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As with any positive change we strive to make in our lives, there is a tendency to dig our heels in and go all out right away. For the first few days, everything is under control. Then a rain cloud forms over our heads and saps every last bit of energy we have. We say we'll do it tomorrow, then tomorrow comes, and we push it off again. 

Everyone who has tried to adopt a meditation practice knows this: showing up is easy when you're motivated. When the stars are aligned and the energy is high, you practically float onto your pillow. And then, when the chips are down, the opposite happens.

The good news is, there's nothing wrong with you. Success is all about having a winning strategy. As it stands, you may be making things harder than they need to be, and your approach could benefit from a bit of refinement. If that's the case, you've come to the right place.

Let's dive in.

Limit Your Sessions

There isn't a prerequisite number of minutes or hours one must spend on the mat...

 Why is Vinyasa Yoga good for you, and what are its benefits?

Vinyasa Yoga can build and maintain strong bones, muscles, and connective tissue to maintain a high metabolism, promotes healthy posture, and improve body/mind awareness.

But that's not all! In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these & more of the unique benefits of Vinyasa Yoga and why you should consider giving it a try.

Let’s jump right into it.  

First off, what’s Vinyasa Yoga?

In brief, Vinyasa is an approach to yoga in which you move from one pose directly into the next. The poses and moves create a flow, which varies from one instructor to the next.

The transition from one pose to another is coordinated with your breathing. Your breath moves together with your body, and you exhale and inhale with the change of each posture. 

5 unique benefits of Vinyasa Yoga:

1. A vinyasa flow practice makes you stronger

Vinyasa has some challenging poses, which are also...

Have you been thinking about taking a yoga teacher training but are not sure if you are ready? 

If you have questions like "am I good enough" or "is yoga teaching training for me," this article will answer those & more of your concerns! 

Hopefully, you'll know if you are ready for a YTT at the end of this blog post. 

Now, let's begin!

7 reasons you're ready for a yoga teacher training:

1. You have an established and regular practice

While you don't need to have practiced yoga for many years (before the teacher training), it is good that you have a solid prior yoga practice of at least 4-6 months.

Some classes can be more dynamic and challenging at times, so having regular practice for at least a couple of months is recommendable. 

So, if you've been practicing yoga for a couple of months now, you love it and are interested in learning more, YTT can be a great option.

2. You want to deepen your practice

If you are deeply passionate about yoga and want to...

The purpose of these hand gestures can vary according to tradition - from the concentration of subtle energy and the transmission of learning through symbols through a tool for the treatment of diseases to even the attribution of practical skills and psychic abilities!  In principle, however, mudras are a form of non-verbal communication - "an external expression of inner determination.

"Mudras open the universe." Sadhguru

In yoga and meditation, we often use mudras along with pranayama (yoga breathing exercises), usually in a crossed sitting position, such as sukhasana, virasana, or padmasana.  Mudras are also incorporated into the physical practice of yoga asanas. Performing mudras stimulates the flow of prana (life force or energy) throughout the body, calms the mind by focusing it on the mere touch of our hands or fingers, and intensifies the power of our practice.

The meaning behind the word 

The word mudra literally means "seal".  It is a given position of...

Get to know the people that help create this beautiful space and community!

We'd love to introduce you to our beloved Chef Chachi, who has been a team member joining AmaSer from their new post-pandemic beginning, “I was one of the people who saw this beautiful new project grow”, as she share with us.
Originally from Venezuela, Chachi arrived to Puerto Viejo 3 years ago and fell in love (we can relate). Her famous nickname is actually a play on her full name Drachir, and fun fact: she was named that after her father – Richard, but (kinda) spelled backwards...cool right?



She’s been working as a chef for the past 5 years, but specializing in vegan and Ayurvedic food for 1 year. Besides that she’s also an amazing photographer audio-visual producer, and even responsible for some of our latest Caribe Yoga Academy YTT photos.

Chachi, what is your favorite part about working for AmaSer? What this place means for you?
I love the peace of...

As you start to take your first steps on your Yoga journey, you’re bound to run into the image of a tree sooner or later. You may see people wearing jewellery or boasting tattoos similar trees too.

There are many reasons for this – but two of them stand out in front of the others.

The first is a snapshot into history and the ties of Yoga to Buddhism. When the Buddha first achieved enlightenment (Samadhi), he was sat in front of the Bodhi Tree. After countless days spent sat under the tree – days that included both starvation and a direct encounter with a demon – Buddha became enlightened. Another word for enlightenment is “Bodhi”. Hence the name – Bodhi tree. You can find Bodhi trees in most sacred spaces in India. You can even find the “Mahabodhi Tree” in Bhod Gaya, supposed to be a direct descendant of the tree Buddha became enlightened under (It’s only about 250 years younger).

However, the second reason is the one...

From ancient medicine to AmaSer’s Throat Chakra smoothie- How Ashwagandha is relieving the mind and body!

The Ancient Ayurveda Medicine 

This ancient medicinal herb that we blend into our throat chakra smoothie here at AmaSer can be traced back to 6,000 BC, with deep roots within Ayurveda medicinal practices. This medicinal herb in Sanskrit, the word “ashwa” means “horse”, while “gandha” means “smell”, translated meaning “the smell and strength of a horse”. This small but mighty shrub plant has fruitful flowers and is native to the Indian Subcontinent. This superfood is an adaptogen, meaning it promotes a healthy and well-balanced body all while reducing and regulating stress.

Calming, Grounding, and Restorative Properties 

Scientifically known as Withania somnifera and commonly referred to as Indian ginseng, this small shrub’s extracts and root powder are bursting with health benefits....

Breath as a source of energy and life

When we lose energy and feel tired we are looking for a cure that will bring us back to peace and quiet. We discover pills against nervousness, we supplement vitamins and minerals, we drink coffee or we reach for an energy drink. We search in the surroundings, and it does not occur to us that the secret is hidden inside us. The word "BREATH" gives us the answer to how naturally we can restore the energy potential of our body.

Yoga takes deep sips of oxygen and prana throughout the body in order to save intake and create new energy. Pranayama is one of the basic rules of Patanjali's yoga system, which outlines working with energy (breath). Breathing techniques are a means of receiving cosmic energy (prana), without which there would be no life. Prana (cosmic, ubiquitous) energy and ayama (controlling) the flow of this energy. Individual breathing techniques direct energy and at the same time keep it in the body.

Ujjayi Breathing

During yoga...

CACAO CEREMONY

The word ‘cacao’ originally comes from the Mayan words Ka’kau and Chokola’j — which means "to drink chocolate together'' 

Cacao ceremonies are a centuries-old ritual. The ceremony compliments the potential of cacao as a gateway to explore and touch the depth of our soul. 

Cacao ceremonies now often include one or a combination of healing practices such as reiki, sound, dance, yoga and meditation. A typical ceremony involves a group of people sitting in a circle, setting intentions (what they hope to achieve and what they hope to get rid of during the exercise), drinking cacao,...

THE BEAVER MOON 

November’s full Beaver Moon rises on Monday, November 30. 

November’s full Moon was traditionally called the Beaver Moon by a number of Native Americans and colonial Americans. Many Native American groups used the monthly Moons and nature’s corresponding signs as a calendar to track the seasons. 

Why the “Beaver” Moon? This is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges, having laid up sufficient stores of food for the long winter ahead. During the time of the fur trade in North America, it was also the season to...