True Nature Travels Blog

Being Something More – True Nature Education 2015 Yoga & Wellness Retreat Schedule Announced!

Being Something More
Have you ever been tugged with the question – “How can I be something more?”  Has your heart ever whispered in the early hours of the morning, reminding you of dreams yet to be realized, and then somehow, in just a whisper of that whisper, shared how to make it happen?  The True Nature Education (TNE) community is honored, humbled and extremely grateful for the amazing group of teachers and leaders who make up our first round of 2015 Teaching Faculty. Individually, they answered their inner call to be something more, and are now taking it to Costa Rica to share with hundreds of inspired students from all over the world.  Could you be one of them?

communityyoga_eventphotoBeing Something More

What does this mean to you? Here at TNE – we strive to ask ourselves that questions daily.  How can we “be more” in all we do? “Being Something More” is our theme as we kick off our 2015 Retreat Season and wrap up the last half of 2014.  Over the course of the next few months we will introduce our teaching faculty with exciting blogs about their courses, personal one-on-one interviews  and guest blogs  to share with our community.

You can stay up to date right here as our 2015 Retreat Calendar adds new retreats weekly.  Below is our first round of programs.  From the beaches, to the mountains to the jungles of Costa Rica; along with program offerings in yoga, meditation, nutrition and more –  we have something for you.
If you are a teacher looking to answer the call to ‘be something more’, please contact us as we have several spaces still open in our calendar and would love to help you answer the tug at your heart.

Wrapping up 2014

June 7-14, 2014
Jungle Love! A Costa Rica Yoga Experience
with Missy Balsam
Luna Nueva Ecolodge

June 14-21, 2014
Costa Rica Service and Adventure Program
Manuel Antonio and Luna Nueva EcoLodge

July 26-August 2, 2014
Costa Rica Service and Adventure Program
Manuel Antonio and Luna Nueva EcoLodge

July 21-28, 2014
Shakti Power Yoga Costa Rica Retreat
with Lauren Farina and Kelly Farina Carter
Hotel Tropico Latino

December 13-20, 2014
Costa Rica Service and Adventure Program
Manuel Antonio and Luna Nueva EcoLodge

2015

January 10-17, 2015
Explorations of Self: A Costa Rica Yoga Experience
with Alana Roach
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

January 10-17, 2015
Finding Your Foundation
with Helen Lee and Rachel Bunting
La Fortuna, Costa Rica

January 31-February 7, 2015
4th Annual Mind|Body|Fitness|Yoga Costa Rica Retreat
with Andrea Dyer
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

January 31-February 7, 2015
Surrender to the Flow: A Costa Rica Getaway
with Carrie Williamson & Crystal Gray
Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica

Feb. 7-14, 2015
Relax and Renew in Costa Rica
with Laura Vanderberg
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

February 7-14, 2015
Fermentation for your Mind, Body, and Spirit Retreat
with Trish Carty and Cathy Eason
La Fortuna, Costa Rica

February 13-20, 2015
The “Day Yoga” Studio Costa Rica Experience
with Devon Schmidt
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

February 21-28, 2015
Serving from a Cup Overflowing
with Karina Mirsky and Friends
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

March 2-7, 2015
3rd Annual Rhythms of Joy Retreat
with Tiina Kivinen (A Special Post Envision Retreat)
Play Uvita, Costa Rica

March 7-14
2nd Annual Space, Sound, Silence Yoga Retreat
with Jessica Caplan
March 7-14, 2015
Playa Uvita, Costa Rica

March 7-14, 2015
Nourishing Your Heart of Courage
A Mindfulness Yoga Retreat
with Joni of Healthy Body Peaceful Soul
Carribean Coast, Costa Rica

March 14-21, 2015
Open to the Possibilities:  A Costa Rica Yoga Adventure
with Tim Washburn
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

 

Keep checking back in with us as we will continue to add retreats to our program calendar. 

 

 

True Nature Travels Blog

Five Ways to Create a Mindful Morning

communityyoga_eventphoto“Good morning is not just a word, its an action and a belief to live the entire day well. Morning is the time when you set the tone for the rest of the day. Set it right!”

