My mom was an Earth mom. A passionate artist. A beautiful gypsy soul, inspired by nature. She gave me life, breath, and infinite love. She shared her love for Nature with me, taught me patience, practice and the power of our thoughts. She taught me to dance to the rhythm of life, to enjoy it and embrace it, even when things didn’t seem fair or go according to plan.
When she departed from Earth at 51, my world shattered. Little by little I picked up the pieces, turning to Nature for healing and clarity, holding on tightly to everything she taught me. That self-love includes all aspects of our being- the happy, the sad, the moments of regret, the inner landscape and outer actions, the difficult past and the unknown future. Embracing all of it with compassion.
I miss her more than ever, but I feel her presence when I’m in Nature. Its like she’s painting beautiful pictures for me to see again as she did once before. I continue to turn to Mother Nature as a guide and a teacher. Hiking has connected me with my roots and helps me stay grounded. It will forever serve as an extraordinary backdrop in my life where beauty can be felt on deeper levels.
Thinking about the 4 elements- Earth, Water, Fire, Air and their representation:
-Earth representing the great Mother, nourishment. abundance, stability, a mother and child relationship. Grounding.
-Water representing life and its flow, peace, serenity, calm, healing cleansing, letting go, adaptability.
-Fire representing energy, strength, power, human desires, passion, drive, creativity, light
-Air representing connection to the universe, being present, mental clarity, communication, breath of life.
We can help bring imbalances back into alignment by using the four elements as reflections of the different aspects of ourselves. By keeping the 4 elements in our awareness, we set ourselves up for better balance, healing, and positive changes.
Spending time in Nature, hiking and yoga has reacquainted me with my personal passions, and continues to inspire me. I believe we are on the right path when we are tapped into ourselves and we experience those “synchronicities.” The road becomes easier, things start to fall into place. Like meeting someone who inspires you or is influential to you at the right time. Zero coincidences. The feeling of expansion sets in as you open your arms to something greater.
I recently connected with my yogi friend Heidi and we’ve put our heads together incorporating these 4 elements as themes for the upcoming Costa Rica retreat. We would love for you to join us as we immerse ourselves in the heart of Rincon de la Viejo National Park! It’s going to be incredibly special and we couldn’t be more excited to host this trip.
Explore the 4 Elements with us on this retreat:
Earth Theme- Morning Yoga + Mineral garden spa treatment & On-site Hot Springs
Water Theme- horseback riding to the Oropendola waterfall . This excursion will begin with a 45-minute ride through a scenic forest trail and a short hike alongside the river to La Oropendola Waterfall, in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park. The impressive 25-meter La Oropendola Waterfall tumbles down into a bubbling turquoise pool in the canyon of the Blanco River. This breathtaking tropical oasis is perfect for a refreshing dip.
Fire theme- Hike to Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
At a towering 6,217 feet tall, is one of 5 volcanoes in the Guanacaste mountain range. The surrounding scenery and varied terrain will take you through lush green vegetation, under cool forest canopies, and past breathtaking waterfalls.
Air- with air representing connection to the universe, being present, finding mental clarity, this ties into each day we are there in this magical place. Heidi will also be teaching a beautiful yin class on the last evening together on this trip, working on breath work. This restorative practice helps bring stillness to the mind, allowing you to relax, and turn inward. Yin yoga improves flexibility, boosts circulation, resets your sympathetic nervous system, and reduces tension and stress.
All of these activities are included on the trip and are optional. We can’t wait to connect with you on this trip of a lifetime. We have a few spots left so if you’re interested in joining us or have questions about the trip, you can head to this link.
Namaste.
