Spirit of Costa Rica:
A Transformational Journey

OCTOBER 13th-18th, 2023

Join Dr. Lisa Koche and Gregg Gonzales on a transformative and mindful retreat in Costa Rica. Learn how to reverse the aging process and connect with self, nature, and community through intentional practices and experiential learning.

Embark on a transformative journey that will leave you feeling inspired, youthful, and empowered to unleash your true potential.

This immersive experience is for those who are prepared to embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and personal growth through the application of innovative, indigenous, and alchemic techniques. Our guided workshops and practices may call for a willingness to be vulnerable, seek truth, engage in self-reflection, and summon courage, resulting in a transformation of the body, mind, and heart like never before.

Prepare to forge lifelong friendships with other like-minded, truth-seeking individuals.

During this retreat, attendees will have the unique opportunity to intimately connect with holistic expert, Dr. Lisa Koche and heart connection guide, Gregg Gonzales. Both will be available to engage in meaningful conversations, share insights, and offer personalized guidance throughout the entire experience. Additionally, attendees will be surrounded by a community of individuals who share a passion for growth and healing, providing an opportunity to connect and create lifelong friendships.

What's included?

(5) Amazing nights in gorgeous hardwood ecotourism minded bungalows that are set into the lush nature scape of the retreat property.

woman helping adjust someone during a yoga class full of people
Daily Morning Group Yoga Classes, vocal activation and sound healing ceremonies, live music and dance, nature walks and excursions to beautiful pristine beaches and mountain viewpoints.

3 nutritional meals daily with organic, all locally- sourced ingredients prepared with intention for optimal energy and vitality during retreat.

EXPERIENCES

  • Balance your chakras through meditation with crystal bowl sound healing meditations.
  • Connect with the healing power of local nature through guided meditation hikes to viewpoints and nature reserves.
  • Welcome Cacao Ceremony, Meditation and Live Music Kirtan.
  • Awaken your body and mind with a Cacao Spa Sensuality Awakening Ritual Body Mask and Scrub with local indigenous ingredients.

mindful EXPERIENCES

Guided Meditations

Reduce stress and increase self-awareness through guided mediations.

Personal Story Assessments

Identify limiting beliefs through deep conversations about growth.

Shadow Work

Uncover and heal repressed emotions and negative patterns with shadow work.

Guided Journaling

Identify goals and intentions through guided journaling and heart connection.

Chakra Alignments

Balance the body’s energy centers with full-body chakra alignments.

Connection Workshops

Gain deeper connections with oneself and others with connection workshops.

Through this retreat, you’ll have the opportunity to experience ancient rituals that will transform your body, mind, and spirit, and connect with the natural beauty and wisdom of Costa Rica’s people and land. This retreat is for you if you are ready to dive deep into your own healing journey and are interested in exploring the transformative power of indigenous traditions.

picture of the hut guests will stay in at the costa rica retreat, its a pink wooden hut with a hammock for guests to use
a picture of a fresh salad featuring the organic food attendees of the costa rica trip will enjoy
Picture of Man and woman sitting on the ground with their instruments while people dance around them in costa rica at night
picture of the hut guests will stay in at the costa rica retreat, its a brown wooden hut with a front porch, surrounded by tropical plants
Picture of a yoga hut in costa rica with mats and singing bowls are laid out on the ground.
picture of the hut guests will stay in at the costa rica retreat, its a pink wooden hut with a hammock for guests to use
a picture of a fresh salad featuring the organic food attendees of the costa rica trip will enjoy
picture of the hut guests will stay in at the costa rica retreat, its a brown wooden hut with a front porch, surrounded by tropical plants
Picture of Man and woman sitting on the ground with their instruments while people dance around them in costa rica at night
Picture of a yoga hut in costa rica with mats and singing bowls are laid out on the ground.
Dr. Lisa Koche standing in office with arms crossed

Meet your guides:
Dr. Lisa Saff Koche and Gregg Gonzales

Driven by a love of serving others by sharing their passion and knowledge, Dr. Lisa Koche (triple-board certified MD, functional medicine and longevity expert, international speaker and author) and Gregg Gonzales (holistic connection specialist, speaker, and CEO of SpeakEasy Media LLC), bring over forty years of wellness expertise training the mind, body, and spirit how to live an abundant, healthy, and happy life with their focus on the concept of …

Youthing

The Art Of Growing Young At Any Age.

