April 25, 2014

Yoga Teacher Training Costa Rica

April 25, 2014/ Magdalena Chandrakaí

Guanacaste province is located in the northwest of Costa Rica. This province is the warmest in the country and between November and April there is hardly any rain (dry season), resulting in dry forests and a desert like climate.

During one of these hot months is when I decided it was a good time to do a Yoga Teacher Training. It happened to be located just outside of Tamarindo, which is basically as far as you can go from Puerto Viejo (southeastern corner of the country). And it was indeed hot, even I used air-condition! And, occasionally, I really missed the green jungle and all its sounds, movements, rain and humidity. I was surprised, however, that the howler monkeys woke us up around 5 am still, and they were close! Strolling around the surrounding areas showed me the many mango trees and it started to make sense why heaps of monkey families were hanging around in the desert.

Sunset Playa Negra, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

We started late in the mornings (6:45), when the sun was already up, making the sun heat the shala to a boiling temperature by the end of practice (9:30). Everyday we also practiced teaching, had philosophy class, anatomy class and Yin Yoga. In total, we did more or less five to six hours of physical practice everyday. I truly enjoy that kind of intensity every now and again. The regularity takes my practice to new levels and the wisdom from the physical asanas (postures) grows deeper inside me. For anyone wanting to experience profound transformation, I recommend trying longer retreats (no matter what level you’re at on your path). And of course, I recommend joining me and Yoga By Magie for any workshops, classes and retreats :)

Reversed Prayer. Sunset Jaco Beach, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica

Every seventh day we had a day off. If you’re a yoga junkie, it’s hard not to do any practice at all, even though the body really needs some rest to process what it’s learning. I kept my morning meditations, in addition to going with some of the girls to Playa Negra to try Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga for the first time! We went to an empty beach where the ocean was quiet enough to not knock us of balance. Doing yoga outside can be challenging, but if you’re used to it and have a good drishti (focus) you will enjoy SUP yoga. My favorite part was lying in Savasana (on my back), hands touching the water, looking up to Father Sky and Grandmother Moon, noticing the shore with its trees in the distance while the sun was setting over the west coast of Costa Rica. Big hug to Naturalbeautyyoga who showed us this place!

I am grateful for having met such a beautiful group of strong, independent and open-minded women. Already a couple days in, I asked to experiment with them by guiding them through a drum meditation and ended up doing another one the week after. Thank you all for being so receptive and for everything you shared during these weeks!

Me and two of the girls drove down to Jaco for a couple of nights to get a different scenery and some beach. While they headed back home to Canada, I went visiting another yogini in San Jose and together we bussed down to Puerto Viejo to watch the craziness of the last Easter days. That is to say, I am now back in the buzzing jungle doing yoga, writing on the porch, doing sweat lodges and work at the wellness center.

Sabeena, Megan, Magie at Jaco Beach, Costa Rica

What did you do for Easter?

Pura Vida

Famous sunset Jaco Beach, Costa RIca. Foto: Magdalena Larsson

March 23, 2014

Road Trip in Costa Rica's Paradise

March 23, 2014/ Magdalena Chandrakaí

The last few days, we’ve been on the road and I have managed to have a few relaxing moments without work ;) We rented a 4-wheel drive in San Jose and headed south on the west coast, towards a small beach village called Uvita. The guidebooks happily refer to this part of the country as “the real Costa Rica”, meaning this is what Costa looked like before tourism created beach towns with hotels, restaurants and roads. I’d say that statement is exaggerated as the main highway runs all the way down to Panama and is a proper, good road to drive on. Sure, there are no towns to be seen (and obviously the further south you get the more national parks and less people there are) but there are plenty of hotels and you need a car to get around. The tourism here is rather for the ones who have money.

Uvita and its surroundings are amazingly beautiful, remote and tranquil. Even though we are traveling in the backwash of high season, we found empty beaches and quiet waterfalls. The Uvita beach and the ones following south are all part of the Marino Ballena National Park and, thus, are protected and preserved with the help of an entrance fee, certified guides and the like. Needless to say, that makes the area clean and home to many interesting animals such as dolphins, whales, turtles and colorful fish. We went for a boat and snorkeling tour to swim in the warm ocean and say hello to the playful dolphins in the bay.

After a few days of spectacular beaches, ocean, animals, waterfalls and yoga on a wooden deck in the jungle we jumped back in the car and headed towards Jacó. I have earlier tried to explain Jaco, but it has to be experienced and that is precisely why I took my sister here last year, and now Ola. It is intense though and I can only stand it for a couple days in a row. One morning I did my practice on a hard concrete floor, among the fumes of last night’s beer. Challenges make you grow.

After Jaco, we headed north and today we made a road trip from Tamarindo to Nosara. All of Nicoya Peninsula requires a 4-wheel drive, patient and a lot of time. Just this short trip took longer than expected due to gravel roads, roadwork and car accidents. We had a great day tho, and shot a short video for you. My first vlog haha Enjoy! And comment below if you do=)

Today, I'm starting my next project; the Yoga Teacher Training here in Guanacaste. I look forward to 3 weeks of deep asana practice and further self-exploration! See you in a few weeks=)

Pura Vida

December 10, 2012

Avslut och Avstamp

December 10, 2012/ Magdalena Chandrakaí

Tiden har en tendens att flyga förbi. I förrgår var det exakt fyra månader sedan jag och Ellen kom till Costa Rica. Landet tog emot oss med öppna armar och vi kastade oss in i äventyret.

I torsdags skrev vi de sista tentorna och med blandade känslor gick vi från skolan med A i alla klasser. Kvällen var märklig och ledsam. Den grupp som under fyra månader skrattat, roat, rest, pluggat och många gånger irriterat skulle splittras under natten. Månen hängde som en stor,tjock, gul och halväten pannkaka över oss där vi satt vid havet vid vår sista bonfire med Las Brisas-öl. Det var ledsamt.

De allra flesta åkte tillbaka till staterna, några kommer tillbaka efter jul och andra reste vidare. Men, vad händer nu? Vi är fortfarande förvirrade och kan kanske inte helt förstå att vi har lämnat Puntarenas, vår lägenhet och de söta amerikanerna för att ta oss mot Panama och möta upp Mariella.

De kommande veckorna kommer att vara hektiska. Ellen åker till Sverige den 20e december och jag vågar inte ens tänka på hur jag ska klara mig utan henne. Mariella och jag ska, trots julehetsen, försöka resa runt några veckor innan även hon lämnar för Svedala i mitten på januari.

Som de flesta säkert vet så består min sista termin av praktik och nu har allt blivit färdigställt att jag kommer tillbringa även kommande månader här i Costa Rica. Jag flyttar till den karibiska kusten i januari där jag ska starta upp ett kommunikationsprojekt för ett wellness företag. Det låter som en dröm och jag ser verkligen fram emot det. Detta innebär alltså att min hemresebiljett nu är ombokad till juni istället, så om inget annat händer kanske vi ses i Moder Svea till sommaren.

Skriv gärna en rad efter att ni skummat igenom bilder av terminen som gått.