ohm shanti...

Hola! Namaste!

Just checking in from my vacation to rave a little bit more about Harmony Hotel and Inward Bound. I have to say, this has been one of the most amazing vacations I've ever booked for myself. Joy (pictured with me above), is the owner of Inward Bound and not only is she a kick-ass-yoga-instructing-long-boarder but she is one of the sweetest, most caring individuals I've ever met. She's got a great thing going here and has made me feel so welcome that I'm already planning to come back and do it again next year!



Like I said in my previous post, the yoga studio at Harmony is simply gorgeous. I've never practiced in such a calming atmosphere... it's amazing what a wall of jungle and some running water nearby can do to your focus.

It's so open that animals saunter by (and even into) the class! Yup - monkeys and birds and even a few sweet local pups - one of which refused to leave the other day and lay peacefully by my neighbors mat!!




Carl, one of the instructors

Anyways, this week has flown by and I'm sad tomorrow will be my last full day here... I've met some amazing people and have learned a lot about balance - in every aspect of life.

Off to Playa Negra for Jen's wedding on Saturday though! Wooot!

Till then...

xoxo

buenas noches...

Hello there, kiddies! I'm coming to you from heaven on earth Costa Rica! I'm about to head to bed (yes at 10:30pm!) but wanted to check in...



First of all, I absolutely loved coming on here to see all the wonderful guest-posts! Let's pause give these ladies a round of applause, shall we?

:) :) :)



The last 24 hours have been nothing short of awesome... I had a chance encounter with some howler monkeys on the drive from the airport and the driver let me out to snap some pics:



There is simply too much to fill you in on. My first surfing lesson was awesome and I have a million bruises on my knees! And the yoga - well - I've never in my life practiced in an open-air studio like this! The entire front of the studio is open to the jungle... it's beyond ridiculous. The two hour (gah) class magically flew by too!

Harmony Hotel is simply beautiful, entirely eco-friendly and has amenities I never even knew I could want... like my own private outdoor shower and hammock!



So my whole goal for this trip is to de-stress and I think it's working so far (?) - although I find myself stressing about de-stressing (meh, I clearly need help). Hopefully I'll find more of the anti-anxiety medication I so badly need on the waves or in savasana. Either way, I've got a big, tan smile on my face :)

On that note, I'll leave you with some pics of tonight's sunset... check out those waves!!!





Hasta luego!

xoxo,
Jess

and i'm off...

As you read this, I'm on a plane, finally headed to Costa Rica for 2 weeks of sun-filled bliss!

I will attempt to post a few updates (apparently the only wi-fi will be at a juice bar down the street from my hotel). Don't count on much from little old me but expect some absolute greatness from the fab girls lined up to guest blog while I'm gone! Please, make them feel at home and show them a lot of love :)

So, wish me luck in the surfing department... eeek! And here's to bringing back the warm weather!

xoxo,
Jess

photo by Sarah Lee