YOGA + STRENGTH - Jungle Adventure
UVITA, COSTA RICA | Jan 2024
A fun-filled week of yoga combined with strength training – Co-taught by Stevi Gongora (Yoga/Creative Movement), and Dr. Ben House (Strength/Meditation)
Dr. Ben House and Stevi Góngora are excited to announce their only combined 2024 event for clients and friends – old or new! Held at Flō Retreat Center in Uvita, Costa Rica, join us for a week of combined yoga and strength work with a jungle adventure theme. Let’s to unplug and reconnect to the natural world in good company!
Yoga + Strength - Jungle Adventures
Jan 11 – JAN 18, 2024 – SOLD OUT
A week of exploring animal and nature-themed movement in our yoga classes and learning the basics of a strength & conditioning practice to both balance and supplement our movement skills. Plus daily adventures to waterfalls, beaches, and stunning views. Accessible for all levels with opportunities for individual and community growth.
This event is not a training. It is a retreat. YOUR retreat.
You are not required to attend anything, and if you need to lay by the pool all day, everyday, that is 100% okay. Or, if you want to spend every waking hour hiking, snorkeling, and mountain climbing, you can do that too. Below you can find more details about the event in detail. All are welcome. Tailor this escape to fit your specific needs for adventure, creative movement, strength work, or all of the above. Pura Vida!
Let's talk BASICS
WHERE, WHEN, HOW MUCHWHERE
Flō Retreat Center in Uvita, Costa Rica. Flō is about 3.5km above central Uvita, a town on the South Pacific coast that is 3.5hours from SJO airport in the capital San Jose. A 4×4 car is required for the drive up from Uvita, but we highly recommend using our shred shuttle service for direct transport from the airport to our front door. Exact directions are provided for those who prefer to make their own way to Flō during the appropriate check in window.
WHEN
- JAN 11th – JAN 18th , 2024
- Arrival Jan 11th between 3-9pm local time. Departure Jan 18th by 11am local time.
HOW MUCH – SOLD OUT
Ben and Stevi believe that everyone deserves affordable, quality educational opportunities and do their best to keep prices accessible. We have two types of accommodation available for this event at the same cost. Shared Lodging (3-4 guests/room, individual twin beds) and the more private Double Rooms (2 guests/room, shared queen bed).
Double rooms can be booked by a couple, friends who don’t mind sharing a bed, or strangers who don’t mind sharing a bed. We will do our best to fulfill lodging requests, but it’s best to book with friends if you want to lock in your room or bedmates. Want a double room all yourself? That’s 100% fine, but you’ll have to purchase both spots to secure your privacy.
COST: SOLD OUT – $1700 PER PERSON ($500 deposit, $1200 balance payment)
*BALANCE PAYMENTS ARE DUE 30 DAYS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL DAY
**NOT INCLUDED: Round trip airfare (to/from SJO), transport to Flō (affordable shuttles offered), snacks, optional excursions
***Need a partial scholarship? We will have two (2) spots available that are 50% off. Please email [email protected] to discuss that option.
Jungle Adventures
ARRIVAL: Thursday January 11th, 2024. Check in is 3pm – 9pm on arrival day. For those desiring a shared shuttle arranged by Flō, your flight must arrive at SJO airport BEFORE 3pm to use our service.
DEPARTURE: Thursday January 18th, 2024. Check out is by 11am local time on departure day. For those booking a shared shuttle through Flō, we recommend finding a flight home that departs AFTER 2pm due to the airport drive.
Registration Includes:
- Lodging and access to all the amenities on site
- Locally sourced fresh breakfast, lunch, and dinner (all meals optional to provide for excursions, Vegan, Veggie/Omnivore Options)
- Morning Coffee/Tea/Fresh Fruit
- Morning/Evening Meditation
- 2x daily yoga/movement with Stevi Gongora
- Dedicated Journaling + Creative Writing Time
- Discussions/Guided sessions on Strength Training, Functional Movement, Sleep, Nutrition, and/or Lifestyle Wellness with Dr. Ben House
Registration Does Not Include:
- Airfare to and from Costa Rica
- Transportation from SJO to and from Uvita. – estimate $65 dollars each way if using our shared ride service on suggested days/times
- A personal rental car
- Snacks – if you are snacker, bring your go-tos from the States. Only main meals will be provided.
- Excursion costs (entrance fees + taxis) – Please note that excursions to many local waterfalls (both off and on Flo property have no cost or fee associated. Jungle Adventure Week includes 2 trips to local beaches as well).
The sample schedule below is meant to be an example of what the week will encompass. Stevi & Ben will cater the content to the specific attending audience (survey provided beforehand to get to know you!) and the adventures and even activities and classes will be somewhat weather dependent since it will be the end of green season here in paradise which means peaceful jungle rains are likely to grace us with their prescense.
Jungle Adventures
This event is for EVERYONE! After all, who doesn’t like to embody their inner animal or channel the elements of the natural world as we explore movement in paradise!? Plus with some added strength training work (both to supplement and complement our yoga practice), daily meditation, and daily ADVENTURES on and off the property, this event is a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking to get started with movement or tune into nature to dive deeper!