Fain Blake

 

 

Every morning when we rise, each and every one of us are given a precious and priceless gift.  We have the opportunity to start fresh.  Whether you consider yourself to be a morning person or not, creating a simple routine in the morning when you wake up can set you on the right track to move through your day with a little bit more ease and grace.  And, who would not want a little less effort in their lives these days?

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.”  

Meister Eckhart

1. Linger a little longer

Let the first thing you do when you open your eyes be just that.  Open your eyes.  Give yourself and opportunity to drink in this precious moment of awakening.  Many of us literally dread that moment each day when you have to wake up.  Let’s be honest.  If you actually dread opening your eyes in the morning – is that really setting yourself up for a good beginning to the rest of the day? This may take some practice, but if you allow yourself 3-5 minutes to wake up slowly and gently, stretching your body, feeling the rest that you received the night before preparing you for the day ahead and actually visualizing yourself having a great day – then you are giving yourself the best possible start to having a great day!

cr2010-2006-12. Wait a while before turning on your computers

For at least 30-45 minutes after you wake up, try not to have any devices working on you.  No television. No computer. No phone.  Your email will be there.  Facebook will be there.  The to-do lists and the calendars will be there.

3. Have a glass of warm water with lemon.

Studies show  that drinking a glass of warm lemon water supports immune function, battles bad breath, can jumpstart weight loss and much, much more. It also just makes you feel good.  And that’s a good thing.

4. Find a few moments for stillness

It’s no surprise any more that meditation is good for the body, mind and spirit.  Taking five to 15 minutes a day to still your mind and focus on your breath, a mantra, a flower or just simply taking a quiet walk in nature aids in lowering stress levels, more restful sleep and cultivating more mindfulness throughout your day.

5. Don’t forget to say “thank you”

Starting your day with a thankful heart is such a simple but impactful practice.  You can end your meditation by taking a few moments to sit with gratitude for all of the things in your life you wish to give thanks for.

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“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”

Marcus Aurelius

 

 

 

True Nature Travels Blog

A Day in the Life at a True Nature Retreat

Have you every wondered just what a day on a yoga retreat looks like?  What exactly will you be doing from the moment you open your eyes until you hit the pillow to go to sleep?  Welcome to your “virtual” day in the life at a True Nature Retreat. Take a deep breath and enjoy…

cr2010-20065:30am – Good Morning!! Be prepared to rise with the sun in Costa Rica.  And if the sun doesn’t lure you out of bed, then the sounds of the jungle or the neighbors roosters just might!

5:45am – Morning meditation or time to journal and reflect.  The symphony of the world waking up around you combined with the stillness of this auspicious time of day is a perfect combination and reason to pack your meditation cushion.

6:15am – Tea time!  Many of the retreat centers in our portfolio of offerings will have tea, coffee and juice out for attendees by 6am.  It’s a nice opportunity to connect your community or maybe continue your meditation and enjoy your morning cuppa in silence.

sound of silence7:00-9:00am – Morning session with your retreat leader.  You can feel every hair on your body standing up with pure joy as you tuck your yoga mat under your arm and walk to the yoga deck to do what you came here to do.  Practice yoga in the exquisite and breathtaking settings that Costa Rica has to offer.  We guarantee this is nothing less than a magical feeling!

9:30am – BREAKFAST!!  Enjoying the fresh, whole foods that our retreat centers offer will definitely be one of the highlights of your experience.  By the end of the week – after eating mostly raw, organic and at some locations – right off the farm where you are staying – you will feel energized, lighter and ready to clean out your fridge when you get home!

10:00am-12:30pm – Free time – Relax at the beach, by the pool, take a nap in a nearby hammock, chat with new friends or all of the above.   We encourage all of our retreat leaders to schedule plenty of free time for their students as this is when you are able to really process and begin integrating the transformation that is taking place!

lunas-dahl1:00pm – LUNCH – Fresh squeezed fruit juices, brightly colored greens and lots of opportunities to try out Costa Rican typical dishes like rice and beans.

