AsoYoga Festival and International Day of Peace

Commemorating the International Day of Peace, and the AsoYoga Festival

Yoga para Todos (Yoga for Everyone) Festival here in Costa Rica was a wonderful event. Held in downtown San Jose, Jill led a meditation with Crystal Singing Bowls in an ancient tower with four foot thick stone walls. Performers, Indian music, Kirtan chanting, booths of fun foods and yoga clothing drew over 2000 people for all day yoga and meditation classes
AmaTierra's booth was a popular one as people signed up to win a free night for two at the Retreat Center. Lourdes Amador was the winner, and she is very happy!

Costa Rica has long been a destination site for yoga, second only to India as the place to go to practice with a group or at one of the many studios which cater to foreigners.
But Costa Ricans too love their yoga, and practice it in a very spirited, strong and serious way. It was wonderful to be in classes led by Spanish-speaking instructors, (the language of sanskrit for the names of poses was helpful!) and amidst those who have a zestful love of yoga.

All in all, a wonderful day, and a positive, collective intention was sent out for harmony and peace on the earth.

Crazy Basil - Let's make Pesto!

AmaTierra's basil supply is off the charts this year - we are up to our elbows in organic basil plants in the garden and planning new recipes daily to put all of that fresh spicy yumminess to good use. If you're like us, and you find yourself with too much basil in the garden, you can make pesto to eat immediately, or freeze/put it into sterilized jars and keep for later!

You'll need:

4C basil,

1/2 C olive oil,

1/2 cup pine nuts OR walnuts(cheaper) or peanuts,

1/2 cup of your favorite parmesan cheese

3-4 cloves garlic.

No salt needed, as the parmesan has enough

In food processor, chop garlic, add basil, olive oil & nuts, finally the cheese. Pesto is very rich! Use on pasta, pasta salad, in pita bread with tomato and mozzarella cheese, or as a sandwich spread or a dip for veggies. YUM!!!

Hint: when using on pasta or pasta salad, add more olive oil so the pesto goes further.

Buen Provecho from AmaTierra's Gardens (full of crazy basil!)

Fall and Winter Retreats at AmaTierra

Fall and Winter Retreats at AmaTierra
Make plans now to join us for a special week this season:

Holiday Celebration, November and January Yoga Workshops,

Photography & more

3rd Annual Escape to the Rainforest with Symmetree Yoga

November 7-14, 2010

Join yoga instructor and retreat hostess Carlene Sullivan for this special 7-night retreat:

An all-inclusive Hatha yoga, relaxation and adventure retreat designed to quell the flames of anxiety and stress while experiencing what it means to be fully alive! This retreat is specifically designed to awaken the body, mind and spirit in an unbelievably beautiful setting.

Click here for more information and to register for this special yoga retreat.

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Special Winter Holiday Week:
Rejuvenate for a Brand New Year
December 26, 2010 - January 2, 2011

Give yourself the ultimate gift of relaxation, and join us for a one-of-a-kind celebration of reflection and gratitude to welcome the New Year.

Join us at the end of 2010: 7-nights all-inclusive.

Details coming this week at http://www.amatierra.com/.

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New Years' Yoga Retreat

January 2-9, 2011

Start the New Year right with a rejuvenating yoga retreat hosted by Luminous Body Yoga. Join yoga instructor Aimee Roberson and naturalist Rawles Williams, known for their expertise in integrating many movement modalities into their practice.

Use the energy of the new year to get back into balance and feel fabulous, more open, and in a state of expanded consciousness after a week immersed in nature, adventure and yoga at AmaTierra in Costa Rica.

7 nights all-inclusive retreat.
Click here for more information and to register for the New Years' Yoga Retreat.

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Costa Rican Paradise: Eye of the Beholder

January 15-22, 2011

Third Annual Photography Retreat with professional nature photographer Cynthia Delaney

Hone your photography skills in one of the world's most breathtaking destinations. Join us for an exciting journey photographing the vivid colors of Central America. On-location photography excursions include Carara National Park, a haven for wildlife including sloths, monkeys, and the beautiful scarlet macaw; TuruBaRi Tropical Park complete with a butterfly garden and canopy tour; Playa Esterillos Beach and the seaside town of Jaco; and Zoo Ave, a sanctuary for exotic birds. All levels are welcome, both film and digital shooters.

Click here for more information and to register for Cynthia Delaney's Photography Retreat.

Spend Labor Day at AmaTierra in Costa Rica!

Labor Day Specials
September 1 - 12, 2010
at AmaTierra Yoga Retreat & Wellness Center

Our 2 Most Popular
Vacation Packages
at Deep Discounts
for Labor Day



3-Night Wellness & Adventure Package: $449
5-Night Relax & Adventure Package: $795
All prices per person based on double occupancy with all taxes included
Single occupancy rates also discounted - inquire for special prices

3-Night Wellness & Adventure Package

*Includes all healthy gourmet meals made from fresh local & organic ingredients
*1-hour professional massage
*2 yoga classes in our open-air yoga shala
*An adventure excursion to Turubari Tropical Park
Price: $449 per person

5-Night Relax & Adventure Package

*Includes all healthy gourmet meals made from fresh local & organic ingredients
*1-hour professional massage
*Daily yoga classes in our open-air yoga shala
*An adventure excursion to Turubari Tropical Park
*Airport Transfers to and from AmaTierra
Price: $795 per person


Don't miss this inexpensive opportunity
to experience Costa Rica at its finest.

