Just Back From...Nosara, Costa Rica

From Harper's BAZAAR

Pura Vida, or "Pure Life," is the spirited motto of Central America's darling, Nosara, Costa Rica-and for good reason. The surf paradise is a health conscious, sustainably-minded, bohemian town dotted with local artisan boutiques, coconut street vendors, and jungle-chic hotels that offer plethora of boutique fitness classes and adaptogenic green juices. Nosara also has a thriving wellness retreat scene where you can experience a dozen iterations of the standard yoga retreat–but it's not every day you stumble upon a ballet and surf retreat.

Co-founders Jennifer Nichols and Natalie Sageloly founded Pointe Break Retreats, a one-of-a-kind fitness escape that merges the two complementary athletic disciplines of surfing and a comprehensive ballet workout (known as the Extension Method™) into one mind, body, and soul experience. You can find these retreats around the globe in not only Nosara, but Sayulita, Mexico, Portugal, and Nicaragua. As a sustainable blogger and full-time editor living in New York City, I was grateful to get out of the cold, hop on a plane and get a taste of the pura-vida-meets-pointe-break lifestyle.

Trip Duration: One Week

Flight Plan: Fly direct from New York to Liberia and then direct to Nosara–or take a 2.5-hour shuttle to Nosara. Pointe Break Retreats seamlessly coordinated a shuttle equipped with water and fruit pitstops along the way that made the two hour trip fly by.

Retreat Size: Ten women, ranging from those in their 20's to their 60's. The age range was vast and we were all from diverse backgrounds, but our personalities meshed cohesively as a group.

Trip Intention: To challenge myself physically and mentally, connect with other like-minded women and explore a new country.

What to Pack: Leave the heels at home and don’t be tempted to overpack! A carry-on (I love my Andiamo) and one personal item will do for this week-long wellness retreat where bikinis, spandex, and easy breezy ensembles (think linen and lightweight cottons) are your everyday uniform. This seems to be the case in Nosara regardless of if you're attending a fitness retreat or not. However, Pointe Break does graciously accommodate laundry mid-week, which is all the more reason to pare down to your essentials. Maison de Mode is my go-to shopping site, from epic travel pieces to daily basics, and for anything and everything environmentally-conscious and ethical-an ethos that aligns with Nosara's blue zone, sustainable culture.

When it comes to your athletic accessories, pack water-resistant zinc sunscreen, spandex athletic shorts, crop tops, flip-flops or slides, and face mist for on-the-go and post-workout skin hydration. No need to stress about a rash guard, The Pointe Break team gifts each attendee a cute recycled polyester rash guard by Akela Surf. A hat, good book, and bug repellant are also must-haves for this tropical destination. Don't sweat it if you forget any beauty essentials, the retreat also conveniently provides an all-natural beauty essentials bag for each individual - this time clean beauty brands, Iremia and Consonant Skincare, were included. An insider tip: steer clear of all-white apparel due to dirt roads where the dust whirls around freely and can stain.

Where We Stayed: Although we were nestled in the heart of the Nosara jungle, where howler monkey’s were my morning wake up call, the Pointe Break home was far from rustic-featuring a 8-bedroom mansion, equipped with a lofted ballet studio, outdoor pool, open-air kitchen (personal chef included), a serene meditation space, two outdoor showers and more.

What to expect with ballet: Jennifer Nichols truly raises the barre when it comes to the ballet portion of Pointe Break Retreats that includes a series of five Extension Method™ classes: Beginner Ballet, Développé Ballet Sculpt, Allegro Ballet Bootcamp, Barre 101, and Adagio Ballet Stretch. Nichols is a trailblazer in the world of dance, founding the Extension Method in 2003 before the barre and ballet workout craze hit, all while maintaining a globe-trotting professional ballet career. "(The Extension Method™) is unique from other trendy ballet fitness classes because it is so much more than just barre. It's a fully comprehensive ballet workout, targeting all aspects of fitness," says Nichols. All classes are lead by Jennifer herself and are manageable for all fitness levels-no matter how many times a week (or month) you hit the gym at home.

