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Feeling a little chilly in these winter months? Well, we promise you just thinking about Julie’s Summer Solstice Retreat will start warming up your heart. True Nature Education is so thrilled to have this shinning leader on our team. She will be bringing a group to the magical lands of Mt. Chirripo, Costa Rica June 18th- June 25th, 2016. Limited spots are still available at early bird pricing so grab them while you can! Click here to learn more!

Curious to learn a little more about Julie and her Costa Rica Yoga Retreat? Check out our exclusive interview below:

TNE: . How does the idea of Summer Solstice play into your upcoming Yoga Retreat, and what themes do you see coming up? 

Julie: 
The Summer Solstice marks a shift in the season and the beginning of the Ayurvedic Pitta season. Hot, intense and full of passion! It is a valuable time to celebrate the light and love, not only around us but also within us. In many cultures, light symbols consciousness and self-illumination. For thousands of years the Hindus have praised the sun as both the physical and spiritual heart of our world and creator of life itself.

I want to offer a unique journey for this celebration of the spiritual heart and inner light. Guiding you to either begin or deepen your yoga practise and empowering you to introduce more yoga and light into your life. We will be exploring the transformation that happens, feeling the magic of Pura Vida in Costa Rica and celebrating Summer Solstice.

When I think of themes I’d like to introduce, it is about self-love, transformation, inner light, the yoga path, but I am so excited to see the flow of energy in the group and to discover new themes along the way, which the individual body and mind brings out.

We will manifest our dreams and goals, whilst creating space for deep gratitude of living from a state of pure being and infinite love. And practice our power of shining brighter from within.

TNE: Who has been your greatest influence and why?


It is difficult for me to name only one source of influence or inspiration in life, as there are so many interesting paths ways to learn. I resonate with the Dhama teachings, which offers such a humble and simple guidance to a happy way of life. I am influenced by anything that allows me to live a simple life where just being me is good enough and being free, open-hearted, loving and devoted is accepted as a meaningful lifestyle. My family has influenced me greatly, growing up with a spiritual mother, teaching me about meditation and self-expression has had a huge impact on where I am today. My yoga teachers, who I am still learning from, inspire me every day to learn more, offer more of myself and be devoted in my self-practice.

TNE: If there was a yoga pose or mediation practice that described you – what would it be and why?
I think right now, where I am this very moment, it would be Camatkarasana (wild thing). It brings a beautiful element of dance and unique expression into your practice and opens the heart from a strong, happy and balanced place.

I read a very beautiful poetic translation of what the asana means, “the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart”. I am excited, enchanted, blissful and open to explore and create. So for me this pose is an expression of creativity, joy and openness.

TNE: Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions? Will these be explored in your retreat
My greatest passion besides yoga is traveling. Visiting new places and get in touch with other cultures and ways of life. I love to spend time outside, feeling close to nature, either in the forest horseback riding, hiking in the mountains or playing by the beach. I love astrology – especially the Vedic astrology. The way that the moon and the universe affect us fascinate me, so I read a lot about that.

TNE: What is on your “Costa Rica bucket list” and what are you most excited about?
First of all I am very excited to be in the National Park of Chirripo during the retreat. It is such a magical and beautiful place to be. Second I am super excited about the Summer Solstice event that we will be having on June 20th. Celebrating the longest day of the year with soothing yoga, a garden event with candle lights and exquisite local food and later a temple ceremony or a guided walk through the rainforest depending on the weather. Other than that I hope to stay in Costa Rica after the retreat to explore some of the beaches and activities around.

TNE: Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?
If you think positively, sound becomes music, movement becomes dance, smile becomes laughter, mind becomes meditation – life becomes a celebration.

All We Have Is All We Need

By Joshua Canter

I clearly remember five years ago, traveling through my home state of California and into the mountains of southern Oregon. Our core group of 12, caravaning in three cars, looked at various properties where we thought we might settle and start our community. One place after another left us uninspired and drastically surprised at the prices of properties that did not even fill a quarter of the specifics that we were looking for in a piece of land.

Did our community want to start with a 30-year mortgage? Already our projected budget for start-up had almost doubled from what we initially thought it was going to cost. Suddenly, our dream of a new, liberated, and simple life seemed more like a mirage; instead, we’d be digging ourselves into a deep, complicated hole. How were we going to do this?

A few months later, after tips from some friends, I spontaneously took a journey to Costa Rica to explore the country and to continue the search for our new home. During the two-month period, I looked at over 100 pieces of property up and down the country. Property in this country was inexpensive compared to where we were looking before, and the land was abundant in resources beyond what I could find anywhere on the west coast, with rivers, waterfalls, tropical fruit trees, rich soil, springs, wildlife, clean air…and the list went on. Costa Rica, the “Rich Coast,” was named by the Spanish after they came through and found no gold at the time. But because the land was so rich in natural beauty, they fittingly gave it its name.

