In July 2018, Jennifer Lenhart and True Nature will be traveling to Costa Rica for a magical retreat full of yoga, adventure, and exploration. Read on as we talk to Jennifer about what inspired her “May All Beings Be Happy and Free” Costa Rica Yoga and Meditation Retreat. But it’s not all about the retreat… we also learned which yoga pose Jennifer most identifies with, what she is passionate about, and what’s on her Costa Rica bucket list!
Meet True Nature Leader Jennifer Lenhart
1. How does the idea of “lokah samastah sukinoh bhavantu”, or “may all beings be happy and free” play into this retreat? What themes do you see coming up throughout the journey?
We’ll explore this mantra in-depth, work on heart-opening asana practices, practice loving-kindness meditation, and immerse ourselves in the great biodiversity of Costa Rica. We’ll work on realizing the illusion of separateness and the ultimate-reality of unity.
2. Who has been your greatest influence and why?
I have been fortunate to have many great influences – I don’t think I can pick just one. There are two teachers I’ve never met in person but whose teachings have been tremendously influential, life-changing in fact: Ram Dass and Thich Nhat Hanh. My wise and influential teachers also include Sharon Gannon and David Life (founders of the Jivamukti method of yoga), Marni Task, Jules Febre, Krishna Das, and Noah Levine. All have helped to expand my awareness and understanding and have given me invaluable teachings on the path to liberation.
3. If there was a yoga pose or meditation practice that described you – what would it be and why?
Well, I don’t know if it describes me, but it is what I work on developing through practice: Loving-kindness meditation (known as Maitri in Sanskrit and as Metta in Pali). This is a practice that helps me to cultivate compassion for all beings everywhere, which is so much easier said than done! That’s why we practice.
4. Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions? Will these be explored in your retreat?
I am passionate about veganism, environmentalism, social justice – in other words, compassion for all beings. Yes, these will be explored during our retreat, since the theme is “May All Beings Be Happy and Free.”
5. What is on your “Costa Rica bucket list” and what are you most excited about?
Just going to Costa Rica is on my bucket list! So all the experiences there will be special, and I am excited about whatever comes. National Geographic has called Costa Rica “The most biologically intense place on earth,” and so I look forward to experiencing that great biodiversity.
