joy and gratitude in the tropics
The Mind the Mat team is retreating in the tropics in a remote town on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica called Nosara. Mind the Mat owners, Sara VanderGoot and Megan Brown, along with Laura Schwartz (Director of Programming at Mind the Mat) arrived in Nosara on Valentine’s Day after winning the Heart of Del Ray, an award bestowed yearly by the Del Ray business association on one business in Del Ray, Alexandria that services the community and contributes to its vitality. A group of ten dedicated Mind the Mat clients have come along on the retreat—all women who are treating themselves to a good dose of self-care. This retreat is about yoga, Pilates, relaxation, and healthy eating, but mostly about gratitude and joy.
Retreat is an essential part of the yogic tradition. Traditionally, yogis would retreat alone to caves or mountains to meditate and gain perspective on life. Traveling far away from home and disconnecting from cell phones, computers, work, and in many cases loved ones, is a modern day version of this tradition. It is true, absence does make the heart grow fonder, and here we can relax enough to recognize and enjoy all the blessings of our lives.
Sitting at desks, driving in cars, and toting children are some of the many activities the women who are participating in the retreat do daily at home. Without exercises to counter and aid postural awareness, these activities cause neck, shoulder, and back pain, poor posture, and most of all stress. Yoga recognizes that habitual stress and misuse of the body lead to emotional and mental dis-ease, ultimately blocking the experience of gratitude. As the stresses of daily life melt away under the Costa Rican sun, Mind the Mat instructors guide our lovely participants through yoga postures that open the shoulders and the chest. By opening the shoulders and chest, we not only improve posture, but also set the heart free so we can experience more joy and love. We step out of our emotional armor—slumping shoulders and stiff necks and backs—to find freedom in our bodies and expansion in our hearts and minds.
Costa Rican culture is a sweet reminder of the gift of life. Upon our arrival the staff at the Nosara Yoga Institute greet our group with a traditional phrase, “pura vida,” which means pure life. The Mind the Mat team intends to bring some pura vida back to Alexandria. While the flus and colds of winter can be infectious, joy and gratitude have a powerful way of spreading fast too. We love you Alexandria! We are tremendously grateful for you! Come join us next year on our retreat to the tropics.
- About the studio
Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga was founded in 2008 by Megan Brown, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Polestar Certified Practitioner of Pilates for Rehabilitation and Sara VanderGoot, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher (e-RYT 200, RYT 500). In their private practices as physical therapist and massage therapist respectively Megan and Sara observed that many of their clients were coming in with similar needs: relief for neck and shoulder tension and low back pain as well as a desire for more flexibility in hips and legs, stability in joints, and core strength.
Together Megan and Sara carefully crafted a curriculum of Pilates and yoga classes to address needs for clients who are pregnant, postpartum, have injuries or limitations, who are new to Pilates and yoga, and for those who are advanced students and are looking for an extra challenge.
2214 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
703.683.2228
