Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta yoga retreats. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta yoga retreats. Mostrar todas las entradas

lunes, 21 de septiembre de 2015

Go for a yoga retreat in Santa Teresa Costa Rica in 2016

Yoga class by Nancy Goodfellow at Pranamar Villas in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Yoga retreats at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat, on award-winning Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica, draw people from all over the world. So do Pranamar Villas´ daily yoga classes with popular instructor and Pranamar yoga director, Nancy Goodfellow.
Now Nancy will be holding two inspirational Costa Rica yoga retreats, called “Embracing Totality”, at Pranamar Villas in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, next year in 2016. The seven-night all-inclusive retreats will be held May 21 to 28, 2016 and Aug. 13 to 18, 2016´in Pranamar´s beautiful, spacious beachfront Yoga Shala
“So many people come to Pranamar for yoga classes with Nancy. She is very popular in the yoga world,” said Agustina Zocchi at Pranamar Villas.
Yoga instructor Nancy Goodfellow at Pranamar Villas in Costa Rica
Nancy has been practicing yoga for 20 years and teaching for 15 years. She is extremely well-known among local and international yoga students for her inspiring and creative daily yoga classes, workshops, and retreats at Pranamar Villas.
Nancy began her yogic studies in the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition. Following her dream of adventure and living a more simple life in nature, she moved to Costa Rica and continued her yogic practice, while continuing to study with top international yoga instructors. Nancy has completed more than 500 hours of Yoga Alliance teacher training and began teaching classes in 1998. Nancy dedicated many years of study also to the Anusara method of yoga, with its principles of alignment, Tantric philosophy and Bhakti filled practice. She has completed more than 500 hours of certified Anusara teachings and traditional non-dualistic Tantra studies.
Yoga class at Pranamar Villas, Santa Teresa
The all-inclusive “Embracing Totality” yoga retreats at Pranamar Villas will include:
  • Twice daily Tantric-based Hatha Yoga practices – morning Shakti Flow Vinyasa and afternoon moon practices
  • Daily meditations and mantra practices
  • Seven nights’ accommodation at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas
  • Three daily delicious, healthy meals at Pranamar Villas’ Buddha Eyes Restaurant
  • An evening dinner out at a local beachfront restaurant
  • A one-hour therapeutic massage treatment at Pranamar Villas’ Spa
  • A Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) adventure tour on the Rio Bongo by Santa Teresa
  • A Sacred Fire ceremony (letting go of anything to release) and Water Blessing (to honor the ocean and the wishes desired in life)
Optional activities during the Pranamar yoga retreat include:
  • Surfing and/or private surf lessons
  • Private yoga sessions with Nancy
  • Mayan Calendar Astrological readings
Santa Teresa Beach at Pranamar Villas
Rates for the Embracing Totality yoga retreats at Pranamar Villas range from $1,500 to $2,900, depending on the choice of accommodation, and whether single or double occupancy. Accommodations at Pranamar Villas include luxurious Poolside Villas, Oceanfront Bungalows, and the large two-story shared Kula House.
Santa Teresa Costa Rica yoga retreats at Pranamar Villas fill up fast so make reservations today! Pack your bags, grab your mat, and travel to the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica for a yoga retreat with Nancy Goodfellow at the amazing beachfront Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat.
Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat

The beachfront hotel in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, specializes in Costa Rica yoga vacations and Costa Rica surfing vacations. Pranamar Villas was named a Top 5 Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica by Travel & Leisure Magazine, and was awarded TripAdvisor´s 2015 Certificate of Excellence. Santa Teresa Beach was chosen one of the Top 15 Places to Go in 2015 by Condé Nast Traveler, and holds the status of being one of the cleanest beaches in Costa Rica. Pranamar Villas poolside bungalows in Costa Rica
Public yoga classes at Pranamar Villas are held from Monday to Saturday in the hotel’s beautiful oceanfront Yoga Shala. All classes are taught for students of all levels, with variations and modifications offered and encouraged. Mats and props are available at no extra charge. Private yoga sessions can be arranged with Nancy. Pranamar's yoga class schedule changes weekly and is posted on their Facebook page.
If you are a yoga instructor interested in having a yoga retreat at Pranamar Villas, contact the hotel.
Article by Shannon Farley

