Balance & Flow
MINI RETREAT
In this 3 day mindfulness training, Sally Nilsson, Eric Kolesar and the rest of the Tula Vida horse and human team will support you in rediscovering and reconnecting with yourself (the first step in feeling in balance and connecting with others).
Dip your toe into mindful self-discovery with a wise, gentle, healing herd of horses in the middle of the tropical, vibrant jungle – let nature, horses and experience be your teachers, and let your own intuition be your guide. We are here to support you.
Renew your mind, body and spirit!
With sophisticated nervous systems, horses are very efficient at moving through stress and back into peace and contentment – “going back to grazing” and being in the moment again and again.
They respond to their environment in each moment, without getting stuck in the past or the future like we can. They use tools developed over their 56 million years of evolution to use emotions and stress as information, take appropriate action, and then let it go (e.g. fear tells them there is danger, they will run until they feel safe, then they will release the stress so they can let it go).
Their tools for processing stress are ones we can learn from and practice: simple actions of movement (you see horses shaking, rolling, running, tossing head or swishing tail etc), breathing (they consciously increase and decrease breath and heart rate), connection (horses find support in herd members) and environment (they seek a safe place in the natural world, where eating, playing or resting can be enjoyed freely).
This peace and ability to self-regulate their stress is contagious – they spread it through the herd and we feel it too (this is called co-regulation, where those around you affect how you feel and be a calming presence).
We will support you in learning to find peace in the present moment (like a horse) using principles grounded in neuroscience and Heartmath Institute techniques, Mindful Movement, breathing and meditation exercises, energy-based interaction with the horses and other wellness and balance practices.
So not only will you learn tools on the art of being present and what it offers you, you will experience how it feels to be in that state with the horses.
Our mission is to provide a deeper connection with self, through horses, nature and experience.
What They Say
Recover, Restore and Renew
In these reflective experiences, you will join our extraordinary horses in their home - the vibrant green fields, rivers and rainforest near the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica – and experience becoming part of the herd, tuned in to your own senses, safe and free to be yourself, connected to the great wisdom of Mother Earth for healing, balance and growth.
Let the horses show and teach you how to just “be” rather than doing or thinking. Take a dive into your own consciousness through the transformative modality of Equine Facilitated Sand Play Therapy and find healing at the deepest levels. Allow yourself to play in the bubbling, carefree streams. Cherish and nourish your body with healthy food, gentle movement designed to get your energy flowing, beautiful natural surroundings and healing massage. Feel held and supported by the natural world.
About Your Facilitators
Sally Nilsson
Sally Nilsson is an expert facilitator, certified executive coach, experienced mentor and certified advanced instructor in Eponaquest Equine Facilitated Learning and Equine Facilitated Sand Play Therapy.
In 2019, Sally co-founded Tula Vida together with her partner Eric Kolesar to offer transformational experiences with the talented Tula Vida horse herd. Read more about Sally and the Tula Vida Team.
Eric Kolesar
Eric Kolesar is a certified instructor in Eponaquest Equine Faciliated Learning and Equine Facilitated Sand Play Therapy, a 500 hour certified yoga instructor and expert in a multitude of energy modalities. In 2019, Eric co-founded Tula Vida together with his partner Sally Nilsson to offer transformational experiences with the talented Tula Vida horse herd. Read more about Eric and the Tula Vida Team.
These Special Horses will:
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Magnify the parts of you that are hidden inside, the tender and true parts. Through their innate horse communication skills and non-judgemental presence, they show us humans what is buried in our unconscious, beyond the mind chatter and busy brain: the non-verbal part, the intuition, the senses – our true authentic selves.
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Sense and respond to subtle changes in our body language and energy. As highly sensitive animals, horses provide immediate, powerful and visual feedback on our presence in that moment so we get to practice and modulate how we want to come across, and how to find true internal peace and balance of the nervous system (self and co-regulation).
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Welcome you as part of the herd. Horses are wired for connection and will actively work with you to allow your real and best self to be seen and accepted without words.
What They Say
ENJOY DAILY Mindful Movement
We take a holistic approach in all our retreats, supporting mind, body and soul to feel nourished and restored. The pace of modern life, as well as the challenges of living through the pandemic, can be hard on our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
You will enjoy daily Mindful Movement with Eric Kolesar to rebalance your whole being and give you take-away tools manage life stress and live more mindfully – the essential ingredients in adapting to change and uncertainty, as well as keeping your own energy topped up.
“I feel more grounded and connected to myself, through mindful movement and interaction with the horses.” Angela, Therapist
What is Mindful Movement?
Eric started his movement expertise in martial arts, going on to become a 500 hour certified yoga instructor and energy practitioner. Through his lens as a life coach and equine facilitated learning facilitator, and hearing about intimidating experiences some people have had with “yoga”, Eric has combined the neuroscience, flow of energy, physical benefits of movement and natural rhythms to create what he calls “Mindful Movement”, a powerful and gentle blend of stretches and movements designed to calm and rebalance your body so the energy can flow freely again.
Imagine standing in a lush green space, birds singing in the background, horses grazing in the distance. Tune in to the rhythm of nature and breathe out. Let the tension melt away and experience feeling part of something whole. Start mindfully and gently moving with the rest of the group, in ways designed to get the energy flowing again through your whole body. You feel balanced, relaxed, alive.
“The mindful movement with Eric was by far the best yoga experience I have encountered as it was a spiritual and soul replenishing moving meditation not just a work out.” Jennifer, Real Estate Agent Owner
Explore our other options...
There are different options here at Tula Vida, tailored to suit your needs. We offer individual, group and family experiences with the horses. Perhaps you are looking to design your own experience, or would love an internship...we can help with that too. Take a look at the options below, and if you don't see what you are looking for just get in touch.
