Feel At One with Nature in Nicuesa

Playa Nicuesa Lodge prides itself on our Year Round Resident Yoga Instructor-Massage Therapist Program (view our Teacher Schedule further below). Hosting a highly qualified certified practitioner to live at the lodge allows us the opportunity to provide our guests with both a daily morning and afternoon yoga practice, as well as a variety of massage options to balance out an overall heightened sense of well-being during their stay at Nicuesa.

View our Yoga Bliss package >

Our covered yoga platform is located just at the edge of the Golfo Dulce and the lull of its rolling waves complement both a restorative as well as invigorating practice alike.

Yoga classes at Nicuesa are specifically designed by the host teacher of the month based on their trainings, certification and yogic influence. Whether beginner or advanced, private or group session, each guest is catered to on a personal and transformative level during the practice. We invite you to explore not just our preserve, but your own body during your time with us. Enrich your experience through this cultivation of breath and movement and luxuriate in the sublime pleasure of being at one with nature.
Participation fee varies according to format:

$15 Group Sessions
$40 Individual Sessions

Therapeutic massage may be arranged upon request in the privacy of your cabin or on the beach; making it a perfect reward after a challenging day of exploration and activities. Fee per massage:

50 minutes - $75
80 minutes - $105

Peaceful Meditation. In between classes, peaceful meditation is encouraged both at our yoga platform as well as high above from our tree top sanctuary. A quick and engaging hike through one of our most exciting trails leads you to the perfect location to find your inner bliss. Be mindful, be silent, reap the rewards of the powerful rainforest energy as you travel inward while protected by the jungle around you.

Our Yoga Instructors & Massage Therapists

Nicuesa Lodge offers you a rotational selection of highly trained & seasoned Yogi and Massage Therapists, who will be on site during your stay. Enjoy the energizing and restorative natural power of yoga classes and private Therapeutical massages provided by them.

M O N I C A M O R A

Monica is a contemporary dancer, yoga teacher and body therapist with extensive intuitive knowledge of the body and body motion. She studied with great teachers both in Costa Rica and India throughout the past 10 years and started teaching herself in 2011. Her asana classes combine the alignment principles of Iyengar with the structure of the Ashtanga tradition to put together creative sequences that bring the body into an organic flow both, physically and energetically. Her professional training as dancer also enriches her teaching style by adding grace and joy to movement, pause and breath.

Mónica is also a certified Thai massage therapist since 2015 by Yoga Mandir Yoga and Thai Massage School in association with the Sunshine Massage School of Thailand. From this first moment she has continued studying and deepening into the universal principles of this ancient tradition and practicing as a therapist in Costa Rica and Central America. Her main purpose as a yoga instructor and therapist is to promote the well-being of more and more people through self-knowledge and awareness.

A R I A N N E P E N N A

Arianne's classes are dynamics and full of energy, adapted to all levels, from beginners to advanced. Her classes incorporate various techniques of Hatha yoga and Ashtanga Yoga vinyasa, breathing exercises and different techniques of meditation.

Arianne also offers an integral relaxing massage that provides balance between mind, body and spirit. It is a full body massage, toes to head, including a mixture of different Swedish - Californian massage techniques with Shiatsu (Japanese massage technique), Reiki, soundtherapy and aromatherapy. Holistic massage can lead to better circulation, less physical tension and deeper breathing, which oxygenates the entire body.

L U C I A L E V Y

Lucia is a certified Hatha Yoga instructor and Iyengar Yoga student. She has 7 years of teaching experience. She is also certified in Thai and deep tissue massage. Her classes are dynamic and giving a special space, for breathing, meditation and relaxation as well and her massages can focus on a more therapeutic approach adapting to the needs of the person receiving the therapy but they can also be very regenerative and relaxing.

We regularly update our Yoga Instructor Schedule with additional upcoming dates. Contact us for any questions you may have >

Yoga Related Articles Written about Playa Nicuesa

Yoga In Costa Rica

Reachable only by boat, this veritable paradise offers the chance to practice yoga on a platform competely immersed in the tropical forest and the sound of the sea. Their yoga instructors are all certified and work on temporary rotations, which guarantees that your next visit will be new again. Read the Full Article >

Southern Comfort

I couldn't imagine a more idyllic setting for my first stab at yoga. To my right, I see the Pacific Ocean crashing onto a black-rock beach, while above, I am entertained by two white-faced capuchin monkeys frolicking in the palms. ... The most indelible memory is forged on my final day at Playa Nicuesa. After a second sunrise yoga session - easier this time - I join a couple of young Bostonians for a kayak trip through the mangrove channels along the coast. Towing the kayaks by motorboat toward the put-in point, we encounter a school of bottlenose dolphins. Read the Full Article >

Eco-Friendly Adventure, Massage and Yoga in Costa Rica

The location is paradisiacal - an emerald coast with jade water in which dolphins play and turtles dive. It's one of the most biologically diverse places in the world, with lush forestry, humongous leaves, three types of monkeys, iguanas, sloths, toucans - it's like the Oscars for wildlife. There's yoga and massage, but really you come for the wildlife. It's perfect for hiking, snorkeling, fishing and jungle kayaking expeditions - though you can just meditate in a hammock. With a carbon footprint so small it's almost a paw mark, the lodge has 5 leaves - the highest award for sustainability in tourism - but deserves an entire tree. Read the Full Article >

Guest Comments about enjoying Yoga Practice at Nicuesa

"A Wonderful Paradise for Our Yoga Vacation"
This is the second time I have organized a group of like minded Yoginis to this fabulous ' Where Rain forest meets ocean Retreat. The boat ride there and back is a high light. The staff, guides, bar man and chef excellent. Accommodation very special. Some improvements even from our last visit. Food very healthy and plentiful. Read full review >

"Let your stress melt away!"
The minute you land in Puerto Jimenez and take the boat across the magical Golfo Dulce, you'll notice that your stresses melt away. Only to be replaced by the exhilarating anticipation for the 'dock on the bay'. My husband and me have been to Nicuesa three times -- each time as part of a yoga retreat. While we are not outdoorsy-inclined, we can't help but be in awe of the flora, fauna and healthy food available. We love that there is no internet and that we can honestly unplug. Read full review >

"Memorable vacation at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge"
...In the afternoon, we relaxed by the beach and went to several yoga classes, which are set in the most amazing spot: overlooking the gulf and surrounded by the Rain Forest! Can't get more Zen than that! Read full review >

"Yoga, relaxation, adventure - you'll find it all at Nicuesa!"
This past March marked my second trip to Nicuesa in the past two years, each time as part of a yoga retreat. I absolutely LOVE Nicuesa and can't wait to go back again! The lush jungle setting is both tranquil and adventurous; it is by far the most perfect setting for a yoga retreat and the large yoga deck overlooking the beautiful ocean is every yoga practitioner's dream come true! Read full review >

READ MORE RECENT YOGA PRACTICE REVIEWS ON TRIP ADVISOR >