miércoles, 31 de julio de 2013

Surf retreat vacation craze captures hearts in Costa Rica

What's the latest vacation craze? Surfing and yoga retreats in the balmy tropics are the hot fashion.
But what if you don't know how to surf or live far from the nearest ocean? Is it still an adventure worth taking? Try it and you'll see. Here's what a few surf retreat fans had to say:

Surf camps at Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica"This week has been about so much more than learning how to surf ... the support & encouragement you have given me, and this beautiful place will stay with me for years to come. I never imagined myself as a surfer chick … but despite my doubts … you guys got me up on the waves."
"Thank you for the best vacation! I went down to Costa Rica feeling like I was simply walking though life but not actually living it and now I feel more alive than ever."
"The best moment was the first time I caught a solid wave. Amazing!!! I can't believe that just two and a half months ago I couldn't swim, and now I am actually surfing and loving it!! There is nothing like facing your fears. After that, I was like, 'bring it on', I can do anything."
On Costa Rica's Pacific Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Teresa Beach is a hot destination for surf and yoga retreats. Popularity is so big that beachfront Hotel Tropico Latino holds retreats all year in partnership with Pura Vida Adventures surf vacations.
Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, is one of the top beaches in the worldOn a scale of 1 to 10, Santa Teresa gets a 10 – warm Pacific Ocean, excellent waves, dazzling white sand beach, palm trees, balmy weather, and a shout-out in Forbes Magazine as one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.

Seven-day/six-night surf retreats are taught by highly-trained, professional and bilingual surf instructors. Yoga is added into the mix for stretching and relaxation. Both co-ed and women-only retreats are offered.

A typical day on a surf retreat goes something like this: Early morning yoga class, followed by breakfast and a few hours of surf instruction. In the Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica, is renowned for its great surf.afternoon, lunch and time to relax (go for a massage or spa treatment, swim in the beachfront pool, lounge in a hammock, or enjoy a "siesta"). If surf conditions are optimal, there will be a sunset surf session, followed by dinner and social time. There is time during the week for optional day tours.

Beginner surfers will learn basic surfing skills: Proper etiquette, water safety, wave riding skills (how to properly stand up and ride waves), and effective paddling techniques. Intermediate surfers will focus on strengthening their surfing game. Advanced surfers will sharpen their surfing abilities and learn new maneuvers. The student to teacher ratio is three-to-one, but there are also one-on-one sessions. Pura Vida Adventures offers a full cadre of surfboards: "SoftTops," epoxy, fiberglass, high-performance long boards, fun-shapes, fish, and short-boards.
Pura Vida Adventures runs the surf camp vacations at Hotel Tropico LatinoYou don't have to be 22 and from Southern California or Florida to go on a surf and yoga retreat either. 
Declared one senior retreat participant: "What a way to celebrate being 60! AND just what I needed ... a surf vacation in warm water without the bother of a wetsuit. Despite having 5 years of surfing experience, at first I was very intimidated by the waves. However with … calm encouragement and attentive guidance, I pushed through my fear and discovered that, yes, I can ride these waves!"

