Equine Yoga & Horsemanship Learning Experience

location
1 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Generally Good 3.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Below average response rate

Highlights

  • Connect with horses and nature, live the jungle life and enjoy the Caribbean Sea
  • Learn horse herd behavior and how to listen and talk to horses in their language. Learn to connect with horses at Liberty and our Attuned Horsemanship Method.
  • Learn how the practice of yoga asanas, pranayama & meditation bring a deeper sense of connection with horses helping to heal your body, mind & spirit.
  • Swim in the Caribbean sea with the horses
  • Practice Yoga and meditation with horses at liberty


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Establish a deep connection with majestic horses in our Equine Yoga & Aligned Equitation & Introductory Experience. This unique program is designed to harmonize your mind

Dive into the world of yoga and horsemanship and unveil the secrets of horse communication

This is our introductory experience of Equine Yoga & Horse Prana Connection

It is suitable for all levels of experience. You do not need previous experience with horses or yoga to participate.

Harmonize your ...

About the program

Dive into the world of yoga and horsemanship and unveil the secrets of horse communication

This is our introductory experience of Equine Yoga & Horse Prana Connection

It is suitable for all levels of experience. You do not need previous experience with horses or yoga to participate.

Harmonize your mind, body, and spirit in a unique learning experience with horses.


Program Overview

Our comprehensive program delves deep into yoga practice, horse communication, and meditation techniques. Whether you choose to stay for one week or two, the program is structured to promote steady progress and a profound understanding of the principles of yoga and horsemanship.


Aligned Equitation

Aligned Equitation is a journey of connection with your horse, yourself, and life. Throughout the program, you will learn the subtle language of the horse, and connect with them through body language, breath, and energy. This holistic approach nurtures a deep sense of connectivity, bridging the gap between man, animal, and nature.


What You Will Experience

This immersive program is designed to provide you with a deep understanding of:

✹☾ Yoga

Master the art of yoga and develop a profound understanding of your body. Learn how to listen to your body, understand its needs, and bring it into a state of alignment and harmony.

✹☾ Horse Communication

Gain insight into the language of horses and foster a relationship built on mutual trust and respect.

✹☾ Breath Control

Learn how to use the power of your breath to influence your emotions, mental state, and physical body.

✹☾ Mindfulness Meditation

Master the practice of mindfulness meditation to expand your awareness and become completely present in the moment.

✹☾ Swimming with Horses

Experience the unique joy and bonding experience of swimming with horses.



Typical day

Program Details

The program is divided into yoga classes and horse classes

✹☾ 5 Yoga Classes

Enjoy 4 yoga classes in our serene Jungle Shala and 1 empowering Sunrise Beach Yoga session.

✹☾ Swimming with Horses

Experience the sheer joy of swimming with horses, a unique activity designed to foster ...

Typical day

Program Details

The program is divided into yoga classes and horse classes

✹☾ 5 Yoga Classes

Enjoy 4 yoga classes in our serene Jungle Shala and 1 empowering Sunrise Beach Yoga session.

✹☾ Swimming with Horses

Experience the sheer joy of swimming with horses, a unique activity designed to foster a deeper bond with these magnificent creatures.

✹☾ 5 Classes with Horses

Aligned Equitation classes designed to deepen your understanding of horses and their behavior.

In the second week, you will delve deeper into the practices learned in the first week, with additional focus on core strengthening yoga classes and bareback horse riding.


Free-time activities

There are many great things to do during your free time, from hanging out and meditation with the horses, swimming and surfing in the sea, hikes into the National Parks and Reserves, visits to local Protection projects, Permaculture farms, and Botanical Gardens with Medicinal Plants hikes. 

At ...

Free-time activities

There are many great things to do during your free time, from hanging out and meditation with the horses, swimming and surfing in the sea, hikes into the National Parks and Reserves, visits to local Protection projects, Permaculture farms, and Botanical Gardens with Medicinal Plants hikes. 

At Kindred Spirits you can also ask for a Energy Healing Session to clear and balance Chakras and meridians or a Jin Shin Juytsu session to remove energy blocks. Healing Massages on the beach or at Caribbeans Chocolate House. 
For adrenalin there is zip lining through the jungle tops, kayaking and diving and river rafting.
Throughout the year Puerto Viejo has many different Festivals happening. Music, Chocolate, Art to name a few.
Surfing, snorkeling, hikes to water fall, Cacao Ceremonies....

You will have 2 free days per week to go and explore the local area and everything it has to offer from surfing, snorkeling, hikes through the reserves, local Rescue Projects and Organic farms and more! 
Free hours during the day can be a walk to the beach for a swim in the warm Caribbean waters and a siesta under the shade of a coconut tree or sharing time together with the herd of horses, reading a book or writing in your journal. These quiet times spent with the horses are often magical and healing and always give a feeling of well-being and contentment.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 16:00 - 17:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Horse & Yoga Wellness Academy

5 morning classes of Yoga in the Yoga Shala immersed in the jungle, its energy and vibrations.

5 classes with our horses per week : Meditation with Horses, Liberty Connection with Horses, where you will learn how to connect, create the bond, the trust and respect with the horse at Liberty. Yoga in Harmony with Horses to reinforce our connection and create harmony and balance through ground poses and mounted poses with our horses. Riding with Breath Awareness, learn how to use your breath to influence your horse as you ride.  Swimming with horses in the sea when weather permits.

Free time for practice with horses, connecting, meditation in pastures.

Accommodation is included during stay.
Meals are not included. There is a big shared kitchen to cook your meals in and two local Supermarkets down the road, a Farmers market on Saturday. Ad vegetable trucks that pass by.

