Upcoming Retreats: January 2020
With the new year right around the corner, retreat season is officially upon us, and our team at Selva Armonia is so excited for a year full of growth, fun, and fulfillment! We love sharing our space with people from all around the world, giving them a chance to reconnect back to nature and their inner selves. Every retreat offers something special and unique to its attendees, and we're so grateful to be able to facilitate those once-in-a-lifetime experiences in our jungle home. Keep reading to preview some of the amazing Costa Rica retreats we have in store for January 2020!
Wide Open Writing
January 19-25, 2020
Hosted by: Dulcie Whitman & Nancy Coleman
"Writing is a path to the creative genius in all of us. Whether you call yourself a writer or not, we know the transformational power of putting yourself in a nurturing environment with permission to notice what you notice and then write about it.
Come be part of a writing community that is devoted to co-creating magic in a place well-known for its magnificent scenery, gourmet vegetarian food, and deep connection to the natural world. Join us for 7 days/6 nights as we settle our body mind and spirit into the magical bounty of the Costa Rican Rainforest."
This is Life: Ultimate Yoga & Movement Retreat
January 29- February 4, 2020
Hosted by: Erin Ward-Williams & Victoria Hegedus
"Join yoga and movement educators, Erin Ward-Williams and Victoria Hegedus, on a one-week feel-your-best retreat in beautiful Uvita, Costa Rica. Think yoga, mindful movement, and fueling your body with nature's most nutritious foods.
Enjoy morning vinyasa yoga practices as well as offerings of functional movement that get you feeling your muscles and building true body awareness. This is your chance to experience yoga and Costa Rica's natural beauty all in one laid-back and inclusive setting... explore waterfalls, lounge by the pool, or head down to the beach for a peaceful retreat. Join us for a tropical adventure as we zip-line through the treetops and dance with the waves of the Pacific!"
Want to learn even more? Check out our full retreat listing to find the retreat that resonates with you! We hope to see you in the jungle soon!
Coming Soon: The Selva Armonia Plant and Recipe Book!
If you’ve ever paid us a visit in the jungle, you probably already know how much love goes into the preparation and presentation of our food. We draw inspiration for our recipes from Mother Nature herself, harvesting ingredients from our garden and infusing the Selva Armonia spirit into each nourishing, vegan meal.
Today, we’re proud to announce that you can soon take your favorite recipes from the rainforest home with you!
Inspired by our incredible edible garden, two of our former volunteers, Néstor Feijoo Melián (@rayon.es) and Eva Díaz Bethencourt (@evadiazbeth), returned to Selva Armonia earlier this year to collaborate on this special project with our head chef, Yery Picado (@chefyery).
Thanks to the hard work and devotion of these three wonderful humans, the Selva Armonia Plant & Recipe Book will be available for purchase online in early 2020! A direct reflection of the love that surrounds our kitchen and gardens, the Selva Armonia Plant & Recipe Book is full of your favorite vegan recipes made on-site and fun descriptions of the ingredients that flourish in our Costa Rica gardens. Sign up for our newsletter to make sure you're the first to find out how you can get a copy and put some Pura Vida in your kitchen!
See what guests are saying about our food:
“Selva was gorgeous at every turn, and the staff was the most warm, friendly, and full of high energy. We had the most relaxing stay and amazing meals on site. You won't want to leave to head down to the beach, but the beaches are also uncrowded and gorgeous. Can't recommend enough.”
Lance P., 2019
“Wonderful yoga retreat with a view of the ocean! The staff were the best and friendliest. Meals were fresh off the farm!”
Francis S., 2017
“Absolutely stunning location with fantastic views. The staff are all friendly and very helpful. I can’t begin to explain how wonderful all the meals were. I definitely would love to go back some day. Pura Vida at its best!”
Lara P, 2019
Retreat Spotlight: Manifest Winter Wellness
As we wrap up the 3rd annual Manifest Winter Wellness Retreat this week at Selva Armonia, we wanted to share a little bit more about this retreat. We had a chance to sit down with Travis Steele Sisk, Pilates Instructor of Manifest Bodyworks & retreat Leader, and here's what he had to say!