Surf retreats are available at Hotel Tropico Latino in August, November and December 2013, all the way through May 2014.
Hotel Tropico Latino offers beachfront luxury at Santa Teresa, Costa RicaHotel Tropico Latino
At beautiful Santa Teresa Beach, Hotel Tropico Latino is a gorgeous surf and yoga vacation destination in Costa Rica. The 4-star resort fronts the white sands and brilliant blue Pacific Ocean of Playa Carmen at Santa Teresa on four acres of lush, tropical gardens. Accommodations are comfortable and luxurious. Hotel facilities include a full-service beachfront spa and an award-winning restaurant. Sunsets are breathtaking. Santa Teresa has been named one of the top beaches in the world for several years by TripAdvisor.
By Shannon Farley

viernes, 12 de julio de 2013

Research shows massage therapy has extensive health benefits

While massage may have developed a reputation as an indulgence for people who love pampering, studies reveal that it has wide-reaching, evident health benefits, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.

Massage helps boost immune systemResearch over the past few years has found that massage therapy boosts immune function in women with breast cancer, improves symptoms in children with asthma, and increases grip strength in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, reports the Wall Street Journal. Other massage therapy benefits include relaxing tight muscles, increasing circulation, aiding in lymphatic drainage, releasing toxins, and reducing stress. It can boost your health and keep you feeling "young" and full of vitality.

According to the American Medical Association, stress is a factor in more than 75% of illnesses today. Visiting a spa or getting a professional massage regularly is an opportunity for the desperately-needed downtime to relax and recharge your mind, body and spirit.

Doctors recommend massage to treat low back painHowever, the benefits of massage go way beyond feelings of relaxation and wellness. The Wall Street Journal notes that the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society include massage as one of their recommendations for treating low back pain.

Scientific research also is starting to show what happens in the body after a massage. One study, for example, found that a single, 45-minute massage led to a small reduction in the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the blood, a decrease in cytokine proteins related to inflammation and allergic reactions, and a boost in white blood cells that fight infection, noted the Wall Street Journal.

"There is emerging evidence that (massage) can make contributions in treating things like pain, where conventional medicine doesn't have all the answers," said Jack Killen, deputy director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the USA, in the Journal.

Massage helps improve your health and well-beingWith so many things competing for our attention in our fast-paced lives, it's challenging to find the time in our normal schedule to care for ourselves and keep balance. Somehow it seems easy to fall into being tired, stressed, anxious, or exhausted, yet harder to take the time to counteract all of that with something positive like the healing benefits of massage. It truly is amazing what 60 minutes (or 90 minutes, or more, if you can) of making your muscles and body relax can do to improve your health and well-being.

In recent years, health and wellness tourism has increased substantially in Costa Rica. Spa resorts and vacations, yoga classes and yoga retreats, and professional massage are plentiful. While on vacation in Costa Rica, visit Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat in Playa Santa Teresa for a healing massage or spa treatment. Pranamar Villas offers a large menu of massages and spa treatments to keep you healthy. From 60 to 90-minute massages using various techniques, to more intense, longer treatments focusing on specific problem areas, Pranamar's spa therapists help you ease into relaxation.

Massage on Santa Teresa Beach at Pranamar Villas in Costa RicaFor instance, there is a focused treatment called "Traveler's Well-being: Re-grounding." The description states: "After many hours of sitting and waiting, irregular meals, new air, water and weather while traveling, your body is in need of rest and relaxation. This treatment will ground you and give you peace through internal organ massage, Reiki, Reflexology and Therapeutic Massage. Your body will thank you!"
Pranamar offers massages, focused treatments, custom treatments and special health packages at their beautiful beachfront resort. Following the hotel's commitment to health and the environment, all massage oils and lotions are 100% organic and made in Costa Rica.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat, Santa Teresa Beach, Costa RicaThe lovely, intimate, boutique hotel fronts the spectacular beach of Playa Santa Teresa on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. A TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence award winner, Pranamar offers luxurious two-story poolside villas, elaborate oceanfront villas and tropical bungalows, all designed with Indonesian flair and simple elegance. The flowing serpentine saltwater pool and abundant lush tropical gardens lend beauty to the eye at every turn.

