MOUNTAIN BODY
RIVER MIND
Zen & Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica
BOUTIQUE & INTIMATE
Easy days full of rest in the midst of life pulsing all around you.
Together, we will practice being present to what is real, to what
is actually happening.
Join me in dreamy Costa Rica as we explore Life as Practice.
Two back-to-back retreats to choose from
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February 20 - February 26, 2027
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February 27 - March 5, 2027
Life as Practice: A retreat for returning to
what is essential.
Mountain Body River Mind is an invitation to slow down, soften, and remember the steadiness already living inside you by stepping away from the noise and into a slower pace of being.
Together we will explore yoga, zen and meditation through the lens of a beginner's mind as well as presence as a pathway to what is actually happening, what is real. This retreat is for those who long to be with themselves more kindly, more clearly, and with less performance. It is for those who feel called to listen more deeply: to the body, to the mind, to nature, and to the quiet wisdom beneath it all.
During our days together, we will explore and contemplate on:
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Presence: Returning again and again to what is here now.
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Stillness: Simple sitting practices to help us observe, settle, and become more intimate with the movements of the mind.
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Beginners Mind: Releasing the pressure to know, to master, to get it right. Learning to meet each moment freshly.
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Self-empathy and Compassion: Learning how to be with our inner world with more tenderness and less judgment.
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Steadiness & Ease aka Mountain Body River: Exploring the balance between effort and ease, boundaries and softness.
INCLUDED in the RETREAT
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Twice a day yoga classes (morning hatha yoga and afternoon yin yoga)
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Daily dharma talks to contemplate on what it means to be a human living in a modern world
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Daily meditation to steady the mind
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Six nights of accommodations at the Beachfront Villa
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Three catered meals a day by the most incredible private local chef Gobi. A true superwoman. (Tuesday lunch not includes as it is a Farmer's Market day)
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Coffee Tour of a private family owned coffee plantation
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The official program will start in the morning on Sunday and end in the evening on Thursday
Not included: Transport to and from Liberia Airport and the Villa (Katarina will suggest options for both)
A GENTLE RHYTHM for our DAYS
It’s easy to get distracted or feel the pull of FOMO in a place that is so immersive, beautiful, and interactive. And yet, again and again, we will return to what is essential: this breath, this body, this moment. Life as Practice.
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Each day will be held with care and spaciousness with time for rest, reflection, and simply being.
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There will be gentle teachings and contemplations woven throughout the retreat, along with plenty of unstructured time to walk, journal, rest, and connect with the natural world around you.
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This retreat is not about filling every hour.
It is about creating enough space for your nervous system, your body, and your heart to exhale.
YOUR BEACHFRONT YOGA PRACTICE
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Large teak yoga deck with an ocean view
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Morning yoga to open and energize the body, each carefully curated to help you restore your body, mind and heart
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Late afternoon dedicated to slowing down and integration of your long bountiful days with Yin Yoga & Myofascial Release, saturating your cells in stillness
For availability, details, and registration,
please contact Katarina
Our Private Beachfront Villa
Entire villa directly on Playa Guiones in Nosara, Costa Rica
This dreamy beachfront villa will take your breath away with its majestic sunsets and relaxing jungle setting. The howler monkeys and iguanas surround the old growth mango trees and it is truly a nature lovers paradise. Located directly in front of Guiones tide pools and a short walk to the surf, this is a beach lover’s dream house. Enjoy your morning coffee directly on the beach or stroll down the beach as the sun rises.
There are plenty of different hangout areas throughout the property, with amazing outdoor spaces with hammocks and chaise lounge chairs available. The Villa includes a beautiful large teak yoga deck that sits only steps away from the golden sand and ocean waves.
Choose Your Room
This beautiful house used to be owned by one of the original fishing families of Guiones beach. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. Queen & King beds available.
Main House (Ocean View)
Single or Double Occupancy. Queen beds only. Starts at:
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$2600 double occupancy/pp
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$3000 single occupancy
Main House (Garden View)
Single or Double Occupancy. Queen and King bed available. Starts at :
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$2400 double occupancy/pp
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$2600 single occupancy
Apartment (Side House)
Single or Double Occupancy. King bed only. Starts at:
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$2400 double occupancy/pp
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$2600 single occupancy
MOUNTAIN BODY
RIVER MIND
Zen & Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica
Playa Guiones is a 7km long beach with the perfect sunsets almost every day. Nosara is a very laid back small town, with Farmer's Market happening every Tuesday with lots of opportunities to find local foods and art.
