New Years Yoga Retreat at Samasati, Costa Rica

A Shambhava Yoga Retreat with Kamala Beissinger

Sponsored by Elements Spa, Brevard, NC

December 28^th – January 4^th

Begin the year with a journey within, with Shambhava Yoga teacher, Kamala Beissinger at the beautiful Samasati Eco-Retreat on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Samasati is located on a 250-acre rainforest preserve, 700 feet above the ocean, and only a 4-mile shuttle from the beach. Come immerse yourself in the practice of yoga and the peace of Mother Nature. Each day begins with an optional 2 hour yoga class before breakfast surrounded by the call of monkeys and the color of toucans in Samasati’s beautiful open-air Meditation Hall. Enjoy your afternoons on the beach, at the jacuzzi, receiving spa treatments, on a jungle excursion, or perched lazily in your own hammock. Shuttles to the beach are available daily through Samasati. Your day concludes with another optional 2-hour yoga class before a scrumptious dinner.

ACCOMODATIONS

Guests may choose from one of the following:

Caribbean Bungalows are nestled into lovely tropical gardens. Built with precious woods exquisitely polished, all have private bathrooms with hot water and spacious verandas overlooking the jungle and the sea. Some have lofts, enabling use as a suite... with the bed upstairs and living room downstairs... or to accommodate three to four people. Beds have high quality single, queen or king size mattresses.

The Guest House is located in a sweet jungle valley favored by toucans, monkeys and dazzling butterflies. Each room has two single beds or one queen and opens onto a spacious veranda with its own cozy, inviting hammock. Shared bathrooms with hot water are located at each end of the Guest House.

Please visit www.samasati.com for further descriptions.

PACKAGE INCLUDES

§ 7 Nights accommodations

§ 3 Vegetarian Meals per day with fish available for an extra fee

§ Excursion to Cahuita National Park - includes boat tour, snorkeling and hiking (snorkel gear included)

§ 2 Yoga Classes per day (Total of 4 hours of Yoga per day; except on arriving/departing days)

§ Special New Years Dinner and Party

§ Shuttle to/from San Jose Intl. Airport to/from Samasati (About a 4 hr scenic drive)

§ Shuttles to/from beach three days of the week

* Airfare NOT included

OTHER ACTIVITIES (available for an extra fee)

Spa treatments, Indian Reserve Tour, Shaman Healing House Tour, Waterfall Trek, Rainforest Canopy Adventure, Surfing Lessons, Horseback Riding on the beach, White Water Rafting, etc. Please see www.samasati.com for more information.

RATES PER PERSON

Bungalows

Occupancy:

Single $1,800.00

Double $1,437.00

Triple $1,269.00

Guest House

Occupancy:

Single $1,269.00

Double $1,136.00

$500 deposit due with registration by August 25, 2008. Balance due by September 25, 2008.

$180 discount for participants who are not attending yoga classes

*Late registration will be granted if space remains on the trip. Please call or email Elements Spa to inquire about availability: 828-884-2701/ elementsyoga@gmail.com

SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE [Please Note: Subject to Change]

Morning Yoga 7-9am

Breakfast 8-10am

Lunch 1-2:30pm

Evening Yoga 5-7pm

Dinner 7pm

YOU WILL NEED:

§ A valid passport

§ Biologically-friendly-bio-degradable bath products, sunscreen (also available for purchase at Samasati)

§ Travel Insurance not required but strongly recommended (purchasable through your airline carrier)

§ A small back pack recommended for day trips down to the beach or into the village of Puerto Viejo

§ Yoga Mat, bug-repellant, beach towel, rain coat, flashlight, watch, US cash or travelers checks in small bills (CitiCorp checks not accepted in Costa Rica); further details will be emailed after registration.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Expect to arrive at San Jose Intl Airport by about 2pm on Sunday, 12/28^/2008 and leave after 5pm 1/4/2009. A driver will be waiting for us at the airport to take us to Samasati. Detailed flight information of trip leader(s) and shuttle information will be sent out by e-mail following registration to give everyone plenty of time to schedule flights. Anyone unable to arrive by 2pm and/ or coordinate departure is required to find their own transportation to/from Samasati. Please see www.samasati.com for more information.

New Years Yoga Retreat Registration Form

Retreat Dates: December 28, 2008 - January 4, 2009

Please print clearly. Thank you. Use back of sheet for additional concerns.

Name____________________________________ Date of Birth___/___/___

Address________________________________________________________________

Phone________________________Email_____________________________________

Emergency Contact Name/Relationship______________________/________________

Emergency Contact Phone__________________________________________________

Please list any current medications___________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Any health conditions we should be aware of? _________________________________

Are you interested in getting a massage from Kamala? ($70/hour)__________________

Please Circle Accommodations below:

*Availability limited. Please register early for best availability. We will do our best to accommodate your 1^st choice. We will contact you if we are unable to do so.

