'd have to say that here, at Cascada Uvita, your biggest decision could very well be whether to jump, slide, or enjoy the show. A guaranteed good time. Here are a few Google reviews: ~"Beautiful waterfall on the river Uvita. It is a short walk from the car park. The water is cool and crystal clear. The surrounding forest is beautiful, dense vegetation, a real experience to walk to the waterfall, where you can enjoy a bath in the soft water. I heartily recommend it." ~"Possibly the best hidden gem in town! I spent many days here, relaxing in the beautiful cool fresh water. In a country where the water and temperature outside is always lukewarm, this was a pleasant change of pace! Admission was only US$4, and worth every penny. There’s a butterfly conservatory here as well, which I didn’t get a chance to check out, but it looks incredible. As a side bonus there is also a bar and restaurant near the summit of the falls. The food is divine, and the owner was amazing to deal with, multiple times per day! ;) Make Catarata Uvita a destination. You won’t regret it." Here's the link to trip advisor for more reviews to read. www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g635755-d4115525-Reviews-Uvita_Waterfall-Uvita_Province_of_Puntarenas.html Sometimes Costa Rica amazes me. It's absolutely humbling to see such magnificent natural beauty in this rugged country. This particular place, Nauyaca Waterfalls, is tops on the list of things to see in this area. And we have got some things to see my friends! If you come to visit us here at Yoga Maya Uvita I hope you will take our advice and take the (40 minute give or take) drive towards San Isidro and spend a few hours enjoying this amazing waterfall. Well, there's actually two here. It's breathtaking. I remember the first huge waterfall I saw in Costa Rica many years ago. I was almost in tears it was so amazing. Coming from a small town in the midwest from humble beginnings I honestly didn't think such beauty was possible for me to see in real life with my own eyes. And yet there I was. Living large. You've got to see it too. It does not disappoint. You can hike it, ride horseback, or hop in the back of a pick-up truck after you park your car and buy your ticket. It depends on how much time you have to explore and play. The path for the hike is the road, so you share it with the horses and the pick-up. It's a fun walk that basically anyone can walk if they have the abiltiy to walk for about 45 minutes or so. The horses looked healthy and calm. I opted for the pick-up as I had other things to do afterwards and didn't feel like walking. Of course once you get there you can swim a little or just take some cool shots of you with the roaring falls behind you. Trip advisor has almost 800 ratings of Nauyaca and almost all are 5 stars. Who would give it anything but a 5 star review? Good God I have no clue. Probably the same "Karen" who complained about a kitchen not having an "egg slicer". Some people complain about the rain. Whatever. I find this place pretty close to heavenly even on a rainy day. Everyone just drinks it all in and enjoys life for an hour or so. Everyone has a peacefully joyous time here. It's hard not to. It's the kind of place that makes you want to talk to the people next to you. Share the joy of experiencing something so precious. Such natural perfection. You're almost high on nature here. The picture doesn't do it justice. The mist of water that floats up through the air catches the sunlight and it looks like natural sparkles. Like glitter. Like I said, it's a bit humbling.  Nauyaca Waterfalls near Yoga Maya Uvita, Costa Rica  What exactly is the pejibaye? These little cuties grow on a type of palm tree and these palm trees produces large clusters of fruit called pejibaye, or "peach palm fruit". This is the same type of palm tree that produces the hearts of palm "yum" that are often used in salads. Pejibaye are a highly nutritious fruit that tastes so savory it feels more like a vegetable. Several, even though they are small make a substancial meal. During the season, they can be purchased at any fruit stand or farmer’s market for around $2 a kilo. Pejibayes only grow in tropical zones, they are very popular in many countries in Central and South America. This delicious treat is easy to prepare, but it takes time. The fruit must be boiled for several hours. I've been using my crockpot on high for approximately 3-4 hours and I personally enjoy them warm. Some like them cold. Before you eat them remove the skin and slice them in half,remove the small pit and voila! The best way to eat them is with a little salt and believeit or not: mayonnaise. The taste is an odd mix of a cashew, a chestnut, and a sweet potato; savory and satisfying. Pejibayes are an excellent breakfast or snack. They are full of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Each fruit also contains 2.6 grams (about a tenth of an ounce) of protein. They have a good amount of magnesium, potassium, and zinc.   