On New Year’s Day, 2004, after purchasing the property, we settled on our land and True Nature began. True Nature is located in the rural farming village of La Florida. For generations the Costa Rica Natives (“Ticos”) have lived simple, sustainable, and rich lives, with almost nothing to show for it. Most of them grew up subsistence farmers, working with the land they had, using it to provide the necessities for the family. Each family in the village helped one another with growing food, caring for the children, building, and sharing resources. The families, most of them having 10 children, also grew together as they participated in celebrations, played soccer, sang traditional “rancho” songs, danced salsa, rode horses, and so on. As we arrived in the village at our new home, we soon realized we were moving into a community that had been flourishing for generations, in our eyes with almost nothing.

We showed up on our land with only the goods we could each fit into two duffel bags. Coming from the states, the four of us each had our different standards of living, but with the limited resources we had brought, we would each be leading a more materially simple existence. During the previous four years, our group had been meeting together, creating vision documents, timelines, and plans to create our community, True Nature. It was to be a flourishing education center, filled with an art studio, yoga center, community lodge, several cabins, houses for the residents, and more. I remember sitting on a stump outside the small Tico house which came with the land, looking out at the vast valley which was our property, and thinking, “How are we going to afford to do this?”

With the example that surrounded us in the Costa Rican community of La Florida, our vision began to shift drastically. We witnessed a flourishing community, as rich as we had ever seen before in many ways, living with nearly nothing. In our councils we began to ask questions like, “Why do we need a car, when we can ride a horse? Why do we need a washing machine, when we can wash by hand? Why do we need a lawnmower, when we can use a machete? Why do we need such a large vision, when we see the simplicity and harmony of a multi-generational community surrounding us?” The discussion went on for months and still goes on today.

The average wage in Costa Rica is approximately $3 an hour, and with this we understood that if we wanted to work we would either have to create our own businesses on the land, or go back to the United States to work. We also realized that because we had decided to live here, we had no mortgage; the land had been paid off completely. Many variables came forth and created lively discussions at our council meetings and around dinner time. 

The cultural mentality of wealth, scarcity, and abundance became more and more clear as time went on in the village and in the creation of our own community. I watched my Costa Rican neighbors, on pieces of land on either side of me, wake up at dawn, work in the fields until sunset, come home to their families and their simple little homes, and do it again the next day. I would visit them often in the evenings and on the weekends and be amazed at how happy these people’s lives were. Children would run from house to house in the village; the men would sit on their decks and watch the sunset after a long day’s work; the women would visit each other often. All they had was all they needed, and they were genuinely happy. In Costa Rica, the mantra of the country is “Pura Vida” (pronounced pooda veeda), which means “pure life.” Wherever you go in the country, people say proudly, “Pura Vida.” The pure life I witnessed in the village of La Florida was a reflection that continues to guide our community today.

In the US, I had grown up in an upper class family in Los Angeles. Richness was not seen through natural resources and quality of life, but through the vacations we took, the cars we drove, and the clothes we wore. America today, more than ever, is looking at the question of “What is enough?”

Slowly, as time went on at True Nature, we began to want more and more. Our vision was not to live as the Ticos do, and some of us more than others were eager to move forward and begin to grow the vision that we came with originally. Struggles began to arise amongst the group as some began to propose that we begin to obtain more and more resources to help us move forward with our vision. After a year and a half, one community member purchased the first vehicle. We followed by deciding to ship an overseas crate from the United States, containing tools and materials we could not get in the country.
Around the same time that we bought our vehicle, a few other foreigners bought property in the village to start their own community projects. They came with their own mission and vision. It was to “build, and build fast.” Just as many Americans have done in the country, they came with all of their wealth from the states and created what they wanted, at the pace that many people create in the states. As this began to happen around us, it affected our community and affected the village. As the new people in La Florida brought their own form of wealth, everyone, including the Ticos and ourselves, began to watch and feel the result of this new form of abundance.

Subtly we began to desire more. We watched the new people get new cars, washing machines, chainsaws, and hot water. And naturally, we wanted these things. We watched people build structures within months, and already begin to host groups of people, a vision we had years ago; and we wanted these things. And most of all, we were struck by the effect it had on the simple native people of the “rich coast”; they wanted these things.