Bungalow Guest House

Single $1,800.00 Single $1,269.00

Double $1,437.00 Double $1,136.00

Triple $1,269.00 *Bed preference: 2 Singles [__] or 1 Double [__]

[__] I am NOT doing yoga ($180 discount)

Roommate(s):

_____________________________ [__] Please check here if roommate NOT doing yoga

Amount of Deposit: ________________

$500 per person due by August 25, 2008

Balance due September 25, 2008

POLICIES: Elements Spa reserves the right to cancel the New Years Yoga Retreat if minimum group requirement is not met by the registration date (August 25, 2008) and trip is not economically feasible. All deposits made will be returned to registrants if trip is cancelled. *NOTICE: Registrants who decide NOT to attend the retreat will have all their monies returned less a $75 cancellation fee IF we are able to replace your spot on the trip. No refunds for early departures. To register: please print and send registration, signed waiver of release and $500 deposit per person (checks made payable to Kamala Beissinger) to:

Elements Spa, 147 East Main St., Brevard, NC 28712

To contact us, please email: elementsyoga@gmail.com

Waiver, Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk

I, ________________________________________ am aware that travel, whether domestic or foreign and participation in a yoga retreat involves inherent risks including but not limited to illness, injury, emotional or spiritual trauma and/or death which could be caused by negligence, forces of nature, or other known or unknowns.

I am aware that physical activity, by its very nature, carries with it certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries.

I am aware that medical services or facilities may not be readily available or accessible during this retreat and that evacuation could be prolonged, difficult and expensive. And, I acknowledge that I have been advised to investigate and purchase my own travel insurance.

I understand that it is my responsibility to consult with a physician prior to and regarding my participation in the yoga retreat. I represent and warrant that I am physically fit and I have no medical condition that would prevent my full participation in any part of the yoga retreat.

I agree to assume full responsibility for any risks, injuries or damages, known or unknown, which I might incur as a result of participating in the program.

This agreement applies to 1) personal injury (including death) due to the participation in activities known or unknown involved in the yoga retreat including, but not limited to contact with wildlife, injury due to forces of nature, travel to/from/in a foreign country, yoga, hiking, swimming, sailing, snorkeling, observation, individual use of facilities, premises, or equipment; and to 2) any and all claims resulting from the damage to, loss of, or theft of property

On behalf of myself, my heirs, personal or legal representatives, or assigns, I do hereby fully and forever release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue, Elements Spa, its directors, officers, employees (namely Lauren “Kamala” Beissinger), volunteers, independent contractors, associates and agents (hereafter referred to collectively as Elements Spa) from liability from any and all claims, actions, or demands arising from their ordinary negligence or any other acts.

Severability and Venue: The undersigned further expressly agrees that the foregoing waiver and assumption of risks agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law.

Acknowledgement of Understanding: I have read this waiver of liability and fully understand its terms. I understand that I am giving up substantial rights, including my right to sue. I acknowledge that I am assuming the inherent risks of participation in the yoga retreat and I am signing the agreement freely and voluntarily, and intend my signature to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law.

_________________________________________________/_________

Signature of Participant / Date

________________________________________________/__________

Witness/ Date

About the Instructor

Kamala Beissinger is a Certified Shambhava Yoga Teacher at the Intermediate Level and works as a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (LMBT# 7344) at Elements Spa in Brevard, NC. She has practiced yoga for 10 years and taught for five. She has taught several different kinds of classes including Vinyasa Yoga, Chair Yoga for the elderly, Pre-Natal yoga, and Hot Yoga. She earned her B.A. at the University of West Florida in 2002.

At age 4, Kamala began her exploration of the mind-body connection with ballet and gymnastics. Kamala made the transition into yoga in 1997 as a freshman in college. The following year, her schoolwork led her high into the Himalayas of Nepal to study mountain ecology, sustainability, and to fall in love with the eastern spiritual traditions. After returning home, she pursued her yogic studies whole-heartedly, studying with a siddha near her home-town of Pensacola, FL. In the winter of 2003, Kamala traveled to Shoshoni Yoga Retreat, a residential ashram in Rollinsville, CO, to attain her Yoga Teacher Certification in the Shambhava School of Yoga. Shoshoni was founded by Kundalini Master, and her beloved teacher, Babaji Shambhavananda. Shambhavananda was initiated on his spiritual path by Swami Rudrananda (Rudi) and the well known Swami Muktananda, who both received initiation from Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri, India.

The heart-centered approach of Shambhava Hatha Yoga concentrates on preparing the mind and body for meditation. It is refreshingly effective, as it is enriched by the Shakti of a powerful lineage of realized masters. Shambhava Yoga is appropriate for all levels of practitioners, from the first time beginner to the yogi adept. Its richness and content affect everyone. Whether it is practiced to realign, rebalance and rejuvenate the physical body or purify the energy channels or nadis in preparation for deeper levels of meditation, Shambhava Yoga opens the heart and uplifts the spirit. For more information please visit: www.shoshoni.org .

Kamala’s class includes postures (asanas), practiced in an intuitive vinyasa style, breathing techniques (pranayamas), meditation, chanting (and sometimes massage!) and is infused with the words and teachings of her teachers to encourage students to focus within. The asana practice is a creative, fluid journey for the mind and body--on the breath--reminding students that Yoga, or union, is the path and the goal. The flow incorporates both heating and cooling postures, or sequences to bring about balance in the practitioner.

Samasati Yoga Retreat