Presenceful Practice for Lives in Transition: A Life-Centering Retreat in Costa Rica with Jayanti & Dr. Brad

Your TourHero

Pic provided by Jennifer Atkins

About Jayanti
For over 25 years I've gained knowledge and experience teaching and living yoga, the last 13 of those specializing in adapting yoga and functional movement for various populations. Over the years I've developed an innovative system that provides holistic support for people living with movement disorders, while continuing to lead traditional hatha yoga and meditation classes.

Today, I am involved in exciting yoga research with the CSU School of Occupational Therapy and have student interns from CSU and CU Boulder assisting me in my programs.

In 1992 I earned my degree in Kinesiology/Integrative Physiology at CU Boulder. I discovered yoga in my mid-twenties and in 1999 became certified YTT through the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and in 2000 I studied and deepened my yoga practice at the Himalayan Institute.

In my 55 years, I have traveled widely, raised two daughters as a single parent, presented in trainings and workshops and completed more than 300 hours of Advanced Yoga Teacher credentials (C-YTT 500).

My passion is to help people live well - in body, mind and spirit. I believe anything is possible and my students prove this every day.

About Dr. Brad
Brad McLain, Ph.D. is the founder of Designing Transformative Experiences LLC and author of the book of the same name. He is a social scientist interested in the nature and psychology of identity development, learning, leadership, and personal transformation. Brad is on the faculty of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Director of Corporate Research at the National Center for Women in Information Technology. He routinely works closely with individuals, companies, non-profits, gov't agencies, education institutions and other orgs on the subjects of change leadership, identity, risk, inclusive culture construction, and personal growth. He has served two terms on the Board of Directors for the Jane Goodall Institute, worked at NASA in the Space Shuttle Program, NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research, and NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. He is also an accomplished filmmaker, martial artists, father of two, and loving husband of Jayanti.

Duration

7 days · 6 nights

Travel Date

Apr 5 – 11, 2025

Activity Level

Moderate

Group Size

12 – 15

Transportation

Group airport & activity transfers

Tour Price

USD 2,792
/ person
USD 600 deposit only
18 people interested
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Your Fellow Explorers

Age range

21+

Travel interest

Wellness, yoga and meditation, nature

Costa Rica>Presenceful Practice for Lives in Transition: A Life-Centering Retreat in Costa Rica with Jayanti & Dr. Brad

This 7-day retreat to the verdant vistas of Alajuela, Costa Rica is tailored to people who are experiencing change in their lives. Based on their upcoming book, Get Out of Your Mind and Into the Moment, 25-year Yoga master instructor Jayanti and her husband social scientist and author Dr. Brad Mclain, will facilitate a journey of change-navigation combining yoga, innovative meditative practices, and the psychology of transformation. You will be guided towards re-centering to a life lived in the present, embracing discomfort, defining your own narrative, and seeking out the depths of your identity. Each day will also incorporate delicious, health-focused food in a garden paradise. Book now to reserve your spot and join us on this journey!

Cancellation policy

TourHero, the retreat host, and the tour operator reserve the right to cancel or reschedule this trip up until January 1, 2025. If the departure is canceled out of your control, you will be alerted by this date and will receive a full refund.

In this case, TourHero is not responsible for your preparation expenses, such as airline tickets, extra accommodations, loss of work, or any other cost associated with preparing for your trip. We recommend booking travel insurance, along with refundable flights/accommodations in case of cancellation.

Refunds for deposits
We will hold your spot as soon as you put down your deposit. However, if you decide to cancel your trip, we will be unable to refund your deposit.

Refunds for fully-paid trips
You may change or cancel your trip by January 1, 2025 for a refund, excluding the deposit. After this date, no refunds will be given. You can change or cancel your trip in your TourHero account by clicking on Your Trips.

Your TourHero

Pic provided by Jennifer Atkins

About Jayanti
For over 25 years I've gained knowledge and experience teaching and living yoga, the last 13 of those specializing in adapting yoga and functional movement for various populations. Over the years I've developed an innovative system that provides holistic support for people living with movement disorders, while continuing to lead traditional hatha yoga and meditation classes.