These are stressful times. Sometimes when I am in bed at night I think about a million things. Things I've done wrong, words I have said that I cannot take back and the never-ending "to do" list that is always on my mind. I've always envied people who go straight to sleep once their heads hit the pillow. I don't know how they do it. This fab little 6 hour tibetan music is so smooth. So soothing. I love it and thought I'd share it with all of you. Enjoy! Estos son tiempos estresantes. A veces, cuando estoy en la cama por la noche, pienso en un millón de cosas. Cosas que he hecho mal, palabras que he dicho que no puedo retirar y la lista interminable de "cosas por hacer" que siempre tengo en mente. Siempre he envidiado a las personas que se van a dormir una vez que sus cabezas golpean la almohada. No sé cómo lo hacen. Esta fabulosa música tibetana de 6 horas es muy suave. Muy relajante Me encanta y pensé en compartirlo con todos ustedes. ¡Disfrutar! www.youtube.com/watch?v=47kPL8PrmzY  YTT-200-300-500 Costa Rica Meditation Singing Bowls  yoga teacher training uvita, costa rica Costa Rica is a Yogi's dream destination. The country offers you everything from stunning beaches to epic surf, majestic jungle, and exceptional yoga. Although it’s a small country, there is no shortage of places to call your home away from home for a YTT or Retreat, but where do you start looking? Yoga Maya Uvita has found the perfect spot for you to relax, practice yoga, and experience the magic of Costa Rica. For soul-seeking, world-travelling, adventure-loving, yogi’s Uvita has everything you need and more. Here’s why…
2. Yoga & Surf Lifestyle Breathe. Stretch. Move. Uvita is a small town, but the locals and ex-pats alike all know the power of connecting with yourself and with nature. Debbie has created a centre that enables you to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, while connecting with your internal space. Imagine waking up to the soft light of sunrise, practicing yoga on the beach and then conquering the waves in a surf lesson. It's waiting for you. 3. Pura Vida Vibes Everywhere No experience in Costa Rica is complete without embracing those Pura Vida vibes. What does that mean exactly? Yoga Maya Uvita’s center wants you to connect with that sense of ‘pure life’ that is unencumbered and free. The ‘pura vida’ is something you feel when bathing under the roar of a waterfall after a meditation in the heart of the jungle. That beautiful pure energy of spirit that few places on earth can evoke like Uvita. 4. Sustainability Part of the magic of Yoga Maya Uvita is the relationship you can cultivate towards living sustainably. Of course this includes practices like recycling, compost, and leaving a lighter footprint on the earth, but it’s also about the self. When you visit you become enriched, and through retreats and YTTs cultivate the mental and physical strategies you need to sustain your best self for the rest of your life. Grab a loofah from the loofah plants that canopy over the fence by the pasture, dry it in the sun and use it in your outdoor shower. Check on the chickens and have a few eggs for breakfast. Maybe enjoy a maracuya fruit from the six vines that grace the front entrance. With five large and well producing mango trees you may never run out of this delicious fruit. With fresh herbs abound for cooking, medicinal herbs for Ayurveda, and kisses from Lola the dobe rescue you may never want to leave. This is what living with kindness, love and less of an impact is all about. 5. Casados and Cafe Nourishment. The climate of Uvita will nourish your body, mind, and spirit. You’ll practice the yoga, you’ll surf the waves, and you’ll taste the coffee. When you stay with Debbie, she’ll make sure that you have a chance to stop at the oldest coffee plantation in Costa Rica, near San Jose. You’ll be immersed in delicious coffee, eating a Casado (traditional plate of food with plantains, rice, and beans), and crying tears of joy and gratitude for making the decision to come to Uvita. There you have it! 5 reasons Uvita, and Yoga Maya Uvita specifically could just about change your life. Let’s be honest though, after your time here you’ll leave realizing that there are about 100 reasons Uvita is the place to be. So why not start now? Click here for more info. www.iloveyogamaya.com or to book your ytt now. Our next session is in May, then July. Come. Live a little mas. When you close your eyes you can see it. You can feel it. A warm breeze brushes across your face as you stand where the ocean meets jungle in an otherworldly sense of awe. Costa Rica is without a doubt an eco-hub of natural beauty, music, and sense of connected spirit. Nestled in the Southern Pacific is the whale-tale city of Uvita where Yoga Maya Uvita delivers it’s jungle-ocean-yoga-magic-love to the inquisitive soul. Originally from the US, Debbie’s vision is to host a space for yoga in Uvita that is integrative, sustainable, fun and soul-enriching. Building from the ground up, casitas and a beautiful yoga shala create the infrastructure for fabulous Yoga Teacher Trainings and Retreats. Picture yourself, having just attended or even taught one of those juicy vinyasa classes that leaves you buzzing. Everything’s a bit brighter in the jungle canopy as you head to a waterfall, or for a horseback ride on the beach, or grab your provided surfboard to head for a surf with www.surfinguvita.com The absolute beauty of what Yoga Maya Uvita has created is that there is something for everybody. If you’re in Costa Rica looking to attend a retreat, leading a yoga retreat or just passing through looking to relax, you’ll find what you need. So, what exactly can you expect at Yoga Maya Uvita?
