Costa Rican serenity

Part of the retreat consisted of yoga and the other of dance. The resort we stayed at was primarily a retreat and spa having nightly yoga classes included in the cost and a variety of spa treatments available. This was like heaven for me, being a newly licensed massage therapist about to finish my yoga teacher training. Being here showed me how in harmony my vices are and helped to shape the image of what it is I want to do with the rest of my life. At the end of the retreat we were asked what we would take with us, and for me it was the whole feeling and idea of the retreat. It will be my carrot on the stick as I continue on with my school and journey down the road of being self employed. Heres a candid shot of me, I was pulling my socks off but it almost looks 'pose-ish'. This is at the watsu tub, I found it to be a nice place to practice.
Watsu is a massage form that takes place in a heated pool. The therapist doesn't massage in the traditional 'kneading' way, but guides the client thru a series of flowing movements. Supposed to be very relaxing and emotionally healing. I didn't try it myself, but everyone who did just raved about it so it is something I'd like to try in the future.
Now what I *did* try was a spa pedicure. I have never treated myself to a pedicure but I love having my feet babied so I put this on my list prior to going on the trip. Next time I'll know to bring more money for more therapies ;) But hey, check out my lovely tootsies!:

Toes are very happy with warm little stones between them :) I *love* the color I got, which you can't see too well, but its actually a mix of two colors. A dark almost black purple with an irradescent fuschia on top, made them a royal sparklie purple.

Heres just a random shot while we were getting ready for yoga. I loved this hall, it felt so open and airy, and the floor was very nice. I always notice the black pants on the gal at the left in this shot, the resort had a nice gift shop with some awesome yoga clothes and those pants came from there. I was good and stuck to my budget, but a pair I tried on I loved so much that I emailed when I returned and I'm going to have them shipped to me. My legs really liked them ;) They're longer, and purple with a lighter purple dragon on them. Can't wait to get them, its like prolonging the experience by getting them now instead of onsite :) I think its a sign that they were ment to be mine since they were still there after I left. They were waiting for me.

Heres some more lovelyness of the resort. To the left is the hot tub where I spent every single evening. I think soaking in the waters there helped me from getting sore after doing hours of yoga and dance every day. I thought for sure I would feel like I had my ass kicked every day as I've never done a workshop thats lasted this long, but I really didn't. Either she was gentle on us, or I was in shape from my yoga teacher training. I think its a little of both. But the hot tub was my sanctuary, it also had an awesome view of San Jose twinkling at night.

Is this not the coolest yoga hall you've ever seen? I called this the 'green house', because of all the plants. The 'walls' were a wire cage lined with mesh to keep the creatures out and it had a roof to protect the gorgeous floor during rain. Way. Cool. It was like doing yoga in the jungle but with just enough modern amenities to keep you comfortable. Nadia was my favorite teacher here, she had a lovely 'yoga-voice'. I told her I would have to adopt a spanish accent for my class because her voice was just so lulling. She also did this thing that I liked where she sprayed a lightly scented mist over us in savasana. Not enough to get you all wet, just a light spray that was quite refreshing. Apparently it was an ayurvedic mix called 'energy balance'.

I must say I love experiencing yoga in other cultures, its quite fascinating! And it was also educational to see how a non-american 'spa' approached body work. I would love to go back again next year and have more of the treatments, but its either Costa Rica 'part Deux' or Thailand to learn Thai-yoga massage. I would love to do Costa Rica again, but my sensible side (which doesn't come out often) is leaning towards having a 'different' stamp on my passport. And I could write the Thai trip off on my taxes since its to learn a massage modality rather than experience one. It depends on if I can catch Rachel somewhere else. If so, then it won't sting as much to not go again as she was the main motivator for my going on this trip.

So, that brings us to the dance portion of the trip. Stay tuned for the next update of the bellydancing sort ;)