About
Our Moon sisters retreat is created with the idea to nurture, celebrate and create sacred space for women, reconnecting them as a sisters in all of their beauty
It is a sacred time away from jobs, obligations and responsibilities where women can get together, enjoy daily meditation and yoga classes, dance, massages and share stories and their wisdom. It is a time for us to be pampered, nurtured and connect with Mother Nature and female energies.
Our retreat is taking the place during the time of the New Moon and it is a time in the lunar cycle that is calling us to turn inwards, to heal and to nurture ourselves. Time to restore and recharge. Time to connect with our true essence. The New Moon is the time to set an intention. It’s a time to step away from our very active, Yang way of living and to connecting with our dreams and desires. It is the time of our Wise Woman female archetype.
Respecting the moon cycle we will be starting our days with meditation and yoga practice and our days will end with sacred women sunset gatherings. We will come together to share stories around bonfires, singing, dancing and explore the beauty of female essence. Among like-minded powerful women, each women has the space to be heard, respected and nurtured. Through different rituals, each women will gain tools for empowerment and passion.
For those who are willing (wether permitting) to join we will organise visit to waterfalls and volcanic hot springs to get the Pacha Mama blessings and Ecstatic dance session to atone with higher frequencies.
Accommodation
Our retreat is taking place at The Azul Ocean Club, a beach front Boutique Hotel, situated at Playa Azul, a heavenly location on the Guanacaste coast of Costa Rica, in on one of the world’s 5 blue zones.
The Azul Ocean Club offers quiet and fully equipped villas and rooms, with private entrances and balconies that give guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed and pleasant stay.
All the rooms are air-conditioned with spacious private bathrooms, volcanic stone showers, and hi speed Internet access.
Each room has a terrace or balcony with a hammock and outdoor dinning area where you can enjoy your book or take an afternoon siesta.
The Azul Ocean Club has an outdoor swimming pool, gym, game room, hot tub, beach front restaurant, pedal boards, kayaks, kids playground and and much more.
All meals on this retreat are vegetarian, prepared with love by our chefs, and with ingredients that are in season and sourced from local farmers.
To pamper you even more, The Azul Ocean Club Spa is there for you. You can choose exclusive personalised treatments from facials and body treatments done with freshly hand made on-site, organic beauty & body care products, inspired by the teachings of some of the best herbalists teachers of Central America.
To respect the current times, this retreat is limited on 15 participants . All of our group activities will be held outdoors, including meals and yoga. The restaurant and yoga area are both outside and spacious, with a steady ocean breeze. Mats and props will be sanitised after each class. Rooms and community area are treated daily according to the Costa Rican health protocols.
Teachers
Paula
Paula Pourtugeis was born in Chile, country of mountains and sea. Since young age she felt the impulse to find answers to the meaning of existence on this planet. When introduced to yoga and meditation practices, she discovered a powerful tool that is nourshiring, healing and align with her life purpose.
After emerging herself daily in yogic studies, she founded Surya Collage, the first yoga college in Chile in 2008. She was teaching and guiding hundreds of students in person and now, she transformed her school into a educational digital platform with the mission to serve and educate students in integral well being.
As a long term Zazen student, she created her own Surya Flow method that combines fluid asana practices with zazen mindfulness.
She is hosting annually retreats and Teacher trainings in Panama, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Rapa Nui, Santiago and San Pedro de Atacama.
“ The path of yoga has taught me to release, change and overcome fear to understanding that only thing you have to do is to learn how to flow”
Irena
Irena Bartolec is an authorised KPJAYI Yoga Teacher, currently based in Costa Rica. She holds and organizes annual Retreats, Workshops, and Teacher Trainings internationally in Bali, Europe, and beyond.
Irena has 17 years of extensive Teaching experience in the fields of Yoga, Health and Mindfulness. She is the Creator and Director at Ashtanga Yoga Mama, established in 2014.
