There are many reasons to love Nosara, Costa Rica. One is you can always count on it being warm. In the midst of the cold frigid, January weather, Nosara is just a short flight and drive away (fyi...fly into Liberia then take a shuttle to Nosara). It's amazing because you really are stepping into a different world and culture. It seems like it should be worlds away, but as far as international trips go, it's not too far. Another reason I love Nosara, is the free, unencumbered, happy-spirited attitude that prevails in this jungle paradise nesteld by the sea. It is a contagious attitude that is hard not to adopt while there and hopefully will be something you can take with you.
At every turn, it is encouraged to just be your free, happy self. And to be a Goddess, which I have grown to love.
This idea orginally struck me after meeting the Bazaar owner, Gonca (Bazaar is a hip, bohemian clothing store). She is a beautiful woman with an extraordinary sense of style, exuding confidence; she is the epitome of chic. She is engaging with those who visit her store and immediately whipped a dress off the rack and encouraged me to try it on. I was initially hestitant because I was just browsing and not really planning on buying anything but my mind quickly changed.
The first dress she put on me was long, brushing the ground with beautiful lines and the back of the dress plunged low offering a dramatic effect. It was a beautiful color that was a deep nude/peach that she paired with a simple long strand of mala beads that hung low and had the perfect tassle.
She put in me in front of the full length mirror and told me I looked like a Goddess. It struck me as a funny term at the time. But I have to admit, I felt like a Goddess and I liked it. There is no way you can feel nothing but utterly feminine in a dress from Bazaar.
She shared her attitude with me that every girl, every day should be a Goddess. Even if you are going shopping to the market or grocery store, slip on your Goddess dress with a pair of flip flops. It should be your casual, every day wear. Gonca has had this effect on many of the girls that roam Nosara. We all run around in our beautiful dresses adopting the "goddess" attitude. It's about living life to it's fullest and feeling your best.
In the image below, my friend Marla and I are dressed in our newly purchased dresses from Bazaar at our favorite sunset cocktail spot, La Luna. Just being our Goddess selves in dancer pose.
Nosara is also home to some of the most amazing yoga teachers and some beautiful yoga studios. The sea also seems so fresh and clean with consistent, big waves. So it attracts surfers and yogis alike, not to mention those who just want a warm place to chill during the winter. Also, the biodiversity is amazing. You never know when you will come upon a giant iguana, exotic bird or swinging monkey.
This place is just too incredible not to share with others. Thus, The Nosara Goddess Retreat was born. It's only natural to weave my love for yoga, Nosara and friendship together.
So this past January, our lovely group of eight ladies made our down to Nosara. It was a dream come true.
Maybe it's the combination of the clean mountain and fresh sea air, maybe it's the diverse and vibrant life that is everywhere or maybe it's the happy culture but the Nosara experience is one that can be transformative. It served as a catalyst of change for many of the ladies on the trip. One met a guy and fell in love, one quit her job, one found courage to shed a toxic relationship, one found inspiration for a business venture and others left with the simplicity of uplifted spirits and sun kissed skin. All left happier with warmer hearts.
A lesson to be learned though, is you can be a Goddess anywhere, anytime. But it does help to have that initial spark. Going to Nosara is like getting a loading dose that will hopefully last all year long.
One of my greatest honors is to play hostess to those traveling back to Nosara or journeying there for the first time. It's always a thrill for me to see Nosara through fresh eyes. I'm thrilled for our next adventure and hope to make this treck to Nosara an annual one.
I will always remember my first yoga trip I lead in Nosara. We are the "Original Goddess."
But I didn't do it alone!! My lovely co-retreat leader is Nicole Lancaster. She is an intiutive body worker and yoga teacher extradonairre. She will be there to help teach classes, be a hostess and available for booking massages.
More awesomeness about Nosara:
It was named as the top place to go for winter 2014 by National Geographic (rich with monkeys, iguanas and exotic birds) and is a mothership for yogi's, surfers or anyone looking for a calming sanctuary interested in reclaiming a connection with nature.
This exact area has also been named a Blue Zone, a phrase coined by author, Dan Buettner, which through his research, is deemed on of the happiest places on earth. Common factors to the happiest places on earth and Nosara often include mountainous areas that meet the sea, a high percentage of entrepreneurs, a small economic gap among the population, close family and friend networks, a low percentage of disease or cancer, and a high number of centurions per capita, according to The Blue Zone.
My personal observation after having visited Nosara numerous times and getting to know many of the locals is that it is a very loving and caring culture. Everyone I have met there seems genuinely concerned for the happiness of others and the people there also seemed to have an inner happiness glow. That is hard to measure with a statistic but I would imagine that the inherent "glow" of its inhabitants factors in to the healthiness and longevity. The constant positive energy has a snowball effect and feeds on itself creating a happy, magical environment.
When figuring out where to travel to next, I rarely go back to the same exact spot. However, Nosara is the exception. It seems to have a constant energetic and spiritual pull for me. I will be returning for the ninth time this January.
What all can you do there?
Go to the Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary and play with the Monkeys.
Get lost in the mangroves via Stand Up Paddleboard.
Sunset yoga.
Visit Franklin, Nosara's local purveyor of organic superfoods and awesome chocolate.
Go upside down.
Enjoy your morning cup of coffee at The Harmony.
Or have a pipa fria from a roadside vender.
Try a partner pose.
Wander the beach.
Discover the beautiful surroundings.
Take the path that calls your name.
Enjoy the famous Nosara sunset.
Play with the dogs who have never known a leash.
Make new friends.
Join us in January 2016! Please contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to join in on the fun!