Both Yoga and Acupuncture enhance the body’s natural recuperative powers and immunity to promote healing.    Nadine Johnson and Bina Jangda have teamed up to present this special retreat with a focus on cleansing the body and mind while learning long term practices for lifelong health. 

This unique lifestyle travel experience will build healthy living through a 9 week fitness travel program (4 weeks of pre-trip FITness preparation - 1 week of amazing FITness touring and health programming in Costa Rica then 4 weeks of FITness follow-up).  Enjoy unique fitness, health education, relaxation, fun and sun and be a part of this new and exciting health & FITness experience.
 
Costa Rica: Between two continents and two seas, Costa Rica contains an astonishing diversity and abundance of tropical flora and fauna. Caribbean and Pacific beaches border a land filled with rivers, waterfalls, tropical rain forests, active volcanoes, mountain cloud forests, and exotic wildlife and birds. The program’s miles of hiking through Costa Rica will be an adventure like no other on earth!
 
The Rainforest: Our program is based at the Sueno Azul Eco-Resort located in one of the most diverse regions in Costa Rica (1.5 hours from San Jose), offering a mosaic of mountains, plains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, forests, fruit farms and cattle ranches. Marked by a quaint tropical flavor, the region is lush and enjoys balmy temperatures year round.   Its proximity to Braulio Carrillo’s National Park and its imposing rivers that surround it makes this a place of sanctuary and peace within nature. The hotel praises itself on its unique rustic elegance where the good taste and nature excel between them both. It’s a terrific place to rest and decontaminate your body and soul. Sueño Azul it’s the perfect match between nature and comfort.
 
The Volcano: Experience the wonders of the Arenal Volcano with guided hikes and adventures, as we view its spectacular volcanic eruptions. Activities include, hiking and natural volcano hot springs. View spectacular volcanic eruptions as fire and lava spill over Arenals upper slopes, here the natural beauty of the rain forest mergers with the magnificence of one of the most active volcanoes in the world. 
 
The Ocean: Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast offers impressive combinations of marine life and tropical forest. The region’s idyllic swaths of sugar sand bordered by coconut palms and jungle constitute some of the country’s most enchanting coastal scenery. The Caribbean is an area of exceptional natural wealth, since beyond the rows of palm trees you can often find lowland rainforest and extensive coral reefs inhabited by stunning wildlife. The ever verdant region is also the cradle of Costa Rica’s Afro-Caribbean culture, which implies different cuisine, music and language than what you’ll encounter in the rest of the country.

Yoga with Nadine Johnson (www.noyoga-nopeace.com):

Yoga, as practiced in the West, uses physical movements to both stimulate and relax the mind and body, bringing balance and harmony.   In Vinyasa Yoga, poses (asanas) are connected and guided by breath (pranayama) in specific sequences designed to open the body and calm the mind.  The physical poses lead to a greater comfort with stillness, enabling one to focus and meditate for long periods of time.

Nadine Johnson has been living as a true urban yogi – working full-time and teaching yoga while maintaining a strong practice and balanced life.  Safety, patience and inward focus have been key elements of her practice for over 16 years, which is grounded in Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in India.  “Practicing for life, not just for now” is a key inspiration in her teaching.  Nadine has completed teacher trainings with Clayton Horton at Greenpath Yoga and David Swenson. She also continues her education through workshops and trainings with senior teachers such as David Williams, Richard Freeman, Jonny Kest, Ana Forrest and Sarah Powers. 

Acupuncture with Bina Jangda (www.binajangdalac.com):

Acupuncture is used to regulate and restore the balance of the body in order to assist and accelerate the natural healing process.  It is based on traditional Chinese theories that energy (qi or chi) and blood flow through meridians or pathways that cover the body, somewhat like nerves and blood vessels.  When one or more of these pathways is blocked or there is an overabundance of flow, illness pursues.  By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture re-balances and recharges your energy flow.
 
Bina Jangda was first introduced to acupuncture while living in South Korea in 1994.  Her experiences during her travels around the world for the next several years, prompted her to study acupuncture.  While in school at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, CA, she was fortunate to intern under three very prominent acupuncturists in the Bay Area, Dr. Misha Cohen, Dr. Bob Levine, and Amy Lee. She also gained valuable experience with herbs working at Shen Nong Herbs, a Chinese medicinal pharmacy in Berkeley. Her facial rejuvenation education was under Virginia Doran and Barbara Berger, both leading teachers in the field of cosmetic acupuncture.  Bina has a thriving practice in Northern California. Her work has been featured on ABC "View from the Bay," in "Tathaastu Magazine" and SF Weekly awarded her “Best of San Francisco, 2009”.
 
Sample Itinerary

*We will recommend clients arrive on Saturday, overnight in San Jose upon arrival into Costa Rica so you are well rested to begin your program the next day. 
 
