Playa Platanares conocida como Playa Preciosa a 4 kmts del aeropuerto de Puerto Jimenez, Puntarenas Province, Puerto Jiménez, 60702, Costa Rica
July 8 - 27, 2025
About this Retreat
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.
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.
Details of this retreat
TEACHER TRAINING
Nereus School of Yoga offers an enriching program of professional teaching qualifications. Join us to deepen your journey and inspire others in a transformative path of wellness.
RYT200
This training will cover the styles of hatha and vinyasa within the raja yoga system, with the goal of giving new teachers the tools and confidence to deliver a thoughtful and safe class rooted in authenticity. A large focus on cueing, sequencing and inclusivity will be the base, giving students the knowledge of how to modify a practice for any body and contraindication. We believe that yoga should be accessible to everyone and this encompasses the use of inclusive language, both in English and Sanskrit. Students will cover classical sequencing styles and concepts and be expected to teach classes to ensure a good foundation and confidence is established. Conversations and bhakti practices will round out days with all things mantra and mythology. We aim to offer a robust, holistic yoga teacher training program with strong ties to Ayurveda, a thorough understanding of Patanjali’s Eight Limbs, knowledge of his Yoga Sutras and a general understanding of yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda.
Teaching will be overseen by our lead instructor, Michelle Garcia, ERYT500, and provided by her and our team. Our program format for our RYT200 yoga teacher training is a residential 20-day/19-night immersion at our retreat location in Puerto Jiménez, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Students will also have access to our online educational platform for additional digital content and supplementary materials.
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