More Enhanced Experiences With Healers Fern Olivia & Maxim Marlo.

Fern and Maxim will be joining us to bring their expertise in physical and spiritual healing. Based out of Costa Rica, both Fern and Maxim have been sharing their knowledge in yoga, music, reiki healing, breathe work, sound therapy, and mindfulness over the past several years, while also working with Indigenous tribes and native wisdom keepers to weave in the Ancient Practices to preserve Mother Earth. They will be joining us to help facilitate our enriching experiences and raise our energetic vibration.

By merging Dr. Lisa’s years in medicine and vast knowledge of treating the body with Gregg’s tools and lessons that focus on the mind and heart, these experts come together to enhance the energy and spirit within each of us.

Here’s The Truth

Play Video

Are you ready to take control of your aging process and learn the concept of ‘Youthing’?

Imagine feeling physically, mentally, and spiritually rejuvenated, vibrant, and full of vitality as you reach your future milestones. Don’t let the wear and tear of aging leave you feeling worn out and sick. 

Join us in Costa Rica and reverse the clock on aging through our innovative workshops and personalized guidance, you will gain the knowledge and tools to nurture your body, mind, and spirit, achieving a life full of purpose and passion. Discover the concept of ‘Youthing’, and realize that life-expectancy is unlimited if we take proper care of of body, mind, and spirit.

Don’t miss out on this life-changing experience that will equip you with the skills to unleash your full potential. What age will you be five years from today? Ten years? Twenty? Sign up now and unlock the unlimited potential of ‘Youthing’.

Purposeful

Energetic

Youthful

Healed

Passionate

FAQ

October 13th-18th, 2023

Below is a sample itinerary from our February 2023 retreat.  We will update this once we get closer.
* You can expect a very similar itinerary as this, however we do plan to incorporate even more healing-focused events. An extra day’s worth of events will also be added for the October retreat.

Day 1

– Arrivals

– Welcome dinner

– Welcome Ceremonial Cacao Ceremony, Song Circle and Sound Journey

Day 2

– Morning yoga (optional) or beach time

– Breakfast  

– Session with Lisa and Gregg 

Indigenous chocolate experience and Bribri Waterfall adventure

– Lunch to go 

– Break 

– Late afternoon session with Fern & Maxim: Guided Longevity Meditation & Holotropic/Wim Hof breathwork practice accompanied by live music, followed by journaling 

– Dinner

– Evening session with Lisa and Gregg

Day 3

– Morning yoga (optional) or beach time

– Breakfast and session with Lisa and Gregg

– Youthful spa workshop with cacao and coffee from Indigenous Farms (on the beach)

– Free time, beach time

– Lunch

– Session with Lisa and Gregg

– Late afternoon session with Fern & Maxim Gentle: Light restorative yoga session with acoustic live music and crystal bowl sound journey

– Break 

– Dinner

– Evening Session with Lisa and Gregg

Day 4

– Morning yoga (optional) or beach time

– Breakfast 

– Embodied Vocal Breathwork Workshop

– Session with Lisa and Gregg

– Free time, beach time

– Lunch

– Explore the local town as a group 

– Dinner

– Evening session with Lisa and Gregg

– Candlelit session with Fern & Maxim: Yoga Nidra with Chakra Balancing sound healing journey 

Day 5 

– Breakfast

– Gentle hike to gorgeous mountain vista 

– Restorative 4-Elements Yoga with Therapeutic Essential Oils, accompanied by Live Music

– Closing Ceremony with Cacao and Sound Journey

– Departure

Included experiences:

Ceremonial Cacao & Sound Healing with Crystal Bowls and Live Music: This experience combines the local organic Cacao sourced from our friends at the indigenous BriBri farms with a multi-instrumentalist sound journey to give you a healing and relaxing journey guided by two passionate musicians and cacao ceremony facilitators, Fern Olivia and Maxim Marlo, also known as Pranamor.

Cacao is an ancient medicine used by indigenous tribes of Costa Rica for purification and connecting to the heart. In this musical Cacao Ceremony, we will provide an authentic ritual cacao drink, made from pure cacao from Talamanca, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. Then we will embark on a shamanic sound journey with instruments from around the world, vocals, overtone singing, mantra, Native songs and Traditional medicine songs.

