Pura Vida is a phrase used all over Costa Rica, which translates to “pure life”. It represents an attitude and a way of life that is a little more relaxed, easy going and simple. So what better place to practice Yoga?! Without competitively striving for some kind of shape – but rather finding the simplicity of alignment for the sake of an ease-full practice.
I’m marveling now at how I spent the last two weeks teaching alongside the monkeys and the toucans at The Yoga Farm in Punta Banco, CR. Morning classes overlooked the vista to the blue Pacific waters where students later surfed the day away. Hiking, surfing, and yoga are the main activities while a host of volunteers work the farm to provide local and organic meals.
The Yoga Farm is a notable permaculture mecca. Like-minds from all over the world flock to live in this sustainable, active, yogic community. To work the land and play in the sea is the way of life. Neighboring the Guayami Indigenous Reserve, this region of Costa Rica is the most biologically diverse coastal rainforest in the world! The Yoga Farm is a gem within a gem.
I have been invited to be the standing Yoga Teacher for the month of February at the Yoga Farm. I’m thrilled to bring my work to Costa Rica annually. Combining my method of structural therapy (Neurosomatic Therapy) with Yoga is where Tadasana in Your Asana was born! And I’m so happy to provide it to locals, volunteers and visitors.
Tadasana in Your Asana is an investigation into how to have the purest possible alignment in Yoga. Using Tadasana (mountain pose) and Savasana (corpse pose) as guidelines to find structure balanced with ease. The idea is to workshop neutral alignment of the joints regardless of the shape the body is making. Students are able to address their individual issues that may be causing repetitive injuries, stress, pain, or confusion within their own bodies.
Imbalances often happen when the body’s natural patterns and restrictions are disregarded for a superficial goal or pose. But this goal is often harmful rather than healing. The ideal instead is to create an ease-full, functional, sustainable Yoga asana practice. A practice suited to the individual, bringing more flow of energy (Prana), and illuminating what could be total mastery of a pose for their unique body. Mirroring the worry-free, non-aggressive, Pura Vida way of life with Tadasana in Your Asana is where healing and rejuvenation takes place in the body, mind, and soul. For what is mastery of life itself but happiness and ease?
Shila Tirabassi LaGrua is a Yoga Instructor, Pilates Instructor, Neurosomatic Therapist and Educator of Physical and Spiritual Alignment. Find her at the Yoga Farm in February’s in Costa Rica teaching Tadasana in Your Asana workshops and living the Pura Vida life.
Looks SO awesome, Shila!