On culture
Wellness guide at Ralia Retreats in Costa Rica Marian Paniagua tells us how culture can enhance our retreat experience
Culture can been defined as all the ways of life of a population that are passed down from generation to generation, including arts, beliefs and institutions. It’s important because it helps us remember we’re an extension of our planet, and that whatever we do directly affects our environment. When we look back at the way communities lived in harmony with the earth, and the way they expressed it through their culture with music, food, prayers and crafts, we get to activate the wisdom we carry in ourselves - the wisdom of our heart.
Culture lets you go deeper than just eating healthily, journaling and practising yoga and meditation every day on retreat. You’ll awaken and see yourselves as one with the earth. You’ll experience an authentic heart connection with the people you’re visiting and you’ll unlock their ancestral wisdom.
At Ralia Retreats we spend time visiting the communities of Guaitil and San Vicente. In Guaitil the way they make pottery is a 1500-years-old practice handed down from the indigenous Chorotega tribe. We get to eat with a local pottery master and sample delicious, local food, try their hand at pottery using this ages-old method and buy the beautiful designs. Back at the retreat we also offer a cacao ceremony, an ancient Mayan tradition of drinking what resembles hot chocolate. This opens up expansive conversation and deepens connections.
Learning about the indigenous tribe, Costa Rican culture and lifestyle can be a mindful experience, while the body savours the good food and enjoys doing some pottery. Spiritually, you will connect honestly and authentically with local people. Seeing a beautiful country and feeling part of it is always a boost. You feel you have a real connection beyond language and beyond cultural differences with our land and the people.
Whatever retreat you choose and wherever you live, culture enables us to reconnect with our roots. We can do this by experiencing for ourselves the magic and power of the land and people we’re visiting. We all want authentic and profound human connection - sampling the local culture is the way to do this. All it takes is an open mind.
As we share time, space and energy with native communities, we move from a fragmented self and a fragmented world to oneness, where we are collaborating with the creation of something greater - we are creating a legacy. You tap into your own legacy and a deep joy and gratitude for life.