Labor Day Specials valid for reservations September 1-12, 2010.

Additional Spa services and personalized wellness treatments available.
See our full Spa and wellness menu at www.amatierra.com .

Reserve today! 1-866-659-3805 amatierra@gmail.com

Asoyoga's 1st Yoga Festival in Cartago, Costa Rica

AmaTierra is gearing up to attend Asoyoga's very first Yoga Festival this upcoming Saturday, July 17 in the city of Cartago, Costa Rica. The event is organized by Cartago's local yoga centers and all Costa Rican yoga studios, retreats, instructors and students have been invited to attend. We are inspired to be part of the excitement of Costa Rica's budding national yoga community and growing culture of alternative health and wellness.

The Yoga Festival will highlight Project Peace on Earth, an effort to recognize our interconnectedness as a common global humanity and celebrate the role yoga plays in maintaining solidarity among us, and inspiring personal discovery and introspective meditation to recognize the interdependent web of our collective actions on this Earth. Specifically, the Festival hopes to motivate Cartago's local community and involve them in the practice of yoga toward greater social unity, vitality and stress-relief.

The day's events include lectures focused on practices to improve quality of life; booths and stands where local yoga centers and product exhibitors will be on display to showcase their unique services; spaces designated for different yoga classes throughout the day to enliven participants toward a newfound consciousness on yoga and wellbeing; artistic presentations of bellydancing, karate, children's activities, live music and an exciting closing meditation at 4:00pm to end the day with intention.

AmaTierra owner, Bob Ruttenberg, and our newest yoga instructor Socorro from San Francisco will be there to represent AmaTierra and support the event. We hope to see all of you Costa Rican yogis there with us to enjoy the Festival and support Cartago's growing yoga community!

Project Peace on Earth is sponsored by the yoga centers of Cartago: Yoga Santocha Centro, Yoga Sol, Casa Alternativa Morpho Azul, and Yoga Luna.

For the complete program of activities, visit: www.cartagovirtual.com/actividades/festivaldeyoga_cartago.html or http://www.cartagovirtual.com/.

For more information on the Cartago Yoga Festival, call 2591-1050 or write to: info@cartagovirtual.com.

You can find out more about Costa Rica's Yoga Assocation, Asoyoga, at: http://www.asoyogacr.com/.

AmaTierra's Summer Recipe of the Week

Indian Cucumber & Mushroom Salad: A Refreshing Summer Treat!

Ingredients:

2 Cucumbers, sliced lengthwise in quarters, seeds/pulp removed, then sliced in 1/2 inch pieces
1 can button mushrooms (or fresh mushrooms halved and sauteed or steamed)
1 small container plain nonfat yogurt
2 cloves garlic, crushed
rice wine or white wine vinegar cumin seeds, dry roasted and crushed salt to taste

Preparation:

Prepare cucumbers, set in colander and dowse with vinegar, set aside while preparing other ingredients. Peel and crush 2 garlic cloves, put in non-metal bowl. Drain mushrooms. Dry roast the cumin seeds, when toasty and fragrant, remove from heat. When cool, turn onto cutting board, use rolling pin to crush. Mix all ingredients, yogurt, cucumbers etc, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to meld flavors.

Buen Provecho!

AmaTierra Cookbook Coming Soon! In the meantime, check our blog frequently for more delicious Summer recipes.

On Saturday, June 26, 60 kids from Turrubares county - plus 25 of their teachers and parents - travelled to Jaco Beach on Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast for a fun-filled day of activities hosted by the AmaTierra Foundation. As the well-earned prize for high school and elementary school students' unprecedented efforts in the month-long recycling contest, the winning classes took full advantage of their beach time: playing soccer in the sand, throwing frisbees around, playing beach paddle ball, making sand castles,and best of all - learning to surf!

DJ Bryan from Cesar Vargas Productions set the mood for the day with reggae beats and dance music all day long. 15 local Jaco volunteers came out for the event, playing with the kids, helping chaperone and lifeguard, pushing surfboards into the waves for the kids to practice their new sport, serving lunch, and making sure the day went smoothly. This day of fun in the sun would not have been possible without the incredibly generous donations by local Jaco businesses and organizations: delicious lunch of arroz con pollo and bowtie pasta salad provided by Jimmy T of Jimmy T's Provisions; gift bags for all of the kids and dozens of bamboo beach mats donated by Marc Pontbriant from Souvenir Centro; Surf instruction with Gustavo Castillo and the instructors from Jaco Surf School; Christian Surfers for their support with chairs, soccer balls and extra volunteers; neighbor Gary for the juice boxes and use of his electric current for the DJ on the beach; and finally, beautiful beachfront Hotel 9 for the use of their restrooms and showers.

We are so grateful for the turnout for the event, and can't wait to plan another beach day for the community of Turrubares in the future. A big thanks to all who were involved, and here's hoping that this kick-off recycling contest is just the beginning of heightened recycling efforts throughout Turrubares County!