SELF CONNECTION
& COMPASSION
The greatest connection that we have, and the foundation for all our other relationships, is our connection with ourselves.
Often this is not something we focus on, it can feel uncomfortable or challenging to look within and really see what’s there, or else life gets in the way and we never pause and give ourselves the time or the chance to do it.
In this retreat, we will support you to breathe deeply and quiet the mind chatter, so your inner wisdom can speak to you and be heard. In learning to connect with our horses – through breath, non-verbal communication, senses, subtle and natural movements – you will find that you reconnect with yourself. This in turn may offer new perspectives on other life situations or relationships.
Join us for this nurturing, supportive and insightful retreat where nature, horses and experience will open your eyes to new possibilities and self-discovery.
Find your sense of self and
reconnect with who you are…
“To form meaningful connections with others, we must first connect with ourselves.” Brene Brown
Tula Vida horses live in a state of relaxed alertness, fully connected to their herd, free to play, rest and be fully themselves. Imagine if we lived like this.
In this reflective and insightful workshop, you will join our extraordinary horses in their home - the spacious and vibrant green fields, rivers and rainforest near the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica – and experience becoming part of the herd, fully connected to yourself, the horses and the natural world, releasing the toxic stress and allowing the body and mind to find their positive flow again.
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Join us and become part of the herd, feeling safe and accepted, free to explore what you are feeling and to find your own place of connection and balance.
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Explore creating relationship and connection with a sensitive being who is able to process and accept his emotions, release stress as it arises and live in a natural way – when we support ourselves to do so, we are able to do this too.
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Let your inner child play and have a voice with our Equine Facilitated Sand Play experience.
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Understand the difference between your heart’s voice and your “conditioning” (what society or others prescribe for you, or what you think you “should” do or be).
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Learn tangible take-home tools to become present and connect with yourself – so you can re-create this feeling back in your own life.
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Cherish and nourish your body with pure clean air, spring water, healthy food, gentle movement designed to get your body flowing, beautiful natural surroundings, restorative wood-fire sauna and healing massage.
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Feel your energy and sense of self expand as you strengthen your connection with yourself and let the horses and the natural world speak to you without words.
Our mission is to provide a deeper connection with self, through horses, nature and experience.
RETREAT DETAILS
Date: Arrival 15 October, Departure 21 October 2022
(ask us if you would like to extend your stay or go to the beach afterwards)
2023 Next year Date: Arrival 2 SEPT, Departure 8 Sept 2023
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Limited Participants to ensure a personal experience for each of you.
What’s included:
We want to look after you during your stay so you don’t have to worry about any of the details or extra costs – it’s all included and arranged for you, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy a multi-sensory experience, with the following highlights:
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6 nights in a charming local guesthouse
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All meals – delicious homecooked, farm fresh meals or meals out in stunning lake view restaurants
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All transport to and from activities
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60-minute relaxing massage
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Mindful movement in the beauty of nature
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Daily Tula Vida horse experiences – includes all facilitation, materials & equipment - lots of fun involved
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Offsite adventure of hiking, horse area of outstanding natural beauty
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Visit and soak in beautiful, natural local hot springs
ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE is $2,995 plus 13% service tax
If you would like to guarantee a single room, $500 supplement
Excluded: flights, airport transfer, tips, alcohol & soda
No prior horse experience required.
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
Stay in the stunning local area
This part of Costa Rica is surrounded by lush pastures and rainforest overlooking the Arenal Volcano and Lake, Costa Rica, about an hour from Liberia airport (LIR).
You will have clean and comfortable accommodation run by friendly hosts in the small village of Sabalito, around the corner from Tula Vida and the horses.
This natural and tranquil experience has plenty of Pura Vida (the locally used expression for pretty much everything good, which translates as Pure Life!)
ENJOY 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 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
Additional Activities and Excursions
As well as sharing horse and Sand Play experiences and exploring the natural world with your horse, you will have the opportunity to see some of the local area and eat out at some local restaurants. Tula Vida is located next to the stunning Lake Arenal in the shadow of the Arenal volcano.
You will have the opportunity to either go paddleboarding with Eric on Lake Arenal itself, or go horseriding with Sally and our friend and expert naturalist guide, Enrique Molina, to a private waterfall near the Arenal volcano. Stand in the shadow of a giant 500 year old Ceiba Tree, the inspiration behind the Avatar movie and finish the day at paradise natural hot springs where you can soak your body and relax in the warm, healing waters.
What Will This Retreat REALLY Be Like?
Self-connection is something that happens naturally in the right conditions – where you are safe, supported and inspired to allow it in. At Tula Vida we have years of experience in facilitating self-connection and it is the cornerstone of what we do.
Each day you will experience uniquely designed interaction with the horses on the ground, as well as Equine Facilitated Sand Play, nature, mindfulness and movement activities, and outside excursions. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be at Tula Vida or at a local restaurant.
There will be a mixture of group and individual exercises, with processing and down-time in restorative nature, together with healing massage and other natural experiences aimed at letting go of what feels toxic and inviting in what feels healing.
The vibrant colours and sounds of the rainforest as the sun rises and sets, and the clean, fresh oxygen and water, all support your body to get back in tune with its natural rhythm and find balance, peace and contentment at a deep level.
Who is it for?
Anyone who is looking to quiet the mind and tune in to themselves at a deeper level, who is looking for something but not sure what it is, or who is drawn to nature or horses, or who is curious and has read this far!
Part of the foundation for meaningful connection with self is that it looks different for each of us, so this is supported in a non-judgemental way.
Participants for retreats (unless otherwise specified) should be 18 or over. Families or younger people looking for experiences, please check out our Group & Family Experiences page or get in touch to find out more.
No prior horse experience is necessary – all levels are welcome. Tula Vida horse activities will be mainly on the ground.
What is so exciting about this experience?
“The wifi may be slower in the jungle but we promise you will find a better connection.”
This is what Tula Vida does best – provide a safe space for you to tap into what is already there, and support you in moving forwards in your own way, according to what is most important for you.
We believe you have all the resources and capacity inside of you already, if you only pause and – with the guidance of the horses – learn to see, listen and trust what your intuition already knows….
We are excited for the possibilities of each of us being connected to our best self!
THE (NOT SO)
SMALL PRINT
Cancellation Policy and Insurance
A deposit is required to secure your place. Payment in full is required 60 days before the event. All payments are non-refundable and no refunds will be offered for cancellations or non-attendance.
If circumstances limit your travel that are beyond your control (such as COVID-19 related restrictions or natural disaster), your payment will be applied to a future retreat.
Travel insurance is required to attend all workshops and retreats. Travel insurance should cover changes in plans and emergency medical care and evacuation. Retreat organisers will not be liable for any injuries or illness.
Medical or Mobility Questions
We will do our best to accommodate all ADA or accommodation requests. However, participants should know that the retreat is located in a jungle in the northern part of Costa Rica. Please inform retreat organisers of any medical issues which may affect your participation in the retreat so that necessary adjustments can be made where possible. If you have medical/mobility concerns, please contact Sally to discuss modifications.
For other questions, terms & conditions see Frequently Asked Questions in our FAQs
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.
