A few years ago I would have never taken an exercise class. I would have worried too much that everyone around me would be experts and I would be a comical flailing mess. I most definitely wouldn’t have done a yoga class as I consider myself one of the least flexible human beings on the planet. However, a couple years ago my friend Emma had a coupon to bring a friend with her to a yoga class in Naples, Florida. It was only Emma’s third class so the thought of going with another newbie convinced me to give it a try.
We went, and it was a power yoga class so that meant it was fast paced up and down poses. Emma and I were the youngest in the class and easily the two that needed the most work. The teacher was patient and helped both of us periodically. The class wasn’t a horrific mess like I’d imagined. I actually enjoyed the session and felt that my flexibility, or lack thereof, wasn’t an issue like I had thought it would be. I know you’re expecting me to launch into some story about how from then on I faithfully practiced yoga, but traveling has taken precedence in my life and I honestly haven’t made the time for it. Then, I had the opportunity to join my friend Cacinda of travel blog Points and Travel on a week-long yoga getaway in August at Blue Osa Retreat deep in the jungle heart of the Osa peninsula in Costa Rica. I figured a yoga retreat would be a great way to push myself, so I accepted the invite.
Our journey to the Osa Peninsula was in a tiny twelve seater airplane. I would say it was the second scariest flight I’ve ever taken when we flew into a dark storm cloud and everything went black as rain pounded on our windows. The unnerving part was that the pilots were calmly enjoying their lunches as though this was just an everyday occurrence. The contrast of awe and fear quickly caught up to me when after we flew out of the clouds we spotted a pod of whales swimming below! Though our landing was smooth, I was happy to be off the plane and certainly ready to relax. We were quickly whisked away to Blue Osa and on the way we stopped to see a tree full of rainbow colored Macaws! It was an amazing sight after going through such a terrifying plane ride.
After a long drive down a winding dirt road we arrived at the secluded Blue Osa retreat, and it was as green and peaceful as I had been picturing it would be. There was an herb garden, serene pool, a large open dining /hang out area and fragrant flowered trellises all surrounded by lush jungle. At the front of the property was a stunning private beach. The word paradise comes to mind.
I was delighted to see monkey families in the trees throughout my week at Blue Osa.
As there was a cancellation I had a room all to myself facing the ocean. Each night I was lulled to sleep with the cool ocean breeze weaving through my room and the sound of the waves dancing on the shore.
The food at the resort was beyond incredible. It was prepared daily by French chef Marie and her team of Costa Rican helpers.
During the week they offered me many different tours of the area. I chose to do a chocolate and fruit tour, horseback riding, waterfall rappelling and releasing baby seas turtles. We were also given plenty of free time to spend how we wished. Blue Osa crafts the kind of tranquility where you can truly find yourself.
Each day we had a yoga class scheduled. I arrived a few minutes before the first class disappointed to find only spots in the front row remained. I grabbed a mat and sat down on it acutely conscious of my posture. A few minutes later we were joined by Yogi Aaron, the owner of Blue Osa. He began each day with a twenty minute talk about life, following your heart and finding peace. Then we would ease into increasingly difficult yoga poses. It was very challenging for me but most of the poses made me feel like I could either accomplish them or do a modified version. It was a great work out and I really enjoyed how still my mind became during class. I was also able to focus on my breathing as we were given prompts. As with my first yoga class, it was not as bad as I thought it would be-I really enjoyed it.
The most valuable thing I gained from yoga class was one of Aaron’s prevailing themes about the limits that we create for ourselves. Even during the week spent in Aaron’s yoga classes I was able to do some poses I never thought I could. It made me think about my own limits in life. Six years ago, before I began traveling, the list of my self-created limits was certainly much longer than it is now. Now, there are so many things I have done that I would have considered impossible for me to accomplish back then. Cliff jumping, rappelling down a 100 foot waterfall, taking busses 12 hours across Dominican Republic by myself, ice climbing or even some of the big hikes I’ve done. Back in 2008 I would have felt like those things were literally impossible for me to do. Ever since I was little, while I loved being in nature and wasn’t afraid to get dirty-if I was truly scared of something I would opt out with a smile. However, after getting out of a long term relationship in 2009 I felt compelled to follow my heart even when it lead me to places that scared me. I have done many, many, things in the past four and a half years of travel that have made me uncomfortable and even very scared. Even the act of traveling itself, people assume I wasn’t nervous about my first big four month solo backpacking trip in Europe, but I was terrified. I thought I wouldn’t make any friends and would be made to wander alone the whole time. I did it anyway because an opportunity like that can’t be passed up and I ended up making tons of friends from all walks of life.
Every time I make it through an uncomfortable experience I come out feeling empowered, happy and confident. I’ve even bungee jumped off of a 150 bridge this fall in British Columbia! All of that being said, Aaron made me really dig down deep and realize that there are still some limits within my life that I’ve been clinging to. I almost felt surprised that after all of the empowering adventures I have had during my travels I still had some hanging around. The retreat made me realize that even though they’re there, they are imaginary. I can easily conquer any of those and free myself of any limits I think I may have.
So now I’ve made a list of ten things that I still feel are impossible for me to do. Things that truly scare me and make me feel deeply uncomfortable. In my head, I have felt they are not worth trying, but now I’m realizing that’s not the case. I hope I am able to knock down this list and begin to conquer all of my fears. Facing my fears publically, sharing them with all of you, is extremely important to me because keeping them secret gives them more power and I have too much life to live to be held captive by my fears.
My “Impossible” List 2014
1. Driving a motorcycle
2. Learning how to dance
3. Diving
4. Living alone in the wilderness
5. Sailing
6. Doing a silence retreat
7. Camping in Antarctica
8. Learning a new language and using it in real life
9. Donating bone marrow
10. Running a marathon/getting in really fit
What is on YOUR “impossible list”? Have you ever done anything you were terrified to do?
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest of Blue Osa. As always all opinions are my own.