Ocelots and Wildcats and Sea Turtles! Oh, My!

By Anahí Quiñones

Working with the Wildcats and Sea Turtles in Costa Rica

As the end of my career as an undergraduate student came to an end, I found myself asking the same question as other new graduates: what on earth am I going to do with my life? Lucky for me, I stumbled upon a job posting for an Assistant to the Science Program, working with wild cats in Costa Rica.

Osa Conservation

On the Tracks of the Last Jaguars of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Project by Tico Haroutiounian (The first and only high-quality photograph of a jaguar in the peninsula)

As I was about to graduate from Wildlife Biology at McGill, applied and booked my flight as soon as I heard I received the position. I’ve always loved traveling especially in the jungle back home in Peru, and I couldn’t wait to explore the jungle in a new country.

Ocelots and Wildcats and Sea Turtles! Oh, My!

Since being here, and I’ve been here for just over three months, I’ve had some extremely rewarding experiences. This is probably because I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with the turtle program as well as the wildcat program. In my first week here I stumbled upon a mother ocelot and her cub – which left me shaking even as I recovered from my initial shock.

I’ve also had the pleasure of going on patrols and watching mother turtles dig their nests and lay eggs in an incredible trance-like state. Watching mother turtles emerge from the waves seemed almost unreal.

Mother Sea Turtle


Still, the most gratifying moment I’ve had while working with the sea turtle program is most definitely the release of the first set of hatchlings. There’s something simply magical about watching those tiny turtles race into the ocean, an ocean that has been deemed too dangerous for us to swim in. I held my breath and wished each one of those little creatures luck as they disappeared into the waves.

Hatchling baby sea turtle

The People Make the Program

As much as I love the work I do and feel like my time here is coming to an end all too soon, there is one thing I won’t miss: saying goodbye to all the amazing people I’ve met. It’s great that the turtle program receives so many volunteers; the turtle species can definitely use the help.

However, it’s hard to build friendships and have to say goodbye over and over again. There’s no use trying to count the number of people that have passed through over the past three months. I’m sad they’re gone and I miss them, but I’m thankful I at least met all those wonderful people.

Osa Conservation Animals

To Any Future Volunteers

Be prepared to fall in love with Piro. The people, the jungle… the whole jungle life. Be sure to make every moment count, even as you fight off all the bugs that will give you a warm welcome to the Osa Peninsula.

Photos by Anahí Quiñones


Teaching methodology + practicum

  • Learn how to lead and market successful yoga retreats
  • Learn the principles of demonstration, observation, assisting/correcting, and instruction.

  • Learn different teaching styles.

  • You’ll learn specific techniques that will enable you to easily teach all levels

  • You’ll also learn how to sequence your asanas to create a natural, therapeutic and transformative arcs in your classes

  • Learn the qualities of effective teaching

  • Learn the business aspects of being a yoga teacher and gain the building blocks of how to build a thriving yoga career

Development of the Professional Essentials

History, Philosophy + Ethics

  • Identify your spiritual stance so you can step into it as a source of strength
  • Identify walls and develop strategies to take them down
  • Create a support network and support strategies and have them in place when you leave
  • Complete a physical and spiritual adventure challenge
  • Learn the business aspects of building a thriving yoga career
  • How to bring the practice of yoga into your everyday life and make it work for you
  • The science and application of mantra
  • An overview of the history of the yoga tradition
  • The ethical standards of teaching yoga

Yoga Humanities

Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™

  • Receive training in Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ training for Yoga Teachers
  • Go further in your anatomy training
  • Learn how to access muscle function
  • How to sequence transformational yoga classes
  • Learn the energetic and deeper sublime effects of asana
  • The science and application of Mantra
  • Design classes based on Ayurvedic principles
  • Knowledge of both human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.) and energy anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.).

Anatomy & Physiology

Techniques, Training and Practice

  • A breakdown in the anatomical and energetic categories of postures
  • Develop a daily meditation practice
  • Learn pranayamas, kriyas, chanting, mantra, meditation, and other traditional yoga techniques
  • How to sequence and structure transformational 60 and 90-minute classes
  • Practical experience teaching postures, classes, and meditation
  • Learn deep relaxation techniques
  • Yoga Nidra, as taught by the Himalayan tradition and Western tradition
  • Learn how to conduct and lead fire rituals
  • Kundalini Yoga techniques
  • Learn the subtle energetic aspects of yoga like the Koshas and chakras
  • Kriya Yoga and Laya Yoga

Advance Your Own Practice in Yoga

Techniques, Training and Practice

  • A breakdown in the anatomical and energetic categories of postures
  • Develop a daily meditation practice
  • Learn techniques in pranayamas, kriyas, chanting, mantra, meditation, and other traditional yoga techniques
  • How to structure and sequence transformational classes
  • Practical experience in teaching postures, sequencing, and meditation
  • Learn deep relaxation and meditation techniques that come from the Himalayan tradition

Develop a Rock Solid Practice in Yoga

Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™

  • Receive training in Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ training for Yoga Teachers
  • Develop an understanding of basic anatomy
  • Learn about muscle function and how to improve it (something you will not learn in any other YTT)
  • Knowledge of both human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.) and energy anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.)
  • The study of both the subject and application of its principles to yoga practice (benefits, contraindications, healthy movement patterns)
  • Skills to teach yoga classes suited to all levels of practice.

Anatomy & Physiology

History, Philosophy + Ethics

  • An in-depth study and application of the Yoga Sutra
  • How to bring the practice of yoga into your everyday life and make it work for you
  • The science and application of mantra
  • An overview of the history of the yoga tradition
  • The ethical standards of teaching yoga

Yoga Humanities

Teaching methodology + practicum

Get hands-on practice teaching so that you’ll be able to teach on day one after the training is finished. You will:

  • Practice teaching in small and large groups

  • Be ready to teach yoga as soon as you leave the yoga teacher training

  • Get hands-on experience teaching and give/receive feedback

  • Practice assisting students

  • Learn the principles of demonstration, observation, assisting/correcting and instruction

  • Learn different teaching styles

  • Learn qualities of effective teaching and adjust to the student’s process of learning

  • Learn the business aspects of how to build a thriving yoga career

Development of the Professional Essentials