The next years became dynamic years of change, growth, and learning at True Nature. The key to our growth was acceptance: acceptance of all the dynamic ways and all the many forms in which life provides us gifts.

In response to the changing times, two of the founding partners of True Nature began the CREER Service Organization. The mission of the organization is to provide a bridge of education, awareness, and a global perspective from the world to the villagers of La Florida, helping to support the native culture through changing times.

We began to accept more and more the delicate balance we were finding in living in the village of La Florida and at True Nature. We understood that change was inevitable and we acknowledged also our roots, values, and each other’s diverse upbringings.

We embraced the vehicle which took us to town each week, and we also embraced the machete which cut down coconuts so efficiently. We shared gratitude for the hot water which cleaned our dirty bodies, and also marveled in the cool waters of the waterfall on our land. We used the telephone and the dial-up internet to communicate with our families and spread the word of our community and sprouting education center, and we visited our new adopted Costa Rican family nightly. We learned that truly, all we have is all we need.

Many of the experiences of the past four years have melded into who I am today, and also how I see scarcity and wealth within myself, my community, and the world. After seeing such drastic differences between the lifestyle I grew up in and the lifestyle in which I started my new life at True Nature, I feel that I have a broad perspective on this facet of life. Deep within myself, I have a knowing that if I need to, I can live with very little and appreciate the richness of life. If the resources of our apparent “abundant” American culture run out, I will be one of the minorities of people who will be okay, accepting “all I have is all I need.” I understand that with this, life does not come easy, and it takes hard work to live in a way that is so simple and truly rich. I also have a deep gratitude and appreciation for living with the material abundance I grew up with and that I have today in its various forms. I cherish the opportunity to have the plethora of experiences, education, and resources I have, that the Ticos in the village of La Florida may never have. Through this, I also have learned my greatest gifts: acceptance and compassion. I have an understanding that abundance, wealth, richness, means something different to everyone. I understand people have deep feelings about these topics that are sensitive and trigger some of the deepest primal parts of our selves. And I understand that throughout time, people will continue to evolve and learn more and more what the gifts of life mean to them.

Just yesterday I received an article sent to me from my grandmother. The article was about a research project that studied the top four areas of the world where people live to be the oldest on the planet. To my surprise, one of the areas is just north of where True Nature is, in a village similar to La Florida. The scientist interviewed one of the oldest women of the village, who was 100 years old. He asked, “What is the secret to living such a long and healthy life here in such a simple village?” She answered, “Oyeee… I am blessed.” It is my wish that no matter what life gives us, we can realize that we are all, in our own unique ways, truly blessed.

Joshua is an educator, facilitator, and consultant, whose mission is to support people interested in exploring and learning about the many facets of living in community. He is the co-founder of the True Nature Community and Education Center (truenaturecommunity.org) in Costa Rica and The CREER Service Organization (creerbelieve.org). Through his work he hopes to help people discover how they can create ways of holistic living filled with connection, support, and interdependence. When Joshua is not living in Costa Rica he resides in Asheville, North Carolina, where he is the coleader of the Asheville Communities Network (ashevillecommunitiesnetwork.com).
For more information, contact Joshua: Joshua@truenaturecommunity.org.

All We Have Is All We Need

By Joshua Canter

I clearly remember five years ago, traveling through my home state of California and into the mountains of southern Oregon. Our core group of 12, caravaning in three cars, looked at various properties where we thought we might settle and start our community. One place after another left us uninspired and drastically surprised at the prices of properties that did not even fill a quarter of the specifics that we were looking for in a piece of land.

Did our community want to start with a 30-year mortgage? Already our projected budget for start-up had almost doubled from what we initially thought it was going to cost. Suddenly, our dream of a new, liberated, and simple life seemed more like a mirage; instead, we’d be digging ourselves into a deep, complicated hole. How were we going to do this?

A few months later, after tips from some friends, I spontaneously took a journey to Costa Rica to explore the country and to continue the search for our new home. During the two-month period, I looked at over 100 pieces of property up and down the country. Property in this country was inexpensive compared to where we were looking before, and the land was abundant in resources beyond what I could find anywhere on the west coast, with rivers, waterfalls, tropical fruit trees, rich soil, springs, wildlife, clean air…and the list went on. Costa Rica, the “Rich Coast,” was named by the Spanish after they came through and found no gold at the time. But because the land was so rich in natural beauty, they fittingly gave it its name.

