6 Day Self Reset Yoga Retreat in Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

16:00

Check-out Time:

11:00

Vida Asana is a beautiful retreat center and eco-resort, that provides a combination of lodging, fresh meals, as well as yoga, surfing, and mountain biking. They encourage their guests to soak up the sounds, smells, and visually appealing landscape while letting go and allowing their soul room to breathe. Their open-air jungle yoga shala allows nature’s symphony and natural beauty to create the perfect meditative backdrop to your practice.

Vida Asana is also dedicated to the local community: both guests and full-time residents often engage in garden-building and other sustainable community-building programs. Their current primary causes are BJJ Jaco and Costas Verdes. BJJ Jaco teaches children the joys of physical fitness, discipline, and mindfulness, while Costas Verdes ensures this beautiful land is there to enjoy when they are older. Vida Asana is deeply committed to community involvement and support. While engaging in many activities that support and unite the community at large, they directly support Waves of Hope, an organization affiliated with the 501c Yoga 4 Bee.

All rooms have a private bathroom, hot water, AC, ceiling fan, organic soap, shampoo, and conditioner. It also has a spacious open-air jungle yoga shala, with mats, blocks, straps, and bolsters.

In addition, there's also a pool, a sun deck with lounge chairs, hammocks, and a covered lounge area. Bicycles for transportation to and from the beach are offered. Vida Asana also offers concierge services (booking of tours, adventures, massages, transportation, and general information).

Program

Rediscover yourself between the ocean and the jungle. Immerse in your yoga practice and nature at Vida Asana Retreat Center and Eco-Resort in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. With each morning salute the rising sun in an invigorating Vinyasa yoga and meditation practice.

Afternoons are for exploring the beaches, surfing, going on any additional excursion of your choice, or simply relaxing in the art of doing nothing by the pool or in a hammock. The option to partake in a cacao ceremony, led by a trained shamanic practitioner, is also weaved into the fundamental shaping of this retreat.

All 3 home-cooked meals daily of breakfast, lunch, and dinner made from fresh, local ingredients are included. Evenings will be spent watching the sunset followed by an early evening Restorative yoga and yoga Nidra practice to help ease into a restful sleep.

This retreat is led by Dori Thomsen, studio owner, and yoga instructor of Soluna Yoga and Spa. Soluna is a wellness center located in Jacksonville, FL. Dori lived in Costa Rica for 5 years before returning back to the States and opening Soluna. She and her family return to Costa Rica to offer yoga retreats and yoga training each year.

Costa Rica taught her so much from connecting with nature to the importance of creating community. By far the greatest takeaway from living there and returning each year is Costa Rica’s natural ability to teach you to slow down and leave feeling like you just pressed the reset button.

Vida Asana is a beautiful retreat center and eco-resort, that provides a combination of lodging, fresh meals, as well as yoga, surfing, and mountain biking. They encourage their guests to soak up the sounds, smells, and visually appealing landscape while letting go and allowing their soul room to breathe. Their open-air jungle yoga shala allows nature’s symphony and natural beauty to create the perfect meditative backdrop to your practice.

Daily schedule

08:00 Vinyasa yoga, yoga therapy, meditation
09:30 Breakfast
12:00 Lunch
17:00 Dinner
18:30 Restorative yoga and yoga Nidra

Included excursions

Cacao Ceremony (optional to attend)

Led by a trained shamanic practitioner. Cacao ceremonies are a centuries-old ritual seen as the ultimate heart-opener. In addition to being packed full of vitamins and minerals, cacao increases blood flow to the brain which helps to strengthen awareness and focus. It helps the body to heal, detoxify, and give your immune system a good boost. The experience of raw chocolate can also assist in energetic healing and receiving clarity in the areas of love, purpose, intuitive abilities, career, and personal growth.

Instructors

Dori Thomsen

Florida native Dori Thomsen is a 500-hour experienced yoga teacher, and co-founder of Soluna Yoga & Spa in Jacksonville, FL with her husband, Christian. She first entered a yoga class in 2000 but found her true calling to teach yoga while living in Costa Rica. She completed the 200-hr training in 2010 and continued her studies earning a certificate in Prenatal yoga, Restorative yoga, and stand-up paddleboard yoga while living in Central America. In 2016, Dori completed the 500-hr advanced training in Kerala, India, and in 2017 completed the Yoga Therapy Teacher Training with Amrit Yoga.