Day 1 (Tu): Arrival Day
1:00p: Pick-up San Jose
12:00p-1:30p: Welcome orientation & lunch
2:00p-4:00p:  Intro rainforest hike
5:00p-6:00p: Yang/Yin Yoga
6:30p: Dinner
7:30p: After dinner activity

Day 2 (We): Rainforest & Waterfalls
6:00a: Wake-up
6:30a-7:30a: *Morning Yoga (*optional)
7:30a: Breakfast
8:30-12:30p:  Rainforest hike & waterfalls
1:00p: Lunch
2:30p-4:30p: Intro to acupuncture discussions
6:00p: Dinner
7:00p: After dinner rainforest walk
7:30p: Acupuncture / Massage sessions

Day 3 (Th): Caribbean Beach Adventure
6:00a: Wake-up
6:30a-7:30a: *Morning Yoga (*optional)
7:30a: Breakfast
8:30a: Transfer Caribbean Coast
10:30a-4:30p:  Rainforest Beach Adventure
National Park Hike
Lunch in area
Yoga, meditation & swim
4:30p: Return to resort
6:30p: Dinner
7:30p: After dinner rainforest walk
8:00p: Acupuncture / Massage sessions

Day 4 (Fr): Rainforest & Waterfalls
6:00a: Wake-up
6:30a-7:30a: *Morning Yoga (*optional)
7:30a: Breakfast
8:30-12:30p: La Selva Rainforest & bio-station hike
1:00p: Lunch
3:30p-5:00p: Yoga
6:00p: Dinner
7:00p: After dinner rainforest walk
7:30p: Acupuncture / Massage sessions

Day 5 (Sa): Arenal Volcano Adventure Day
6:00a: Wake-up
7:00a: Breakfast
8:00a: Transfer to Arenal
10:30a- Hike Arenal Volcano National Park
1:00p: Lunch
3:00p-4:30p: Yoga at Volcano Hot Spring Spa
4:30p: Volcano hot springs & spa free time
6:00p: Dinner at hot springs
7:00p: Return transfer to resort

Day 6 (Su): Rainforest Mountain Adventure
6:00a: Wake-up
6:30-7:30a: *Morning Yoga (*optional)
7:30a: Breakfast
8:30a: Rainforest mountain adventure hike
1:00a: Lunch at mountain top eco-station
2:00p-3:00p: Explore eco-station and waterfall swim
3:00p: Return to resort
5:00p-6:00p: *Massage / Acupuncture sessions
6:30p: Dinner
7:30p: After dinner rainforest walk (silent/walking mediation as a group)

Day 7 (Mo): Rainforest Adventure Hike
6:00a: Wake-up
6:30a-7:30a: *Morning Yoga (*optional)
7:30a: Breakfast
8:30a: Rainforest Adventure Hike
1:00p: Lunch
3:30p - 5:00 Yoga
6:00p: Farewell Dinner
7:30p: After dinner rainforest walk
8:00p: Farewell program

Day 8 (Tu): Departure Day
6:00a: Wake-up
6:30a-7:30a: Morning Yoga / Meditation (everyone in attendance)
7:30a: Breakfast
9:00a: Transfer to San Jose / Depart

Trip Length: 8 Days

Trip Dates: October 5-12 2010
 
Accommodations & Amenities at Sueno Azul:  Your rooms are simple but elegant with 2 queen beds per room, bathroom, ceiling fan and private porch with spectacular views of the lakes, rivers and mountains.  Massages and acupuncture will be administered in the Wellness Center,  Yoga training will take place in the yoga hall all surrounded by lush tropical gardens .  Guests will have access to the outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, which is an ideal place to relax and chat with new friends after a day of challenging activity.

Pricing

$2890 per person based on double occupancy + taxes & fees

*Single supplement: $600pp

Please add 9% for taxes, fees

*$50 per person in gratuities will be collected at the start of the program to be handed out by your tour leaders during your tour.

*Pricing is subject to change

Price includes

• Life Before FIT (evaluation & coaching - 1 month + prior to departure)
•  8-day FIT tour program (all-inclusive)
• All scheduled activities, programming and transportation per itinerary
• 7-night accommodations - Rainforest Resort (dbl)
• All meals
• Full time FIT health coaches & guides
• 1 massage
• Yoga /meditation/information classes led by Nadine Johnson
• 2 acupuncture secessions with Bina Jangda
• Life After FIT (1 month post program nutritional analysis & health coaching, lifetime web resource)

Price does not include:

• Airfare
• Additional programming & activities outside of itinerary
• Miscellaneous items
• Gratuities

Enrollment:   Please call a reservation specialist @ 1-866-363-9773 to hold your space.  Next, download and fill our online form registration form and send or fax it in with a deposit of $1,000 per person within 7 days of your reservations to secure your space.  All major credit cards are accepted.

Airfare:  Please note airfare is not included in the price of your tour.  Airlines that service Costa Rica are American Airlines, Delta, Continental, USAir, Sprit, Frontier, Martin Air, Iberia, LACSA and TACA.  Please feel free to contact FIT Tours for help with airline information and ticketing.  Discount group fares may be available through FIT for groups of 10 or more participants departing and returning together from the same city.  Please contact FIT for additional information.