On New Year’s Day, 2004, after purchasing the property, we settled on our land and True Nature began. True Nature is located in the rural farming village of La Florida. For generations the Costa Rica Natives (“Ticos”) have lived simple, sustainable, and rich lives, with almost nothing to show for it. Most of them grew up subsistence farmers, working with the land they had, using it to provide the necessities for the family. Each family in the village helped one another with growing food, caring for the children, building, and sharing resources. The families, most of them having 10 children, also grew together as they participated in celebrations, played soccer, sang traditional “rancho” songs, danced salsa, rode horses, and so on. As we arrived in the village at our new home, we soon realized we were moving into a community that had been flourishing for generations, in our eyes with almost nothing.

We showed up on our land with only the goods we could each fit into two duffel bags. Coming from the states, the four of us each had our different standards of living, but with the limited resources we had brought, we would each be leading a more materially simple existence. During the previous four years, our group had been meeting together, creating vision documents, timelines, and plans to create our community, True Nature. It was to be a flourishing education center, filled with an art studio, yoga center, community lodge, several cabins, houses for the residents, and more. I remember sitting on a stump outside the small Tico house which came with the land, looking out at the vast valley which was our property, and thinking, “How are we going to afford to do this?”

With the example that surrounded us in the Costa Rican community of La Florida, our vision began to shift drastically. We witnessed a flourishing community, as rich as we had ever seen before in many ways, living with nearly nothing. In our councils we began to ask questions like, “Why do we need a car, when we can ride a horse? Why do we need a washing machine, when we can wash by hand? Why do we need a lawnmower, when we can use a machete? Why do we need such a large vision, when we see the simplicity and harmony of a multi-generational community surrounding us?” The discussion went on for months and still goes on today.

The average wage in Costa Rica is approximately $3 an hour, and with this we understood that if we wanted to work we would either have to create our own businesses on the land, or go back to the United States to work. We also realized that because we had decided to live here, we had no mortgage; the land had been paid off completely. Many variables came forth and created lively discussions at our council meetings and around dinner time. 

The cultural mentality of wealth, scarcity, and abundance became more and more clear as time went on in the village and in the creation of our own community. I watched my Costa Rican neighbors, on pieces of land on either side of me, wake up at dawn, work in the fields until sunset, come home to their families and their simple little homes, and do it again the next day. I would visit them often in the evenings and on the weekends and be amazed at how happy these people’s lives were. Children would run from house to house in the village; the men would sit on their decks and watch the sunset after a long day’s work; the women would visit each other often. All they had was all they needed, and they were genuinely happy. In Costa Rica, the mantra of the country is “Pura Vida” (pronounced pooda veeda), which means “pure life.” Wherever you go in the country, people say proudly, “Pura Vida.” The pure life I witnessed in the village of La Florida was a reflection that continues to guide our community today.

In the US, I had grown up in an upper class family in Los Angeles. Richness was not seen through natural resources and quality of life, but through the vacations we took, the cars we drove, and the clothes we wore. America today, more than ever, is looking at the question of “What is enough?”

Slowly, as time went on at True Nature, we began to want more and more. Our vision was not to live as the Ticos do, and some of us more than others were eager to move forward and begin to grow the vision that we came with originally. Struggles began to arise amongst the group as some began to propose that we begin to obtain more and more resources to help us move forward with our vision. After a year and a half, one community member purchased the first vehicle. We followed by deciding to ship an overseas crate from the United States, containing tools and materials we could not get in the country.
Around the same time that we bought our vehicle, a few other foreigners bought property in the village to start their own community projects. They came with their own mission and vision. It was to “build, and build fast.” Just as many Americans have done in the country, they came with all of their wealth from the states and created what they wanted, at the pace that many people create in the states. As this began to happen around us, it affected our community and affected the village. As the new people in La Florida brought their own form of wealth, everyone, including the Ticos and ourselves, began to watch and feel the result of this new form of abundance.

Subtly we began to desire more. We watched the new people get new cars, washing machines, chainsaws, and hot water. And naturally, we wanted these things. We watched people build structures within months, and already begin to host groups of people, a vision we had years ago; and we wanted these things. And most of all, we were struck by the effect it had on the simple native people of the “rich coast”; they wanted these things.

The next years became dynamic years of change, growth, and learning at True Nature. The key to our growth was acceptance: acceptance of all the dynamic ways and all the many forms in which life provides us gifts.

In response to the changing times, two of the founding partners of True Nature began the CREER Service Organization. The mission of the organization is to provide a bridge of education, awareness, and a global perspective from the world to the villagers of La Florida, helping to support the native culture through changing times.

We began to accept more and more the delicate balance we were finding in living in the village of La Florida and at True Nature. We understood that change was inevitable and we acknowledged also our roots, values, and each other’s diverse upbringings.

