Yoga Teacher Training Costa Rica

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.

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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 :)

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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!

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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.

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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

Ceremonies and Connections in Costa Rica

Time is moving fast my friends. You know how everything flows when you’re on “the right track”? You know, everything just works and happens and the right people enter your life. That is how Costa Rica is to me. It’s been crazy busy here with catching up with friends and meeting new, attending practices and ceremonies and work. Puerto Viejo is post-peaking High Season and, thus, still filled with people and tourists so town is buzzing and Hidden Garden is constantly filled up. Garbage is filling the streets. As a reminder to all of us: please take care of your trash!

Puerto Viejo Town during High Season

Besides from camping in the mountains, I haven’t slept more than one night in the same place but moved around to fit everybody in. Gypsyin’ it right now; sleeping in tents, hammocks or on someone’s floor. Teeth brushing on the road. We are playing drums, eating plants and experiencing life’s medicine.

There is so much love.

Sat waiting for pick-up at the highway in Guápiles, Costa Rica. Post-ceremony.

Ola is visiting from Sweden and so far I haven’t had much time showing him around. But we are living in the vibrant connections and the world is showing us beauty.

Time is an illusion anyway

I have finished my second year of Shamanic trainings and feel stronger than ever. Dance life! This week means getting back to routines with Yoga mornings, followed by work, study and beachin’ it in the afternoon. Hidden Garden is still on a busy schedule and this afternoon a Sweat Lodge is being held by a visiting Shaman from the North. We also have an Ashtanga teacher from the states staying in the house and giving classes. Yes, flow is the word right now.

The colors are all vibrating.

Ayawaska bracelet. Gift from my beautiful sister and goddess Jerusha.

If you follow your truth path you will see the colors- are you? Please leave a comment with a update from your life!

Also, are there any special requests as to what you want me to write about? 

Pura Vida

Highlights of 2013

According to the linear time made up by humans, the year of 2013 is coming to an end. As many do around this time of year, I am going to sum up some of the amazing experiences I’ve had during 2013. It has been a tumultuous year in many ways and my within-journeys deriving from my travels around the world have been great and profound. My intentions for 2014 are to continue deeper into my spiritual journey, wherever in the world it may take me.

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Ok, so let’s sum up some extra good times!

1.    San José in February and March: This is festival time in Costa Rica and its capital. The classic Latin American Carnaval is being centered around Puntarenas, whereas the capital holds festivals like Transitarte. I especially enjoy these kinds of events, with street art and free concerts around Down Town San José and its city parks. The streets are buzzing with happy people and the bars are full even at daytime! Of course, February is also the month when the Moon Dance is held but that topic requires its own post. Some day I might tell you about it.

2.    Puerto Viejo January to May: The tiny village Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is the place in Costa Rica I call “home”. Sure, we have had our differences: humidity, unwanted animals in the house and cold- to mention a few. But it is impossible not to love this place. I get to wake up, in the jungle, to the sound of howler monkeys and have breakfast with hummingbirds and to do yoga while resting my eyes on the ocean waves rolling in to shore. Puerto Viejo is also the place to visit for a culinary experience and I’m sure you know that I love food! Organic, fresh from the garden, hand made chocolate, you name it Puerto got it!

I also had my sister staying with me for 4 whole months in this paradise, which is a true blessing! 

3.    The United States in May and June: I know some of you will smile reading this- having said I never wanted to go to the states. Of course, the reason it ends up on this list is the exact same reason I went there in the first place: visiting one of the most important persons in my life. What really made this trip special was to get to travel with my partner and him introducing me to his life in this culture that is so far away and yet so close to “my own” (what ever that is). Who would have known I’d go camping with a bunch of motorbikes in the Nevadan desert for instance? I love that life takes me to unexpected places.

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Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco 

4.    Sweden in July: I went from north to south this year basically. I have never before been to Österlen in the south east of Sweden and its spectacular nature and breath taking sceneries stuck to my heart. Summer is when Sweden shines in all her glory. Such a beautiful country! Sometimes I find Sweden and Costa Rica very much alike. For instance, the fact that nature varies greatly from place to place within both the two (small) countries.

One of the finest memories from the Österlen trip is when mom and me went to Kivik and ate for hours at the raw food restaurant. (Again: food!)

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Norrland (Photo Credit: Ola Danielsson)

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Norrland, Sweden (Photo Credit: Ola Danielsson)

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Yes, it's a rain deer

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Ale Stenar at Österlen

5.    Festivals in August: For August there is no better place to be than Småland. Heaps of stuff is going on all over: festivals, markets, harvest parties and what not. This year, I packed a car and went to a music festival in the forest. Mundekulla is about song, dance and love, created by and through the people attending. It will always warm my heart to think about it and I hope I get the chance to return every year.

My partner in crime (at least when it comes to yoga) and I grabbed our mats and jumped on a train bounded for Copenhagen a weekend in late August. The Copenhagen Yoga Festival is an outdoor event where you can try a variety of yoga styles, listen to lectures, snack yummy raw food, meet people from all over the world and even go into the ocean if you want to! It was a great weekend with, maybe, the last hot sun rays of summer. 

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Las Salvajes

So, there you have it: my Highlights of 2013 -list! Now, I’m curious about what you enjoyed most this year. Tell me all about it in the comments below :)

Happy New Years and Pura Vida

Bolivia

I borjan var det forvanande och lite som en chock hur stor skillnad det ar pa bemotandet i Bolivia mot Peru. Overallt finner vi manniskor som ar otrevliga och ovilliga att hjalpa en vidare. Inte att forglomma smuts och en evig stank av urin.