You will enjoy a 1.5 hour musical ceremony with Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, bells, harmoniums, guitar, West African N’goni, Native American flutes, tuning forks and other overtone-emitting instruments used to create an environment conducive to deep relaxation and inward investigation. Participants are led through guided meditations and sound healing practices designed to harmonize body, mind and spirit, and experience the heart-opening and connective effects of ceremonial cacao.

Embodied Vocal Breathwork™ Workshop: We will open with a meditation guided and grounding breathwork by Fern Olivia, Rebirthing and Holotropic Breathwork Facilitator. Following, we will invite you to join your voices with us in overtoning vocal activation as Fern and Maxim of Pranamor lead us in vocal expression practices, mantras and traditional Spanish medicine songs. This event is about connecting deeper to yourself through your breath and voice and also connecting to the other participants through toning together as group. Conscious toning can release tensions and bring a sense of exhilaration and feeling of aliveness. It can help to balance or tune up the whole body system. When toning with another person, listening is a major component as it involves blending one’s own voice with another’s voice. In addition, finding the space between the breaths allows access to a meditative state of quiet stillness.The meditative practice of calling to the divine through call and response chanting creates a bridge between the individual and the eternal, opening the heart and welcoming the spirit. By singing these prayers we unite our voices and join in a stream of consciousness and devotion that has been flowing for centuries.

We will explore the heart-expansive and meditative journey of singing to the divine, to Mother Earth, and to our souls, through Bhakti mantra, medicine songs, and overtones, creating a bridge between the individual and the eternal, opening the heart and welcoming the spirit to sing free. Dancing and freedom of expression and movement are always encouraged! 

Candlelit Restorative Yoga & Yoga Nidra accompanied by Live Music

This event will transport you into the magic of Yin guided by Fern Olivia, RYT-500. Taking you through the evolving journey of life, accompanied with live music featuring the N’Goni West African Harp and crystal singing bowls with Maxim. The smooth sounds will enable you to focus on your mind, find peace and discover tranquility.

The practice is a passive and restorative style of yoga with a focus on long relaxing stretches between 3 – 5 minutes at a time. Expect to go into long, deep, luxurious holds while you enter a meditative and grounded state.

Following this, you will be guided in the beautiful indulgence and relaxation of Yoga Nidra, also known as yogi sleep or conscious sleep. Yoga Nidra works as a healing, powerful meditation technique, and one of the easiest yoga practices of ‘Pratyahara’ to develop and maintain. This systematic meditation takes you through the pancha maya kosha (five layers of self), leaving you with a sense of wholeness.

Maxim will serenade you with angelic vocals and a beautiful uplifting sound healing. This offers a truly unique experience and allows you to be transported in a floating sensation finishing off your day in a state of pure bliss.

Also included:

Youthful Spa Workshop with Cacao and Coffee from Indigenous Farms: This is a unique experience to prepare your own facial masks and body scrubs with local ingredients sourced from indigenous farms including cacao, coffee, moringa, coconut, and more –  then use it on yourself in the luxurious, gorgeous natural salt pools in Playa Chiquita!

This special experience introduces guests to the “Food of the Gods” as cacao is loaded with iron, polyphenols and flavonoids. Giving yourself (or your loved one!) a cacao scrub and massage infuses your muscle tissue and skin with magnesium, sulfur, zinc, iron, copper, potassium, and manganese to relieve discomfort.

This sensory experience activates and stimulates endorphins, providing a great moment of bliss!

Each guest is invited to massage their own body in a full-body coffee scrub with local Costa Rica coffee, cacao and coconut oil. After enjoying the feeling and aroma of this beautiful natural exfoliant, rinse in the refreshing salt baths in the tide pools, come out clean and apply a cacao face mask, sourced from the BriBri indigenous cacao farm in the Talamanca mountains, with local herbs. During our time spent together I share my favorite cacao and chocolate recipes for ceremony, massage, and rituals I have here as a local in Puerto Viejo!

After this experience, you will be gifted with a facial scrub elixir to take home, consisting of pure Costa Rican cacao, coffee, and local superfood herbs rich in Vitamin C.

Everything is included except transportation to and from the retreat center. We do suggest bringing some cash with you for the occasional meal out, souvenirs, etc.

Playa Chiquita is a small beach community 6 kilometers south of Puerto Viejo on the southern Caribbean coast.

sPlaya Chiquita is an international neighborhood that celebrates ecotourism, nature and diversity. Some of our neighbors include several delicious restaurants and cafes, an all services grocer, local farmers market certain days of the week and various tourist services.