Experience Pura Vida in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Essentially, the meaning of Pura Vida is Pure Life or simple life and it is an attitude of the local people that is relaxed, peaceful and worry free. There really is no need to worry when you are in paradise.
Nosara is located on the Nicoya Peninsula. It is one of five of the world’s “Blue Zones”, an area where locals live measurably longer and healthier lives.
Nosara is a beach town located between Samara and Tamarindo. It’s a perfect place for surfing, yoga, beach days, healthy and organic foods. The beach area of Nosara, where most restaurants and hotels are, is called Playa Guiones.
Truly an opportunity of a lifetime to experience the beauty of Costa Rica without the tourist traps. We'll immerse ourselves in local life, with fishermen right next to us and local kids playing football on the beach until the dark sets in.
This year we will also visit a local coffee farm. The tour will take us to the mountains of Zaragoza, a small town about 40 minutes from Nosara. On the way to the farm, you'll see incredible views of the sea and mountains. When we arrive at the coffee farm, the guide will explain the entire coffee-making process.
And last but certainly not the least, our amazing Chef Gobi will delight us with the most delicious organic meals, all made from scratch — yes, even the salsa verde. A true highlight of the retreat, she brings her radiant joy and passion to every dish she serves.
Get ready to experience local fruits and vegetables you’ve likely never tasted before, prepared with love and creativity.
Her kitchen is a place of magic. Each bite is a celebration of the land, the moment, and the joy of being together.
About Katarina Svabcikova
eRYT500/YACEP
Katarina visited Costa Rica for the first time in 2022 during a wild-camping trip on an overlander that allowed her to experience true untouched beauty of this land and she immediately fell in love.
That's where her dream of leading yoga retreats in Costa Rica was born. She has led four retreats in Costa Rica since and is looking forward to returning back to Nosara in February 2027.
Katarina’s teaching is rooted in presence, simplicity, deep listening, and the understanding that yoga is not merely something we do, but a way we learn to be. Life as Practice.
Her work is informed by a decade of study, teaching, personal practice, and her growing curiosity of Zen Buddhism. She offers practices that invite students back into relationship with their bodies, minds, and hearts - gently, with precision, and without unnecessary complication.
Katarina is currently working at the Simon Cancer Center at IU Health supporting patients undergoing cancer treatments. In addition to this work, Katarina teaches three weekly classes at local yoga studios, leads a 55h Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings and leads an annual local Silent Yoga Retreat in New Harmony, Indiana.
Booking and Cancelation Policy
Deposit of $500 secures your spot on the retreat and is not refundable and non-transferable.
Note: balance payments not received by November 20th 2026 (Week 1) and by November 27th 2026 (Week 2) will result in the forfeiture of your space at this retreat.
Refunds for the balance payments vary depending on timing:
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90 days prior to the Retreat: Cancellation requests made more than 3 months prior to the retreat (November 20th 2026 (Week 1) and by November 27th 2026 (Week 2) End Of Business Hours) will receive any payments made minus the $500 nonrefundable deposit.
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Cancellation requests made within 3 months of the retreats start date are non-refundable and the participant is expected to pay the full tuition amount. You are always able to attempt to sell your spot to a friend.
Exceptions to the cancelation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies. No refunds or credits will be granted for failure to attend or complete the retreat.
All cancellations must be made in writing to svabcikova@gmail.com
If something in you longs for beauty, for practice, for a more spacious way of being - this retreat may be for you.
Come practice what it means to be steady like a mountain, fluid like a river, and present enough to meet your life with a little more grace.
For availability, details, and registration,
please contact Katarina at
Reserve your space with a $500 deposit. A confirmation email will be sent once received.
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Venmo: @katarina-svabcikova
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Paypal: @katarinasva
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Zelle: svabcikova@gmail.com
Testimonials
Ann (Costa Rica Retreat 2025)
"Katarina's yoga retreat was absolutely amazing! Staying in a villa right on the beach was incredible and the rooms were so comfortable. Our private chef made us 3 delicious and healthy meals a day. The overall experience was so impactful. I have never felt more strong, grounded, and healthy. Truly a life changing experience. I've already committed to going next year!"
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