I Copacabana finns hundra skyltar om att de har en bank och en ATM. Men nar man fragar skakar bara folk pa huvudet. Inget mer. Inte berattar dom var banken ligger, nar den ar oppen eller vad for andra mojligheter som finns.
Har man ingen ATM, sa har man inte heller pengar att betala tex hostel. Nar man tar upp problemet med hostelet blir svaret mer eller mindre bara en axelryckning. Men! "Jag kan inte betala dej i kontanter! Sa ge mej ett alternativ?" Borde dom inte vara intresserade av att losa en sadan situation?

I Cochabamba letade vi efter en buss som gick till Sucre. Flera bolag skyltar med att dom har avgangar. Nar man gar fram och pa spanska fragar "Hej, har ni bussar till Sucre idag?"  Sa ar det vanligaste svaret man far: "nej." Under hela den har tiden har de inte sa mycket som tittat upp pa en, an mindre halsat. Man far snarare tranga sig fram och mer eller mindre skrika ut fragan.
Nog for att ordet "service" i princip inte existerar i Sydamerika (sjalvklart jamfor jag inte med Svedala), men har ser man aven en enorm skillnad i hur turister vs lokalbor blir behandlade.

I Sucre kan vi fortfarande se detta otrevliga satt. Det ar en ovilja hos lokalbefolkningen att dela med sig av sitt land och kultur. Standigt aterkommande fakta: nar man fragar saker far man inget svar. Hur ska vi kunna veta att allting ar stangt om ingen berattar det for oss nar vi fragar? Hur ska vi kunna veta var affaren ligger nar man inte far svar? Om man driver ett hostel, borde det inte finnas nagon typ av information dar da? Och varfor driver man ett hostel om man inte ar intresserad av turism?

Disskussionen och amnet har kommit upp bland oss och fler resenarer vi mott. Vad beror detta pa? Folket har en enorm arrogans mot sitt land och mot besokare. De ser inte skonheten i sitt land, men har daremot insett att de kan fa ut pengar av "vita turister".

Ex: "Jaha, vi har en stor saltoken som vasterlanningar tydligen tycker ar intressant, det kan vi tjana pengar pa! Och i samma veva kan jag kora dit for att dumpa mina sopor!"

Manga resenarer man moter, som gillar Bolivia, pratar om dess oexploaterade turism. Att avsaknaden av turism gor Bolivia genuint och mer "akta". Ur manga aspekter finner jag det argumentet aningen naivt. Dvs, det ar inte oexploaterat det ar bara gjort av fel anledning och turisterna sjalva inser inte att de har en stor del i detta.

Bara for att det ar ett fattigt land betyder inte det att du inte har ratt till asikter eller att stalla krav pa det du betalar for. (For dom VET att dom kan kora med turister). Tvartom! Vi som turister SKA stalla krav. Turism ar inte alltid nagot daligt. Borjar konsumenter (i detta fallet turister) stalla krav pa produkten skots och behandlas sa maste tillslut producenten andra produkten. Ar det inte trots allt darfor vi reser? Inte for att SE hur andra lever, men for att kunna paverka? Jag vet att jag gor iallafall. Jag vill lara mig nya saker, absolut, men borde det inte ske ett utbyte? Nar ska manniskor inse att vi maste hjalpas at? Att alla varelser ar en del av ett ekostystem, och for att fungera handlar det om att hjalpa varandra.

Att bara acceptera situationer som dom ar, betyder inte att man "anpassar sej och upplever den akta kulturen" i ett land. Att ge pengar till en tiggare pa gatan kanske far DIG att ma battre. Men, tank pa att du gor inte situationen battre for dom och i samma veva forsvarar du for dig sjalv och ignorerar verkligheten. Manniskor har (rika som fattiga, och ja det finns folk med pengar aven har) ser att det fungerar: strack bara fram handen till en dum turist och sa har du pengar till nya skor. Givetvis forstar dom da att vi ar lattlurade till att ge pengar till vad som helst, utan att ifragasatta. Darfor ar dom inte heller intresserade av verklig hjalp. Detta sattet ar ju enklare.

Vill du verkligen gora skillnad? Da far du kampa lite mer an att grava i planboken. Endast kunskap och karlek besegrar fattigdom. Jobba pa skolor, kop in block och pennor osv. Var inte en naiv turist som halar upp planboken i alla situationer, du forsvarar for alla parter! 
Givetvis ar inte turism ensam losningen pa alla problem, men jag tycker inte att man ska se det som enbart nagot negativt. Du reser ju trots allt, sa varfor gor du det? Om du har en chans att paverka nagot i varlden, vill du inte ta den chansen da?

Sjalvklart har vi traffat vanliga mannsiskor aven har. Vanliga sjalar existerar trots allt overallt. Exempelvis pa skolan som vi nu laser pa. Folk som inser att vi kan lara oss fran varandra. Som vill visa oss sitt land och deras kultur, men ocksa vill ha kulturerfarenheter tillbaka. Vi kan lara oss mycket av varandra.
Sa, om turister slutar vara sa naiva och med sin planbok, kanske vi kan borja bli behandlade med mer respekt och forhoppningsvis forandra situatiuonen.