Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A Week of Yoga, Adventure and Freedom!



Your new family at Blue Osa will be welcoming you on Saturday, December 7th

Saturday arrival can be preferably after 2:00 pm, please be aware that your room may not be ready if prior to this time . However, the beach, pool or Blue Osa grounds are ready to be explored anytime. 

We'll gather for a welcoming session and light afternoon practice at 5:00 pm, just to release any tightness from your travels that day. 

You'll have some time to freshen up and connect with each other before we meet for dinner at 6:30 pm.  

A Typical Day from Sunday December 8th to Friday, December 13th

Silent Practice: Blue Osa observes a morning practice of silence from sunrise until the beginning of morning practice. This is an excellent time to listen to nature and greet each other with just a smile. 

5:15 - 6:00 am - Coffee and Tea and optional Sunrise meditation walk 
6:00 - 7:30 am - Light Breakfast including cereal, fruits and coffee or tea. 
7:30 - 10:30am - Morning Yoga Session with meditation and alignment based practice. 
10:30am - Brunch: A delicious selection of locally grown products all cooked fresh. 

Free time: Optional Activities or Tours 

2:00 pm - Light snack
4:00 - 6:00pm - Afternoon Yoga Session: Time for guided play with your practice. 
6:00 - 6:30 pm - Happy ½ hour (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for purchase)
6:30 pm - Dinner: A succulent array and complete selection to replenish your body energy. 

Your evenings at Blue Osa following dinner can be as free as you would like them to be. The beach is a great place to sit and enjoy the moon over the Golfo Dulce and the dinning area becomes a place for socializing and catching up with the day's happenings. You can also decide to retire to your room early and restore your body for the following day. 

Looking forward to seeing you in Costa Rica!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Yoga and adventure meet in paradise!



The first time I took a yoga vacation I realized that the combination of yoga and adventure can take the experience to the next level. The beauty of Blue Osa Yoga Sanctuary and Spa is that, not only IT IS the perfect setting for a Yoga Retreat, but also that it is surrounded by the most beautiful flora and fauna you can find. Your connection with nature at Blue Osa and it's surrounding will not be disturbed by masses of beach goers or heavy traffic. You will have the opportunity to enjoy Nature at its purest with the comfort that an eco-conscious resort can provide.


A typical day at Blue Osa will start with an early sunrise that can be enjoyed with a silent walk on the beach and you may be lucky to have the company of Blue Osa's canine family. Feel free to take some coffee or tea with you and enjoy it as you watch the sun come from behind the mountains reflecting on the vast Golfo Dulce. A light breakfast will be available in case you want to fuel your body with fresh cut fruit, homemade granola or yogurt before yoga practice.


Morning practice will take place at 7:30 am starting with the group gathering at the Yoga Deck, a structure designed to allow you to enjoy the green lawn disappearing into the sand and leading you  into an ocean of crashing waves. Very often you will have the opportunity to see as the macaws, usually in pairs, fly in front of your eyes. A centered and grounded practice based on alignment, flow, breath and meditation will give you the tools to build your own path during the week. There is nothing better than a group of like minded men working together towards a common goal, the improvement of the self.


Replenishing all the energy invested in your morning practice will not be a problem. Chef Marie and Chef Jose will make sure your tastebuds take a culinary tour through Costa Rica and the world with a succulent brunch. All meals are cooked fresh with the best local ingredients. Make sure to savor every bit of your meal, the menu is so varied that you may not get a chance to experience the same dish again.


There will be plenty of time to enjoy Blue Osa and its surrounding right after brunch. Feel free to walk around and spend your afternoon laying on the beach, going for a swim in the crystalline lap pool or simply resting in a hammock to the sound of crashing waves at your footsteps. There is also the option of enjoying some of the wonderful body treatments that Blue Osa's Spa offers. Surrender to a peaceful massage or body scrub with Marcela or Jose using the most natural products that the Osa Peninsula can provide.


Create your own adventure, or simply pick from the great variety that Blue Osa has to offer. Whether you are zip-lining in a Nature Reserve, kayaking through the mangroves of the Osa Penisula, touring a cocoa plantation during the Chocolate Tour or hiking up and around waterfalls during the Waterfall Rappel, you will always be surrounded by natural beauty and tranquility.


The afternoon practice, around 4 pm, may take place in the yoga deck, the pool pavilion or the beach. This would be the time when you let nature decide the location and let yourself be adventurous with your practice. A Restorative or Partner Yoga sequence is always possible. Sharing your own knowledge with others and helping them go deeper into their poses is quite rewarding.


The body will be about ready to enjoy once more Chef Marie's kitchen delicacies. Family style dining is arranged by the kitchen staff and there are always surprises when you arrive to the table. The candlelight setting or the reflection of the moon over the ocean will only accentuate the beauty of what is being served. There is always the choice of a delicious tropical mixed drink with your meal, just request it before coming to the table.


The night arrives fairly quick at Blue Osa. A full day of yoga and adventure can easily prepare the body for a restful evening. Surrender to your sleep with the sounds of the ocean and jungle and when you wake up in the morning you will realize it was not a dream. Your journey will begin as soon as your eyes make contact with light.

Connect body and mind, find freedom in your practice and allow yourself to let go. 
Namaste


Thursday, March 28, 2013

A bit more about me and yoga...


Alain Benitez RYT200

I was motivated to start practicing yoga after a friend introduced me to a headstand, but it wasn’t until I joined my first yoga class that I understood those poses were just the beginning of a deeper practice that not only involved using the body but also the full engagement of the mind. Then I was introduced to different styles and found a learning experience in each one of them. 
With a predilection for a heated environment I joined a Baptiste inspired practice at Power Yoga Works in Philadelphia that led to a completion of a Power Vinyasa certification that same year. The opportunity to share my teachings came from Anjali Power Yoga in Philadelphia, a space I’ve called home for the past 2 years. 
Yoga for Men has been a big part of my journey, the practice is like no other. Being able to share classes with very influential instructors such as Ray Whetstone, Aaron Star and David Flewelling has broadened my understanding of the benefits of yoga for men. Working with them has given me the tools to lead men through a safe, yet challenging practice. 
I'm really looking forward to leading this retreat and practicing with a like-minded group of men in Costa Rica. Blue Osa is the perfect environment for growth in your yoga journey and also for allowing yourself to let go.