Blissful end to yoga tripMarch 21st, 2009

Last night as I drove to Curú to meet Bruce and paddle into base camp at Playa Quesera, bringing the group some Dorado (Mahi Mahi) for their farewell dinner, a grey fox crossed my path, and I was suddenly overwhelmed with its grace and beauty. It seemed to be a herald of peace, and I knew the final night of El Espiritu del Mar was going to be a special time.

LAURI NEMETZ AND SANDY TAYLOR PADDLE A DOUBLE KAYAK THROUGH AN ARCH NEAR THE TORTUGA ISLANDS. 

The group had a wonderful five-day trip and everyone was doing their sunset yoga practice in a state of blissful sadness when I disembarked. They were all elated by how much they had learned and accomplished, both in terms of paddling and yoga. But all seemed sad that the trip had reached its conclusion, and I felt privileged to be included in the sharing around the campfire. 

 

THE GROUP PRACTICES YOGA ON ISLAS DE TORTUGAS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF LAURI NEMETZ

 

Greg Kofsky, 23, told us that he had found a greater sense of awareness of himself through the combination of yoga and paddling. Sandy Taylor, 53, expressed her awe at the power she had felt earlier through being a part of the swell, which continues to rise and fall, during a paddle around the Tortuga Islands. This helped her to come to a better understanding of life’s ups and downs. Wendy Crowley, 54, remarked at how the trip brought home to her “you get what you give.” I could tell every member of the group, including its leaders, had reaped the benefits of both yoga and kayaking because they were willing to try what was, for Seascape, an unprecedented but perfect combination of two very natural, even spiritual activities. Both Bruce and Lauri came away feeling that they both gave a lot of themselves to this experimental first yoga and kayaking trip, but were rewarded by receiving new energy in return. 

 

A WHITE-FACED CAPUCHIN MONKEY WATCHES THE KAYAK GROUP PADDLING IN SILENCE THROUGH A MANGROVE FOREST ESTUARY.

 

This morning, Bruce asked the group to make its last voyage together in silence, taking time to reflect on the entire five-day journey. Launching back out into the charmed teal-colored waters around Playa Quesera, we all paddled back across the open ocean to Curú and up into a magical estuary that, at high tide, is filled with water birds and the occasional mammal. Several monkeys traveling through the mangrove swamp eyed the group curiously as we passed in silence. Finally, we landed on Curú Beach and had a traditional Costa Rican lunch together in the reserve. Tears were shed when Wendy and Greg had to depart for San José and Bruce and I headed back with Lauri and Sandy to Tambor Tropical, our home.

 

Pura vida,

 

Frances