There is definitely an uplifting energy at Pranamar. "Prana" in Sanskrit means "vital energy" and "breath", and "mar" means ocean in Spanish. Pranamar Villas offers daily in-house yoga classes, regular yoga retreats and workshops, all-inclusive yoga vacations, and surfing and yoga holidays.
By Shannon Farley

lunes, 13 de mayo de 2013

Happiness, bliss & the beauty of life on Santa Teresa Beach

Are you happy?
Costa Rica is #1 on the Happiest Planet in the world indexThat seems to be the question being asked in recent times, from boardrooms to bars, international conference centers to offices of government leaders, business schools to book stores. Are we happy? Following our bliss? Living our passion? Are we "me-focused" or "others-focused"?

The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan even measures its country's prosperity by its "gross national happiness" (GNH), measuring the spiritual, physical, social and environmental health and happiness of its citizens and natural environment. Bhutan's policy attracted great interest at the United Nations climate change conference in Doha, Qatar last December.
Costa Rica has made it to #1 on the Happy Planet Index for two years in a row (2012 & 2011), based on its national conservation policies, small ecological footprint, high quality of life and life expectancy rate all being "exceedingly above par", states Forbes Magazine. The Happy Planet Index is an annual survey conducted by the New Economics Foundation, a British think-tank that aims to measure the level of happiness in every country in the world. The ranking system establishes a solid link between happiness and the environment or nature.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat on Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica
Susan Money and Greg Mullins followed their bliss 20 or so years ago to live in harmony with nature in Costa Rica. The California couple first opened a bed and breakfast hotel, then the very successful Florblanca Hotel on Playa Santa Teresa, and now are owners of the highly popular Pranamar Ocean Front Villas and Yoga Retreat, also on Santa Teresa Beach.
"The Pranamar experience is a unique one. Rather than the typical corporate model, we work under the family model. Pranamar evolved from a sense of oneness – a desire to be in community with people we love and people who simply make us feel good," explains Pranamar owner Susan Money.
Pranamar's poolside villas on Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica
Pranamar Villas is a gorgeous, intimate luxury hotel fronting the spectacular beach of Playa Santa Teresa on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. A Trip Advisor award winner, Pranamar offers luxurious two-story poolside villas, elaborate oceanfront villas and tropical bungalows, all designed with Indonesian flair. Pranamar evolved from the Susan and Greg's experience of living in the Indonesian island-paradise of Bali. They loved living alongside a river where neighbors gathered in community. In that image, they created the four poolside villas alongside the "river" of their winding saltwater pool, along with abundant lush tropical gardens throughout the property. A hidden statue here and there, shells and rocks artistically placed in the pathways, all lend beauty to the eye at every turn.
The hotel's name shows the owners' passion in what they do. "Prana" in Sanskrit means "vital energy" and "breath". "Mar" means ocean in Spanish. There is definitely an uplifting energy at Pranamar.
Chakra flags in Pranamar Villas' yoga shala on the beach at Santa Teresa
"At Pranamar, I feel like what we're really doing is inviting guests to experience the beauty of life," comments Nancy Goodfellow, Yoga instructor at Pranamar and Susan's daughter. "To get out of our usual routines; to step aside and see this amazing nature around us and the beauty within us – this vital energy that is all around us. Simultaneously, one will experience this deep tranquility and inner peacefulness."
Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
The long tranquil beach of Santa Teresa is nearly perfect with its light beige-white sand shimmering with crushed shells and volcanic sea glass in the sunlight, shady palm and almond trees, and spectacular sunsets. Along with world-class surfing and top-quality Yoga classes, retreats and package vacations, there are numerous activities to do in the area, such as snorkeling, horseback riding, canopy zip line tours and nature tours.
"The memories and friendships established at Pranamar will linger in our collective hearts for a lifetime," notes Susan.
The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play. Arnold Toynbee
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. Albert Schweitzer
By Shannon Farley

martes, 12 de marzo de 2013

Surfers can improve flexibility, strength & balance with yoga

Most surfers are probably already aware that the practice of Yoga results in great benefits for the physical body and beyond.



