This part of my Costa Rica adventure was so different than the actual adventure part the 9 days before. That group was a group of 16 people and the retreat was 30 people, and most had come from the USA. There was one beautiful woman that travelled from Botswana and one fellow Canadian from Vancouver. Everyone was there for the same reason…to relax and recharge.
The Imiola Institute and Retreat Centre in Savegre de Aguirre, Costa Rica, was hosted by the beautiful Jennifer Grace and her team. We were picked up at the San Jose domestic terminal area of the airport and taken by a small Cessna aircraft to the Quepos airstrip, a 20-minute flight and a great view of where I’d just been the previous week by road. We were then separated into groups of 4 to be driven in SUVs up the highway and then a very windy and narrow road to the retreat centre. Once at the centre, we were put together in groups and given headlamps to wear in order to see our way in the dark to where we would be calling home for the next 5 days. My place was Jungalow #5, and I was put with a lady from California who had won the trip to this retreat and had never done anything like it before. No coach training, no self discovery, nothing. I tried to just be in a place of acceptance and not let her bother me with chatter and leaving her things crowded around the bathroom sink. I also checked in with myself to try to understand why she bothered me, and just figured I was likely missing Carolina from the previous week and not too interested in being very social. The room was so beautiful and the atmosphere like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. The shower and tub area were open to the outside, like showering naked in the great outdoors, and the bungalow and bedroom mostly a screened-in room. We could hear the night creatures and bugs making noise, and were asked that we contact the guys on WhatsApp to have them come and remove anything that might get inside. No killing bugs, or anything else for that matter. When there was something, it was taken care of quickly and kindly.
After we settled in to our space, we joined the group for a delicious supper, and following the supper we headed to the beautiful meditation/yoga space for the most amazing Opening Ceremony. It was conducted by three beautiful women wearing white, one of those women was Jennifer Grace. We entered the space one by one, taking our shoes off at the entrance and then were fully sage smudged before finding our place in the circle of all who were involved in the retreat. Once everyone was under the same roof we shared a cup of Cacao as a ceremonial drink and then sat in a guided meditation of meeting our spirit animal in a cave. I met a spotted Jaguar and it just sat with me so very calmly. This was like nothing I have ever done before and there were no drugs in that Cacao (FYI)…following that we went around the circle twice meeting everyone and repeating: May the great spirit grant you peace. Peace with everything you find. Peace with everything you leave behind….It was a kind of beautiful dance that introduced us all as we went around the circle repeating it to each beautiful soul there as we looked one another in the eye. I slept like a baby after that ceremony.
The next morning, we had the most fabulous breakfast and then went for a walk down to the waterfall. Again, I am happy to know I’m fit enough to do these hikes down and then up steep hills. We smeared sacred blue mud on our bodies and one by one went into the water, close to the falls, and stood in front of Jennifer. Stating our intention for 2023 while holding Jen’s hands and then yelling “I Trust Myself” and falling backward into the frigid water under the falls. I washed the mud off and watched as others followed with the same action, different intentions of course. When everyone was done and had the mud washed off, we headed back up, got cleaned up and had a delicious lunch. What a great experience, and again, nothing like I have ever done before. Following lunch, those who were interested, headed back to the meditation centre for lessons on how to run a retreat. Stay Tuned!!! While some went shopping in the village afterwards, I chose to explore and find the pool. Once again, my breath was taken away. This place they call Imiola continues to amaze me. The view from the pool was the rain forest countryside, and beyond was the ocean. It was a perfect spot to sit and watch the sun set and occasionally see a monkey or toucan in a tree.
The second full day started with a standing meditation (I sat a few minutes in). Following the meditation we were joined by the beautiful Ezgi, who led us all in a lesson in Belly Dance….so much fun!! There was also a little history on the art of the dance. Ezgi is a goddess and teaches online if anyone is interested in learning more. Contact me for her information if you’re curious…It’s also a great workout. following that was lunch of yet another fantastic lunch of plant based, super healthy food. Mid-day, we returned to the meditation centre and did some deep breath work. It was, once again, something I had never done before. It involved laying comfortably on our backs on mats with our heads all facing the centre of the room. We were instructed to breathe deep into our bellies for 3 counts and out for 2. We did that for several minutes and the leaders came around and gave us each a head, neck and jaw massage as well as instruction on our breathing technique. We were encouraged to have what would be similar to a child’s temper tantrum, if it felt right or necessary. We were blindfolded and couldn’t see what anyone else was doing and there was so much freedom in that. I was a very personal experience. Afterwards, the remainder of the day was left for free time so we could all relax and process our experience with this deep kind of spiritual work.
There was a night at the Imiloa Institute where the whole group went to town for supper. Because I was the only one who stayed back at the resort, I still got a fabulous meal and treated as though everyone was there. I opted out of the night in town at a restaurant because I had already been to plenty of great restaurants the week before with the G Adventure group. I took this night as a great opportunity to have a quiet dinner and then go to my room and have a warm bath in the fabulous soaker tub that was almost like being outdoors in the jungle. I lit candles, listened to the night sounds and just relaxed…it was lovely. I was in bed and nearly asleep when my roomy came back, so I just stayed quiet and didn’t bother to engage in conversation. Another great sleep!!
In closing this addition of my great travel adventures, I would just like to say, if the opportunity ever arises to partake on a yoga and meditation retreat, GO!! You’ll learn things about yourself, and that’s never a bad thing.
I’m excited to plan my next great escape!!
Thanks for this article Lisa. I almost felt like I was there with you.