Accommodation

Your lodging  is in the beautiful open air spacious Kindred Spirits Lodge, with terraces overlooking the gardens and jungle.

There are shared  rooms with shared bathrooms.

Shared kitchen, living room, terraces and large tables, comfy couches.

Surrounded by the jungle, don't be surprised to be awaken by howler monkeys overhead, swinging from the branches or parrots chattering and gossiping about the rising sun!
We live in harmony with nature, trying to show compassion and letting things be just as they are.
You will see an array of amazing insects, butterflies, birds, wild animals, plants of all varieties just on the farm of Kindred Spirits and as you walk the little road down to the beach.

High speed Internet is available and free.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Food & Beverages

Food, snacks or beverages are at extra costs.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

We recommend if you are arriving from the International Airport of San Jose or a hotel or hostel in San Jose to use the shuttle service www.interbusonline.co and ask for drop off at Kindred Spirits Yoga, Calle Ole Caribe, Cocles, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca,

Arrival time is the first day, anytime between 1pm to 5pm.





Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 989€
4 weeks (max. stay) 3,673€
Average fees 953€/week

Program fees

953€ per week 1 - 4 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 4 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Horse & Yoga Wellness Academy during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Horse & Yoga Wellness Academy

Generally Good 3.7 rating (7 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2010

Verified by Volunteer World

  Below average response rate

Coordinated by

Terry

About the project

Where Kindred Spirits come together to create a safe space of learning through, living with, and caring for, horses - and each other.

Meet your organization

I created Kindred Spirits out of an unshakable love for horses and a passion for learning and sharing knowledge with all the souls that cross my path. Kindred Spirits itself isn’t so much a place, as it is a collection of moments and ideas shared with all the wonderful people that find their way to us and our horses. 
Through our natural training methods of liberty work, meditation, breath awareness and yoga we help horses and humans alike to heal and to connect with each other. This brings a deeper awareness and social consciousness to our planet and its protection. Showing and teaching people how all is connected and to live in harmony and balance with themselves, with others and with nature.
As a Yoga teacher, horse trainer, riding instructor, life coach and Energy healer I help people to rediscover their True Authentic Selves, enabling them to find their path in life and the ways they can help and contribute to our planet Earth.
Our methods of Natural Horsemanship training and being with horses at liberty, help people to see animals as sentient beings with emotions and feelings. This brings awareness to all aspects of nature and life.
Working with people from all around the world, since 2013 we have helped create projects such as the "Cahuita Turtle Rescue Association" for the protection of the giant Leatherback turtles that come to nest on our shores, "Mothers of the Earth" to help local Indigenous women and children in the struggles and a new program to help the local community of horses whose owners have very little income to support their families through the free administration of worm paste, to help the horses in their state of malnutrition. 

THE METHOD

Horses have a longstanding reputation as valuable assistants in many types of therapy. From addicts, to children with disabilities and adults with mental struggles such as depression, horses have been known to provide great guidance towards improved quality of life.


WHY YOGA WITH… HORSES?

PUT SIMPLY, BECAUSE THEY’RE SENSITIVE BEINGS THAT CAN’T LIE OR HIDE THEIR EMOTIONS. 

As herd and prey animals horses are keenly aware of their companions and environment, and react quickly to any changes. In this way they act as a mirror to what you’re bringing with you. If you’re trying to bottle up and hide unresolved anger, the horse will feel it and react in anger himself.

YOUR PROGRESS WITH THE HORSE WILL ALSO MIRROR YOUR PROGRESS IN FACING AND LOVING YOURSELF. 

WHY HORSES WITH… YOGA?

Yoga is a practice that goes further than a simple exercise routine.

Hatha yoga's postures improve mood by moving energy through places in the body where feelings of grief or anger are stored. paying attention to the way their emotions are expressed in their bodies, people to observe their experience without judgment, an important first step in stepping out of depression or a feeling of having lost yourself.

Yoga helps you develop inner peace and it is in that active stillness that you can truly listen to your horse.


7 reviews · rating3.7

What an amazing place! Set on the edge of a rainforest but just a short walk to the beach. Terry and her daughters provide a warm welcome and continual support during your stay. There is a sperate eco lodge for the volunteers with everything that you need. The food was always excellent. Locally ...
I signed up for two weeks as an intern. The Farm is located on about 10 acres of land that is all rocky and hills. It is about a 30-40 minute walk up and down a very rocky road to any place to eat or use the internet. It is a about 1.5 hours to Puerto Viejo and the host mostly refused to take you ...
If your main interest is horses and Natural Horsemanship then this isn't the project for you. You will get three very basic lessons per week on either Natural Horsemanship, Yoga with horses or Riding using yoga techniques. If you already know anything about Natural Horsemanship or Liberty Training ...
Working with Terry in connecting on a deep level with horses through meditation was a mind-altering experience. The yoga space is GORGEOUS and I loved teaching/being taught in the shala amidst all the monkeys and jungle songs! The food was fantastic and always locally derived/inspired. Terry and her ...
Floriane Couvreur rating4.8

2018 at Equine Yoga & Horsemanship Learning Experience

My name is Floriane Couvreur, I'm 24 years old and I'm a French girl. I spent 3 months with Terry from March 25th to June 25th 2018. More than a volunteering experience I was there as part of my study for an "internship". I'm stuying ecotourism so I helped Terry to create a new trek with the horses ...
Terry and her family are very welcoming, the facilities including the volunteer's house are fabulous. I absolutely loved my little jungle cottage, and the vegetarian food cooked either by Terry or the chefs volunteers. The horses are amazing, each of them have a very strong and beautiful ...

Location

Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > Puerto Viejo

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