Yesterday I read an article in the New York times about Charles Darwin, one of the greatest minds of our time, in my opinion.  The article mentioned that Darwin suffered  from depression, and he utilized his work to escape from it.  “Work is the only thing which makes life endurable to me,” Darwin wrote and later remarked that it was his “sole enjoyment in life.”  This has stuck with me all day, and has me thinking: well, what am I grateful for in my life? 

Many things.  I am grateful that I live in Dominical, and not some traffic-smog-crazed city.  I am grateful for my little social support group that love and understand me just the way I am.  I am grateful for my darling handsome husband.  I am grateful for my dog, my crazy spirited bull terrier that reminds me every day to live in the moment and not take myself so seriously.  I am grateful for working in Bamboo YogaPlay.  I wouldn’t go as far as say that is is my sole enjoyment in life, but I do love my job.  I get to meet new interesting people everyday.  I am the small talk queen. 

One of the things I love most of my job is the yoga class during work hours policy that we have.  To have the opportunity to deepen your practice in this gorgeous bamboo studio with many different yet equally gifted teachers is amazing.  A truly wonderful job perk!

So my question is, what are you grateful for?  Have you found that thing, or things, in life that bring you enjoyment?  I sincerely hope you have, and if you’re looking maybe you’ll find your answers in one of our yoga classes.  Look for me, I’m the one with the grateful smile on my face.

Laura

One of my favorite places to practice yoga in Costa Rica is Bamboo YogaPlay, in Dominical. Dominical is a sleepy surf town on the Pacific Coast, where the luscious jungle meets the ocean. Developed by Brendan Jaffer and Sofiah Jaffer Thom, Bamboo is a new ‘sanctuary for living artfully’ nestled just off the dusty road, in tropical paradise. This eco-friendly yoga studio is built above shipping container construction living units. With gorgeous bamboo floors and bamboo walls on 3 sides, the open-air studio overlooks the Baru river and jungle foliage as well as the nearby ocean. Practicing on eco-friendly yoga mats with a full view of the jungle feels so good! After class, feel free to lounge on the Balinese sofa, get a massage or acupuncture treatment, shower in the private outdoor shower (also made from Bamboo), or shop in the air-conditioned Bambootique, for organic and –yes, you guessed it: Bamboo fiber—yoga clothes and street ware, hand-crafted tribal jewelry, locally made healing salves, and Buddhist adornments. A truly holistic experience of wellness, with a loving touch of high-end artistry and full immersion in the natural beauty of Costa Rica, makes Bamboo Yoga Play my favorite place to take a savasana and come restore my batteries while I am in Costa Rica.  For more info. On Bamboo Yoga Play, please visit: www.bambooyogaplay.com.

Debra Rubin, MA, CMT, RYT

Founder of SattyaBody Healing Arts & Dance, empowering women’s health through Holistic Health Counseling, Yoga, & Tribal Fusion Belly Dance,
is based in San Francisco, CA.

www.sattyabody.com

www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php

Love and Music is in the air in Dominical for sure.  Two weeks ago Sofiah and Brendan got married. It was a magical ceremony filled with a lot of love and light.  There is always something special when we witness two people making the commitment to honor and cherish each other for the rest of their lives and Sofiah and Brendan’s wedding was certainly exceptional.  What contributed to the uniqueness of the event was all the wonderful artists that participated in the celebration of the coming together of these two souls.  Dominical was fortunate to host wonderful musicians such as Rena Jones, Lady Rizo, Govinda, and Beats Antique that flew down for the wedding.  Each of these spectacular performers added their own magical contribution to the evening’s festivities.

Keeping in theme with Love and Music, Bamboo YogaPlay is hosting Serpent’s Kiss for the second time.  Serpent’s Kiss is a Valentine’s Day event offering you a Tantric celebration indulging in beauty, ice cream from Ruby’s, wine, music, performing arts and dancing.  We have Incus coming back this year as well. Drawing on influences from Middle Eastern, Native American, African and Eastern European musical traditions, Incus is redefining the American Tribal music movement. The combination of keyboards, accordion, violin, and cello with male and female vocals creates a beautifully haunting soundscape, replete with mesmerizing rhythms capable of inducing trance-like states.  Aside from Incus, we have Sofiah Thom aka Bamboodancer dancing her entrancing Firefan Templedance, Amity Mead performing a Fire Dance, Kali Das an amazing Tribal Belly Dancer, and Katie Quarrier performing her Aerial Silks.

