Imagine ringing in the New Year on our own private beach in Costa Rica, toasting our intentions for the year ahead beneath the stars as gentle waves lap at our toes. Waking up the next morning in our own glorious paradise, walking along the path from your room to the open-air cocina for a rich cup of local coffee, the smell of ylang-ylang flowers emanating from the trees along the way. Taking a leisurely stroll down the beach, maybe popping into the ocean for a spontaneous swim before yoga. Dozing off by the pool with your favorite book after lunch while you wait for your afternoon massage. Heading back to the cucina for a cocktail infused with fruits from the tropical trees in the garden as the aromas of our dinner waft through the open-air kitchen. Heading home a week later with your heart full, your vision for your New Year clear, and memories and a community that you’ll remember for always.
We’ve traveled all over the world, and keep coming back to this special sanctuary where the ocean meets the jungle in Costa Rica. We’ve been leading retreats here for many years; our first visit to this same special retreat location was in 2015, and we’ve returned with groups multiple times since then. While the world is big and there are many places to visit, our hearts keep leading us back here.
Things I know to be true in my own experience- hardships are inevitable. Grief and pain are part of life and denying that fact only makes our struggles more painful and more difficult. I love life and I believe in the transformative power of positive thought, kindness, and compassion and know firsthand that there are more layers in life than the bright and shiny ones. Our work is to own ALL of our pieces and ALL of our experiences in order to embrace our true brilliance. Our strength comes from utilizing our resources to be fully seen, fully heard, and fully expressed.
I have found my personal strength through the healing practices of shared vulnerability and truthful expression, in whispering softly to animals, finding delight in the simple pleasures of the senses, traveling to connect with new landscapes and new people, moving my body in ways that it expresses feel best, slowing my mind through meditation, honoring myself and the Earth through ceremony & ritual.
I create sacred spaces for clients to redefine their lives after a loss, empowering them to create and grow resiliency and joyful expression with a deepened appreciation for the beauty of the Spirit.
Carrie Wren
Hi! I’m Carrie. I believe in connecting deeply, expressing fully, experiencing richly…and supporting others in doing the same. I’ve been in pursuit of life-affirming experiences and wild-hearted adventurer for as long as I can remember. As a professional certified coach, I get to have the kinds of conversations that you wish your best friend was trained and willing to have with you: highly intuitive, deeply authentic, no bullshit, and consistently relating to you as your highest and best self, even when you forget who you are. As a yoga practitioner and teacher, I am committed to helping you respect, appreciate, and enjoy being at home in your body. As a transformational retreat facilitator, I see over and over that the alchemy of travel, self-discovery, connection, and yoga among a community of similarly curious and engaged individuals will transform you if you let it. I hope you’ll join us on this special adventure as we Explore & Expand both grief AND joy, together.
What's Included:
Accommodations
Intentionally designed beachfront eco-friendly rooms with ocean views and the use of the 25-meter pool.
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.
Accommodations
Intentionally designed beachfront eco-friendly rooms with ocean views and the use of the 25-meter pool.
Yoga
Daily yoga classes and yoga props including mats, blocks and straps.
Also included:
* access to the onsite spa, along with $50 credit toward any service (what will it be? massage, body scrub, or a facial?)
* surfing lessons with longtime surf instructors on a neighboring beach with waves perfect for first time surfing practice ($115 value)
* rainforest hike through the Matapalo jungle with resident naturalist guide, where we get to learn about the trees, plants, and animals that call this corner of the world Home. For the adventurous, take a dip in the waterfall while we’re there! ($90 value)
* guided morning hike ritual with bird watching to discover some of the over 359 species of birds on the Osa peninsula! ($30 value)
“Gratitude. Not just the kind of gratitude where you think, ‘oh year, I’m thankful for that.’ But the kind of gratitude that goes from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. That aches in your bones and fuels every cell of your being. That makes your heart swell to bursting and break at the same time. This trip has changed me. Taught me lessons I didn’t know I needed to be taught and lessons that I am continually re-learning. And for that I am so grateful. For Carrie who is soulful and deep, and who can make you question everything and reassure you that you know the answers all at the same time. For Kelly who leads with strength and poise and human and adventure, who can offer you support at exactly the right moment but will also be open and vulnerable with you in exchange. For each of my retreat family members who showed up for themselves with radical self-reliance and showed up for each other with trust and integrity.”
— Susan, Explore & Expand Retreats participant
“Kelly and Carrie do an amazing job at crafting an experience like no other. Like they say, it’s not your average yoga retreat. Like I say it’s fucking soulful. It’s full of adventure and pushing beyond your limits. It’s discovering your radical self-reliance on the other side of the world, while also being supported unconditionally by friends you’ve just met. I am so thankful for this growth, connection, and soul expanding experience.”
— Amelia, Explore & Expand Retreats participant
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