We embraced the vehicle which took us to town each week, and we also embraced the machete which cut down coconuts so efficiently. We shared gratitude for the hot water which cleaned our dirty bodies, and also marveled in the cool waters of the waterfall on our land. We used the telephone and the dial-up internet to communicate with our families and spread the word of our community and sprouting education center, and we visited our new adopted Costa Rican family nightly. We learned that truly, all we have is all we need.

Many of the experiences of the past four years have melded into who I am today, and also how I see scarcity and wealth within myself, my community, and the world. After seeing such drastic differences between the lifestyle I grew up in and the lifestyle in which I started my new life at True Nature, I feel that I have a broad perspective on this facet of life. Deep within myself, I have a knowing that if I need to, I can live with very little and appreciate the richness of life. If the resources of our apparent “abundant” American culture run out, I will be one of the minorities of people who will be okay, accepting “all I have is all I need.” I understand that with this, life does not come easy, and it takes hard work to live in a way that is so simple and truly rich. I also have a deep gratitude and appreciation for living with the material abundance I grew up with and that I have today in its various forms. I cherish the opportunity to have the plethora of experiences, education, and resources I have, that the Ticos in the village of La Florida may never have. Through this, I also have learned my greatest gifts: acceptance and compassion. I have an understanding that abundance, wealth, richness, means something different to everyone. I understand people have deep feelings about these topics that are sensitive and trigger some of the deepest primal parts of our selves. And I understand that throughout time, people will continue to evolve and learn more and more what the gifts of life mean to them.

Just yesterday I received an article sent to me from my grandmother. The article was about a research project that studied the top four areas of the world where people live to be the oldest on the planet. To my surprise, one of the areas is just north of where True Nature is, in a village similar to La Florida. The scientist interviewed one of the oldest women of the village, who was 100 years old. He asked, “What is the secret to living such a long and healthy life here in such a simple village?” She answered, “Oyeee… I am blessed.” It is my wish that no matter what life gives us, we can realize that we are all, in our own unique ways, truly blessed.

Joshua is an educator, facilitator, and consultant, whose mission is to support people interested in exploring and learning about the many facets of living in community. He is the co-founder of the True Nature Community and Education Center (truenaturecommunity.org) in Costa Rica and The CREER Service Organization (creerbelieve.org). Through his work he hopes to help people discover how they can create ways of holistic living filled with connection, support, and interdependence. When Joshua is not living in Costa Rica he resides in Asheville, North Carolina, where he is the coleader of the Asheville Communities Network (ashevillecommunitiesnetwork.com).
For more information, contact Joshua: Joshua@truenaturecommunity.org.

It was True Nature’s Education privilege to welcome back WAH! into the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina for a 3 day women’s retreat followed by a healing concert. This retreats was designed to give women a chance to share, sing, talk, breathe, and immerse themselves in higher energies. Going into it I had no idea what to expect. I have no previous experience of women retreats or using sound as a healing device. I dived in head first to WAH! music a month before the retreat, and asked myself why was I not listening to her before now?!

A little back story of WAH! First, the music. If you’ve been in a yoga class in the last five years, you have no doubt heard her music. The first female to bring kirtan music [call-and-response chanting performed in India’s devotional traditions] to the West in the 1990’s, Wah! has been playing bass guitar with her wildly joyful rock band at yoga festivals and centers around the U.S. since 1997. She has also consistently offered music and albums to the therapeutic market; her Savasana CDs have sold over 70,000 copies worldwide.

Her talent is inspiring and breath taking. Meeting her in person, only amplified this. She has such a soft, relaxing, but steadfast demeanor. WAH! has a genuine aura that lacks ego completely. You feel at ease and if you are in the presence of an old dear friend. Kind eyes, an open heart, and playful smile. I was completely ready and excited to see how the retreat would unfold.

The women on the retreat ranged in walks of life, location, and age. Many of them strangers, but instantly a community was formed among us. No questions, no judgements, just community. I thought to myself, how rare this is. In a culture, where communities are tending to be more and more online based, and less human to human connection. I even find myself in less situations with direct human contact and in person intimacy. Over the next 3 days I saw this energy of the community expand. It reminded me how critical it is to unplug from our devices and plug into each other.

WAH! seamlessly guided us through specific practices where we shared, touched, and healed with sound. We explored ourselves through others and formed a sense of complete sisterhood. Wah! guided us in grace, not over powering, but letting it organically happen.
Be sure to watch the video of a glance into the WAH! retreat here to get a first hand experience! 

