Innermost Wisdom: Elena Brower Yoga Retreat

There is a particular kind of rest that only arrives after real effort, and a particular kind of effort that only feels worthwhile when it is followed by stillness. Innermost Wisdom is a yoga retreat built around that rhythm: a week to reset, reconnect with yourself, and listen for what you already know. It is led by Elena Brower, the yoga and meditation teacher, author, and podcast host, at Blue Spirit Costa Rica in Nosara, Guanacaste.

The days move between vigorous practice and receptive quiet. Mornings begin with dynamic asana, while afternoons make room for yin yoga, restorative poses, Zen meditation, and optional writing prompts, closing with Yoga Nidra led by guest teacher Marc Holzman. If you are weighing a retreat that offers both physical practice and contemplative depth, with open hours to simply be, this week is shaped for that.

What to Expect

The retreat unfolds across a full week, beginning on a Saturday, with a daily structure that alternates effort and ease:

- Mornings: vigorous asana to wake the body and focus the mind.
- Afternoons: yin and restorative yoga, Zen meditation, and optional writing prompts, with Yoga Nidra taught by Marc Holzman.
- Open time: mornings and midday are left free for beach walks, surfing, reading, or resting.

Elena's teaching weaves body, breath, art, and contemplative mindfulness, bridging yogic precision with creative depth and emotional intelligence. The invitation is to build resilience and inner alignment, and to leave with a steadier relationship to your own attention.

About the Lineup

Elena Brower is a yoga and meditation teacher, author, and podcast host whose work centers on attention as a spiritual and creative practice. She has taught asana since 1999 and guides classes on Glo. Her books include Art of Attention (2012, translated into seven languages) and Hold Nothing (Shambhala Publications, November 2025), along with the journals Practice You and Being You and the poetry collection Softening Time. She hosts the podcast Practice You, a series of conversations with teachers, artists, and thinkers meant to support people through life's transitions. In 2023 she received Jukai, lay Buddhist vows, from Roshi Joan Jiko Halifax at Upaya Zen Center, and in March 2025 she graduated from Upaya's Chaplaincy Training. She also volunteers in hospice and penitentiary settings.

Marc Holzman joins as guest teacher and leads the Yoga Nidra sessions, guided deep rest offered in the afternoons of the retreat.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Blue Spirit Costa Rica in Nosara, on the Guanacaste coast, an in-person setting with the beach close at hand for walks and surfing. Bring comfortable clothing for both active and restorative practice, and something to read or write in if the optional writing prompts call to you. For registration, room options, and travel details, please refer to the full details provided by the organizer.