Today, I am involved in exciting yoga research with the CSU School of Occupational Therapy and have student interns from CSU and CU Boulder assisting me in my programs.

In 1992 I earned my degree in Kinesiology/Integrative Physiology at CU Boulder. I discovered yoga in my mid-twenties and in 1999 became certified YTT through the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and in 2000 I studied and deepened my yoga practice at the Himalayan Institute.

In my 55 years, I have traveled widely, raised two daughters as a single parent, presented in trainings and workshops and completed more than 300 hours of Advanced Yoga Teacher credentials (C-YTT 500).

My passion is to help people live well - in body, mind and spirit. I believe anything is possible and my students prove this every day.

About Dr. Brad
Brad McLain, Ph.D. is the founder of Designing Transformative Experiences LLC and author of the book of the same name. He is a social scientist interested in the nature and psychology of identity development, learning, leadership, and personal transformation. Brad is on the faculty of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Director of Corporate Research at the National Center for Women in Information Technology. He routinely works closely with individuals, companies, non-profits, gov't agencies, education institutions and other orgs on the subjects of change leadership, identity, risk, inclusive culture construction, and personal growth. He has served two terms on the Board of Directors for the Jane Goodall Institute, worked at NASA in the Space Shuttle Program, NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research, and NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. He is also an accomplished filmmaker, martial artists, father of two, and loving husband of Jayanti.

Duration

7 days · 6 nights

Travel Date

Apr 5 – 11, 2025

Activity Level

Moderate

Group Size

12 – 15

Transportation

Group airport & activity transfers

Costa Rica>Presenceful Practice for Lives in Transition: A Life-Centering Retreat in Costa Rica with Jayanti & Dr. Brad

This 7-day retreat to the verdant vistas of Alajuela, Costa Rica is tailored to people who are experiencing change in their lives. Based on their upcoming book, Get Out of Your Mind and Into the Moment, 25-year Yoga master instructor Jayanti and her husband social scientist and author Dr. Brad Mclain, will facilitate a journey of change-navigation combining yoga, innovative meditative practices, and the psychology of transformation. You will be guided towards re-centering to a life lived in the present, embracing discomfort, defining your own narrative, and seeking out the depths of your identity. Each day will also incorporate delicious, health-focused food in a garden paradise. Book now to reserve your spot and join us on this journey!

Timeline

  • Day 1 · April 5, 2025 · Alajuela
  • Arrive in Costa Rica
  • Group transfer from airport to accommodation
  • Check-in at Pura Vida Retreat & Spa
  • 5:00 pm: Welcome ceremony
  • 7:00 pm: Dinner
  • Day 2 · April 6, 2025 · Alajuela
  • 8:00 am: Gentle yoga and meditation
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast
  • 11:00 am: “Ground-of-Being” story circle and flow meditation
  • 12:00 pm: Lunch
  • 1:00 pm: Free explore
  • 4:00 pm: Intro to Presenceful Practice
  • 6:00 pm: Dinner
  • 8:00 pm: Meaning making and meditation/relaxation
  • Day 3 · April 7, 2025 · Alajuela
  • 8:00 am: Gentle yoga and meditation
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast
  • 11:00 am: Foundations of Presenceful Practice - Discomfort, Narrative, Identity
  • 12:00 pm: Lunch
  • 1:00 pm: Off-site adventures
  • 6:00 pm: Dinner
  • 8:00 pm: Meaning making and meditation/relaxation
  • Day 4 · April 8, 2025 · Alajuela
  • 8:00 am: Gentle yoga and meditation
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast
  • 11:00 am: Applying the psychology of Transformative Experience to your change path
  • 12:00 pm: Lunch
  • 2:00 pm: Interactives - Our Intersectional Selves and Identity Authorship
  • 6:00 pm: Dinner
  • 8:00 pm: Meaning making and meditation/relaxation
  • Day 5 · April 9, 2025 · Alajuela
  • 8:00 am: Gentle yoga and meditation
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast
  • 11:00 am: Yogic Philosophy & You
  • 12:00 pm: Lunch
  • 1:00 pm: Off-site group excursion
  • 6:00 pm: Dinner
  • 8:00 pm: Meaning making and meditation/relaxation
  • Day 6 · April 10, 2025 · Alajuela
  • 8:00 am: Gentle yoga and meditation
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast
  • 11:00 am: Get Out of Your Mind and Into the Moment: Take-home practices for centering the Self
  • 12:00 pm: Lunch
  • 1:00 pm: Presenceful Playtime - Life Transitions with a dose of humor
  • 4:00 pm: Yoga mindful movement
  • 6:00 pm: Dinner
  • 8:00 pm: Farewell ceremony
  • Day 7 · April 11, 2025 · Departure
  • 8:00 am: Gentle yoga and meditation
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast
  • 11:00 am: Meaning making and collective identity narratives
  • 12:00 pm: Lunch
  • Check out of accommodation
  • Group transfer from accommodation to airport
  • Journey ends

