22 Day 200-Hour Restorative and Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in Cabuya, Puntarenas

Facilities

Certification

Students who complete their subsequent training are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®).

Who is this training for?

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the art and science of yoga in a well-rounded way. In addition to the study of the physical postures of yoga, you will spend time talking about philosophy, pushing your personal boundaries when it comes to your beliefs about yourselves and the world around you, exploring your minds and any patterns that are impeding your progress towards your goals and forming a connection with one another.

If you are looking for connection, inspiration, and a deepening of understanding of your own spirituality, mind, and body, this is the training for you. You will also gain an understanding of what is happening below the skin in a yoga (asana) practice. Mandy is passionate about studying anatomy and loves to share this with her students. They do not have a minimum requirement in terms of length of time or level of practice.

For those coming with less experience and looking for certification, you will work together to determine if you are ready to teach upon leaving the training. For those not wishing to teach after the program, you will follow the yoga intensive track. Each person is different and comes with different experiences, qualifications, motivations, and goals.

About the training

In this training, you will focus on both gentle Vinyasa flow and Restorative yoga styles. As a certification student, you will learn to teach effectively in both of these styles and will be able to use your new skills to put together with other types of classes as well. You will be provided with outlines for both of these types of classes and will practice teaching each during the training. Yoga intensive students will delve deeply into both of these styles, but will not participate in the practicum portion of the training. This is not acrobatic yoga training.

You will not study how to do headstands or handstands or other physically 'complicated' postures. You will focus on around 50 postures (asanas) that can be offered in yoga classes of any level. Using breath, internal focus, increased body awareness, and mindfulness to increase the level of difficulty when desired. The philosophy is that yoga is an individual practice and that they must meet each student where they are. You will study and learn a complete yoga practice including all of the eight limbs.

This includes, but is not limited to meditation, pranayama (breathing practice), yoga philosophy, lifestyle, anatomy, and more. You will be here for 21 days. Checking in on a Saturday and checking out on a Saturday. You will have four days off during the training. Some of the content will be assigned online, which allows for some extra free time during your time here. You will be starting at 6:30 a.m. daily and most days you will go until 6:00 p.m. You will have a break for breakfast and lunch and finish up for the day just before dinner.

Yoga intensive students will have the opportunity to participate in off-site activities (not included in price) while certification students are doing practicum classes. Certification students will fulfill 180 hours during these three weeks (10 hours per class day), so as you can imagine, you will be very busy. Please be ready to learn and work. The additional 20 hours will be fulfilled by doing some assignments and reading required texts prior to coming to live training.

They are welcoming you to bring your spouse, friend, and child(ren) with you to Cabuya Lodge for these three weeks. Of course, only students will take part in and be present in the training classes. However, for some activities, you will be able to include your families.

They welcome children of all ages, however, children under three years of age will likely need a one on one care provider, which may increase the cost. Please speak to them directly so they can see what works best for you and your family. Please note that children will be on the property and will participate in some family-friendly activities during this training. If you feel that may lessen your experience, it may not be the training for you.

Required reading

• Happiness Now! - Robert Holden Ph.D
• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Swami Satchidananda
• The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice - T. K. V. Desikachar
• Yoga Anatomy: 2nd Edition - Leslie Kaminoff

Suggested (not required) reading

• Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda
• The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

Daily schedule

• 06:00 Fruit and coffee and tea available
• 06:30 Seated meditation
• 07:00 Asana practice (alternating between Restorative and Vinyasa)
• 08:30 Breakfast
• 09:00 Anatomy
• 12:00 Lunch
• 13:00 Teaching methodology or philosophy, lifestyle, and ethics
• 16:00 Snack
• 16:30 Practicum or teaching methodology
• 18:00 Dinner

Cabuya Lodge is located in the fishing village of Cabuya (de Cobano) on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in the province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica. They are only minutes away from Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve, about 20 minutes from Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, and 10 minutes from Montezuma. Cabuya is about as close to the end of the earth as it gets in Costa Rica and is one of the most remote towns. The tourism infrastructure is much less developed, with far fewer hotels, and the people who live there or visit like it this way.

