18 Day 200-Hour Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training Salvatierra Retreat, Playa Coyote, Costa Rica
18 Day 200-Hour Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training Salvatierra Retreat, Playa Coyote, Costa Rica
Playa Coyote, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Up to 22 in group
August 1 - 18, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- - Magical, oceanside location, sunrise beach meditations, views, and a yoga studio with an infinity pool
- - Train with a world-class faculty and C-IAYT Yoga Therapists with over 25 years of teaching experience
- - Learn a biomechanically sound and anatomy-informed alignment framework to avoid repetitive strain and injuries
- - Explore a therapeutic perspective explores yoga as a vehicle for vibrant health, personal empowerment, and total well-being
- - Mindful Vinyasa, Hatha, Therapeutic and Restorative practices with variations for ALL bodies
- - Explore breath work, mantra and meditation as tools to create vibrant health and wellbeing in your life
- - Variations for ALL Bodies - Learn to share the practices with others in a safe and powerful way
- - Fine-tune your asana through a deeper understanding of anatomy informed alignment principles
- - Build self-confidence and tap into your amazing potential in a supportive, nurturing environment
- - Gain insights into your (true) nature through the wisdom of Yoga and its philosophy
- - Learn to teach from “eyes of love” and help the world heal one mindful breath at a time
- - Eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT-200 upon completion
- - Train at at top rated Yoga Alliance school
About this Retreat
Liz Heffernan, MA, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT is a gifted international yoga teacher, a certified Yoga Therapist and long-term practitioner. She combines her in-depth knowledge of anatomy and bio-mechanically safe alignment principles with insights and practical wisdom gained from over 26 years of yoga teaching & immersive study.
She is the Founder and Director of Soma Yoga Institute, a world-wide yoga teacher training school that embraces a therapeutically-oriented, heart-centered approach. These programs, heralded by many as truly inspirational, combine modern day biomechanics and research driven science with ancient teachings and serve to teach adaptive Yoga for all BODIES as a practice for vibrant health, self-transformation and personal empowerment.
Liz's dynamic teaching style is influenced by many, many wonderful yoga teachers. These include Ashtanga Yoga’s Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, Tim Miller, Nancy Gilgoff and Bhavani Maki; Anusara Yoga’s Desiree Rumbaugh, Jenny Otto, Noah Maze, and Jim & Ruthie Bernaert; Integrative Yoga Therapy’s Joseph Le Page; and yoga philosophers Ram Das, Douglas Brooks, and Carlos Pomeda.
Liz is known is for her ability to bridge the gap between the ancient perspectives of yoga and contemporary daily life. In her work as a yoga therapist, Liz specializes in helping seniors age gracefully and is highly skilled in adapting practices to meet the complex health challenges associated with aging. In collaborative partnership with Yoga 4 Brain Health she has co-founded the Memory Maintenance Yoga Teacher Training program that certifies Yoga teachers to help their communities delay the onset of memory loss related diseases through Yoga. Liz also serves as a faculty-mentor for the Kripalu School of Integrative Yoga Therapy supporting professionals on their journey to become yoga therapists.
Liz believes that the path of Yoga brings greater ease, not just to the individual, but to all beings everywhere, and ultimately uplifts planetary consciousness one conscious breath at a time.
nnately perceptive beyond her years, and wildly passionate about everything in her path, Molly applies a level of determination and delight that is truly one of a kind. Her unique teaching style is both intense and focused but lightened with creativity, compassion, and humor. She is known for her ability to facilitate and create a masterful symphony of yoga asana, pranayama, philosophy and inspiration in every class she teaches. She has extensive knowledge in physical alignment and the energy body and how to intertwine the two and the gift of perception which allows her to really see bodies /beings and shepherd them into their greatest expression of balance and peace. A serious student of yoga for the past 15 years, Molly has studied intensely with Chuck Miller, and completed teacher trainings with Annie Carpenter and Don Stapelton. She credits Annie for giving her the skills to teach intentional alignment and sequencing, Don for the ability to encourage self-inquiry and Chuck for finding the unity in all things. In addition to leading teacher trainings, workshops and retreats, Molly also owns Yoga Centered Studio and Boutique in Hilo, Hawaii. She is an influential member of her yoga community and serves as a mentor to both students and other teachers. Ultimately she hopes to inspire others to share the practices of yoga that have so positively impacted her life.
