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Wonder Root: Turmeric

Uncategorized | Posted Nov 09, 2020

This month at the Amaser gardens we harvested turmeric! The garden volunteers harvested upwards of fifty pounds of the orange-gold in just a few days.

Although it is not native to Costa Rica the wonder root thrives with the combination of AmaSer’s homemade soil and the humid heat of the Caribean. 

Turmeric can be prepared a number of ways depending on it’s usage. Most of this turmeric will be dried for a number of days and ground into a powder. OM’s conscious kitchen will keep it on hand for recipes that call for the flavorful and nutritious spice. We’ve also made it into tea, cooked it into meals and a few of us brought a handful to the local juicery to try it in juice form. 

The lovely folks at Juice for Life, an organic juicery and health-conscious cafe, juiced the fresh turmeric and mixed the rich liquid with fresh young coconut (or pipa) water and organic lime juice. The result was a vibrant orange tangy shot, potent and delicious. 

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AmaSer - The Magical Experience

Imagine you are overlooking the clear blue Caribbean ocean, the sun is setting behind the mountains that encircle the coastline. You have an amazing view because luckily you are on a jungle hillside. As you watch the coast turn from that light shimmering yellow to a deep cerebral purple, all around you is a cacophony of birds, chirping insects and howler monkeys calling in the now dimly lit treetops. Perhaps, you are at an evening yoga class at AmaSer. 

I’ve just started working here and in my opinion, the location of AmaSer is one of its most unique qualities. It is just a few minutes walk to town and the ocean, yet the elevated hillside microclimate provides a sense of seclusion and fresh, boisterous air. You’ll notice that AmaSer is not just in the jungle, it is intentionally amongst the jungle. Every corner of AmaSer is padded with foliage. Draped over the walkways you’ll see ferns, and palm leaves, tall or short coconut, banana and moringa...

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The Shame Of Slowing Down

Uncategorized | Posted Nov 09, 2020

Costa Rica is a destination many flocks to with the goal of grounding and re-centering through the beautiful nature and ‘pura vida’ lifestyle. This is certainly a wonderful place to slow down the clock, but what is often left unspoken is the uneasy feeling that can surface during this transition period.

When I moved to Costa Rica from busy New York City I experience what I came to the term ‘the shame of slowing down.’

As Salman Rushdie shares in his novel ‘Shame’: “Shame is like everything else; live with it for long enough and it becomes part of the furniture.”

So, if you’re resonating with this sentiment of slowing down, perhaps it’s time to do some refurbishing and clear out a little shame from your cupboards: Read my experience with shame here! 

Written by guest contributor: Kari Grace

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Featuring Avani Gilbert: Walking the Path Toward AmaSer

interview puerto viejo yoga | Posted Nov 09, 2020

Original Post I Posted September 1, 2019

It is a rare opportunity to catch Avani Gilbert, founder of Om at Cashew Hill and now AmaSer, unoccupied by students, lesson plans, or her 3-year-old yogi-in-the-making. But as the sun poured into the Maha shala, Avani shared her journey to hOMe. 

At the age of 22, Avani earned her massage license, the first of many bodyworks, energy work and wellness certifications. As her final assignment, Avani created her own business, “OM Massage,” complete with a logo, list of services, and business cards. 

Within two years, OM Massage actually manifested into a reality and opened its doors in Cocles, Costa Rica. “When Om first opened and had its first physical site in Cocles, it was a teeny tiny platform that I rented from a friend. It fit 5, maybe 6 people on a good day.” Space was small, but Avani’s vision was grand. 

As she settled in, Avani took notice of the lack of spaces where she...

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A little chat with Blas : Chef Extraordinaire

“Cooking from and for the soul.”

~ Blas Claira~


Blas Claria is the head chef of our kitchen. His passion for cooking comes from travelling and organic farming. His motivation comes from a place of wanting to create positive change and see the transformation towards conscious food.

He has been travelling around the globe, constantly learning from different cultures, new dishes, and new flavours. His main inspiration is the Caribbean nature and its life cycles.

 

What were the first steps towards becoming a chef and starting this project?

I had the opportunity to visit various permaculture farms and therefore learned how to use local ingredients. I started being inspired by healthier food, fresher nourishments non-ultra processed, ingredients without so many chemical alterations.

A long time ago I used to work in a multinational food technology company and experienced that dark side of the industry. Some convenience foods and many products in the supermarkets are...

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5 Magical Things About Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

costa rica puerto viejo tips wellness yoga | Posted Nov 09, 2020

Listed below are 5 quick insights to the magic that blooms in the Costa Rican town of Puerto Viejo. 

