True Nature was able to spend some time getting to know Yoga Teacher Amanda Cooley. Take a glimpse into her upcoming retreat in Costa Rica; Align and Refine…
TN: How does the idea of “Align and Refine” play into your upcoming Yoga Retreat, and what themes do you see coming up throughout the journey?
A: My belief is that in order to create a truly fulfilling life, the deepest desires of our inner world, the feelings that come from our heart, need to “align” with the actions we put out in our external world. We come to the mat to “refine” or get “unstuck”, to move energy and to get clear on how we want to feel, So we can come into alignment and balance in our day to day life.
TN: Who has been your greatest influence and why?
A: I dont have 1 great influence, I have many. Some of them have been brief ships passing by, teaching me hard lessons very quickly. Others have been consistent, surfing beside me on this life wave. I can say that all of these influencers have shown me how to break patterns, to dig deep so I can stand confidently in chaos. They’ve taught me to dream big and believe that I can create a life worth living.
TN: If there was a yoga pose or meditation practice that described you – what would it be and why?
A: The first pose that comes to mind is “wild thing” only because I embrace heart openers. I love the idea of always being “wild” – breaking out of your comfort zone, trying new things and going on adventures. Becoming “wild” is about testing your limits and understanding that you can be your own best friend, you can rely on yourself, your heart, for all the right answers for YOU.
TN: Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions? Will these be explored in your retreat?
A: I feel like I could’ve been an oceanographer in a past life. I love anything and everything about water. The creatures “down under”, the unexplored caves and ship wrecks … it intrigues me. I chose to host my retreat on The Ballena Marine Conservation area because of my passion for ocean preservation and I’d LOVE to snorkel or scuba dive while in Costa Rica.
TN: What is on your “Costa Rica bucket list” and what are you most excited about?
A: I wanna see the sea turtles. I swear, they’re my spirit animal. I even have a tattoo of these magnificent creatures.
TN: Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?
A: “Uniting consciousness in the heart.”
Learn more about her upcoming retreat:
Align and Refine
April 6 – April 13, 2019
Playa Uvita, Costa Rica
Details HERE
About Amanda Cooley:
Amanda is the proud owner of Ruby Yoga, located in North Bay, in Canada. She has been practicing yoga for over 14 years and teaching yoga for 10 of those years. Her yoga journey began when she was suffering from the ups and downs of anxiety and depression. Recognizing the immense benefits of her own yoga practice, Amanda wanted to help others achieve a better quality of life through this path.
Studying with teachers from the Iyengar tradition at The Yoga Studio College of Canada, Amanda completed her year-long certification in June 2008. Upon completing her certification, Amanda had dreams of traveling and furthering her education in Yoga. She relocated to Busan, Korea to teach English for 14 months which gave her the opportunity to then study and live at an ashram in India and trek the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal.
After almost 3 years of being away from home, Amanda returned to Canada to visit friends and family. She stayed to open Ruby Yoga in October 2012. Using her studio as a catalyst to expose the tools and teachings of yoga to others, her intention is to continue to help individuals heal through the path of yoga.