Details of this retreat
Join this Yoga Alliance registered program which includes a transformational and therapeutic approach to yoga. We will explore vinyasa flow, Hatha, and restorative yoga through an anatomy-informed alignment system. You will learn modifications and adaptations for ALL BODIES, including special populations such as seniors and those with injuries. Our therapeutic perspective explores Yoga as a vehicle for vibrant health, personal empowerment and total well-being. We combine modern-day biomechanics and research-driven science with ancient teachings. You will leave with an understanding of anatomy, alignment, and modifications to keep your body safe for a lifetime of practice. Our non-dogmatic approach explores Yoga philosophy as a practice of radical self-love uncovering perspectives that encourage body positivity, unconditional acceptance, personal empowerment, and true mind-body-spirit health and wellness. Graduates of this program are prepared to teach a variety of yoga class types, including all levels of Vinyasa yoga, alignment-based classes, yoga foundations, and senior, gentle, and restorative yoga.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
This teacher training offers students in-depth skills to explore Yoga as a vehicle for vibrant health, self-transformation, and personal empowerment. Our curriculum includes a unique blend of alignment-based vinyasa flow, a solid foundation in Hatha Yoga, and 200 hours of instruction offered within a therapeutic framework.
The instruction will cover a wide range of Yoga techniques including Yoga postures, anatomy, relaxation, breath awareness, pranayama, meditations to calm the mind, contemplations to transform limiting tendencies into life affirming thought patterns, and the application of clear, anatomy-informed principles of alignment to create safety, balance, and freedom in Yoga poses. Students explore concepts from Ayurveda, the Upanishads, Patanjali and the Chakra System as frameworks for the application of Yoga as a journey towards radiant health and wellbeing.
The asana emphasis includes both level one/two alignment-based vinyasa flow sequencing as well as gentler and restorative variations. Expect to practice asana from all categories of poses including standing poses, hip openers forward bends, backwards bends, twists, inversions, balancing, supine, seated, and prone. Modifications for all levels of practitioners are provided and all levels of abilities are welcome to attend.
Rather than offer standard sequencing or rigid methodologies, students are exposed to frameworks that inspire each yoga teacher to adopt the practices, awaken their creativity and find their own authentic voice as a teacher.
Graduates of this program feel empowered to teach a variety of Yoga class types, including all levels of Vinyasa yoga, alignment-based classes, Yoga foundations, senior, gentle, and restorative.
RETREAT LOCATION
The oceanside Costa Rica location is stunning, out of this world gorgeous, and a perfect place to immerse in yoga. This retreat will take place at Salvatierra, a private resort set on a small hilltop overlooking the pristine beach of Costa de Oro.
The retreat itself is located on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica and has been identified as one of the five blue zones on the planet.
Located away from the popular hustle and bustle of tourist beaches, Salvatierra guarantees its guests a true retreat experience and the possibility to reconnect with their inner selves. There are no hotels or facilities other than private residences on Costa de Oro beach and the premise is set on a wonderful long flat gold sandy beach interrupted by river estuaries.
You can enjoy world-class surfing as well as kayaking and bird watching in the mangrove, horseback riding and hiking to waterfalls, star gazing into the dark sky and much more.
Nearby you will find Cabo Blanco National Park, Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve, Caletas Ario wildlife refuge and while visiting the tropical eco-resort you are likely to spot some of Costa Rica’s shyest and most endangered tropical dry forest inhabitants, for example, the black howler monkey, the white-headed capuchin, tropical deer, macaws, eagles as well as sea turtles. In short, it is a nature lovers' paradise. Read More
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
This teacher training offers students in-depth skills to explore Yoga as a vehicle for vibrant health, self-transformation, and personal empowerment. Our curriculum includes a unique blend of alignment-based vinyasa flow, a solid foundation in Hatha Yoga, and 200 hours of instruction offered within a therapeutic framework.
The instruction will cover a wide range of Yoga techniques including Yoga postures, anatomy, relaxation, breath awareness, pranayama, meditations to calm the mind, contemplations to transform limiting tendencies into life affirming thought patterns, and the application of clear, anatomy-informed principles of alignment to create safety, balance, and freedom in Yoga poses. Students explore concepts from Ayurveda, the Upanishads, Patanjali and the Chakra System as frameworks for the application of Yoga as a journey towards radiant health and wellbeing.
