Costa Rica Yoga Teacher Training is becoming increasingly popular, and so are retreats. With the warm climate, open-air yoga decks, beach-front property, and the peace and bliss that a secluded rainforest locale provides, you could say, we have it all. It’s an easy decision to spend a week or even a month in this paradise!
However, packing can be daunting, to say the least. Being away from home for long enough to complete a Costa Rica yoga teacher training (usually 2 weeks to a whole month) can be hard to wrap your mind around. But, rest assured- you will need way less than you think. To truly focus, enjoy your time here, get in touch with nature, and unplug from daily life, you will find that less is truly more.
The Best Packing List For A Costa Rica Yoga Teacher Training
Clothes
This category can be kind of obvious, because you will be doing a lot of asanas, meditating, and sitting in on lectures. It’s a good idea to bring enough yoga clothing for about a week. We have weekly laundry service here at The Goddess Garden, so everything will come back to you nice and fresh. Think lots of shorts and tanks!
For Yoga:
· 3-4 sports bras
· 2-3 pairs of yoga shorts
· 2-3 pairs of yoga capris
· 1 pair of yoga pants
· 6-8 tank tops
· 1 pair of flip-flops
Pro Tip: pack a small bottle of camp or laundry soap to hand-wash things and hang them to dry if you want to pack lighter.
Other Clothes:
· 2 swimsuits
· 1 sarong or cover-up (a sarong is always great because it can double as a scarf, shawl, blanket, etc.)
· 7-8 pairs of undies
· 1 loose pair of pants for those buggy jungle evenings
· 1 light jacket or hoodie for early morning meditation sessions
· 1-2 dresses and/or skirts
· 1-2 casual outfits for eco tours and free time
· Hiking sandals. These ones from Keen are perfect for jungle hikes and water excursions. They are closed-toe to protect your feet, waterproof, and super comfy. They also dry well in the sun.
Optional, But Not Necessary:
· Running shoes. Only bring these if you’re an absolute running addict. You’ll be doing a ton of yoga, and you can always run barefoot on the beach. These take up precious swimsuit space, and they probably won’t dry the entire time you’re here, which can get pretty gross!
· Socks: only bring them if you’re bringing your running shoes!
· Moisturizer: I honestly just use coconut oil in the tropics, if at all. Lotion is usually unnecessary.
· Lip balm. Same goes here- you probably won’t need it, but you may want it.
· Headphones, if you absolutely cannot live without your music like some of us!
Don’t Bother With:
· Electronic hair implements of any kind, i.e. blow dryer, flat iron, curling iron
· Makeup. See above comments on melting and sweating.
· First aid kit. This is usually recommended for long treks, but we have everything you might need here!
Pro Tip (for the ladies): the diva cup is a great substitute for space-consuming tampons, and produce way less trash. Very eco-traveler friendly!
Other Items For A Costa Rica Yoga Teacher Training Or Retreat
· Journal
· 1-2 notebooks for class notes
· Pens/pencils
· Sunglasses
· Water bottle: this one is super-important. You have to hydrate more than usual when hanging out in such a humid climate!
· An extra tote bag or day pack. This is useful for carrying your class materials and for any excursions you may take on your days off.
· Flashlight or headlamp. It gets quite dark at night in Costa Rica, so it’s nice to have something to light the way to avoid tripping on toads!
· Passport
· Cash: It’s a great idea to have cash on hand when traveling in Costa Rica. American dollars and local colones are accepted everywhere.
· Proof of return flight out of Costa Rica within 90 days of arrival
· Yellow Fever vaccine (only if you’re coming from South America)
Pro Tip: If you pay cash with American dollars in Costa Rica, you will get your change back in local colones. Also, big bills can be problematic to break down once you leave the airport, so stick with $20 bills and smaller.
Optional, But Not Necessary:
· Yoga mat/towel. If you are super partial to your mat, definitely bring it, but it can be way easier to travel without it. You could also try a travel mat.
· Notecards. These are nice for making flashcards for poses and Sanskrit.
· Camera, if you want to use something other than your phone
· Ear plugs. The jungle can be pretty noisy, and you will likely have at least one roommate. If you’re a light sleeper, you’ll want these!
· Kindle or tablet: this can be a great substitute for hard copies of required extra reading during a yoga teacher training.
· Laptop or tablet for note-taking. When deciding whether or not to bring electronics, keep in mind that the humidity usually doesn’t jive well with them.
Pro Tip: A Costa Rica yoga teacher training is a great time to detox, not only with fresh air and healthy food but also when it comes to electronics. It can be tempting to bring everything along to stay connected but consider a digital detox as well. You’ll feel fresh and focused for this important time in your life!
Don’t Bother With:
· Water filters. The H2O is safe in Costa Rica, and we have a supply of filtered water for our guests!
· Towels or linens: again, we have everything you need!
Pro Tip: Opt to travel with a trekking-type backpack rather than a rolling suitcase. It’s much easier to carry everything on your back than wrestling tiny wheels over the sometimes nonexistent pavement.
Bonus Tips:
Now that you’ve got everything together and you’re ready to pack it in, take one of everything out (one t-shirt, one pair of shorts, a couple pairs of undies) and ask yourself if you’ll truly need each and every item you’ve got. It’s likely that if you take something out, you won’t miss it. You’ll be too busy having a rewarding, life-changing experience with your fellow future yoga teachers in Costa Rica that you won’t have time to think about what you’re wearing or what your hair looks like!
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