I suddenly realized how important this female community is. As a later 20 something year old, it dawned on me how I have not explored the woman community bond; how imperative it is to share, relate, tell stories, and heal together. We have a natural collective to embrace and honor. Through this development we feel more connected to the overall to the entire world. Centered, grounded, and buzzing with life I left the retreat with a mission on my mind. To continue to form daily bonds with people, even if they are strangers, through small human to human interactions. To stay plugged into my own self with compassion, and honor those around me doing so. And lastly, to continue to pay homage to this collective female divinity around us. So much gratitude to WAH! for creating a space to allow this. For True Nature Education for hosting such wonderful life changing events. And for all the women out there who constantly make the world go around. If you are interested in learning more about WAH! be sure to check out her website here!

If you are interested in attending a True Nature Education retreat check out our calendar here!

I want to close this with a poem Wah! shared with us…..

“I am beautiful, an enchantress for the world I come throwing love-glances Giving companionship to my Atma Self I am the seat of compassion. I bring auspiciousness and blessings, I bring comfort, I dissolve the mistakes of this lifetime. I show myself the path. Soft spoken and Mother of the World, I am the goddess who makes all life blessed. I will take you in my lap, I am the Mother who is pure. I am cool like the moonlight. I am a boat for crossing an ocean of difficulties I release worldly congestion. I bring new joys. Come, am I not the Mother of the world? I am the Goddess of learning, a fountain of knowledge, I grant the gift of loving pervasively, I am Devi, the highest resplendent light. I glide like a swan on the water (I’m skating through this!) Presiding over all creation, I join my hands and bow Full of love for what I have created. Throwing love-glances all around, I am Resplendent light.” (Saraswati Folk Song)          

Written and Photographed By Christine Stahr the Director of Marketing and Outreach at True Nature Education

Meet the passionate, caring, and experienced Janet Corvino!

Janet was the Centre Manager for NeoWhistler YYoga for 5 years and a yogi for 17 years. Janet is both a YYoga Instructor, Teacher Trainer and an innovator of hosting yoga retreats. Her trainings are Anusara based with outcroppings in Therapeutics, Vinyasa & Power, and YHot. Janet loves to have her students play on the mat, explore and create deep openings in body and spirit . Her classes are a mix of alignment cues, laughs and wisdom based themes.

Janet is part of the YYoga Teacher training faculty in Vancouver, BC. Janet instructs trainees in a 200 hour  and the YHot certification programs. Janet has a graduate degree in interdisciplinary Education and loves teaching teachers how to teach. She has worked as a learning specialist for 20 years, and mentored Columbia University Graduate Education students while living in NYC before becoming a devoted yogi and yoga instructor.
She is generous with her support and deeply devoted to her students.

Real life yoga for everyday living.

True Nature had the pleasure of getting to know Janet a little better. Check out her interview below, and be sure to sign-up for her Italy retreat here!

TNE:  What does it mean to you, when you refer to “real yoga for real life?” as part of your yoga practice, teaching, and your intentions for the upcoming retreat?

Janet: I have been a practicing yogi for 18 years. When I first started the practice was all about the poses(asana). I wanted to be able to do handstand, arm balances and other” tricked out” yoga moves. I thought this made me a yogi. After many years of study on the mat and off the mat, I realized that being able to do “tricked out” yoga poses did not have much to do with being a true yogi after all. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sensations of moving my body, feeling its strength and flexibility and the peace that comes with a solid daily physical practice. But after many years of study, I realized the Yoga Sutras written by the sage Patanjali detailed a way to embrace yoga on a daily level. I began to put into practice the Yamas and Niyamas, the yoga code for a yogic lifestyle of being a kind, truthful. disciplined and compassionate person to yourself and others, hence a connection to the Divine. Yes the asanas bring great calm to the body and mind but needed in this brew of tranquility is meditation, breath work and a code of internal and external behaviors to guide us through life. As a yoga teacher, I break down the body, mind and spiritual practice found in the Sutras for modern day life . Everyone can practice yoga every day in a very simple form if needed due to demands of a busy life to a more complex study if time is available. I work to provide easy, simple techniques to use gain peace in the body, mind and spirit.

TNE: Who has been your greatest influence and why?

Janet:  I have to say I had some incredible teachers guide me- Chris Chavez, Jonas Westring, and Christina Sell are the top contemporary hits but the three greats Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois and Desikachar are my foundation. However, every class, teacher training, and yoga retreat  I teach, I learn the most from my students… I am forever in awe and filled with gratitude for my students

TNE:  If there was a yoga pose or mediation practice that described you – what would it be and why?

Janet: I don’t think I could be so bold to say they describe me but I do love Forearm stand (Pincha Mayurasana) and Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril prananyama). They each invigorate and calm me at the same time. I am a mix of stability and gypsy. I love a stable home life and yet travelling whispers to me constantly.