Our bungalows are just a five minute walk to one of the most beautiful beaches on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. After walking down a nature trail across the road, you will find the unspoiled Playa Chiquita with reefs for snorkeling, palm tree covers for shady lounging and, depending on the time of year, either waves for surfing or calm waters for swimming.

Playa Chiquita is the best of two worlds. It is so easy to be a part of the lively Puerto Viejo scene only 6 kms away yet far enough away to enjoy a peaceful ecotourism sanctuary where you’ll hear the beautiful sounds of the jungle and local community.

Puerto Viejo is a laid back beach town moving to its own reggae beat.

With its “tranquilo” vibe, friendly people and lush tropical surroundings people easily fall in love with this place. The Puerto Viejo area hosts a variety of excellent restaurants and offers fun nightlife with live music and people from all over the world.

At our retreat center, you are able to enjoy Costa Rican ecotourism at its best, be removed from the action and noise yet you can easily get into Puerto Viejo with a quick bike ride or taxis that run all day and night.

 

Option 1: Shared Shuttle

This is the most common option to get to us from the San Jose Airpot with the best value.

There are several shuttle companies that provide door-to-door service from the San Jose airport or hotel directly to our retreat center. Shuttles usually make the trip in around 4-5 hours. These are the most popular shuttle companies for this area:

Caribe Shuttle – https://www.caribeshuttle.com/

Pleasure Ride – https://www.pleasureridecr.com/

Interbus https://www.interbusonline.com/

The shared shuttles cost is up to $59.00 per person. A private shuttle for up to 10 people costs about $290.00. Check with the shuttle company for exact times and prices

 

Option 2: Hopper Flight to Limon & Shorter Shuttle Ride

If driving in a car for several hours is not for you – speed up your transportation by hopping a local national flight through Sansa Air (www.flysansa.com) from San Jose (SJO) to Limon (LIO) and then taking Caribe Shuttle’s Airport Express for $22 per person to our retreat center in Playa Chiquita (https://www.caribeshuttle.com/limon-airport-shuttle)

Both the flight and shuttle can be booked in advance using the links provided. The shuttles are timed with the flights making it easy and simple to coordinate your transportation.

Yes, we offer shared accommodations, in gorgeous hardwood ecotourism minded bungalows that are set into the lush nature scape of our retreat property.

Each bungalow has a different theme expressed in the hand carved wood, tile mosaics, painted murals, and artistic details. Enjoy hot showers and cool breezes from the overhead fan and large screened windows. Bungalows are constructed in traditional fashion with zinc roofs, open-air screens, wooden walls, and floors.

Staying in one of our bungalows means being close to nature, sleeping to the sounds of the jungle, and maybe relaxing in the hammock on your front porch. Observe heliconias, gingers, sloths, hummingbirds, toucans and more. It’s truly a jungle experience

  • Running shoes for light hikes or activities
  • Sandals for beach and retreat center use – slip on sandals are great
  • Day pack to carry water snacks personal items to the beach or on tours
  • Swimwear – even if you don’t swim you may want to wade in the ocean
  • Beach towel
  • Sun hat / high factor sunscreen / sunglasses / SPF clothing- be aware that you will be close to the equator so the sun is intense and you may need protection if you are fair-skinned or sensitive
  • Light long sleeved sweater and light loose pants for the evenings or traveling in airplane
  • Rain poncho or umbrella
  • Water bottle
  • Flashlight or headlamp
  • Ear plugs – it’s amazing to sleep in the sounds of the jungle but if they are too much you’ll have ear plugs to help. Howler monkeys wake up really early and we have lots of birds here!
  • Natural bug spray if you are sensitive to bugs – lemongrass and eucalyptus essential oils are great to keep mosquitos away also!
  • US or CR currency for massages, tours and transportation. Cash is often the easiest option for paying for these things and gives you the maximum options. Small bills under $20 are great as there is a large number of $20 bills that circulate the area.

Our chosen retreat center has established themselves as a leader in ecotourism and healthy living, known for helping travelers to unwind, de-stress, and take in nature all around them.

Gourmet organic vegetarian meals and teas are served daily. We welcome vegan, gluten-free, and special dietary requests. 

Still have questions?

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