Yoga in Costa Rica

By Aída Gabriela Araya Cascante, Photo by Andrés Madrigal, www.crtraveler.com

Because of its wide range of natural elements, Costa Rica’s landscapes offer a unique environment in which to practice yoga. Here we show you how and where to enjoy yoga on the beach, in the mountains and in the city.

What is yoga?

In the Hindu tradition, yoga aims to integrate an individual’s soul with God (note that the concept of God in the Hindu tradition is not the same as it is in the Christian tradition). Additionally, Hinduism uses more rationalist concepts which affirm yoga’s purpose of developing spiritual consciousness in order to develop the nature and spiritual destination of one’s being.

From Hinduism’s traditional point of view, there is a distinction between soul and mind. The soul, according to this belief, is impassive. The mind is always emotional and changing. Practicing yoga is what calms the mind’s fluctuations and anxieties through discipline and self-awareness of how the mind works.

The traditional concept of yoga is perceived as a discipline that helps satisfy basic human needs: physical needs, through health and exercise; psychological needs, through self-awareness and decision making; and spiritual needs, through feelings of happiness and peace. When these three needs are balanced, according to Hinduism, there will be harmony.

Important Concepts from Different Types of Yoga

There are traditional types of yoga, non-fundamental and those derived from modern schools that date from the second half of the 20th century.

The traditional Astanga yoga, also known as Eight Limbs of Yoga, poses basic concepts that are also used in many other types of yoga. Some of these concepts are: postures known as asanas, which are comfortable postures for meditation; controlled breathing (pranayama) to absorb the prana, or energy present in the air to help aid purification; sensory control, or pratyahara, and dharana, or meditation.

The non-fundamental doctrine, Hatha yoga, uses the asanas (body positions) to generate meditation and mental and physical serenity. Astanga Vinyasa yoga emphasizes synchronized breathing during yoga movements in order to produce heat in the muscles and organs. The heat and sweat, in turn, detoxifies the body. Kriya yoga uses calm breathing to affect the heartbeat, disconnect the senses and help the mind reach a conscious state. The end result is mental and physical cleansing. Kundalini yoga, introduced into Western cultures in the 1970s, includes postures, controlled breathing, slow movements, chanting of mantras, fixed postures and pre- and post-exercise relaxation.

Some modern schools focus on the energy present in the sacrum bone, also called Kundalini. When this energy is activated or mobilized, it generates sensations that have real repercussions in the central nervous system. These results aid in balancing other energy centers in the body, known as chacras. Among the modern schools is Swasthya yoga, which is a systematized, practical yoga; and Matha yoga, which has a therapeutic component that works towards good health through free expression and respect towards other beings.

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, Golfo Dulce

Reachable only by boat, this veritable paradise offers the chance to practice yoga on a platform competely immersed in the tropical forest and the sound of the sea. Their yoga instructors are all certified and work on temporary rotations, which guarantees that your next visit will be new again. “Nicuesa Lodge was a great introduction to yoga for me. The sounds were great: rain falling on the platform along with the waves crashing. It was an unforgettable experience,” said photographer Andres Madrigal after taking a class here. Nicuesa Lodge is a successful example of sustainability, and recycling and renewable energy sources are a priority. The lodge is closed from Octover 1st to November 15th every year.
Golfo Dulce, Osa Peninsula, South Pacific.

Read the original article here