The asana emphasis includes both level one/two alignment-based vinyasa flow sequencing as well as gentler and restorative variations. Expect to practice asana from all categories of poses including standing poses, hip openers forward bends, backwards bends, twists, inversions, balancing, supine, seated, and prone. Modifications for all levels of practitioners are provided and all levels of abilities are welcome to attend.
Rather than offer standard sequencing or rigid methodologies, students are exposed to frameworks that inspire each yoga teacher to adopt the practices, awaken their creativity and find their own authentic voice as a teacher.
Graduates of this program feel empowered to teach a variety of Yoga class types, including all levels of Vinyasa yoga, alignment-based classes, Yoga foundations, senior, gentle, and restorative.
RETREAT LOCATION
The oceanside Costa Rica location is stunning, out of this world gorgeous, and a perfect place to immerse in yoga. This retreat will take place at Salvatierra, a private resort set on a small hilltop overlooking the pristine beach of Costa de Oro.
The retreat itself is located on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica and has been identified as one of the five blue zones on the planet.
Located away from the popular hustle and bustle of tourist beaches, Salvatierra guarantees its guests a true retreat experience and the possibility to reconnect with their inner selves. There are no hotels or facilities other than private residences on Costa de Oro beach and the premise is set on a wonderful long flat gold sandy beach interrupted by river estuaries.
You can enjoy world-class surfing as well as kayaking and bird watching in the mangrove, horseback riding and hiking to waterfalls, star gazing into the dark sky and much more.
Nearby you will find Cabo Blanco National Park, Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve, Caletas Ario wildlife refuge and while visiting the tropical eco-resort you are likely to spot some of Costa Rica’s shyest and most endangered tropical dry forest inhabitants, for example, the black howler monkey, the white-headed capuchin, tropical deer, macaws, eagles as well as sea turtles. In short, it is a nature lovers' paradise. Read More
Schedule
The Costa Rica program is scheduled as an intensive program. While the program days are full, the activities of the day are kept diverse and active. The days really are a wonderful mix of digesting concepts intellectually, applying the concepts experientially and diving into the practices of yoga. Care is taken within the program schedule to ensure that students have a healthy experience both physically and mentally. We promise not to keep you sedentary for too long. There is physical activity and deep relaxation built into the program every day. You will be provided one full day off for rest or to explore the local area.
Sample Daily Schedule
06:30 Oceanside sunrise meditation, pranayama, and gentle movement
07:30 Breakfast
08:30 Yoga asana practice plus techniques or teaching methodology
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Restorative, gentle, therapeutic practice, or yoga Nidra. Yoga philosophy, lifestyle, and ethics, anatomy, and physiology, practice teaching
16:00 Afternoon break to rest, swim or take in the amazing sunsets of Costa Rica
18:00 Dinner and sunset at the beach
19:00 Evening session
Sample Daily Schedule
06:30 Oceanside sunrise meditation, pranayama, and gentle movement
07:30 Breakfast
08:30 Yoga asana practice plus techniques or teaching methodology
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Restorative, gentle, therapeutic practice, or yoga Nidra. Yoga philosophy, lifestyle, and ethics, anatomy, and physiology, practice teaching
16:00 Afternoon break to rest, swim or take in the amazing sunsets of Costa Rica
18:00 Dinner and sunset at the beach
19:00 Evening session
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Read MoreGetting Here
Soma Yoga Institute, Playa Coyote, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Directions
Please book your flight to arrive at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) or Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). Transfer from and to the airport on the group shuttle is provided for a reduced fee (specified times only).
From Liberia International Airport, arrange to fly into the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica. The group shuttle departs from the airport at 8:00 am and 3:30 p.m. on arrival day (Jan 5/Aug 1) and returns for flights departing after 12:30 p.m. on departure day (Jan 22/Aug 18/Dec 18).
Shuttle from Liberia to Salvatierra takes approximately 3 hours. The group shuttle charge is 75 USD per person each way.
From San Jose International Airport, arrange to fly into the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica. The group shuttle departs from the Adventure Inn (15 minutes from the airport) in San Jose at 10:00 a.m. on arrival day and returns departing SalvaTierra at 7:00 a.m. on departure day for flights leaving after 3:00 pm.