Details

Day 1 · April 5, 2025

Welcome to Costa Rica!

-Arrive in the paradise that is Costa Rica and transfer to your accommodation in Alajuela, home to lush natural scenery, coffee plantations, and a serene atmosphere.

-Attend a welcome ceremony where you can greet your fellow travelers, set your intentions, and get ready for the upcoming journey.

-A delicious, colorful dinner closes out this first night in Costa Rica.

Day 2 · April 6, 2025

Move your body and flow into the present

-Greet the morning with gentle good-morning yoga and meditation, allowing your mind and body to ease into the day.

-Before lunch, we will have a “Ground-of-Being” story circle to center and guide intentional transitions and build community. A flow meditation will complete the session.

-The early afternoon will be free, allowing you to explore and make use of the amenities available at the retreat.

-At 4:00 pm, we will have an Intro to Presenceful Practice. This will establish a foundation that will guide our experience together, empowering you to embrace life changes through a holistic, present-moment sense-of-self.

-Before heading to bed, meet with the group for a good-night meditation, relaxation, and meaning-making contemplation.

Day 3 · April 7, 2025

Unpacking discomfort and embracing a spirit of adventure in Alajuela

-Our morning routine begins once again with good morning yoga, meditation, and breakfast.

-Our morning workshop today is about practicing a presenceful approach to life with new skills. Here, we will work together to explore risk and discomfort as powerful allies (rather than adversaries) on our transformative journeys. This will activate our natural skills for defining our own narratives and identities in new ways.

-The afternoon will be spent away from the retreat center, going on adventures and exploring the beauty of Costa Rica.

-Enjoy a gentle and calm evening at the retreat, eating dinner and meditating.

Day 4 · April 8, 2025

Explore the philosophical roots of Presenceful living

-A beautiful day blooms here in Alajuela. Move your body and allow your senses to awaken with gentle good morning yoga and meditation.

-Designing Transformative Experiences Into Our Lives. This workshop experience will provide powerful insights into how the mind-in-transition works and the connections your mental realm has to your physical and spiritual realms.

-Our Intersectional Selves and Identity Authorship: An interactive session in the afternoon is sure to have great impact. Focusing on our many identity narratives and learning to use them to navigate life changes with agency and intention.

-Enjoy another gentle and calm evening at the retreat, eating dinner and meditating.

Day 5 · April 9, 2025

Yogic philosophy and integration

-With the sun, we rise and attend a session of gentle good morning yoga and meditation.

-After breakfast, we will begin a workshop on yogic philosophy. Here, you will learn just how important it is to approach your practice from a thoughtful, philosophical stance. The ideas presented here will have a huge impact in the way you understand yoga as a holistic process in your life.

-Grab lunch at the retreat and prepare for an off-site group excursion that will introduce you to even more of Costa Rica's views and vistas. Connecting with both Mother Nature and the local culture, you will be able to feel Alajuela's pulse.

-As always, we round out the day with dinner, meaning making, and meditation/relaxation.

Day 6 · April 10, 2025

Get into the moment and make peace with play

-After our morning routine, attend a session dedicated entirely to the theme of the retreat: getting out of your mind and into the moment. Here, you will learn everyday micro-skills to re-frame anxiety and worry into values and change-agency. Being able to live in the moment is hugely rewarding and absolutely critical to well-being and growth.