UNIQUE YOGA TEACHER TRAININGS So many of us are looking to up our yoga game, and coming to a retreat with Debbie will totally do that. She uses a deep knowledge of ayurveda and proactive attitude to give you the tools to be and explore your passions. From workouts like suspension training to profound meditations and epic breath practices, Yoga Maya YTT will give you your Yoga Alliance 200 hr or 300hr certification and a variety of unique skills to optimize your teaching and practice. Already a yoga teacher? Incredible! Due to her experience hosting YTT’s the stage is already set for you to start building your tribe and delivering your own YTT’s in a beautiful spot rife with good vibes and opportunity. RETREATS The perfect jungle beach escape could not be complete without a litany of energetically nourishing activities. Since Uvita has a little bit of everything, you are in the perfect place for retreat combos that include yoga (of course), surfing, culinary arts, ayurveda, and other courses to deepen your knowledge in specific areas. Debbie is a huge fan of learning, and sharing your skills to help yourself grow and grow others. Bring your interests to life with a retreat where you can combine your skills with other groups for incredible experiences like a week of yoga-surfing, or yoga surf and cook! VACATION Costa Rica is undoubtedly renowned for it’s natural beauty and chill relaxing vibes. As you explore the west coast you may want to have a stop in a small, but versatile city that gives you access to some of the deepest jungles in the world. Yoga Maya Uvita has set up accessible cabinas where you can escape to the jungle for a few nights, or a few weeks. Can you see it all a bit clearer now? Your expansive, life-changing, Costa Rican beach jungle adventure. Come check-out the newest retreat centre in Uvita by clicking here www.iloveyogamaya.com for more information. Our silent opening will be just in time for our Envisionfest friends. www.envisionfestival.com   Lack of sleep is not only annoying but can wreak havoc on your life, up your stress level and make you gain weight just to name a few issues that go along with those restless nights. Nobody needs a sleepless night or even a non-restful one.
These simple strategies can help! Once made into a ritual you can find yourself falling asleep quicker and staying asleep longer or dare I say even for the full night? Doesn’t that sound like bliss? Here’s how to begin:
These simple and quick changes can make a difference. If you are suffering from lack of good sleep or it takes you more time to fall asleep than you think it should give these a try. What have you got to lose? So you have been toying with the thought of taking a YTT in Costa Rica (or somewhere else maybe) have you now? Well, think it over a bit more and see if any of these resonate with you. 1. You will learn more yoga (physical yoga and other things related to yoga) and you will learn how to do the poses correctly. Remember how you received some well deserved help when you learned how to ride a bike? And they were cheering you on? And it was amazing? That’s a bit like a YTT. Lots of help from your teachers in correct positioning of at least 50+ commonly used poses. Alignment is key to prevent injury. With a good teacher you will feel poses differently in the body and your yoga will get stronger. 2. As I just mentioned. Your yoga will get stronger. You will gain muscle in your body in needed areas. Your upper body's proper alignment in chaturanga for example will create tremendous strength. Chaturanga is a VERY demanding pose and is often done incorrectly. 3. Friends. And we are talking about the best kind of friends. Like minded friends! Granted I love yoga. I do it for a living. I love sharing yoga. People who come to yoga teacher trainings have many things in common. It is truly a blessing to be around health conscious, like minded people and often wonderful life-long friendships arise from a few weeks of a YTT together. 4. You will learn how to express yourself. Sometimes it's hard to feel ok with what you feel and say. Listening to others share their journey will not only make you look at your own life with a little less judgement (and their lives too) and a lot more love but you will learn what works and what doesn't work for you. Sharing enriches lives. When you share you also receive in return. This creates an openness in dialog that lets you feel less guarded in your self expression. 5. Travel. Unplug. Technically this should be 5 and 6 but you get the idea. Travel is good for the mind, body and soul. Always travel when you can! Unplugging from work and social media are immensely important in today's world of overstimulation.  yoga teacher training Costa Rica @ Yoga Maya, Uvita. |
AuthorDebbie Krejci E-RYT 500 Yoga Teacher Training Retreat Uvita, Costa Rica, 2021
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