Yoga increases mental clarity and our ability to concentrate with intention on specific goals and desires. The breathing techniques used in this ancient science are amazing for increasing lung capacity, while helping to lengthen our ability to retain the breath (so necessary for surfers).
On a physical level, the postures (asanas) create flexibility, tone, strengthen, and hone in on our balancing skills. They also fill the body with vital Life energy (prana) and highly raise our body and self-awareness.
The following dynamic and static postures will help you achieve the strength and flexibility needed out in the surf, and will increase your balancing abilities for greater stability on your board.
Remember to always warm-up before heading out to the water, stretch for 5-10 minutes after surfing, and ENJOY!!
1)    3 legged downward dog w/ bent knee


Begin in downward-facing dog pose with your hands outer shoulder distance apart and feet parallel to each other, at least hip width apart. As you lift your hips up and back you’ll begin to feel a deep stretch along the backs of the legs. Remember to engage and tone your quadriceps (fronts of the thighs) while moving the tops of the thighs toward the backs of the legs. Breathe deeply in and out through the nose and throat, balancing the flow of breath and helping to calm the mind. Keep the arms strong and stable by pushing all four corners of the palms and all the fingertips into the ground and begin to lift your right leg up and into the air behind you. Lengthen through both legs as you take the right hip higher, “stacking” the hips and gently twisting from the waistline. Carefully bend the right knee while flexing the foot and spreading out the toes. The more you take your foot to the left, the more you will need to tuck your pelvis to lengthen the lower spine and increase flexibility in the psoas muscles. Work up to holding the position for 5-15 breaths. Bring the right leg back to downward dog posture and repeat on the other leg.

2)    Standing Pigeon w/ Eagle arms
Standing pigeon pose with eagle arms, Pranamar Villas & Yoga Retreat, Costa Rica

Begin standing upright and cross your right ankle over your left lower thigh (right above the knee), keeping the foot active and flexed to protect the knee joint. With your hands on your hips, slowly bend your standing leg and widen your inner thighs back and apart (imagine you are hovering over a chair!).
Bring your arms parallel to the earth, reaching long from the heart center to your fingertips. Then cross your right arm under the left and “wrap” the arms around each other. Energetically lift your elbows and fingers upwards, while dropping your hips and thighs. Hug strongly into the mid-line with the legs and breathe deeply for 5 -10 breaths. Release and try the other side.

3)    Forearm plank w/ a "twist"

Forearm plank with a twist, Pranamar Villas & Yoga Retreat, Costa RicaBegin with your knees and forearms on the ground, making sure that your forearms are parallel to each other and shoulder distance apart. Look toward your navel and bring your awareness to your core center, the seat of inner strength and stability. Breathe into your back body from the base of the spine all the way up toward the crown of the head. As you do this you will feel your lower abdomen activate and draw inward toward the spine (away from the floor). Then actively move the tailbone towards the heels, walking your feet back to straighten your legs (knees off the floor). Your entire body should be parallel to the earth and you will feel deep sensation throughout the core of your body.

Continue to breathe slow and even through the nose. Keep an emphasis on moving the lower "floating" ribs inward towards the back body, and then slightly soften behind the heart. Hold 5-10 breaths.
Keeping your shoulders steady with your chest facing the earth exhale as you drop your heels to the right, twisting your lower body to active the lateral abdominal muscles. Inhale back to center and drop your heels to the left as you strongly exhale (remember to keep the belly lifted in towards the spine). Return to center with an inhalation and continue going right to left in alignment with your breathing. Do your best to keep your upper body stable and still. Work up to 10 repetitions or more.

