Doors to the Wild Self: Monteverde, Costa Rica Yoga Retreat

Doors to the Wild Self is a yoga retreat in Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, led by Bigger Life Adventures, the trauma-informed yoga and adventure company founded by Carrie Hoffman and Zach Minnich. It is an alcohol-free, plant-based retreat for people who want to travel with intention: those in recovery, the sober-curious, and anyone who enjoys a mindful trip without the buzz. You do not need to be sober in everyday life to come, and no labels are required.

What to Expect

Bigger Life retreats pair inner work with real adventure. Mornings begin with meditation and yoga. Days unfold with hikes or nature adventures, cultural exploration, and time to rest in a hammock. Evenings close with yin yoga, journaling, sound healing, or campfires under the stars. The retreat runs six nights across seven days.

Yoga here is more than poses. Each retreat includes workshops on yoga philosophy and self-inquiry, with ideas such as ahimsa (non-violence), santosha (contentment) and svadhyaya (self-study) explored in an accessible, modern way, then practiced off the mat in community and nature. Every activity is optional, so you can join in or take a quiet day depending on what you need.

The approach is trauma-informed, and each class offers modifications so you can practice at your own pace.

About Bigger Life Adventures

Bigger Life Adventures was founded in 2018 by Carrie Hoffman and Zach Minnich, a couple who share a love of world travel, yoga, conscious living, food and healing in nature. Both are in long-term recovery, and that experience shapes the alcohol-free retreats and yoga teacher trainings they host. Their work blends trauma-informed yoga, vegan Ayurveda-inspired menus and purposeful adventure. The company has hosted more than 100 retreats in six countries, and over 60% of guests return for a second.

Carrie Hoffman is a trauma-informed E-RYT 500 and an 800-hour Ayurvedic Health Counselor. She is also a Wilderness First Responder, an outdoor guide and a writer. She says yoga helped her quit drinking and reconnect with herself after years of addiction, and she teaches recovery-aware classes on retreat.

Zach Minnich is the co-founder and the cook behind many of the group's meals. One past guest remembered falling asleep by the ocean after a delicious dinner from Zach on another Bigger Life trip.

Before You Go

All genders, ages and yoga levels are welcome, from complete beginners to seasoned teachers, and you can come solo or with a friend. Meals follow the company's plant-based, Ayurveda-inspired approach, and the retreat is alcohol-free throughout. Bigger Life says its trips support local guides, eco-friendly lodging and community initiatives, with a slow, mindful pace that favors real cultural connection.