Yoga and Meditation

Retreat-styled vacations are becoming increasingly more popular and vacationers want a healthier choice. We are surrounded by a failing healthcare system, a weak economy, and a suffering planet. Wellness retreats are created to increase quality of life, to reduce stress, and to enjoy life. Anamaya Resort and Retreat Center in Montezuma, Costa Rica has designed a number of retreat packages that follow this mandate. The all-inclusive vacation model that most travelers are exposed to may actually be doing more harmful than helpful.

It could be argued that the typical all-inclusive resort does not encourage healthy behaviors. Over eating and an increase in alcohol consumption is encouraged and customary. Vacationers are also not really getting a true impression of the Culture for the Country that they are guests of by staying at an all-inclusive. Most people go on vacation to relax but does this environment genuinely diminish stress?

Retreat type vacations are becoming increasingly popular and therefore a “Retreat Culture” is starting to develop. Travelers who want a new vacation experience have found a variety of health, wellness and adventure retreats at Anamaya Retreat Center. There are different retreats to suit all needs. They can be creative, romantic, rejuvenating and more. The individualized packages are extremely well priced which is another great aspect.

Spa and yoga retreats are very common but the list of ideas is certainly endless. You can find retreats for creative writing, body detoxification and cleansing, painting, spiritual healing, dancing, circus performing, and more. Most retreats have a theme associated to them to meet the needs of their guests. How do you want to spend a week away from the normalcy of life? At Anamaya Retreat Center you also have the added benefit of spending the week in paradise enjoying the beauty of both the ocean and the rainforest in charming cabinas.

Common with retreat vacations is a focus on serving healthy and organic food. The science behind food health is relatively new, but Anamaya Resort is dedicated to creating menus with a lot of thought and consideration. Relationships with local farmers are important as well as being able to cater to any dietary need. Another feature common within current retreats is time dedicated to learning about raw food and live food benefits.

Anamaya Resort and other retreat centers like it are also extremely convenient for retreat leaders. Most yoga instructors, for example, don’t own their own studios all over the world so facilities that can host their retreats are a welcomed resource. Daniella Cotreau of Body Temple Yoga says, “Leading a retreat at Anamaya is such a delight. The Yoga Deck is by far the best place I have ever taught yoga. I will never forget that glorious and expansive view of the ocean. The food is amazing. Oscar is a wonderful chef and the Staff are all such lovely and helpful people. Myself and my students received much more than expected. Look forward to doing it again!” The location for a vacation retreat needs to contribute to the feeling of having a vacation. There are a number of retreats that are held near my hometown but I don’t know if that would be as appealing to me. Indonesia, Costa Rica and India are prominent and exotic vacation destinations, and are popular locations with retreat leaders.

The next time you’re taking a week off of work, check out the web for some incredible deals on retreat packages and treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Find out for yourself why the Retreat Culture is so appealing - you won’t regret it!

Learn more about retreat packages. Check out Anamaya Retreat Center

Honor the coming of spring by indulging in a yoga retreat at the Anamaya Boutique Hotel in Montezuma, Costa Rica. Anamaya is committed to the health of the Mind, Body & Spirit and all of their initiatives reflect that. They serve organic food, offer a variety of spa services, and have numerous retreats that are all geared towards your health and wellness, as well as the health of the planet. Yoga is a key aspect towards a healthy way of living and Anamaya is offering a yoga retreat from April 10 - 17, 2010 that will celebrate the beauty of spring and shri.

The popular Hindi symbol “Shri” has many meanings including: allure, beauty, radiance, flourish, light and loveliness. We are all attracted to beautiful things which signifies that we are united on many levels to each other and to nature. Shri is the beauty in life in its many forms and spring is a perfect time to glorify that beauty. Anamaya’s Spring Yoga Retreat is a perfect way to end a long cold winter.

Daniella Cotreau CMT, RYT, BA will teach this yoga retreat and will lead the practice teaching Anusara Inspired yoga. This type of yoga practice was created by John Friend and is a type of hatha yoga. In Anusara yoga the opening of the heart is very important as is alignment. Cotreau works with her students by giving them hands-on adjustments, by using detailed descriptions, and by giving helpful verbal cues.