4)    Dynamic “Shalabasana” w/opposite arm and leg



Lay down on your stomach with your legs hip distance apart and arms extended out in front of you (shoulder distance apart). Keeping your gaze facing the floor, turn the palms of the hands to face each other, and as you inhale lift your right arm, chest, and left leg up off the earth. The emphasis of this movement is not to get your limbs as high as possible, but rather keep lengthening the whole spine and reach your leg long out of the hip and the crown of the head away from the tailbone. Focus your inhalation in the back of the body, thus breathing "space" into the spine.  Lower your self back to the floor on the exhalation, but keep awareness into the lower abdomen and gently lift the navel inward with the release.

On your next inhalation, lift your left arm, chest, and right leg off the floor and maintain the action of lengthening from the core of your pelvis down the legs and up the spine toward the fingertips. With the exhalation, return to lie on the ground and repeat each side, alternating right and left 5-10 times each.
On the last repetition of each side, try and hold the arm and leg up off the floor for 5 slow, even breathes. Emphasize the length of the spine and the gentle lifting of the belly in and up. Finish by sitting back on the heels with the chest resting on the thighs (child’s pose), arms and head relaxed on floor. Feel how working with opposite leg and arm can bring more awareness into your "center" and help you to connect with the innate intelligence of the body to stay centered and grounded.
5)    Navasana prayer


Begin seated on the ground with your knees drawn into your chest, grabbing the backs of the thighs with your hands. With the knees bent, first lift up along the spine moving the crown of the head toward the sky and the tailbone firmly down to the earth. Begin to straighten your legs into the air as you release your grip on the hamstrings. As you continue to sit up tall, draw your lower back away from the floor and the sacrum into the body (you will need to fully engage your core as you balance on the buttocks creating a V-shape with your body). Extending the arms parallel to the ground, relax your shoulders and move energetically along the legs from the hips to the toes. Actively lift up along the whole length of the spine, keeping the chest broad and the abdomen fully engaged. Work toward holding this static position for 5-15 breaths.

Then bring your palms together in front of your chest (anjali mudra) and actively press the hands into one another. Slightly lift the elbows away from the floor and inhale. Moving with your exhalation, turn your whole upper body toward the right engaging the side abdominal muscles with a twist. As you inhale, return to center and press the hands into each other. On your next exhale, twist as far as you can to the left with your upper body, keeping the legs together and lifted.  Return to center as you inhale. Continue to twist right and left on the exhalations, always pausing in center as you inhale to re-lengthen the spine.
Build up slowly, and increase the number of repetitions as you feel stronger. If you have less flexibility in your hamstrings or hips, then you may want to bend the knees slightly.

Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat, Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica 

Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat in Santa Teresa
If you enjoyed this practice and want more, come to  the beautiful Pacific Coast of Costa Rica in the surfer’s and yogi’s paradise of Santa Teresa and Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat. It’s the perfect blend of surfing and yoga and much more!!

By Nancy Goodfellow, Yoga Instructor at Pranamar Villas & Yoga Retreat

martes, 29 de enero de 2013

Tantric Yoga Roots Ancient Rituals in Modern Life

There are so many different elements and schools of thought on Tantric Yoga that I started researching and was quickly overwhelmed. Better to start with the basics.

Yoga class following poses at Pranamar Villas in Costa Rica

Yoga is a mental, spiritual and physical discipline stretching back 6,000 years to ancient India, and is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism and Buddhism. “Yoga”, in Sanskrit, can be loosely translated as “union”; the original root word yuj means “to yoke” or “attach” yourself to a task. Many people think of yoga as simply easy stretching.

However, the ancient “yogis” developed these physical stretches and breathing exercises to both strengthen and also loosen their muscles and minds in preparation for hours of meditation and spiritual contemplation. In yoga, the purpose is to find union, or balance, between mind and body.