TNE: Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions?  You mentioned the retreat will delve into the theme of re igniting your passion, can you share a little more?

Janet: I do not like to get stale.. I am constantly reading, taking courses etc.. I love to learn! I like to expand my horizons of who I am. Just when I have learned something, I will take on another challenge, this keeps me fresh, young and very alive. I love the feeling of stepping outside my comfort zone and into my passions. Many individuals are hesitant about taking on new challenges such as learning a new skill or taking on new career challenges. The transformation of going from the known to the unknown can be very un-grounding, but this is the space where true self growth takes place. In the Happiness Project written by Grethen Rubin, evidence now points to this time of transformation as the Happiness zone. We become most alive when we are evolving and growing. On the retreat “Stoke the Fire” we will explore new asanas on the mat which take us out of our comfort zone and see how we react to them. What we practice on the mat is a mirror to how we are in the world. If we can become comfortable with the discomfort of learning new skills, new images of who we think we are on the mat we can then transfer this experience to our daily lives. Besides our daily yoga practice, we will unwind from our lives back home through delicious meals and luxurious surroundings to unfold into. Often when we stop working and immerse ourselves in a new beautiful setting away from family and work commitments we get a chance to be objective about our lives, the creativity reignites and a spark of passion begins to surface.

TNE: What is on your “Italy bucket list” and what are you most excited about?

Janet: I am very excited to be taking part in an authentic Italian Ashram, who knew such a thing existed? Once I heard, I had my bags packed! Italians are passionate about just everything- food, wine, life! Being around positive, passionate people is so contagious, I am looking forward to diving into yoga, food, culture, and just to listen to the Italian language it sweeps me off my feet. We have a few day trips planned to nearby coastal towns which are know for their beauty and for an Olive Oil tasting session. Yoga, travel, good food and passionate people, this my kind of retreat.

TNE: Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?

Janet: Nelson Mandela said it best “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” So many of us are deep into work, daily chores etc.. we forget how to be in the moment and  fully engaged with our surroundings and the people we share them with. Life can easily pass us by in a blink of an eye. The Italy retreat is great opportunity to pause in the beauty of Italy and re-examine your intentions for your life and to bring your passions for life to the surface. How would you live your life if failure was just a stepping stone to living large?

We are ready to live large with Janet! Are you?

True Nature Education is truly blessed to have some unbelievable retreat leaders on our team. These teachers take their students to the end of the earth, and guide us on a remarkable journey of inner peace, growth, and adventure.

Sabre’ is no exception. The sense of community she builds with her students, along with her fun and knowledgable teaching style, makes Sabre’ a rockstar leader. True Nature Education had the privilege of getting to know Sabre’ a little bit better and weget to share the interview with you! Check out Sabre’s vibe and don’t forget, she still has spots available for her Guatemala retreat! More information and registration can be found here.

TNE: What does it mean for you to “be something more” as part of your yoga practice, teaching, and your intentions for your retreat?
S: Through yoga, I believe we can begin to taste what it feels like to cut loose from those mental ropes that bind us so. We focus on ourselves in a deeper way, becoming the Witness to what we observe within ourselves and within our bodies. We then create deeper connections in our relationships and in our communities, and then our earth and the Universe.
When we add to the yoga the glorious adventure of travel and retreat from our daily lives, a whole new level of liberation takes place. We have the opportunity to connect with people from other cultures, with nature, and we experience different food and activities, all of which adds to our perspective and broadens that deep feeling of being so very present and so very alive!
My pleasure is traveling through the world with open-hearted, open-minded people who love yoga. I will do my very best, on each retreat, to provide beautiful and clean surroundings, delicious and healthy food, safety, and adequate information to cover most details! I will be sensitive to the dynamics of each group, and it is my intention to co-create community within each, that is magical.
TNE: Who has been your greatest influence and why?
S: The greatest influences in my life are, without doubt, my children and my yoga students. From them I have learned more than I could ever hope to teach.
TNE: If there was a yoga pose or mediation practice that described you – what would it be and why?
S: This variation of tree pose (Vrksanana) is expressive, fun, a tad improper, Ultimately, like the tree, my growth is deep and inward like the roots, and, at the same time, up and outward toward the sun.
TNE: Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions?
S: There are no limits to my passions! Practicing yoga is amazing, of course, but teaching is even more of a passion for me because of the transformations and the building of communities to which I witness. I love travel, which is why the retreats are such a perfect combination of these passions. Back home in Colorado in the warm months, I am an avid hiker, taking full advantage of our wonderful Rocky Mountains and the beautiful vistas; the journey to those peaks brings such connection and joy for me. I love music, especially live music outdoors in the warm weather. Colorado has enough festivals and concerts to support that habit, and I also try to get a taste of that wherever I travel. Creativity is an important slice of my life. I paint, mostly brightly colored pet portraits, and I love to play with fused glass art and beaded jewelry. My background is writing, so reading and writing are long time friends and companions. 

