Join Annie and Cindy in the lush paradise of Playa Uvita, Costa Rica for an immersive and transformative experience at Simplify to Amplify Retreat. Nestled amidst the vibrant rainforest and serene private beach, this retreat is designed to disconnect us from our daily lives in order to deepen our yoga practice, find stillness within ourselves, and amplify towards our best selves.
Over the course of the retreat, we will embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner-growth both on and off our yoga mats, guided by experienced instructors who will help participants cultivate mindfulness, balance, and harmony. Cindy and Annie will bring personalized instruction to amplify your yoga practice. We will invite students to put down their devices and minimize distractions as much as possible to allow the mind to still and become more present. Attendees will have the opportunity to join a morning and an evening yoga practice and several guided meditation sessions.
Each day we will offer journal prompts to help promote introspection around how you might simplify to amplify in your daily life and integrate your retreat experience. All practices will be accessible to meet students where they are in their yoga journey. There will be plenty of down time to enjoy time on the beach or in the pool, take naps, immerse in nature, or journal in a hammock. Included in the retreat are fresh, local meals, a full day group excursion and also a karma service project to give back to the local community in a fun way. You’ll also have the opportunity to add on other self-care services like spa treatments, private Reiki sessions, and more!
- 6 nights accommodations (first night at San Jose hotel)
- 3 meals per day (excluding alcoholic beverages) starting with dinner on the first night and ending with breakfast on the last day
- Group Ground Transportation to/from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) Airport to Retreat Center
- Karma Service Project
- Guided on-site Eco Tour
- Horseback Riding Excursion to Local Waterfall
- Daily beach passes to on-site beach
- Daily yoga practices
- Personal retreat time (having time to nap, explore, walk, read, and just be)
Accommodations
Beautiful, eco-friendly accommodations situated amidst acres of lush gardens, hiking trails, and a secluded jungle trail leading to Playa Uvita, a beautiful National Park beach. The atmosphere of the retreat center is simple, healthy, and relaxed. Rooms are single or double occupancy. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are prepared daily and include healthy vegetarian options along with fish and/or chicken. The food is organic when available and prepared with nourishing ingredients.
Gorgeous bungalow-style accommodations all with huge ocean views, where you can see Ballena National Marine Park, the rainforest, and much more. All of the rooms are made from reforested wood from our trees planted on the same land 20 years ago. The architecture includes local craftsmanship using wood, stone, shell, and sand. Each room at this center is unique and the size of the rooms vary.
*The group will be staying at an airport hotel on the first night of the retreat.
A day at Playa Uvita:
Find yourself surrounded by primary and secondary forests, just steps from the river and the beach, where nature is full of surprises. Take a hike and enjoy it. Time is yours to find monkeys, birds, the cutter ants, the elusive sloth or jaguandi…to enjoy the scents and shapes of tropical flowers, take a dip in the river or pool, sit on a rock and relax looking for the lizards and dragonflies playing on the surface or the fish circling in the deep. Continue your walk admiring the reforestation, enter the primary forest… open your ears to the beautiful sounds of nature where the wild and calmness balance perfectly. Be surprised by the monkeys in the canopy, a monarch butterfly fluttering between the leaves, a manakin and its majestic dance … Nature will recharge you to the maximum. Keep your eyes open to be able to observe the fauna and flora that surrounds you.
Annie Geile
Annie is the owner of South River Yoga in St. Louis, MO. She discovered yoga in her thirties while battling a debilitating illness. She learned the power of breath and gentle movement for healing. Yoga helped her heal not only her body, but her mind. Her journey led her to teaching yoga and eventually building a strong yoga community to share her love for yoga as a tool to help us through life. Teaching group classes, leading interesting workshops, and planning amazing retreats have become her passion. Annie always sees her role in these adventures as holding space to help people grow in their yoga practice on and off the mat. Annie’s teaching is thoughtful, playful, and creative.
Annie believes in meaningful, intentional mind, body, and spirit connection through disciplined practice on and off the mat.