It is quite an amazing place with two really amazing surf spots and several large waterfalls that are practically unknown to all but a handful of people, the mysterious Cabuya Island, the official entrance to Cabo Blanco Park, and perhaps the largest tree in Costa Rica. The terrain is very flat in town, unlike Montezuma or Santa Teresa, so it has a lot of pasture within the village itself, creating a very rural feeling. For many people, Cabuya is the closest thing to paradise they have been able to find in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is a rich paradise where you can experience nature at its finest. On the property, it is common to see both howler and white-faced monkeys, iguanas, many species of birds, and so much more. Even from the yoga deck, you can see guatusas, red squirrels, blue morpho butterflies, and pizotes.

Distances

• Montezuma - 10 minutes
• Mal Pais - 20 minutes
• Santa Teresa - 20 minutes

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Each yoga teacher training package includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily (even on days off). Dietary restrictions can be accommodated when requested in advance. Meals will be healthy and nutritious. It is not required to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet during the training, however, those options are certainly available. If you have particular snacks for you or your children that you would like to have on hand, please bring them with you. Each room or cabin has access to a fridge for storage. There are also supermarkets close by to stock up if needed.

Beach day in Los Cedros

Los Cedros is a favorite local beach and they love to spend lazy days there watching locals surfing, beach-combing, or just catching some rays. There are sandy areas of the beach and others made up of teeny tiny shells and rocks. You can swim and surf at this beach, and it is only minutes away from Cabuya Lodge.

Cabo Blanco hike

Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve is one of the most scenic and beautiful areas in all of Costa Rica. This area is totally protected, and here you can see many species of local wildlife in their natural habitat. There are two hikes that you can do. The shorter of the two is about four kilometers and takes approximately one and a half hours. The length is about 10 kilometers and takes about four hours. Bring a water bottle, bug repellant, and good hiking sandals or shoes. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

• Cost: 12 USD to be paid at the entrance to the park

Horseback riding

Experience Pura Vida on horseback. Ride along Cabuya's beautiful beaches on horses that are extremely loved and cared for. Ask them for further details and pricing.

Isla Cabuya walk or explore

Only a few minutes walk from Cabuya Lodge you will find the entrance to this magical island. Only accessible on foot at low tide, you will have to time your visit accordingly. Isla Cabuya is the location of the local cemetery, which is really interesting to visit. There are some lovely swimming and snorkeling spots on the island as well.

Massage

Enjoy a relaxing massage in the beautiful yoga shala or in your room if you choose. Many styles of massage are available; including Swedish, Lomilomi, deep tissue, and more.

• Cost: 65 USD for 60 minutes, 95 USD for 90 minutes

Surf lessons

Young Vision Surf School is a Costa Rican owned and operated surf school in Montezuma and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Experienced local instructors teach you about safety in the water, how to stand up on the board and catch waves. Lessons include the use of the surfboard, rash guard, and two hours of instruction with bilingual local instructors, as well as fresh fruit at break time.

The team is ISA (International Surf Association) certified coaches, certified beach rescue lifeguards, and ICT licensed tour guides. Class size is limited to a maximum of three surfers per instructor to ensure you get the attention you deserve and learn quickly. Let the local crew give you the true Costa Rican experience and learn to surf in paradise.

• Cost: 50 USD

Wildlife shelter

The Wild Sun Rescue Center is dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of wildlife in the southern Nicoya Peninsula. They bring in injured and orphaned wild animals from across the region and provide them with the appropriate medical care and shelter. When they have healed, they are released back into their natural habitat, while the severely injured with permanent handicaps remain under their care. Visit Wild Sun Rescue center for an educational visit and enjoy a delicious lunch as well as their amazing pool and bar.

• Cost: 50 USD per person

Zipline canopy tour

Explore the mountains of Montezuma by air as you zip along nine cables distributed among 13 platforms. See the abundant wildlife as you fly along, and enjoy a rush like no other. You will also have an opportunity to swim at the natural pools of the famous Montezuma Waterfall. An experience you will not want to miss.

• Cost: 50 USD plus transportation from Cabuya Lodge

• Tuition
• 21 nights accommodation
• 3 meals plus a snack daily
• Certificate upon completion of the course
• Course manual

• Airfare
• Books
• Transportation
• Laundry service
• Massages

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 14 days before arrival.