The
Karma Yoga Experience
Yoga, Service, and Adventure
January 15-January 23, 2010
Come to Costa
Rica and share in this exciting and tranformational
retreat with instructors Katy Knowles, Kristin Luna
Ray, Karina Ayn Mirsky, and Joshua Canter. There are
many types of yoga, and it is said that Karma Yoga,
the action of serving others, is one of the greatest
forms of spiritual practice. During this one week
program in Costa Rica we will have the opportunity to
practice Karma Yoga, along with asanas, meditation,
chanting, and "Adventure" excursions.
This retreat
will take place at the True Nature Community and
Education Center. True Nature is an intentional
community and holistic education institute located in
the Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. True
Nature is nestled in the village of La Florida, a
beautiful Costa Rican village, overlooking the great
pacific ocean.
In this highly
participatory retreat, asana (yoga postures) practice
will be a major focus. Each moring we will gather,
overlooking the great Diamante ("Diamond")
Valley, and salute the new day practicing together.
Along with learning different yoga practices, the
retreat will also cover yoga philosophy.
During the early
part of the day, we will have time to practice Karma
Yoga, taking part in service work at True Nature and
in the
village of La Florida. Take this opportunity to give
back to local community, feeling the true heartfelt
benefits of outreach. There will be several projects
and jobs to participate in, and we will strive to
find the work that best works for you.
In the afternoon
we will practice "Adventure Yoga" as we
travel together on breathtaking excursions through
the Diamante Valley. Cleanse in the sacred waters of
Costa Rica's most beautiful waterfalls, walk through
ancient monkey filled rain forests, and have the
opportunity meditate together in a sacred cave.
In the evenings,
we will raise our voices and open our hearts
together, sharing in the power of sacred sound, song,
heart circles.
The Karma Yoga
experience is an opportunity for you to come to Costa
Rica, deepen your practice, and most of all, take
part in giving though service. This is a retreat you
will never forget.
Retreat Includes:
Morning
Yoga and Meditation Practice
Service
Projects at True Nature and in the Village of
La Florida
Excursions
through theDiamante Valley (including
waterfalls, rainforst hikes, and a trip to
the sacred caves)
Wonderful
Whole Food Meals
Personal
Retreat Time
Spanish
Class
Chanting
and Toning Practice
The Soul
of the Voice
Kirtan
Mindfulness
Meditation
Asanas
(to see the Activities
list click here)
Accommodations
True
Nature provides various accommodations
for guests. True Nature's accommodations
are beautiful, rustic, and simple and
provide you an opportunity to live close
to nature. Listen to the sounds of the
various tropical birds, hear the flowing
waterfall as you rest peacefully after a
full day, and awake with a view you will
never forget.
Cabins: There are individual
cabins at True Nature that are available
during programs and guest visits at True
Nature. Each cabin is simple and intimate.
Each cabin has a view of the ocean, the
valley, or the jungle. Cabins are are
limited, so we reccomend you reserve them
early.
Dormitory:
The upper and lower houses at True Nature
serve periodically as dormitories for our
programs. The  dormitories have bunk-beds
and individual single beds. In the upper
dormitory there is also a communal
kitchen and a communal bathroom and
shower. If you are interested in staying
in one of our dormitories you must
reserve a space in advance.
Tent
Platforms: For those wanting
their own space, and wanting to live
closer to nature, True Nature has 3 tent
platforms. Each platform is raised off
the ground, covered, and can be slept on  without a tent. For those
who prefer to be within a tent, you will
need to bring your own tent. Each tent
platform has a beautiful view of the
valley, the ocean, or the jungle. Tent
platforms need to reserved in advance
during all programs.
 Campgrounds:
True Nature has 2 campgrounds on-site.
Each campground has approximately 15 tent
sites. Campground #1 is in a beautiful
mango grove and campground #2 sits next
to the creek.
|
Cost
We understand that everyone has there own personal
financial situation. At the True Nature Education
Center we strive to make our retreats possible for
all to attend financially. Tuition includes
transportation, lodging, all program sessions, and
excursions.
*Special
excursions,activities, and meals might be offered for
an extra charge. **True Nature is not responsible for
air travel delay and/or cancellations. If this occurs
extra transportation fees will be added for personal
transportation to True Nature
***A portion of
the proceeds from the 2010 Retreats will go to the
CREER Service Organization, a non-profit based at
True Nature, whose mission is to bring support to the
native people in the rural villages of Costa Rica
such as La Florida. (creerbelieve.org)
***AIRFARE IS NOT INCLUDED
Pre-registration
Discount!! Reserve Your Space
Before December 1 and recieve 10% off!!
Cabins (3 Available)
$1000
Dormitory
$900
Campground
$800
Registration
In order to registar you click the payment icon
below. Once your payment is processed you will
receive an information and registration packet. You
will fill out these forms and email them back to True
Nature for our files.
Payments
We request full payment at the time of registration.