Cindy Kostecki
Cindy Kostecki is an artist and yoga teacher with more than 15 years of experience as a healer and guide to the practice of meditation, pranayama and yoga. She’s based in Dallas,Texas and is from the St. Louis area with roots all across the midwest, even founding a studio in rural Ohio and helping to build a heartfelt yoga community that is now thriving. She has traveled extensively offering and attending yoga retreats, co-leading teacher trainings, hosting events and teaching workshops with a magical heart and a playful spirit. As a Reiki Master, Cindy has also been providing healing Reiki sessions and energy work, and leading training programs for practitioners, for over 8 years. A lifetime practitioner of Yoga and meditation, she has a deep understanding of the path of the yogi and seeks to honor and explore beyond the physical practices, weaving yoga philosophy, breathwork, and mythology into her teachings.
In the yoga studio, Cindy’s students will tell you that she’s “pure magic” with “a positive energy that carries through” into her classes and Reiki sessions. Her classes are “uplifting, deeply restoring and healing” with a “laid-back style.” Cindy stays grounded through mindfulness practices, by nourishing her connection with her daughter, partner, friends and family, and staying active creatively. She’s a joyful and curious explorer, adventurer, and artist who finds inspiration in traveling, music, sacred rituals, and simple pleasures.
While on your retreat you will also have the opportunity to take part in adventure activities and wonderful excursions. Some of the possible options include:
- Zip-lining
- Horseback Riding
- Surfing
- Waterfall Tour
- Kayaking
- Fishing Trip
- Swimming
- River Wildlife Tour
*Price of some activities are not included in tuition and are subject to change
Please be sure to review Our Policies.
For technical questions or alternative payment options, please contact us.
Getting There
True Nature specializes in curating and offering the best retreat experiences. For your flights, we recommend that you use Google Flights or a trusted travel agency.
You will be booking your flights for the San Jose International Airport (SJO). Before booking tickets, please be sure you have received your official confirmation note that the retreat has met its minimums. The group will stay overnight at an airport hotel and depart the following morning to the retreat center. There will be one group shuttle each way based on our flight window guidelines. Be sure your flights align with the provided flight windows if you wish to use the group shuttle. The drive time to the center is approximately 4-4.5 hours.
Travel Insurance
We cannot emphasize more the importance of travel insurance. As we all know, especially as travelers, “life happens.” Whether it’s family, work, mother nature, or a change of heart, it is important to be prepared in case you need to unexpectedly change your travel plans. Often for less than $150, you can purchase a travel insurance policy and be protected in the event that you need to make a change or need to be covered financially prior to or during your trip.
We have partnered with Trawick International (available for U.S. Residents only). Read more about their policies here. We encourage you to research the insurance company and policy that best meets your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you have questions about traveling abroad? After you register, we will provide you with a Participant’s Package with helpful information. Also, be sure to check out our Participant FAQs. If you have other questions, feel free to write to us at info@truenaturetravels.com and let us know how we can help!
Shared Accommodations – $3495 USD
Deluxe Shared Accommodations – $3695 USD
Single Accommodations – $4195 USD
Deluxe Single Accommodations – $4395 USD
A non-refundable $35 Payment Processing Fee will be added to the tuition rate upon registration.
If you select Deposit Payment, depending on when you registered, your remaining balance will be split into 1-3 payments and processed with your credit card on file on the dates indicated on your Confirmation Letter.
Follow this link to review our payment schedule policies.
For technical questions or alternative payment options, please contact us.
Cancellation
- Initial deposits and the $35 registration fee are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- 50% of payments are refundable up to 90 days before a retreat excluding the initial deposit and the $35 registration fee.
- 89 days prior to a retreat, tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Full tuition is refunded* if the trip is canceled due to low enrollment. The $35 registration fee is not refundable.
- True Nature Travels is not responsible for any loss incurred due to currency conversion rates.
*Refundable amounts do not include applied credits.
If you wish to cancel your spot on a trip you must submit your cancellation by email to info@truenaturetravels.com.
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