2:00-4:00pm – Excursions and Service Projects!  Perhaps you have always dreamed of horseback riding along the beach or zip lining through the rain forest.  Our service initiatives partner our retreats with sustainable community projects in rural villages throughout Costa Rica.

4:00-6:00pm – Relaxing evening yoga, meditation session with your retreat leader to wind down and process the days activities.

Village-Rep-Lindsay-Padilla6:oopm – DINNER – Enjoy the community and bonding by sitting around a table and enjoying a meal together.

7:00-9:00pm – Free time or perhaps an evening sat sang, lecture or kirtan.

9:30pm – Lights out!

Are you interested in hearing about our schedule of events and retreat? Sign up for our newsletter to stay connected to the True Nature Community!

True Nature Travels Blog

Being True To This Moment

2476194865fc99f24a7d8661d779533bWe often get caught up in thinking that mindfulness, love and compassion will reveal themselves to us in a climatic and dramatic way.  We begin to “expect” something like this and with those expectations, we can miss the message that the present moment is sending us.  And that is, that this very moment is enough.

Our culture of “achieving” often can get wrapped up into thinking that even inner peace is something we need to work hard for.  In fact, it is when we empty our minds of all the “to-do” lists that our true nature – our inner light – begins to reveal itself to us.  This moment is not asking anything more from us than our complete and total presence to it.  Whether that is taking a deep breath, watching your children play, honoring Mother Nature by sitting down to take in a sunrise or sunset.  To let yourself become absorbed completely in the moment is when your awareness of living a mindful life begins to deepen.

390572166d02379f0068722cd31abd76So, what about the moments when you are sitting in traffic?  Or, when you are arguing with your partner? Or when you walk into the laundry room and the clothes are stacked up to the ceiling and you wish you could just close the door and make them disappear?  What about the moments when you feel overwhelmed with all there is to do and you wish you could manifest more hours in the day to get everything done?  Well, those moments are just as real and just as important as the ones when you find yourself immersed in the delight and laughter of your children.  We must be able to find presence in those uncomfortable moments as well.  But, it takes time.  It takes patience and most of all, it takes practice.

Join us for a #MindfulMonday series where we will share simple practices to support you in connecting more deeply with your True Nature and cultivating tools to live a more mindful life.  And, the first lesson is – it starts right now.

 

True Nature Travels Blog

Mindful Travel: The Journey of Awakening

998cbfc255a3e88b0a7c45dd05152825For many of us, international travel has become a homogenized, sterile experience and, for the host country, a consumptive, offensive one. We need a new model for travel — a model that allows for discovery and mutual interaction with others at a heartful level. This new model of travel could be called, “Mindful Travel.”

Mindful travel is about being alive in the moment — being wide-awake — being present to what life puts in our path. It does not involve elaborate itineraries, lists of tourist sites, high-rise hotels or pre-fabricated tours. When we become a mindful traveler, we invite events and experiences to appear at their own time and in their own way. We enjoy making plans but we are always open to new opportunities. We allow for surprises and new friends.

When we are mindful, we are aware of choices and opportunities as they present themselves. We open up to new experiences and to doing old things in new ways.

f1b85aa44f6487855266b083c6d08069This is the essence of mindful travel — observation and participation. Mindful travel is spontaneous. Because the journey is one of unfolding moment by moment, we remain fully present and come to see more clearly. This can lead to an acute observation of both ourselves and others. We see with new eyes and learn to appreciate both others and ourselves in a fresh way. We experience each new world as if for the first time.

Mindful travelers thrive on what is happening in the moment and choose actions within that context. Synchronicity occurs, and we encounter the right person and new experiences we might never have had. Mindful travel encourages us to question assumptions that can be obstacles to mindful travel. Some more common assumptions are.

5e0240289dd2421096d82163cbdf16baAre we alive to where we are, and not talking about some other place or somebody else?

How are we affecting the people around us and the environment?

How can we use travel to positively impact the world?

(adapted from www.peacefulworldtravel.org)

Are you ready to begin a new journey?  Book your next trip with True Nature Education – find out how right here.

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