January Events

Day 4, Riding the Waves of Life

Are you in the space you want to be in life? Do you make decisions for yourself based on who you are today and how you are feeling today or do you move through life with little awareness just going through the motions?

If you would have asked me these questions a few years back I would have given you a blank stare. Today, I am married to my best friend who encourages my wings to expand, I choose to love him endlessly because of WHO he is to me. I share my passion each day both on and off the mat with others. I keep a tidy house. I give love to both old friends and new ones. I have lunch with my mom. I drive in the car with my music too loud and sing when I really have no business. Lastly, I make crazy dreams come true by facing every fear that arises. 

It is good to be aware of our past stories, the ones that carried us to where we are but it's best to keep our eyes and heart in the present, sending our energy forward rather then backwards. Without great awareness, we won’t notice the shifts happening within us so change cannot be permanent. 

If I had my eyes in the past, I would be living the life I was living previous to this one. A life lacking awareness and based on fears from my past stories. I would have never ventured to a third world country alone and I sure as hell would NOT have attempted surfing! The whole experience of surfing is so much like yoga. Shiva really helped shift my fears of surfing before I ever hit the water. In life we tend to have the need to control. We need to know the outcome of our efforts and we expect people to act and live in a certain way. The water and the waves have no agenda. The oceans energy flows until the wave ends and then sweeps back out to do it all over again. To fight the waves of the ocean serves no purpose. The surfer will never succeed by practicing resistance or the need to control. This is true for yoga, the more ego you bring to your mat, the more your body and mind will resist. 

Walking out against the current with a board twice my size propped up on my shaved head, I felt so incredibly free and strong. I make it half way to where the “real” surfers are chillen on their boards waiting patiently for the right wave to come. This process cannot be forced. You must simply wait for the right time. Isn’t this true off our boards as well? 

Laying flat on my belly, hands under my shoulders, I then bring my right knee in, toes tucked under, the wave approached and thrusted the board forward and I can feel the oceans energy roaring. My heart was fluttering then as it is now sharing with you. I take a slow, deep inhale of the saltwater air and brought my back foot forward with ease and I AM NOW STANDING on the board crouched down with my arms extended. First time, first wave, and I am up! I think I even said, WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I then told every new yogi friend that I had made, “I did it, I did it!” Out of about 10 tries, I stood up every time except once! :) I can hardly wait to try again, maybe one day I will even own my own boards!

I think I am currently on a “breaking any and all fears” path. I am tackling the fears that are rooted from my past and also tackling any new fears that may arise in the present moment. I have a strong desire to see what I am made of and to rip every second of happiness I can out of the current space I am in. I want to give of myself to those that desire my love and appreciate my intentions in this life. Place yourself around people who encourage this freedom of growth and learn from those that are trying to hold you back or show jealousy. Treat these people with the most love possible, even if it has to be from a distance. You will learn more by loving those you struggle with than you will learn from those that are easy to love. 

I finish the day with the brightest smile ever. I choose quiet time to reflect, rather than participating in the evening session. I lay on my balcony looking up at the endless sky and stars. Trying my best to understand I am truly where I appear to be, in my Heaven. My chest seems as if it will burst open and butterflies and hearts will explode out, maybe even a unicorn or two :) (don’t laugh at me!!) 

I will be up with the sun to enjoy my last 8 hours at Blue Spirit Retreat, Until then, Namaste Tica style!

Day 3, A Yogis Costa Rican Xmas

It was around 6:30 AM Christmas morning. The warm Costa Rican sun had just peeked up from behind the mountains. The howler monkeys and their families were moving through the area just like every other morning. The dining hall floor was lined with yogis sitting on comfy pillows, each with their hot tea or local coffee, journaling about the day before. I have noticed that the yogi clan loves to document and share, for me it enriches my experiences immensely. I am a story teller. I have come into a place where I have a clear vision of the Truth in front of me but also open to any and ALL wisdom offered to expand my vision. The warm, sleepy eyes and truly genuine smiles from that morning will forever be with me. Actually as I write this, my heart flutters and is instantly warm. It is so beautiful how quickly bonds are made when we all have our guards down and are ready to receive love from whoever wants to give it! 