What to expect with surf: Former fashion powerhouse turned owner of Nosara Family Surf and resident of Nosara, Natalie Sageloly spearheads the surf segment of this retreat alongside three other instructors. The retreat group is split into smaller teams (1-3 people per group) and paired with a surf coach where you learn all the fundamentals on sand before you hit the waves. "Surfers are spoiled with waist-high, white-water waves to overhead surf 365 days of the year (with temperatures a comfortable 87 degrees on average), making Playa Guiones a top surf destination," says Sageloly. The sandy beach floor is also a perk of this beach, so you don't have to worry about landing in rocky reefs. Everyone's surf training was thorough, based on experience, and always kept lighthearted and fun. For a relatively fit woman who works out on average three days a week, expect to be sore after the second day of the ballet and surf combo. Pack some Tylenol–or turmeric for holistic junkies. There are two sunset Adiago stretch sessions that aid to ease and restore your mind and body.

Where to Eat: All meals at Pointe Break Retreats are local, organic, and prepared for you on-site by a private chef that happily accommodates all dietary restrictions. I’m a sugar-free vegan and the food was top-chef quality! If you're looking to branch out, the town is intimate and easy to explore for local favorites. My noteworthy finds included Olo Alaia coffee shop and The Harmony Hotel and Bodhi Tree's juice bar both have hearty yet healthy options. Visit La Luna in nearby Guanacaste Province, which I dubbed the Surf Lodge of Nosara.

Highlights:

Shanti Sounds Costa Rica

Although ballet and surf are the two primary highlights of this retreat, the team strives to incorporate other excursions and surprise experiences. This time, it was a harmonic sound bath with Shanti Sounds Costa Rica, where high-vibe founders Ayi and Michael Mayzel play crystal tone singing bowls, oetken gongs, koshi chimes, and chakra chants tuning forks for a holistic healing experience. Be prepared to be at a loss for words when entering their majestic open-air home featuring a sweeping infinite pool, crystals as large as your limbs, and a breathtaking panoramic view of Nosara. After we laughed, cried, and buzzed our way through the musical meditation we all sat in silence watching the sorbet-colored sky go black. I couldn't help but feel a significant release of past trauma and a restored sense of lightness after this transformative evening.

The Harmony Hotel

Throughout the trip, every attendee is treated to an indulgent massage (one of the best I've ever had!) at The Harmony Hotel’s Healing Centre, where they saturate your body head-to-toe with hydrating almond and coconut oil and envelop your body with revitalizing aromatherapy. With three to four hours of free time everyday, the retreat encourages you to explore the town, lounge by the pool, or revisit the places that you love. I was incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to experience a personalized ceremonial treatment with the Healing Centre’s Personalized Concierge. With over 200 crystals and stones placed on my body, I underwent a reiki and divine-intervention; definitely not your typical spa day, but I was on board. I awoke from the healing session feeling slightly groggy, but with a complacent feeling of grounded gratitude and closure.

Together, the sound bath and healing session, generated a pivotal shift in consciousness for me where I felt I was able to move forward mentally, closing traumatic, stressful and saddening chapters of my past.

My Tour Group

The friendships I formed on Pointe Break Retreats are far from fleeting. They are woman that I believe will always be in my corner to lean on, as I will be for them. Although the majority of us hail from different cities, we all bonded over our common synergy of being fearless females who push boundaries and aspire to live life to the fullest.

Why Nosara?

Nosara is a certified blue zone territory, meaning it is one the happiest and healthiest places on the planet. Although tourism is on the rise in this surfer's paradise, it still maintains a sense of rustic bohemia where preserving the lush jungle and it's animal habitants takes precedence. Locals take pride in a plastic-free culture (whenever possible) and value supporting their thriving community. Pointe Break Retreats echoes this sustainable standard as well. For travelers, don't stress about a language barrier and currency exchange rates. The majority of locals speak fluent English and welcome American dollars with a smile. On that note, if you're looking to shop, check out the hippie-chic haven of Bazaar Nosara for ethically-sourced fashion and Love Nosara for handmade maxis that you'll live in for summer seasons to come.

The Takeaways

Your physical fitness is only half the battle. As a recent cancer survivor with her tibial nerve recently removed, I was thrilled (yet nervous) to embark on this high-intensity athletic retreat. The team of Pointe Break Retreats helped me conquer not only my physical goals of successfully surfing and taking me back to my ballet roots, but helped me put my cancer diagnosis behind me and transcend to a proud state as a strong survivor rather than a healing warrior.

Discover more about Pointe Break Retreats by reaching out at info@pointebreakretreats.com or find them on Facebook or Instagram.

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