MINDFULNESS WITH MASTERS
Learn the Secrets from Nature & Horses in Costa Rica
EXPERIENCE IS THE
BEST TEACHER
Backed by science, psychology and client testimonials, Tula Vida’s unique approach to mindfulness and self-discovery is deeply experiential and engages all of your senses.
Horses are true zen masters
TRAIN YOUR
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Feeling stuck or lost in the day-to-day? Many of us are. Did you know that a flexible & resilient nervous system can not only handle the stress but uses it as energy & still relax and “go back to grazing” – like the horses do.
1 hour with horses is like a month in a classroom
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
Sometimes the greatest wisdom comes from animals, who see the world more simply and purely. And the lush, vibrant green valleys of Costa Rica are the best classrooms in the world.
You are in the right place
STEP BACK IN TIME
Tula Vida Ranch is 100% off-the-grid with 72 acres of rolling green pastures, volcanos & forest. The sights & sounds are all from the natural world so your busy brain can rest here, as your senses absorb the goodness.
Relaxing, Nourishing, Energizing
"When the student is ready, the teacher appears."
Lao Tzu
Tula Vida Horses are Wise, Generous and Compassionate Guides
What Is Included
Nature-based Experiences
Scientific studies prove being in nature is good for wellbeing
Breakfast, Lunch
& Dinner
Delicious home-cooked meals made with love
Restorative Massage
Soothe out the tension & let the energy flow through your body again
Tula Vida Ranch Accommodation
Stunning location, beautiful rooms, peaceful retreat
Transformational Horse Experiences
Mindfulness secrets from those who truly live it
Sunset Meditations
Watch the sun paint the sky as it sets over 3 volcanos in the valley
Mindfulness
Tools & Practices
Tune-in to what works best for you & create your own toolkit
Mindful
Movement
Movement & yoga to rebalance everything
Self-Discovery
Adventures
Coaching & reflections. May include other activities - see retreat
Our mission is to provide a deeper connection with self, through horses, nature and experience.
WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU
Sally Nilsson and Eric Kolesar are experts in self-discovery, cultivating presence and practicing mindfulness with the magic of horses, nature and experience as teachers.
From their vibrant, enchanting corner of Costa Rica and with a wise herd of rescue horses, they offer the practices, tools and support you are looking for to find a deeper connection with yourself, which is where it all starts…
What is a Horse Experience?
Imagine standing in a valley, surrounded by green fields, with a horse in the distance.
You start to approach and the horse looks up, very aware of your presence. She starts to move towards you and your heart starts to race with fear, thoughts clouding your brain – the horse immediately stops. It seems like she knows what’s going on with you even before you do.
With support from Eric and Sally, you continue your approach but this time more mindfully and staying really present, pausing each time any fear or thoughts come up. It seems like your horse is sending you calming signals, welcoming your approach. You start to recognise the state you are looking for, both relaxed and alert, mirroring her presence.
You feel the moment of connection deeply & it is something you will remember for a long time.
What Happens
on Mindfulness and Self-Discovery Retreats?
What We Do:
There is so much talk about mindfulness these days, but what does it really mean? For us it's about learning to live more like horses. In simple terms, we facilitate experiences where you will be out in nature, with a horse or horses, either as a group or individually, exploring how to find and maintain a state of true presence and develop a deeper connection with yourself. We will often include mindful movement or yoga into the day.
We Listen to You:
Our schedule is flexible depending on the needs and focus of each group. We have a whole tool-bag of ideas to play with.
Why it is Powerful:
The kind of horse experience illustrated above teaches us things that books and talks cannot (which is why it is hard to explain in words). It stays with us at a deeper level than just the brain, as the body doesn’t forget – and once you have felt something, you know what you are looking to recreate.
Horses live in a state of relaxed alertness, both peaceful and powerful, with strong herd connections. Together we look at the world through the horses’ eyes to see, learn and feel this kind of mindfulness and nervous system co-regulation.
You can read a lot more about how horses can help us on the WHY HORSES page on our website.
Tula Vida Horses
We also have a 501c3 charity registered in the US - all of our rescue horses came from difficult situations or backgrounds and yet are now offering their unique gifts, deep wisdom, support and encouragement to us humans as we each navigate our own path.
What you Take Home:
You will learn tools, practices and have experiences carefully designed to allow you to access your own internal wisdom and learn to regulate and co-regulate nervous systems based on Polyvagal principles (the idea that feeling safe & connected is the key starting point for everything).
That’s not all…
The horses live in the valleys all around us and there are miles of beautiful trails, abundant with wildlife, so even in-between facilitated sessions you have more opportunities for your own mindfulness and self-discovery adventures.
Some of our retreats also include other offsite excursions such as soaking in natural hot springs, paddleboarding, visiting a 500-year old Avatar tree or horseback-riding.
Testimonials
YOUR NEXT STEPS
BOOK YOUR MINDFULNESS RETREAT
Give yourself a Mindfulness Retreat or see below to find out about our other retreats and experiences.
SEE ALL OUR RETREATS
We offer a range of different adventures at Tula Vida. Check out our other retreats and experiences here or see below to design your own.
DESIGN YOUR OWN!
Where else can you design your very own custom retreat for you or your group? Send us a message to receive our sample itineraries & group hosting ideas.
START RIGHT NOW!
You don’t need to wait until you come - we have a FREE MINDFULNESS GIFT for you that will start your nervous system settling immediately.
Would you like to be able to tune in regularly to your own sense of peace, balance and intuition?
SIGN UP below and a gift from Costa Rica will arrive in your inbox and let you tune-in to the magic here from wherever you are.
“Horses embody the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom.
Experience is the best teacher.
Combine the two and magic happens.”
Sally