1. Slowing down. A blend of Costa Rican and Caribbean energy creates days of slow, therapeutic living. This is a breath of fresh air especially for those arriving from metropolitan areas and lifestyles.

2. A much needed westernized detox. Unlike other parts of Costa Rica, such as the pacific coast, Puerto Viejo is known for its rustic charm. You will not find all inclusive resorts or chain restaurants here. Welcome a culture shift with open minds and warm vibes.

3. Beaches, beaches, beaches. Whatever part of the town you stay in, make sure to either put on your walking shoes or rent a bike. There are so many stunning beaches along the stretch of Puerto Viejo, all offering its own distinct personality. Black sand to surf tides. Explore them all, you have the time.

4. Wellness. You will easily come across numerous holistic inspired restaurants,...

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Your Rhythm, Your Resonance, Your Heart: More than a Mere Organ

lifestyle yoga | Posted Nov 09, 2020

Your Rhythm, Your Resonance, Your Heart: More than a Mere Organ

Did you know that your heart, your personal inner drum, beats an average of 37 million times a year?!  This rhythm, in a healthy heart, is highly adaptable and always shifting. Much like the anatomical heart, a healthy energetic heart center (Anahata) must also be adaptive; must ebb and flow with the rhythms of life in order to be healthy, hearty and whole.  

Shiva Rea (Tending the Heart Fire) explores the body’s system of entrainment.  The medical dictionary defines entrainment as “the synchronization and control of cardiac rhythm by an external stimulus.” Or in other words, as Rea says “a state of yoga, or joining together, a coherence between multiple rhythmic patterns.” (p. 56).  Understanding entrainment is an opportunity to explore how every single experience leaves an impact on our sacred heart. What is this “external stimulus”? you...

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You, Yes YOU, Are a Yogi

lifestyle yoga yoga teacher training | Posted Nov 09, 2020

You, Yes YOU Are A Yogi  

The explosion of yoga on Instagram has visually defined what it means to be a yogi: $120 yoga pants and top, a skinny body with magically non-sweaty hair and professionally done makeup, most likely white.

No matter who you are, whether you fit most of those descriptors or none, it can be extremely intimidating to claim what seems to be such an elusive and EXclusive title as your own.

When asked if you do yoga, it’s hard not to qualify your ‘yes’; “Yeah I guess, but I’m not one of those crazy handstand people.” A full, confident, yes is a long-fought discussion with the Self until you can finally claim that YOU. Are. A. Yogi.

Here are some golden tidbits to help you end that war once and for all:

  • What we know as ‘yoga’ today in the West is really called ‘Asana,’ or the physical component of Yoga. And get this- it’s only one out of the EIGHT limbs of yoga!
  • Asana literally means...
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A Sufi Tradition for Peaceful & Impactful Communication

Uncategorized | Posted Nov 09, 2020

This Ancient Sufi Technique will Allow you to have Meaningful Connections that Impact.

In a world that can’t stop talking, be the person to speak with intention and clarity. Use the Four Gates of Speech, developed out of Sufi tradition, and make everything you say matter.

The Four Gates of Speech

  1. Is it true?
    • Do you know with absolute certainty that what you’re about to say is true? If it is not, then it feeds into unnecessary information overload and you miss the mark on contributing as best you can to your environment.
  2. Is it necessary?
    • Notice how often you speak simply to fill a silence. Take a deep breath, let the silence be okay, and you just might notice yourself becoming a better listener as well- a happy side effect!
  3. Is it beneficial?
    • What purpose does it serve, who does it help? Do your words improve a situation or…not? Are you merely trying to help or are you actually helping? Gently evaluate your own effectiveness in the outcome.
  4. Is it...
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Jungle Life, AmaSer Family and Fascia

costa rica puerto viejo yoga | Posted Nov 09, 2020

I can’t believe it has almost been three weeks since I arrived at this incredible place named AmaSer, in the middle of the beautiful jungle.

I remember exactly all the different emotions and thoughts I had before arriving here:

Curiosity – hello adventure! …

Happiness – I really did it! …

Nervousness – 9’350 kilometers away from home and alone …

A tiny bit of queasiness – how will the people be? And what about the place? What if…?

Well, that’s human nature: we get comfortable with routines. Everything new and unpredictable can be frightening sometimes, but sometimes you just have to do it without questioning so much, because sometimes reality is so much better than you ever imagined.

The AmaSer Family is so amazing! They made me feel welcome from the very first second here in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. This place is so full of love, acceptance, happiness and peace.  Now, after only a few weeks, I can...

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