TNE: What is on your “Guatemala bucket list” and what are you most excited about?
S: I chose Guatemala for a retreat destination after traveling in Oaxaca and being immersed in the colorful Mayan culture. I wanted more! I also stayed on Lake Arenal in Costa Rica after Mexico last year. Villa Sumaya and Guatemala seem to blend the best of both of those worlds. I’m looking forward to the colors, the warmth of the people, learning about the culture, and sharing my experience with my retreat peeps. Building community and bonding amidst the special qualities of Guatemala will be a highlight.

TNE: Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?
S: “And then she knew. There is no beginning and no end, and in giving herself space to become better, she set herself free.” ~me 🙂

“When under, remember the surface; when on the surface, remember the deep,” -Mark Nepo

True Nature Education is truly blessed to have some unbelievable retreat leaders on our team. These teachers take their students to the end of the earth, and guide us on a remarkable journey of inner peace, growth, and adventure.

Sabre’ is no exception. The sense of community she builds with her students, along with her fun and knowledgable teaching style, makes Sabre’ a rockstar leader. True Nature Education had the privilege of getting to know Sabre’ a little bit better and weget to share the interview with you! Check out Sabre’s vibe and don’t forget, she still has spots available for her Guatemala retreat! More information and registration can be found here.

TNE: What does it mean for you to “be something more” as part of your yoga practice, teaching, and your intentions for your retreat?
S: Through yoga, I believe we can begin to taste what it feels like to cut loose from those mental ropes that bind us so. We focus on ourselves in a deeper way, becoming the Witness to what we observe within ourselves and within our bodies. We then create deeper connections in our relationships and in our communities, and then our earth and the Universe.
When we add to the yoga the glorious adventure of travel and retreat from our daily lives, a whole new level of liberation takes place. We have the opportunity to connect with people from other cultures, with nature, and we experience different food and activities, all of which adds to our perspective and broadens that deep feeling of being so very present and so very alive!
My pleasure is traveling through the world with open-hearted, open-minded people who love yoga. I will do my very best, on each retreat, to provide beautiful and clean surroundings, delicious and healthy food, safety, and adequate information to cover most details! I will be sensitive to the dynamics of each group, and it is my intention to co-create community within each, that is magical.
TNE: Who has been your greatest influence and why?
S: The greatest influences in my life are, without doubt, my children and my yoga students. From them I have learned more than I could ever hope to teach.
TNE: If there was a yoga pose or mediation practice that described you – what would it be and why?
S: This variation of tree pose (Vrksanana) is expressive, fun, a tad improper, Ultimately, like the tree, my growth is deep and inward like the roots, and, at the same time, up and outward toward the sun.
TNE: Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions?
S: There are no limits to my passions! Practicing yoga is amazing, of course, but teaching is even more of a passion for me because of the transformations and the building of communities to which I witness. I love travel, which is why the retreats are such a perfect combination of these passions. Back home in Colorado in the warm months, I am an avid hiker, taking full advantage of our wonderful Rocky Mountains and the beautiful vistas; the journey to those peaks brings such connection and joy for me. I love music, especially live music outdoors in the warm weather. Colorado has enough festivals and concerts to support that habit, and I also try to get a taste of that wherever I travel. Creativity is an important slice of my life. I paint, mostly brightly colored pet portraits, and I love to play with fused glass art and beaded jewelry. My background is writing, so reading and writing are long time friends and companions. 

TNE: What is on your “Guatemala bucket list” and what are you most excited about?
S: I chose Guatemala for a retreat destination after traveling in Oaxaca and being immersed in the colorful Mayan culture. I wanted more! I also stayed on Lake Arenal in Costa Rica after Mexico last year. Villa Sumaya and Guatemala seem to blend the best of both of those worlds. I’m looking forward to the colors, the warmth of the people, learning about the culture, and sharing my experience with my retreat peeps. Building community and bonding amidst the special qualities of Guatemala will be a highlight.

TNE: Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?
S: “And then she knew. There is no beginning and no end, and in giving herself space to become better, she set herself free.” ~me 🙂

“When under, remember the surface; when on the surface, remember the deep,” -Mark Nepo