-A Presenceful Playtime will occur in the afternoon, focusing on the joy, simplicity, and abundant energy available in the here and now.

-Get in touch with your body and its various movement patterns during mindful movement in the later afternoon.

-Our last full day ends with dinner and a farewell ceremony where our progress will be celebrated and reflected on.

Day 7 · April 11, 2025

Looking towards the future

-Despite this being our last day, we begin as always with good morning yoga, meditation and breakfast.

-Closing “Ground-of-Being” Story Circle: Where we share our “A-Ha” moments, new insights, and intentions for life back home.

-Eat lunch and then check out of the accommodation. In the afternoon, we depart for the airport to fly home. Be well!

Accommodation

  • Pura Vida Retreat & Spa

    Nestled amidst the lush greenery of Costa Rica's Central Valley, Pura Vida Retreat & Spa offers a serene sanctuary for rejuvenation and relaxation. Surrounded by tropical gardens and panoramic views of the distant mountains, this eco-friendly retreat embodies the essence of Pura Vida, a local philosophy celebrating a pure and simple way of life. Guests are invited to unwind in luxurious accommodations ranging from charming casitas to cozy cabins, each designed to harmonize with the natural beauty of the surroundings. From invigorating yoga classes in open-air pavilions to holistic spa treatments utilizing indigenous ingredients, every experience at Pura Vida is crafted to nourish the body, mind, and soul. With a commitment to sustainability and wellness, this haven provides a tranquil escape where guests can immerse themselves in the tranquility of Costa Rica's pristine nature while embracing a holistic approach to well-being. Room type: Vista. Room configuration: Double occupancy with two twin beds.

Included

  • 6 nights in Pura Vida Retreat & Spa

  • Shared double occupancy in accommodation

  • All meals

  • All activities described in the itinerary

  • One group airport arrival transfer

  • One group airport departure transfer

  • Transportation between activities and accommodation

Not included

  • Flights

  • All food and drinks not mentioned in inclusions

  • Optional add-ons

  • Travel insurance

  • Gratuities

FAQ

What happens if I need to cancel my trip?

Please check the on this itinerary page for specific details.

Will TourHero or the operator take care of my visa (if applicable)?

Travelers are responsible for researching visa requirements and obtaining a visa if needed. Please check government websites to ensure you have the necessary documents, along with passport requirements, before your departure date. This includes necessary transit visas, permits, and vaccinations required prior to travel and any required reciprocity fees for the destination. TourHero will provide a booking confirmation document after purchase, which may be needed to obtain a visa.

If your visa is denied for any reason, TourHero will issue a refund based on the cancellation policy. However, we are unable to provide a refund after the cancellation due date has passed.

Do I need a passport for this trip?

A full and valid passport is required for all persons traveling to any destination outside of one’s home country. Most international tours require a passport that's valid for at least six (6) months beyond the scheduled end of your itinerary. TourHero will not issue refunds based on passport issues such as renewals or lost passports.

What's included in the price?

Please check the inclusion and exclusion sections above. You'll find information about included meals, transfers, flights, and activities. If you have any questions or need support, please contact hello@tourhero.com.

Available add-on

Single supplement room upgrade for the entire trip

Want a little more privacy during your trip? Select this single supplement add-on and have a room all to yourself.

Price: USD 702

15 spots left

Single supplement add-on

Cancellation policy

TourHero, the retreat host, and the tour operator reserve the right to cancel or reschedule this trip up until January 1, 2025. If the departure is canceled out of your control, you will be alerted by this date and will receive a full refund.

In this case, TourHero is not responsible for your preparation expenses, such as airline tickets, extra accommodations, loss of work, or any other cost associated with preparing for your trip. We recommend booking travel insurance, along with refundable flights/accommodations in case of cancellation.

Refunds for deposits
We will hold your spot as soon as you put down your deposit. However, if you decide to cancel your trip, we will be unable to refund your deposit.

Refunds for fully-paid trips
You may change or cancel your trip by January 1, 2025 for a refund, excluding the deposit. After this date, no refunds will be given. You can change or cancel your trip in your TourHero account by clicking on Your Trips.

USD 2,792
Per person