We slowly head up, one by one, to the most beautiful space I have ever stepped into in my life this far. The yoga studio floors are a rich local wood, they offer a silky sensation to the feet. The studio has floor to ceiling windows, capturing the jungle to the right and ocean as far as the eye can see to the left. Shiva had placed her alter in the center of the room which held some of items that inspired her. The ceiling is perched with bamboo and soft lighting. We are all scattered throughout on our meditation pillows ready to watch the waves roll in with a clear, steady mind with the sounds of the jungle as our music. This is where the non-doing comes in. It is so true that the more you do, push, or force the less you achieve. The less you do, the more you feel, see, and achieve. Letting go of control of the outcome and simply riding the waves of life with a smile on our face and love in our hearts. (Hard to imagine if you have never practiced this, I have been there!) It is not possible to be in harmony with others if we are not in harmony or peace within our own minds. Sitting in stillness, watching our own mind reacts without judgment is a great place to start down the path of harmony and inner peace. 

Mid morning holds another amazing practice with Shiva Rea, she is becoming more human in my eyes as the hours together go by. It is so nice to hear she has all the same life challenges we all do. It goes back to her choice of perception in these matters that keep her moving forward, floating through life with the sole purpose of sharing love and helping teach others to find their own Dharma. A good teacher doesn’t tell you how to find it, yet offers you a path, a flash light and then gives you the love you need to move out of your own darkness. 

I spent the afternoon is the sun, watching the waves roll in alone on the beach. So much better then being full of regret from the food I stuffed my face with, laying on the sofa rubbing my Buddha belly! 

Finally, the long awaited bonfire on the beach! A beautiful piece of driftwoods acts as our microphone. Each unique person gets up in front of the fire sharing their stories of gratitude for life and what brought them to that place in time. WOW is all I gotta say.. Such a great reminder of how we are all living our own karma and we ALL have such beautiful stories. Each of us is in one stage or another. Some of us our going through a major transition, others are fresh out of a transitional phase, trying to settle into their own space and then you have those that their heart fires are burning strong and we are just tending to the fire. Whichever stage you are in is not right or wrong, it just is. So give yourself all the love you can and give others the space to do the same. We can’t choose what is right or wrong for others.

I take one more gaze up at the stars, the brightest I have ever seen, and head off to bed, preparing for another day in Heaven. I look forward to be awakened by the howler monkeys and sunrise around 5am. (not everyone seemed as excited about that as me!)

What stage of life are you in? Are you able to look at this stage without judgement, but rather with love and compassion? Try practicing non-doing for just five minutes today. Sit in your favorite space or in your car on your lunch break. Watch your mind chatter without attachment or judgment. LOVE!

Be Your Own Best Friend!

Pour your heart out, sing, dance like EVERYONE'S watching, smile because you can, get down on your knees and thank someone that brought you pain and then thank yourself for having the power the rid it form your life, BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND, jump, look a stranger in the eye and make him a FRIEND, listen more then you talk, TRUST YOUR GUT, observe the grace of a bird floating in the breeze, SHARE, SHARE, SHARE, embrace impermanence, understand the POWER of your thoughts, and LOVE as if your heart could never brake! Om Shanti!

Day 2, The Yin in Me

Yin Yoga targets the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, bones, and even the joints of the body that are normally not exercised in depth in a more active style of yoga. Yin Yoga generally targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine. Simply said, it's holding the poses we already know and resting in them for 3 to 15 minutes! I have been leaning towards this style in my own practice and it's nice to have it formally introduced to me here in CR.

Its a great reminder of how important balance is on and off our mats. I practice and teach a more Yang style yoga, so Yin Yoga is a great balance, teaching us how to slow down and nurture our bodies. Yin Yoga brings out the non-doer in us.

After a beautiful 90 minute Yin class surrounded by the jungle my bones begun to melt into the floor as blissful tears streamed down my face. The teachers soft voice led us through savasana with the monkeys and birds as her music. I then very slowly rolled to my right side and opened my eyes to see 10 shades of green, the red and pink flowers where painted in like a picture. The howlers monkeys sounded out one more time, almost acting as our "chimes" to come to seated :) Namaste Tica style!



Flying solo for Christmas hasn't brought any sadness at all, rather strength and self love. It's been nice flying against the flock this year. The self love I'm able to create here will carry out way more then any gifts I couldn't of purchased and my belly is not missing the food AT ALL! Sitting in a circle with 30 other yogis instead of a table with my mom and dad.. The unknown, but awesome!



After Christmas what intentions will you be setting for the New Year? What actions and communications are no longer working for you? The energy we create inside ourselves effects everyone around us, on and off the mat. Are you willing and ready to take responsibility for what you bring into each situation, into your life?

Just ask the questions. Don't search for the answers. The answers will show up when you least expect it, when you need it most. LOVE

Om