Nestled In Nature: Present Enough To Notice

There are trips that leave you with memories, and then there are trips that leave you with a new way of moving through the world. Costa Rica was the latter.

Just one month after returning from Bali, I found myself packing my bags again, this time for Nestled in Nature, a yoga retreat hosted by Jana of The Tree Yoga Cooperative, the community where I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training. I only knew Jana, our host, and one other woman from my training cohort, but saying yes felt easy. I knew I would be in good hands. More importantly, I knew my intentions for joining this retreat were pure. I wasn't chasing another vacation or trying to recreate what Bali had given me. I simply trusted that if I showed up with an open heart, I would leave with exactly what I needed. I just didn't know what that would be.

Bali taught me the importance of rest. That lesson stayed with me long after I unpacked my suitcase. As I boarded another plane only a month later, I wondered if this trip had its own lesson waiting for me and it did. The lesson was presence.

The journey itself invited me to slow down. After a 7 hour flight from Los Angeles and another 3 hour drive to La Fortuna, Costa Rica, I made it to Finca Luna Nueva Lodge. We were welcomed with a fresh fruit drink before settling into a gentle evening practice where we shared our intentions for the week. Everything felt intentional from the very beginning.

The next morning, we toured the property’s farm. Every meal we enjoyed came directly from the farm surrounding us, so walking through the gardens and learning about the fruits, vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants growing just steps away from our rooms made each meal feel even more meaningful. There was something beautiful about understanding where your food came from before sitting down to enjoy it especially knowing what’s going on with the produce in our country. After our tour, we practiced yoga and spent the rest of the afternoon resting. It was a simple day, but looking back, I think it was preparing me to notice the rhythm of the week ahead.

The following day was my birthday. We gathered for our 6:30 a.m. yoga practice, and afterward we were invited to select an affirmation card. Mine read"It's okay to be born again and rediscover yourself. That's evolution. That's becoming." Of all the cards I could have pulled on my birthday, that was the one waiting for me. At the time, I received it, reflected on it, and carried on with my day. Looking back now, I realize that moment was planting a seed.

The rest of my birthday unfolded exactly how I needed it to. I spent quiet time reflecting in a hammock, floated in the pool, treated myself to a massage, learned to make chocolate from scratch during a workshop, and found time for my own self practice before dinner. That evening, the women surprised me with a birthday cake, and after celebrating together, I ordered myself a glass of wine and enjoyed some alone time. It wasn't extravagant. It wasn't packed with plans. It was peaceful. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about what was next. I was simply enjoying where I was.

As the week continued, nature became our teacher. We floated quietly down a river spotting howler monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, birds, bats, and so much more. We spent another day walking the hanging bridges at Mistico Park before making our way to the waterfalls at Arenal Volcano National Park. We soaked in the hot springs, softened into an evening yin practice, and even ventured into town for a fun night together at a local bar called Chicha's.

Looking back, none of those experiences stand out because they were extravagant. They stand out because I was fully there. I noticed the sound of rain, I noticed the sounds of insects that became our nightly soundtrack, I noticed how many shades of green could exist in one place, I noticed conversations that might have otherwise passed by and I noticed myself slowing down.

Living in Los Angeles and growing up in New York it's easy to become consumed by your surroundings. There is always somewhere to be, something to accomplish, another item to cross off the list. Nature doesn't ask that of you. It invites you to pause long enough to actually see what's around you. Costa Rica reminded me that beauty often lives in the things we overlook simply because we're moving too fast.

On our final full day, we welcomed the sunrise with sun salutations before heading out on a 2 mile nature walk. After such an active morning, I took a much needed nap before gathering for our final meditation. At the end of our practice, we were once again invited to select an affirmation card.

Without thinking, I reached into the deck. I laughed almost immediately. The same card. "It's okay to be born again and rediscover yourself. That's evolution. That's becoming." The exact card I had drawn on my birthday. The first time felt like an affirmation but the second time felt like confirmation.

The transitions I've experienced over these past several months suddenly made sense. Leaving familiar chapters behind and starting new ones. Trusting uncertainty and building something that feels aligned with who I am today instead of who I used to be. This wasn't simply about change, it was about becoming. Becoming more mindful, more present , more aware and someone who notices the beauty in ordinary moments instead of always searching for extraordinary ones. Perhaps that's only possible when we're present enough to notice that we're changing.

Later that afternoon, we visited a local family where we learned how to make fresh tortillas, shared a meal that they prepared for us, and spent time helping with projects for a nearby school. It was the kind of experience that reminds you that connection doesn't always happen through grand adventures, sometimes it happens around a table, over homemade food, and through simple acts of service.

As I boarded the plane home, I realized Costa Rica hadn't asked me to become someone new. It simply reminded me to pay attention to the person I was already becoming. Presence isn't reserved for yoga retreats or tropical destinations. It's found in conversations with people we love, moments of solitude, shared meals, quiet reflections, and ordinary Wednesdays. Sometimes the most meaningful parts of life have been there all along. We simply have to be present enough to notice.

Costa Rica, thank you for reminding me that presence isn't something we find. It's something we practice.