"Nothing is more revealing than movement" - Martha Graham
Tell us more about why you choose Selva Armonia to host your Manifest Winter Wellness Retreats?
This will be my third time hosting my Manifest Winter Wellness Retreat at Selva Armonia. Hosting this retreat is my most looked forward to event each year! I love seeing new and pre-existing clients of mine relax, unwind, and strengthen their bodies as the week goes on. I love playing the role of "Cruise Director", ensuring everyone is getting exactly what they want from their retreat, and what better place to do it than deep in the jungles at beautiful Selva Armonia? I love the seclusion of having the entire retreat center for our guests is one of the biggest draws of Selva Armonia. Having a peace of mind that all of Selva Armonia is completely eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable in every way! The gorgeous pool and gardens of the property only adds to beauty of this lodge... and THAT VIEW NEVER gets old!
What makes your retreat unique?
I really try to let each retreat guest tailor their time to as much physical activity or relaxation as they desire. Though all the classes are built into the retreat schedule, I let my guests know from day one that they should not feel obligated to attend every class or go on every waterfall excursion that is offered if they would rather take some quiet to themselves. This is very much their time off from their busy lives and they should feel free to choose how and when they want to relax during their time in Costa Rica.
What are your hopes/goals for folks attending Manifest Winter Wellness for the first time?
I will let a previous attendee answer this one for me!
"Travis designs a wonderful retreat of exercise classes, adventures, beach time, and excursions. We never felt over-scheduled or bored... How he managed that perfect balance still boggles my mind."
How would you instruct your guests to prepare for this retreat?
I would strongly encourage retreat attendees to take at least three contemporary Pilates mat classes in the two weeks leading up to my retreat. As this will strengthen your body and familiarize you with Pilates exercises so that everything I will be teaching doesn't seem so foreign.
Tell us a little bit more about your practice!
I first came to Pilates as a form of cross training while touring as a dancer and later developed a love for the practice while attending mat classes at The Kane School in NYC. I believe Pilates gives you a great foundation of strength, enabling your body to able to tackle any other sort of physical activity you choose to perform with ease; whether it be surfing, aerial silks, or trekking through the city with arms full of groceries. I have developed a desire and passion to share benefits of this practice to those who seek it out.
Follow Travis on Instagram here & as well as Manifest Bodyworks!
We can't wait to see the photos from this years Manifest Winter Wellness Retreat - follow us on Instagram & subscribe to our newsletter!
Retreat Spotlight: Yoga Caravan
Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious movement, more action.
- B.K.S. Iyengar
This coming February, Selva Armonia is proud to be hosting Shannon Hill’s Yoga Caravan for the 5th consecutive year. Centred around adventure and personal growth through the path of Yoga, Shannon establishes a safe and nurturing environment to go wild and reconnect with yourself and others. Giving endless opportunities for adventure, it’s really no wonder why this retreat has so many returning guests year after year!
While spending a week here at Selva, guests will enjoy a selection of gourmet house-made vegan meals, with produce selected from our botanical gardens, guided daily meditations, waterfall hikes and more. Twice daily yoga practice on our floating bamboo yoga and movement deck is an experience like no other, and under the guidance of Shannon, Lindsey & Meg there is no shortage of challenges and encouragements as you expand your practice.
We had a chance to speak to Shannon about what draws her back to Selva year after year, and she had this to say:
"Selva Armonia is remote and tucked deep into the jungle while also being close to town. This provides the perfect backdrop for connecting deep with nature through the views, animal noises, and day trips to the surrounding areas. The food at Selva Armonia has always been a huge hit not only because of how amazing it is but also because of the dedicated time for sharing and being together. We play a game at the dinner table each night called Banana Rose Thorn and it is always hard for guests to think of a thorn (a bad part of their day)!”
In addition to the daily retreat activities, guests will be given a tour of Selva's botanical and edible gardens, take trips to the amazing beaches that line Uvita, and hike beautiful trails to breathtaking waterfalls. Of course, there are always additional optional activities like a relaxing massage therapy session or even surf lessons if that is of interest.
Want to know more? Visit Yoga Caravan's event page here. You can also follow Yoga Caravan on Instagram here to stay up to date!