We invite you to come, bring a loved one and join us for this one of a kind Valentines’ Day.  Serpent’s Kiss will be held at Bamboo YogaPlay in Dominical, Sunday February 14th at 8:00 p.m., cover charge $15.

We are very excited to be hosting the amazing Deb Rubin from San Francisco this weekend (January 16^th & 17^th) for her Tribal Fusion Belly Dance Workshops.
  In case you’re wondering what exactly Tribal Fusion Belly Dance is, here’s a little background info.  Tribal Fusion is the combination of tribal belly dancing and costuming with influences of other belly dance and related dance styles.    The incorporation of predominantly Indian stylings, such as mudras and footwork might create a fusion. The use of djembes in musical selections, and the addition of African shimmies and stomping could be called a fusion.  The combination of hip hop-inspired pops and locks with modern/interpretive contortions and jazz floor patterns and Western music would create a fusion. So long as the many or most of the basic elements, which define tribal and belly dance, are still predominant in the performance, it could be referred to as a tribal fusion. 

Deb will split up the workshop in two: Super Slow and Slinky and Pop, Locks, and Layers (Get your Glitch on!)  This is the first time Dominical will host this type of event, and really, what better place than to get inspired by your beauty within and releasing your inner dance goddess than this little beach paradise of a town?

So we invite you all to come and shimmy with us!

If you’d like to learn more about Deb Rubin, or Tribal Belly Dance you can check out the following websites:

www.sattayabody.com
www.tribalbellydance.org

Come play! Come relax! Come dive into yourself!

BambooYogaPlay and Sofiah Thom present:
YOGAPLAY PASSAGES – A Journey into Embodiment
For women ages 18-25

Connect with your inner beauty, power and grace in paradise, as Sofiah Thom guides you through exercises to inspire and empower your moving body.

This Spring break March 6th through March 13th 2010.
Take a journey with Bamboo YogaPlay in Dominical, Costa Rica, for a unique beach yoga experience.

Nestled in the stretch of Costa Rica’s gorgeous coastline lies the discrete and hidden treasure of Dominical. Directly at the bottom of the luscious rainforest, overlooking the stunning Pacific Ocean, and Baru River. Bamboo YogaPlay is the perfect place for retreat, adventure and creative exploration.

In the turning of the seasons, take this time to turn inward and listen to your own voice as you learn to create and live the life you truly want.

Join us in this exclusive retreat organized by Alexa Rosenthal (former student), and Sofiah Thom, founder of Bamboo YogaPlay; Yoga Teacher, Dance Therapist and Performing Artist.

Retreat Includes:

* Accommodation for 7 nights in a BRAND NEW furnished home!
* Shuttle to and from San Jose Intl. Airport and Dominical
* Opening and Closing dinner
* Fresh daily breakfast

* 2 Yoga sessions per day
* Guided creative journaling
* Expressive arts workshops
* Candlelit movement meditation

* 2 Surf lessons with pre and post yoga
* Private river trip to Nauyaca falls

Organic greens available for preparing your lunch and dinner. Nutritional guidance offered.

Dominical offers several healthy options for dining out.

Optional:
* Massages
* Private sessions with Sofiah Thom (www.bamboodancer.com)

Sample day schedule:

7:30 – 9:00 Morning Yoga
9:30 – 10:30 Creative journaling and breakfast
11:00 –1:30 Expressive arts workshop
1:30 – 4:00 Free time
4:00 – 4:30 Body Sculpting
4:30 – 5:30 Sunset Yoga on the beach
5:30 – 7:00 Free time
8:00 – 9:00 Candle lit movement meditation

Cost:
$850 Payment plans available.
Includes everything listed above! Best deal on any retreat!

Limited Space available!

For more information contact:
Alexa Rosenthal (267) 625 -9494
Alexa4288@gmail.com or
Sofiah Thom: info@bambooyogaplay.com

“Pausing, listening, I become aware of my busy mind, but underneath the chatter is a stillness deep within. Closing my eyes I begin to tune into this constant dance of my breath, my chest rising and falling with the rhythm. Scanning my body, I drop into this vessel of mine, exploring the beauty and wisdom that lives in each cell. Surrendering, moved from within, ‘The Dance of Devotion’ unfolds, giving way for the divine to be shaped through action.” Sofiah Thom