Irena has studied Yoga and Meditation extensively with Sri. K. Patthabi Jois, Sharat R. Jois, Rolf Naujokat, Richard Freeman, Lino Miele, Nancy Gilgoff, Eddie Stern, Dr. Jayashree and Prof. Narasimhan, Sharon Salzberg, Bodhi College. Their great wealth of knowledge, generosity, and tutelage have formed the pillars for Irena’s own yogic teaching style, and accompanying philosophies.
Irena’s refined teaching philosophy balances well honed strength with proper alignment, ensuring that students develop an extensive yet firm Yoga practice, equally pledging importance on Creativity, Individuality, Discipline and Tradition.
In 2004 Irena opened The Body Element Studio in her hometown of Zagreb, Croatia. She designed, conceptualised, created, managed, owned and taught at Body Element for 10 years. Her passion for Yoga and Wellness supplied Irena with the vision and fortitude to establish the first traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa program in Croatia. Her early teaching choices and business inceptions laid the foundation for a rapidly growing and currently successful Yoga community in Croatia.
In 2014 Irena Bartolec moved to Bali where she taught at Seminyak Yoga Shala until May 2019. She developed and lead their Ashtanga Yoga program, overseeing and teaching a very successful and influential Mysore program that drew students from all over the world.
Irena is a creator and lead teacher for Cosmos Yoga Academy Teacher training program.
She is a published writer on The Medium, and contributor at Sensa lifestyle Magazine since 2008.
Art Photography
As a part of our team, we are grateful to have Isabel Fernández Echavarría on board.
Isabel is an artist, photographer with the designer degree from the P. Universidad Católica de Chile.
She approaches her work from the idea that everything arises from a single source of light, which expresses itself individually with its own vibration and on different planes that coexist with us, even though we cannot see them.
She will be available for you to take some artistic photos during our retreat.
Let yourself go through the magic of being portrayed, to celebrate the beauty of this moment as well as yours. Posing is creating a dialogue, a trustful space between you and the photographer where your soul can show up in whole essence and power.
Shooting will be done with film and handmade, analogue prints, will be sent to you.
Highlights
- Daily yoga and meditation practice
- Sacred famine workshops
- Ecstatic dance
- Peaceful, quiet and unique location
- Healthy vegetarian food
- Time to retreat and reconnect
- Waterfall visit (weather permitted)
- Hot springs Visit
Prices
Early Bird Prices (May 1st):
Single 1650$
Double 1450$
Full Price:
Single 1850$
Double 1650$
- 15% deposit is needed to reserve your spot
- Complete payment is due on 15th May
- All deposits are 100% refundable or transferable to other dates
Included:
- Accommodation 8 nights/ 7 days
- Daily coffee, tea, breakfast and dinner
- All yoga programs
Daily Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
7:30 - 8:00 |
Meditation/ Pranayama |
|
8:00 - 9:30 |
Sun / Moon Flow |
|
10:00 - 11:00 |
Breakfast |
|
16:00 - 17:00 |
Restorative (mon/ wed/ fri) |
|
17:30 |
Moon Goddess circle |
|
18:30 |
Dinner |
Useful info about traveling to Costa Rica:
Closest airports are Liberia (LIR) and San Jose (SJO)
Currently there are direct flights from Madrid and Frankfurt to SJO
Free tourist visa is valid for 90 days, as well as your driving license
Local Currency is Costa Rican Collones but most of the stores will accept US$ also.
In April, weather is hot and sunny with average temperatures from 26-30 celsius.
Check in is on 17th April at 2pm, check out is on 24th April at 10am
Currently, No Covid test is required to enter the country
The following requirements remain during the pandemic:
Complete the digital form called HEALTH PASS and available at https://salud.go.cr
This pass will be available 48 hours before boarding. It must be accessed in an updated browser (except for Internet Explorer). An individual form must be completed for every person, including minors.
Purchase health insurance
It is mandatory that tourists purchase travel insurance, covering their accommodations in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 illness. An explanation of one’s travel insurance coverage, addressing Costa Rica’s requirements, must be uploaded or entered into the HEALTH PASS in order to be reviewed and approved by the Costa Rican authorities.
- In case you need a Covid test to return in to your home country, it can be easily arranged at the premises.
Upon booking you will receive a info sheet on how to prepare for your trip.
