Playa Platanares conocida como Playa Preciosa a 4 kmts del aeropuerto de Puerto Jimenez, Puntarenas Province, Puerto Jiménez, 60702, Costa Rica
Up to 25 in group
December 8 - 15, 2024
About this Retreat
BA, LMT, ERYT 500, YACEP, Pelvic Floor YTT
When, at the age of five, Suzanne instinctively laid her hands on a schoolteacher’s troubled neck and shoulders, becoming aware of the profound power of therapeutic touch, it was the first step in a lifelong journey in bodywork and movement that has seen her marry hard anatomy and spirituality to astonishing effect.
A practioner of yoga since her teens, she has both learned and taught internationally, in destinations spanning Tennessee to Costa Rica; India to the mythology-steeped Greek island of Crete, delving deep into philosophy and practice with esteemed leaders in their fields. Having gone on to complete her teacher training at Yoga Source through Asheville Yoga Center, and earned a degree in Neuromuscular Therapy in Colorado, she is trained in areas including craniosacral therapy, structural work, hypermobility, Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga. Suzanne, who has navigated the challenges of two hip replacements, also founded Empowered Pelvis—a pioneering eight-week program dedicated to enhancing pelvic floor health, fueled by her deep curiosity and understanding of the pelvis.
For Suzanne, who helms the spa at Nereus and leads retreats and yoga trainings, yoga and anatomy are not just interests but the essence of her life’s purpose, blending self-discovery with her childhood dreams of being Indiana Jones. This realization has transformed her approach, turning personal revelations into teachings that enrich her and those of others. These passions form the foundation of her practice, merging into a continuous journey of growth and mutual enrichment.
MSc in Public Health, NBC-HWC, RYT 500, Ayurvedic Practitioner, MA (HONS)
The driving force behind Nereus Retreats, New York-born Jen is a nutritionist and health coach with an international client practice. Having trained as an Ayurvedic practitioner in India, and with extensive qualifications in functional medicine nutrition, she has worked as a health supportive chef, health educator and yoga teacher, and holds an MSc in public health. She also holds a master’s degree in medieval history from the University of St Andrews, which provides a strong foundation in hermetic philosophy and mythology, and, as with Jen’s study of the Vedas and Vedic philosophy, attests to a lifelong curiosity about the role of spirit and spirituality.
Jen first turned to yoga in 2005, after a back injury stopped her in her tracks, but it wasn’t until she moved from the US to Costa Rica in 2010 that her practice began to evolve into something more than a physical experience. With the dramatic lifestyle change and natural abundance having created time and space for this transition, Jen developed a new understanding of the vital role balance plays in living well.
Known for her legendary entertaining – think best-in-class tacos tweaked to suit all dietaries, and the sunniest, most unputdownable pineapple upside down cake anywhere – Jen is a passionate believer in, and enabler of, life-changing transformation.
Details of this retreat
Our Inner Wild: The Alchemical Pelvis
Eligible for 30 hours YA Continuing Education
Eight days, seven nights
‘You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves’ ~Mary Oliver
Embark on a journey into the wild pelvis, where exploring the primal and ancestral aspects of our body—as above, so below—reveals deeper insights into our own physicality and desires. By listening to this sacred space, we unlock our deep wisdom and the driving force of our soul's language. Through yoga and other practices, we honor our beautiful form and strengthen the connection between mind and body.
What's Included:
Begin your day with yoga and meditation designed to awaken your inner wisdom and enhance awareness of the pelvis, deepening your core connection.
Explore the vibrant and elusive anatomy of the psoas in our interactive workshops.
Investigate the psoas and its intricate connections to our digestive, reproductive, and nervous systems, and learn effective ways to nurture these vital links.
Delve into the ancestral wisdom from tongue to tail, including the significant influence of the psoas above and below the heart.
Employ Yin and Restorative yoga to harmonize the pelvis and the psoas muscle, promoting overall balance and recovery.
Engage in rituals that celebrate the body, cultivating profound connections with the spirit, self, and openness. These practices seamlessly blend our separate aspects into a unified whole, nurturing a deeper sense of unity.
At the core, we are all unique expressions of the same material, and instead of letting our differences divide us, it is our shared similarities that foster compassion and understanding for one another. When we look inside of ourselves we can see the reflection of others. Embark on a transformative journey with The Alchemical Pelvis and redefine your connection to your own body and the world around you and start turning your lead to gold.
Teaching will be overseen by Suzanne Carver and our team. Our Inner Wild is a residential seven nights/eight days’ immersion at our retreat center in Puerto Jiménez, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Students will also have access to our online educational platform for additional digital content and supplementary materials.
This course is suitable for all yoga practitioners. Students with Yoga Alliance RYT 200 status are eligible to receive 30 continuing education hours (CE).