I just lead a retreat with 10 women to the enchanted Nosara, Costa Rica, where we stayed at the luxe hotel Nalu. Nalu is nestled in the heart of Nosara, minutes from the ocean, restaurants, yoga studios and local shopping. We all flew into Liberia airport and then took a private shuttle to Nosara. When we arrived our private chef, the gorgeous Dilara Ozkardesler, was preparing an organic, bountiful meal with local produce that just dazzled us. We sat down at a long farm table and started our retreat with a toast!
Every day on the retreat started with a 6:45-8:15am SCULPT class lead by me in Nalu’s beautiful open air studio to the sound of birds,monkeys, and of course a curated playlist! Remember so much of my method is about the music! The studio is on sight so basically everyone would roll out of bed, grab a coffee and meet me on the mat for a super sweaty workout to start our day! Class would end and we would hit up the Harmony juice bar or Robin’s for some smoothies and a bite...then off to the beach. Some women opted for surf lessons and while some surfed, others got massages or facials. The day was spent however you wanted. There were many opportunities to be together and bond and then go out on your own and explore. The pace on the retreat is all up to you!
You could get a modality every day if you wanted, or you could just lay low. Any modality (massage, facial, acupuncture, private yoga session, ear candling etc) would be booked through me. So essentially I take care of it all for you! Some afternoons we made a homemade body scrub with essential oils, or took part in a pelvic floor workshop. Other afternoons we would take a group yoga class and have lunch at the Bodhi Tree juice bar.
Every day there was an optional excursion experience. These excursions were not included in the cost of the retreat and were a la carte add-ons for people who wanted to do them. Not everyone wants to do every excursion so it only makes sense that you pay for what you do. I make this retreat affordable for everyone! Some optional experiences that the women took part in were surf lessons, horseback riding, jungle canopy zip lining, and the Nosara River paddleboard and kayak tour. Surf lessons range from about $60-$80 a lesson, and the other excursions were between $65 and $75 each.
The day would wind down with a beach walk, or a tidal pools swim, maybe a dip in the pool, and then a meal all together. Some nights our private chef would cook for us (included in cost of retreat!) other nights we would all hit up the same restaurant and eat together. Over dinner we would talk about our day, share our experiences, LAUGH, and get to know each other on a deeper level. The bonding of all the women was really my favorite part. It is very cool to witness a group of strangers, varying in ages, all come together with different stories and backgrounds and experiences and leave genuine friends. My retreats are a safe place to open up as much or as little as you want. Because we do an hour and a half of intense exercise every day, it forces us all to face our vulnerabilities and challenges. The beautiful thing however, is that we are all working together and with the acceptance of each other; instead of feeling alone or isolated, you feel supported and loved. That is when the magic happens, and breakthroughs, and the realization that you are stronger and more determined than you think!
If you were considering coming on a retreat, feel free to reach out with any questions you have! I am always here to answer any questions you have regarding SCULPT, in fact I love it! So don’t be a stranger, and no question is weird or crazy! I will answer you as honestly as possible and my number one goal is that through doing my workouts, you feel supported. The vibe of SCULPT by Emily is all inclusive. Meet your body where it is today and just move forward! I promise that in just a few short workouts you will see and feel such a difference you will be addicted!