Sample Schedule
- 7:00am Fruit & Coffee
- 7:30am Morning Meditation
- 8:00-9:30am Morning Yoga (animal flow, elemental play)
- 9:30am Breakfast
- 11:30am Strength Training Circuits/Discussions
- 1:30pm Lunch
- 2:30-5:00pm Jungle Adventures (waterfall, beach, river)
- 5:00-6:00pm Recovery Yoga (slow flow, restorative)
- 6:30pm Dinner
- 7:30pm Evening Meditation
Accommodation Details
Flō Retreat Center - Wellness VenueFlō Retreat Center is a 20 acre property is located in Uvita, Costa Rica (South Pacific Coast). Originally built by Stevi & Ben, it is now owned and operated by their amazing friends Erin & Gabe. Erin, Gabe, and family continue to make thoughtful improvements to FLŌ, and we know you’ll love all of the work they’ve done. Also, Stevi & Ben haven’t gone far! We spend about half the year right next door on the adjacent plot.
Situated only 3KM up the mountain from Central Uvita, Flō is secluded and peaceful, yet convenient and accessible (by 4×4 car please). The long winding private drive to the main building plantel translates to extreme privacy in both the practice and living space. Wake up to monkeys and toucans playing in the trees above you, and fall asleep to the soothing sounds of crickets and tree frogs.
The main two-story building holds a common area for eating and working + large communal kitchen and shared bathrooms on the first floor. Eat breakfast overlooking the salt pool and watching the ocean tides out on the distance. Turn your head slightly in either direction for just-as-stunning jungle and foliage views. The perfect place to sip tea, catch up on some emails (“jungle wifi” available), or just swing in a hammock and relax.
The second floor of the main building provides additional shared and private lodging. The larger bedrooms host 3-4 people each while the front bedrooms sleep 2-4 each and offer stunning ocean views. Stroll slightly toward the cacao grove next to the main building, and you will run into the beautiful yoga studio. Mostly open air (with screens for bug blocking), this space will provide ample area to explore the practice on your mat. Full use of blocks, blankets, straps, wheels will be offered during this retreat, and it’s a quick walk to the main house for bathroom breaks or snacks.
Keep walking toward the jungle, and you will enter the beautiful, sun-splotched cacao forest. Here the laden cacao trees provide some shade for the Shared Cacao Forest Cabinas, small but efficient bungalows housing 2 attendees each in a luxurious queen bed. Shaded, quiet, and peaceful, these adorable shipping container-esque sleeping quarters come equipped with screens, AC, and each have access to a private bathrooms. Additional double or couple rooms will be housed in the fabulous River Walk Rooms, each featuring their own bathroom, AC, and access to a shared kitchen and deck space just a quick stroll down the lighted path to the toward the river and falls.
But what about when you’re not practicing or listening to lectures?! In your free time, we encourage you to cool off in the pool, or take the short 1/4 KM walk down to the river, where you can explore one of the property’s SIX waterfalls, splash in one of the multiple natural swimming holes, or just explore the jungle walking paths. Town is an affordable cab ride (again, 4×4 recommended) away, where you can access grocery stores, beaches, national parks, restaurants, farmer’s markets, and souvenir shopping. You can also easily walk down (35-40 min) and then cab back up for some additional steps.
Staff
Stevi Góngora & Dr. Ben HouseStevi Góngora (@casa_colibri) is a ERYT – 500 yoga and aerial arts teacher currently based in Uvita, Costa Rica and Asheville, NC. Her teaching style combines precise breakdowns of form and anatomical cueing with a creative flow style, stressing unusual transitions and authentic movement practices. Expect logical creativity, unusual prop usage, a combination of flow and form, and an obvious love for the anatomy WHY behind the WAY of doing things. She has developed a deep love and respect for inversions of all kinds, and is the author of multiple books including – Guide to Handstand, and Guide to Handstand Pressing. She regularly teaches students and teachers of all levels in classes/workshops/online seminars/retreats/trainings via her school of Authentic Movements.
Dr. Ben House has worked as a Strength and Conditioning Coach and Nutritionist since 2006. He holds a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and spends his time coaching, researching, lifting heavy things (just to put them back down), teaching and writing in a variety of fields, as well as chasing after a small and energetic human. House has numerous publications in multiple high-impact peer-reviewed scientific journals, has presented his work at international conferences, and his passion is moving the field forward through grit, innovation, collaboration, and intentionality. House creates short, medium, and long-form content at Deconstruct Nutrition and currently works as the Director of Nutrition Systems & Research for the Memphis Grizzlies. His favorite moments are times spent with his wife Stevi, daughter Taos, and their puppies living the principles he asks others to build into their lives.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that life happens and things change. We will do our best to be flexible, however, the closer the cancellation is to the actual start date, the less likely it is that we will be able to fill your space. Since we have to pre-pay for many items, late cancelled rooms would mean payments out of our pockets. We highly suggest you purchase travel insurance in case of any emergency change of plans, and are happy to answer any other questions that you might have!
CANCELED REGISTRATION REFUND POLICY
DATE OF CANCELLATION
MORE THAN 30 DAYS BEFORE ARRIVAL
INITIAL DEPOSIT
THE INITIAL $500 DEPOSIT IS ALWAYS NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE.
BALANCE PAYMENTS
FULLY REFUNDABLE
DATE OF CANCELLATION
30 OR LESS DAYS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
INITIAL DEPOSIT
THE INITIAL $500 DEPOSIT IS ALWAYS NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE.
BALANCE PAYMENTS
NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE
***Once the program begins, there are no refunds of fees.***
SECURE YOUR SPOT!
Click here to be redirected to our cart page for this event and to put down your deposit. If you’re requesting a specific room, and are ONLY interested in attending if the room style is available, please email: [email protected] before booking! Thank you for understanding.