“Tantra” is the name scholars give to the style of religious ritual and meditation that arose in medieval India in the Fifth century AD. The earliest documented use of the word Tantra is in the Hindu text, the Rigveda; and Tantra is perceived to have influenced all medieval forms of Indian religious expression to some degree, according to Wikipedia. Tantric practitioners seek to use “prana”, the Hindu name for the energy that flows through the universe (including one's own body), to attain goals that may be spiritual, material or both, Wikipedia cites.

Yoga and meditation go hand-in-hand for stimulating balance and restfulness

The intention of Tantric Yoga is to expand awareness in all states of consciousness, being awake, or in a dream or sleep state, according to both Yoga World and the Sanatan Society. The point is to identify what factors influence our thoughts and feelings, to transcend obstacles, and to create peace, harmony and balance in how we regard ourselves, others and our surroundings, states the Sanatan Society.

By means of physical yoga postures, breathing exercises, contemplation, visualization and repetition of a “mantra”, Tantric Yoga helps unfold a person’s divine nature, state multiple sources on the subject.

“The Tantric viewpoint is that at our core, all of us are divine and good,” explains Nancy Goodfellow, yoga instructor at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas and Yoga Retreat in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. “Holding this viewpoint, you can see the goodness in the world instead of focusing on negativity. That’s how expansion relates to Tantric Yoga, the exploration of our divine nature.”

Goodfellow integrates the spiritual practice of Tantric Yoga into her daily yoga classes at the Santa Teresa beach-side luxury boutique resort, owned by her family. She implements a broad-based Tantra methodology, which she explains is the foundation for today’s general yoga practice recognized in the Western world. “Tantra is the underlying roots to Hatha Yoga which everyone in the modern world is practicing,” said Goodfellow.

Pranamar Villas yoga instructor Nancy Goodfellow plays a harmonizer for chanting

The popular Santa Teresa yoga instructor has been practicing yoga for nearly 20 years and teaching for 14 years. She has intensively studied various types of yoga, and teaches daily yoga classes, workshops and retreats at Pranamar Villas. Her classes, called "Shakti Flow", focus on an active and fluid style of yoga which emphasize energy and breath and linking conscious breathing with each movement.

Goodfellow says she sees yoga as being very practical. “Harnessing energy, having a vital healthy body, having a healthy mind – yoga helps us cope better when we have challenges in life,” she said. “Most of us doing yoga have families, have jobs, have busy lives, and Tantric Yoga helps us hone our skills to better serve ourselves and others.”


In today’s busy world, being centered and balanced is a much sought-after element by all ages and walks of life. “Tantric Yoga is very relevant today because it is about building community, being firmly rooted and understanding yourself better,” asserts Goodfellow. She emphasized the Tantric Yoga practice of chanting mantras as being very applicable in daily life. “With so much emphasis on multi-tasking, it’s not as common in our society to concentrate and focus,” she adds. “Mantras help build the skill to focus.”

Goodfellow is leading a Yoga Journey to India in June 2013 

Yoga Journey to India


Interested in learning more about yoga and experiencing its source? Goodfellow and renowned yoga instructor Michele Baker are leading a 13-day trip “Yoga Sacred Journey” to India from June 1-13, 2013. The group will visit ancient yoga sites, meet teachers, practice yoga and stay in ashrams in the “Yoga Motherland”, traveling to Delhi, Rishikesh, Varanasi and Ladakh.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas, Santa Teresa


Pranamar Oceanfront Villas and Yoga Retreat at Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica 

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas and Yoga Retreat luxury boutique resort is set right on the shoreline at Santa Teresa Beach. The gorgeous, intimate hotel features two-story poolside villas, elaborate beachfront bungalows, extravagant tropical gardens, healthy-cuisine Buddha Eyes Restaurant, and the most lovely free-form saltwater pool.

Winner of the 2012 Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice award and Certificate of Excellence award, Pranamar Villas offers you daily in-house yoga classes, regular yoga retreats and workshops, all-inclusive yoga vacations, and surfing and yoga holidays. See their weekly yoga class schedule on Facebook.

By Shannon Farley