Living blissfully, inner transformation, community, celebration and healthy superfoods are the main themes of a “conscious life retreat” to be held at Hotel Tropico Latino in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Hosted by spiritual teachers Juan Pablo Barahona and Shivani Aum, the Bliss of Living a Conscious Life Retreat is set for Dec. 4, 5 and 6, 2015 at the beautiful beachfront hotel in Santa Teresa.
The retreat is open to the public. If participants need accommodations, there is a package price that includes meals and staying at Hotel Tropico Latino (see below). Otherwise, participants may attend all of the retreat activities or only individual classes.
“Through conscious living principles, people can choose to live in bliss with how they think and what they do,” explained Juan Pablo Barahona. “We will learn how to awaken our deepest potential and our innate gifts, and how to apply conscious living tools in everyday life. Come celebrate together the bliss of living from the heart!”
The retreat will focus on: conscious eating, conscious breathing, meditation, Holistic Yoga and Qigong in nature, connecting with nature’s elements, deep relaxation methods to let go of stress, sound therapy and mantra practice. The closing is a cacao ceremony with kirtan and a bonfire on the beach to celebrate life with joy.
The retreat will be held in Spanish, with English translation if required. There is limited space, so you should reserve as soon as possible. There are three levels to attend the Bliss of Living a Conscious Life Retreat:
- Full retreat with accommodation and meals included at Hotel Tropico Latino: $250. If you reserve by Dec. 2, the cost is only $200.
- All retreat activities, kirtan and cacao ceremony: $100; or $80 if you reserve by Dec. 2. (Meals and accommodation not included.)
- Specific activities: Attending each specific activity – cacao ceremony, conscious eating workshop, yoga sessions, etc. – costs $15 each.
- For reservations, contact Hotel Tropico Latino; or email casa.lamat@gmail.com or aumshivani@gmail.com; or phone Casa Lamat at (506) 2281-3646.
The retreat uses the beautiful nature of Santa Teresa to inspire participants to connect with its energy and regenerate their spirits, said Barahona. Not only is Hotel Tropico Latino’s unique location – on the beach at Playa Carmen in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica – ideal, the hotel already promotes healthy living with Santa Teresa yoga classes and retreats, surf retreats, and a natural spa.
“Our hotel is oriented toward healing, so this theme of ‘Blissful Living’ aligns with our mission and vision,” said Hotel Tropico Latino manager, Roberto de la Ossa. Living in bliss also has to do with healthy eating, and we want to integrate this concept into our restaurant.”
Hotel Tropico Latino is adopting the principles of Costa Rica’s National Plan of Sustainable and Healthy Gastronomy in their Shambala Restaurant. Part of that plan is training their restaurant staff in conscious eating and superfoods with Barahona. “In Santa Teresa, there are not many restaurants that can offer this. It is not a new concept, but is new to this area,” said de la Ossa.
“We are making a lot of effort to train our staff, which is all local. Our staff will be able to explain to our guests why these superfoods are so good, not just that they are ‘super’,” he noted. “We’re not just learning recipes; we are learning what the foods do and how they work in our bodies. We’re concerned about healthy living and bringing healthy cuisine to Santa Teresa.”
One of the best restaurants in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, Shambala Restaurant will now offer superfoods smoothies, which are a meal in themselves. Barahona created the new superfoods smoothie recipes at Shambala Restaurant using fresh ingredients like pure cacao and a mix of 40 other superfoods in a powder blend called “Soma,” invented by Barahona and sold by Sankalpa Superfoods in Costa Rica.
“We are using the best superfoods mixed with fresh fruits, vegetables and natural fats to create a whole meal in a smoothie,” said Barahona. “People can come and have something that tastes good and makes you feel good and gives you so much energy.”
Enjoy beachfront dining in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica at Shambala Restaurant: open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can make a table reservation on-line on Hotel Tropico Latino’s website.
Hotel Tropico Latino is a magical place to stay on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Very private guest bungalows, suites and rooms are scattered along the beachfront and in beautiful gardens shaded by huge, old trees. Santa Teresa was named one of Central America’s top 10 beaches for 2015.
Information about the retreat leaders:
Juan Pablo Barahona began developing his passion for spirituality, shamanism and healing from a young age. He is certified in different schools of Yoga, Holistic Nutrition, Tantric Philosophy, Energy Medicine, Master Reiki, Sound Healing, Shamanism, Chinese Medicine, Holistic Therapies and Healing Arts. He has been leading inspiring, creative and empowering classes, workshops, immersions and trainings globally for more than 15 years and is the co-director of Lamat School of Yoga, Healing and Conscious Living.
Shivani Aum has studied yoga philosophy and meditation for several years at the Sat Yoga Institute in Costa Rica, Nada Yoga (yoga of sound) and devotional singing in Costa Rica, United States and in India. She is part of the Sound Healers Association, and has studied vocal improvisation and healing sounds along with classical Indian music in India.
Article by Shannon Farley
