Opening your Heart to the Jungle:
Experience a deeper yoga.

Yoga Instructor: Marie Brown  (Read Bio)

My first walk in the jungle was one I will never forget. The sounds of hundreds of birds, the scent of a new world of flora and fauna, the daunting presence of the lush canopy over head, the lingering sounds of the howler monkeys. I remember looking into the vast, amazing world of the leaf cutter ants, working below my feet and thinking to myself, there is so much more to this amazing world that I was ever aware of. I remember feeling completely humbled by the huge presence of nature; it became so easy to linger in the present moment, with all the fascination around me. I went for a swim in the ocean to integrate my experience with the sweet waters of the Golfo Dulce. And as the sun went down, I moved my practice to the yoga platform in the lodge. Doing yoga amongst the trees, the smell of Ylang-Ylang and the sounds of the ocean, slowly moving through yoga postures, I integrated my breath, with my movement, with the awareness and gratitude for this abundant and beautiful tropical world around me.

As yogis we are always searching for peace, space to breath, balance and the joy of being in the present moment. Through yoga we embark on a journey to wholeness and connection to our truest self, which is best found in a direct and un-divided communion with our environment. There is no better place to practice the philosophy of the yogi than at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. Whether you are a devout yogi who has been practicing for years or someone who is interested in having more balance in their lives, the beautiful environment and remote location of Nicuesa is a perfect place to explore the many dimensions of yoga.

The consciousness of Nicuesa is sweet and simple, live in communion with the earth. A typical day often begins with a invigorating, or meditative yoga class taught on the beach deck, as the sun is rising over the Golfo Dulce. All meals of the day are fresh, nutritious and made from locally grown ingredients. For the adventurous types you can spend the rest of the day going on a hike through dense jungle, journeying to a nearby waterfall or kayaking through mangrove forests. Or if your goal is complete relaxation you can enjoy the morning with a walking meditation through the rainforest or a meditative kayak along the Gulf. In the afternoon there is a restorative, meditative yoga class offered in the Lodge. There are yoga adventures aswell, like a strenuous hike to a beautiful yoga platform nestled in a mountain nearby with an amazing view of the ocean. While there you can enjoy a sweet yoga practice or meditation catered by the cool breeze of the rainforest. This is a great spot to enjoy a deep meditation in the middle of the Jungle.

The Lodge philosophy, natural environment and the people all cater to the aspiring yogi in search for a place to deepen their practice and to retreat from the rushing, busy world. But Nicuesa is not a typical retreat centre; it is a fully integrated place where one can balance the quest for inner peace with the quest for adventure.

Nicuesa offers the best of all worlds, for the adventure seeker, the yogi in search for retreat, or for many of us who spend our lives living somewhere in the middle. There are over a dozen activities including jungle hikes, river/sea kayaking, fishing, waterfall hikes, snorkeling, dolphin watching and birding. And for the yogi, there couldn't be a better place to deepen your practice, to meet new and exciting yoga instructors from all over the world and to infuse your own being with the natural heartbeat of the jungle. Whether you want to spend your whole day in retreat, practicing the art of the present moment by enjoying the tropical life, or you crave a dose of adventure trekking the tropics, the choice is yours at Nicuesa, where every moment can be a new beginning.

» Go To Article Index   

Marie Brown

Marie Brown has been practicing yoga since 1998; when she first stumbled upon the teachings, and from then on has devoted her time and energy to learning/teaching the integrative practice of classical yoga. She received her teacher training from the Sivananda Vedanta Ashram in the Bahamas and has since studied deeply with Sharon Gannon and Jan Henrikson of Jivamukti Yoga and Father Joe Pereirra of the Iyengar lineage. She is committed to making the sacred teachings of Yoga available to all living beings, and has a special passion for bringing yoga to the lives of inner-city youth and refugee women. She presently lives in Saskatchewan Canada, where she teaches yoga and works as a free-lance photographer. Marie's teachings are a combination of Jivamukti, and Sivananda styles which integrate vinyasa (dynamic flow) asana (yoga postures) meditation, pranayama (breath-work), mantra and Sanskrit chanting.