Shuttle from San Jose to Salvatierra takes approximately 5 hours. The group shuttle charge is 100 USD per person each way.
The Adventure Inn in San Jose is a great place for the first night with free airport shuttles if you are a guest and a large breakfast included in the price. You may book a room directly with them. The shuttle will depart directly from this hotel and on the return take you directly to the SJO airport. Read More
From Liberia International Airport, arrange to fly into the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica. The group shuttle departs from the airport at 8:00 am and 3:30 p.m. on arrival day (Jan 5/Aug 1) and returns for flights departing after 12:30 p.m. on departure day (Jan 22/Aug 18/Dec 18).
Shuttle from Liberia to Salvatierra takes approximately 3 hours. The group shuttle charge is 75 USD per person each way.
From San Jose International Airport, arrange to fly into the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica. The group shuttle departs from the Adventure Inn (15 minutes from the airport) in San Jose at 10:00 a.m. on arrival day and returns departing SalvaTierra at 7:00 a.m. on departure day for flights leaving after 3:00 pm.
Shuttle from San Jose to Salvatierra takes approximately 5 hours. The group shuttle charge is 100 USD per person each way.
The Adventure Inn in San Jose is a great place for the first night with free airport shuttles if you are a guest and a large breakfast included in the price. You may book a room directly with them. The shuttle will depart directly from this hotel and on the return take you directly to the SJO airport. Read More
Accommodation
This location offers 10 oceanside cabinas beautifully and sustainably designed to take advantage of the amazing cooling ocean breeze. Each cabina has its own bathroom and shower. Some showers are enclosed yet outdoor inviting a true nature experience. Each cabina has fans, a closet, a safe and desk. Tuition price includes housing, delicious healthy food, daily smoothies, daily room service, one load of laundry per week, yoga teacher training tuition, a comprehensive 250 page Yoga Teacher Training Manual, six month access to our 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training content, an essential resource to support you as you move out into the world teaching yoga, as needed mentoring after the program ends (prices vary base on housing preference): August (Low Season) program prices: 🌴Beach Cabina Triple Occupancy $3897 USD 🌴Beach Cabina Double Occupancy $4347 USD 🌴Beach Cabina Single Occupancy $5743 USD 🌈Garden View Single (Shared bath with one other) $5143 USD
Triple Occupancy - Beach Front Cabina
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Double Occupancy - Beach Front Canina
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Garden View Single Occupancy (Shared bath with one other student)
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Single Occupancy- Beach Front Cabina
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Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Salvatierra, a private retreat in Costa Rica, is simply a spectacular venue for a yoga teacher training. It offers two yoga studios, the yoga deck with unparalleled views and a lovely indoor space with wood floors and windows on all sides. There are two pools on property, oceanside cabinas, a magical beach for morning yoga, and delicious, healthy food. The retreat itself is located on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica and has been identified as one of the five blue zones on the planet.
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Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
At Salvatierra the cuisine is delicious, healthy, locally sourced and organic when possible. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free alternatives are provided with fish options.
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What's Included
- - 17 nights accommodation
- - Three healthy and delicious meals per day - breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- - Daily afternoon smoothies
- - Full yoga teacher training tuition
- - A comprehensive 250-page YTT manual
- - Ability to study with experienced teachers/yoga therapists with over 25 years of experience each
- - Daily morning beach side meditation pranayama (breathing), and gentle movement practices
- - Active hatha and vinyasa flow classes with alignment with options for all levels/all bodies
- - Restorative yoga and deep relaxation to nourish your nervous system
- - Oceanside meditation practices and beach yoga
- - Eligibility to register with Yoga Alliance upon completion of the course
- - 6-month access to the 200-hour online YTT content (An essential resource to support you as you move out into the world teaching yoga)
- - The study of yoga philosophy to gain insights into your (true) nature through the wisdom of Yoga
- - Chakras, yoga history, Ayurveda and so much more
- - As-needed mentoring after the program ends
- - Use of the hotel facilities including two pools
- - Daily room cleaning
- - One load of laundry per week
- - Day off to explore the surrounding area
What's Not Included
- Airfare, day off excursions, cost of the discounted airport transfer on group shuttle
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