people practicing handstands

Handstand Intensive Retreat

We help you achieve a better, easier, and faster handstand!

The intensive training is open to all levels, from complete beginners to professional hand balancers. The handstand methodology taught at the handstand intensive combines two different techniques: Chinese and Ukrainian hand balancing techniques. The focus is on alignment. We will meet you at your current skill level and push your practice further to unlock its full potential. We tailor the intensive to each participant’s level. Upon completion of the intensive, you will receive a personalized program to continue your practice at home and make further progress.

Nov, 4 — Nov, 11 | $1999

shared accommodation: $1999
single accommodation: $2999

About Your Yoga Instructor(s):

Nicolas Montes de Oca

Nicolas Montes de oca is a professional circus performer who has dedicated his life to hand-balancing and the circus arts.

He has developed his own unique style in the discipline of hand-balancing, fusing it with dance and movement which has taken him all across the world performing.

He spent many years of self-development with HANDBALANCING and then took his skills to new levels receiving professional tuition at the Shanghai Circus School in China, ESAC (Ecole Superior du Arts du Cirque) in Belgium and Kiev Circus Academy in Ukraine. He has performed at many prestigious companies such as Franco Dragone, Les 7 doigts de la main and Cirque Du Soleil.

 
 
 
 

Marie-Eve Dicaire

She began her artistic formation as a dancer, but after three years of training Marie-Ève Dicaire felt something was missing. Little did she know it was a circus. She went on to audition at the National Circus School of Montréal, where she was accepted as a hand balancer, and quickly found hand balancing to be a unique mix of precision and fluidity.

Since her graduation in 2006, she has performed her act throughout Switzerland with Starlight Circus and Circus Monti, in Germany with various cabaret such as Tigerpalast. More recently, she had the occasion to join the 7 fingers for the creation of the show Tryptique and Vice et Vertu and also Cirque Éloize for the show Nezha. Even to this day, Marie-Eve continues to develop herself as a dancer only now she does it while standing on her hands. In addition to her artistic career, she is now teaching handbalancing at the national circus school of Montreal.

What's Included

Girls Enjoying Blue Osa Retreat | Blue Osa

Accommodations

Intentionally designed beachfront eco-friendly rooms with ocean views and the use of the 25-meter pool.

Take a flight to the osa peninsula || Blue Osa Yoga Retreat || Skyway

Transportation

Airport transfer from Puerto Jimenez to Blue Osa and return taxes.

Yoga

Daily yoga classes and yoga props including mats, blocks and straps.

Blue Osa Dessert | Blue Osa

Meals

Three delicious farm-to-table meals per day using homegrown, organic ingredients, plus snacks and more to keep you energized and satisfied the whole week long.

What to expect!

4 november
Training: 4pm – 6pm
Welcome diner 6:30

5 november​
5:00 Coffee and teas
8:00 Breakfast
Training: 9am – 12 noon
12:30 Lunch
Free time to enjoy the surrounding
Training: 4pm – 6 pm
6:30pm diner
Get together

6 november
5:00 Coffee and teas
8:00 Breakfast
Training: 9am – 12 noon
12:30 Lunch
Free time to enjoy the surrounding
Training: 4pm – 6 pm
6:30pm diner
Get together

7 november
Rest Day !! Many activities can be done around the site, and be reserved upon arrival.

8 november
5:00 Coffee and teas
8:00 Breakfast
Training: 9am – 12 noon
12:30 Lunch
Free time to enjoy the surrounding
Training: 4pm – 6 pm
6:30pm diner
Get together

9 november
5:00 Coffee and teas
8:00 Breakfast
Training: 9am – 12 noon
12:30 Lunch
Free time to enjoy the surrounding
Training: 4pm – 6 pm
6:30pm diner
Get together

10 november
5:00 Coffee and teas
8:00 Breakfast
Free time to enjoy your last morning in Costa Rica
12:30 Lunch
Training: 2pm-5pm
6:30 pm diner
Goodbye party

11 novembre
Check out by 10am
Shuttle to the airport time/TBD

“Love the energy of the handstand intensive in Bali for all students of different levels with thoughtful planning of warmup, conditioning & of course many reps and sets of handstand entries! Marie and Nicolas are very patient and observant when it comes to giving clear cues and making physical adjustments. I can think of many good pointers as to why one should try their intensive, but the one that stands out the most is that you walk away with a handstand program! 10/10 highly recommended! ⭐️ ”
— @aerialbobo
“I’ve been training handstands for over 10 years now. In the last 10 years I’ve trained with so many different coaches all over the world. Learning and growing. And I am grateful for all of my coaches that have helped me grow to who I am today. Now with that said. I’ve been feeling stagnant and stuck for the last few years. Making small gains but nothing to really feel proud of personally. Learning from Marie and Nico was eye opening. All the things I’ve heard from other coaches like push, ribs in, all that I’ve drilled, started to make more sense with the drills they gave me. It forced me into these positions and really brought awareness to where I was weak and lacking. Which is awesome because I feel like I’ve been working hard but nothing is happening. But the drills and awareness they brought to the retreat really opened my eyes and gave me literally drills that force my body into alignment and I can feel it changing my line and awareness in two hands and one arm. ”
— @johnleebeck

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