Retreat location

Vida Asana is tucked away in the rainforest, less than a mile from the beach, and blends perfectly with the jungle environment. Playa Hermosa is a quiet surfing community, located between the beach towns of Jaco and Manuel Antonio. This location allows the guests to enjoy a wide range of activities if they choose to venture off of the property. Vida Asana is conveniently located 90 minutes from San Jose Airport (SJO), just outside of Jacó in beautiful Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. Situated between the lush tropical beauty of the jungle and the world-famous beaches of Playa Hermosa, the location provides easy access to a variety of activities, excursions, restaurants, and shopping, yet offers a peaceful jungle setting to repose.

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Unique features

Activities

Hiking
Horse riding
Massage
Spa
Stand up paddle boarding
Surfing
Swimming
Swimming pool (outdoor)
Zip lining

General

Air-conditioned rooms
Concierge desk
Dining area
Environmentally friendly
Yoga shala

Services

Bicycle rental

Food

Included in your stay are three meals daily during the retreat, a welcome snack upon arrival, and one sangria night. The food at Vida Asana was created with a healthy lifestyle as the inspiration. Every menu item is made from scratch using whole, and as often as possible, organic ingredients–mostly gluten-free, and vegan-centric, with eggs and yogurt at breakfast, and fish served at dinner every second night. All allergies or dietary needs are easily accommodated. Additionally, they are continuing to install more permaculture gardens and edible landscaping to increase the onsite organic harvest.

Breakfast Examples

Gallo pinto (beans and rice with aromatics and salsa lizano (a very Costa Rican typical breakfast)
Eggs
Sweet plantains
Pico de gallo
Slaw
Fresh Fruit
Tortilla Española (their version of a Spanish omelet made with camote, a local white sweet potato)
Chia pudding with almonds and strawberries
Housemade granola or hot quinoa made with bananas, coconut, and almond butter
Yogurt
Fresh Fruit

Lunch Examples

Greek Salad
Fresh greens (from the garden)
Hummus and Baba ghanouj
Falafel with Tzatziki and Tahini Sauces
Sushi bowl (a mix of sushi rice, carrot, cucumber, avocado, mango, black sesame seeds, sushi nori, and sesame ginger vinaigrette)
Salad greens
Miso soup
Fresh fruit

Dinner Examples

Vegan lasagna, fresh green salad with Dijon or balsamic vinaigrette, and for dessert an apple crisp
Pad Thai shrimp in tamarind glaze with a rainbow mix of fresh veggies in rice noodles and peanut sauce, fresh green salad, and for dessert an avocado chocolate mousse with strawberries

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Gluten Free
Organic
Pescatarian
Lactose Free
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

Vida Asana is located in Playa Hermosa, the adventure capital of Central America. There is something for everyone here! They have narrowed down the many options to include favorites that coincide well with group schedules.

Manuel Antonio National Park
Surfing
Stand Up Paddleboard
Zipline
Horseback riding and jungle spa
Mirador hike
Sweatlodge, led by a trained shamanic practitioner
Spa services

Spa treatments

Soluna Yoga and Spa works with several independent therapists who offer a variety of bodywork. Once the group arrives, they will work with each interested person to schedule treatments during available times within your schedule.

What's included

2 times a day of asana, meditation, and pranayama practice
60-minute massage
Cacao ceremony
Mala to bring the energy back with you
3 wholesome meals each day (local, fresh, and organic)
5 nights accommodation at Vida Asana Eco Retreat Center
Shuttle to/from the San Jose (SJO) airport

What's not included

Airfare
Additional excursions
Additional spa services
Travel Insurance

How to get there

Recommended Airports

SJO

Juan Santamaría International Airport

61 km

Transfer included

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). Transfers from/to this airport are included.

Arrival: To be included in the airport group shuttle transportation included in this retreat, you will want to choose an arrival time between 11 am - 2 pm on June 16, 2025. If you cannot arrive in that window of time, Soluna Yoga and Spa will arrange private transportation for you at an additional cost. It’s typically a 90-minute drive to the retreat center, but the shuttle will stop at a cool sightseeing spot on the way to see crocodiles and will stop at a market for you to get additional snacks and drinks that you would like during your stay.

Departure: To be included in the airport group shuttle that is included in this retreat, choose a flight that departs on June 21, 2025, anytime after 12 pm. If you choose a flight that leaves before that time, Soluna Yoga and Spa will arrange a private shuttle for you at an additional cost not included in the retreat.

Soluna Yoga and Spa recommends, if at all possible, allowing yourself to arrive prior to or stay after the retreat to explore other locales in Costa Rica. If you arrive early, you can meet them at the airport on June 16 if you would like to be on the shuttle. Or if you plan to stick around the country after the retreat they can coordinate transportation/rental car for you or you can ride back to San Jose with the shuttle.

Airport transfer included: Juan Santamaría International Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

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 30 days before arrival.

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