If this is not possible you can pay 50% to hold your
space. The remaining balance will be due 1 month
prior to the start of the program. Payment will be
made using Paypal which accepts all major credit
cards. If you need to pay by check please contact us
directly.
Cancellations
25% of your initial payment is non-refundable. The
remaining payment is refundable until one month prior
to the start of the program. No refund is available
for late arrivals or early departures.
Click here to make a Payment
and Reserve Your Space
Getting
Here:
All international flights will arrive at the San Jose
International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica.
From the airport we will organize transportation for
all retreat participants. The trip to True Nature
from San Jose is approximately 4 hours. Please
plan to arrive on Friday January 15th, transportation
from san Jose to True Nature will be in the early AM
on the 16th.
Food
At True Nature we strive to eat a healthy, balanced,
and fresh diet. We are very lucky to be in such a
rich environment where fresh food grows abundantly.
While at TN you will have the opportunity to eat
wonderful fruits from the country, fresh fish from
the local fisherman, and fresh eggs and chicken from
the local farmers.
There will
be three wonderful meals a day prepared by our chef
and the cooking team.
During the retreat, we will eat healthy and simple,
using foods from the environment and the culture we
are a part of.
During the Yoga, Ayurveda, and Sound retreat, we will
have a specific diet that will go with what we are
learning in the retreat. If you have any dietary
needs, please let us know and we will work to meet
your requests.
Questions (FAQ):
We understand that there are many
questions when coming to a place you have never been.
What do I bring? What is the weather?...We hope help
to provide clarity to any of your questions or
concerns.
(Click here to go to
the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Page)
If you have any more questions please feel free to
email us at retreats@truenaturecommunity.org.
Thank You.
Instructor Bios
Joshua
Canter
Co-Founder of the True Nature Community and Education
Center and the CREER Service Organization of Costa
Rica.
Joshua has a degree in Intentional Community
Development. He has been researching, visiting, and
living in communities throughout the world the past
10 years. Joshua is a trained facilitator, mediator,
NVC (Non-Violent Communication) practitioner. The
past 4 years Joshua has been living part-time at his
community in Costa Rica, while also traveling and
consulting communities, and teaching courses and
workshops in various topics relating to Creating and
Sustaining Community.
Joshua is also a skilled glass artist and runs his
company Positive Creations Glass of Costa Rica at his
studio at True Nature.
Kristin Luna Ray (www.KristinLunaRay.com)
Co-Founder of the True Nature Community
and Education Center and the CREER Service
Organization.
Luna has a BA in Communitiy Studies. She is well
versed and trained in facilitation, interpersonal
communication, individual and group empowerment
practices, manifesting vision, and spiritual
understanding. Along with her experiential community
learning through international travel and schooling,
she is 200 hr certified Yoga Teacher, and a
professional musician who has been globally touring
and teaching through the ancient art of sound and
song.
Katy Knowles
(www.YogaHome.net)
Katy is co-founder of yogahOMe where the journey in
Cincinnati began. Katy has lived, practiced &
studied yoga with numerous master teachers throughout
the US. Katy's classes range from gentle to power,
meditation to fusion with sounds. She says, 'It is as
much a pleasure to teach someone their 1st sun
salutation as it is to teach a power vinyasa
class." Her Dharma is to share and spread the
yogic teachings. Yoga has been part of Katy's life
since the age of 16 when she discovered
transcendental meditation. As a dancer, many teachers
brought dance to yoga & yoga to dance. Katy
co-owned a Dance & Art Studio in Colorado Springs
where Hatha & Kundalini yoga were taught. In
1985, Laura Jane Melencamp touched Katy's heart with
the practice of vinyasa flow yoga and the deeper
truths of yoga. Along with Laura Jane, Rod Stryker,
Lilias Folan and Shashank Lahkia continue to guide
& influence her teachings and keep her grounded,
joyful & present. Katy is working on her Master
Parayoga Certification with guru Yogiraj Rod Stryker.
Katy's husband David, and her 3 boys - Dave, Eric
& Sam - are her Sanctuary and hOMe. Om Shanti
Shanti Shanit OM!
Karina
Ayn Mirsky, MA,ERYT (www.sanghayoga.com)
Karina Ayn Mirsky is the director of Sangha Yoga in
Kalamazoo MI and a teaching faculty member of the
Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. Karina has been
teaching yoga since 1998 and training yoga teachers
since 2003. Karina was one of the first certified
teachers of Rod Stryker’s Para YogaŽ. She is
also the mentee of Tom Holmes, PhD who specializes in
the integration of spirituality and psychotherapy. In
2009 Karina completed a Masters degree in East/West
Psychology. She also draws on her experiences as a
performance artist, massage therapist, and cancer
survivor to teach yoga as a therapeutic science,
spiritual system, and catalyst for personal and
global transformation. Karina was honored in the
March 2008 issue of Yoga Journal as one of 21
teachers under the age of 40 who is shaping the
future of yoga in America.