The Retreat will focus on reveling in the natural beauty that Costa Rica has to offer. “We will glorify our yoga practice with Shri. Just like the blossoming of spring - we get to blossom too,” says Cotreau. Participants will meet twice a day for Anusara Inspired yoga sessions that will be accompanied by live musicians overlooking the most incredible ocean views in the area. The yoga deck at Anamaya has an ocean view that must be seen to be believed. There is no photograph or video footage that can create the same experience as being there.

The cost of the retreat includes a variety of added perks that will enhance your trip. Included in the package is the use of Anamaya’s facilities, 3 organic meals a day, your accommodations and your yoga classes. In addition to that you also receive entrance into the Butterfly Gardens and the Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary, a Zip-Line adventure, and a 50% discount off a massage. The cost of the retreat varies based on occupancy and accommodations and ranges from $1495 - $2495. If you book your trip before March 10th you will receive a 20% discount.

In addition to your yoga practice, Montezuma and the surrounding area has a lot to offer. A number of exciting excursions are available like: horseback riding, scuba diving, boating, and surfing. Or if you’d like to take it easy then you can always relax on the beautiful beaches or do a bit of shopping. Anamaya resort is surrounded by rain forests which are fun to explore and is also close to some famous epic waterfalls. If you’re looking for a tropical escape then this is the perfect location.

Looking for more information on Anamaya’s Spring Yoga Retreat, then visit www.anamayaresort.com to find the best advice on accommodations and more.

A new type of travel is becoming more popular as a younger generation of world travelers has asked hotels and resorts to offer much more than in years past.

This new wave of tourists wants to get more out of a vacation than just sightseeing, and so the trend has been hotels and resorts offering yoga and wellness.

Wellness and Yoga Retreat Centers are becoming more and more popular throughout tropical destinations such as Costa Rica and Hawaii.

Costa Rica towns that focus on tourism, such as Montezuma or Santa Teresa in the southern Nicoya Peninsula, have multiple places to do yoga, and hotels and retreat centers compete over who is able to provide the most spectacular space.

YogaRetreat Centers such as Anamaya in Montezuma, Pranamar in Santa Teresa, or Bamboo YogaPlay in Dominical have beautiful wooden decks for doing Yoga, sometimes overlooking the ocean or jungle scenery. Such yoga shalas often look great in photos, which aid a hotel or yoga retreat center to attract guests, since so many pick a hotel mostly by the photos they see online.

Yoga teachers from around the world have traveled to Costa Rica for retreats, and have been taken by the enthusiasm for yoga here. Many are now working in hotels and resorts, or offering private yoga sessions on the beaches at luxury rental beach villas.

Because of this influx of skilled yoga teachers to Costa Rica, the tourist towns, such as Mal Pais have a variety of yoga options. While it’s not always true, the guys go surfing and the girls do yoga.

Yoga is often part of a larger type of vacation options known as Wellness Centers. These places offer their visitors a chance not only to relax, but to live for a week with a healthy diet, participate in internal cleansing, practice meditation, and learn about healthy lifestyles.

Participants in these wellness retreats return to their regular lives not only happier and healthier but with improved knowledge about their bodies and will continue to live more healthfully long after their trip has ended.

Many wellness centers focus specifically on cleansing, and usually start with fasting. Next is a restricted diet of tasty organic foods such as fruit and veggies, often raw.

Along with the dietary changes, there’s generally an array of treatments such as steam sauna, massage, colon irrigation, acupuncture, and others that are great for detoxing the body.

After a few days, most clients report quite a difference, but that can depend on how their body’s health is to begin with. Clients sometimes learn they have food allergies they never knew about, such as a milk or wheat allergy. Some guests report clearer eyes, more radiant skin, and better sleep.

If you are fantasizing about your next trip to Costa Rica, you can research some of the health centers instead of the standard hotel chain. Like so many other people who have visited them, you’ll most likely return happier and healthier.

Geoff McCabe is a recognized authority on green travel and Costa Rica. Click below for more information about his personal Yoga and Wellness Retreat Center in Montezuma.