Maggie | Costa Rica 200hr YTT Testimonial

SYI is a phenomenal institute. I really could not have chosen a better place to do my 200hr YTT. My name is Maggie Tyner, and about a month ago, I completed my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in the beautiful city of Montezuma, located in the jungle of Costa Rica!

Prior to the training, I was feeling some nerves and had doubts about whether I had selected the right school for me. I was questioning my reasoning for why I wanted to get certified and if I would be able to go through with it once I was there. I’ve faced many challenges in my 20 years of life, but I wasn’t sure what to expect from a yoga teacher training, if I am being honest. I think that uncertainty made it a million times more of a unique and unforgettable experience.

So, why SYI after all that careful thought and anxiety? Simply, I felt called to it the minute I opened the website. It drew me in visually at first, but once I started reading, I fell in love. The goals and foundation of the institute resonated with me deeply. I felt like I could trust them with my travels and yoga experience. After a few emails with one of the amazing owners, Keri, I knew it was the right place for me.

I traveled from California, going through a series of flights and a tiny plane ride from San Jose, Costa Rica, to a city called Cobano near Montezuma. I was filled with anticipation and pure gratitude as I arrived at the resort (Aves) in Montezuma. Immediately, I became teary-eyed as I was surrounded by the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever seen. The lush green trees, tropical, vibrant plants, wildlife like toucans, butterflies of all colors, and the star of the show… the Pochote tree.

It greeted me with its liveliness, grounded in the center of the resort with its branches reaching up toward the sky. I took a deep breath and found the reviewers desk, where I was greeted by some of my fellow classmates and the most wonderful hospitality staff I’ve ever interacted with. They led us to the room we would be sharing. We settled in and decided to go into town to watch the finale of the Soccer World Cup!

I was already in love with the place 30 minutes into arriving and felt as though I had made two awesome friends that I’d be living with for 3 weeks!

Fast-forwarding a bit, it was the first night at Aves, and all of us students were gathered at our first ceremony around a lovely fire. We met our instructors, Nikki, Bea, and Jed! I could sense each of their energies, feeling so safe and welcomed into this space they held for us always. We chanted songs and embraced one another for the journey we were about to take together.
The feeling of those first moments never died, and only grew so much stronger as the weeks went by. I was surrounded by 26 other incredibly divine women who were there for the same reason I was: to become yoga teachers, but also for something so much deeper. We were becoming our true selves, unmasking, decompressing, feeling everything, loving to the fullest capacity, and LEARNING!

It was truly the biggest gift to be with this group of souls and instructors. They made the experience with SYI and at Aves in Costa Rica far beyond anything I could have ever expected. My words could never be enough to explain how I felt leaving.

We ran on a tight schedule, but one that I happily took home with me, as it instilled such beautiful habits in myself. Such as waking up around 5am every day, meditating, and having a long asana practice.

Something that I really loved about our mornings was that we practiced being in absolute silence with each other. From 9pm-10am the following day, we would keep quiet, only communicating through bodily expressions. It was so peaceful and removed any expectation for myself or others to forcefully interact. I could eat my delicious breakfast on my own time, really taking in each little aspect of the morning. Reflecting upon my own thoughts, sitting with myself comfortably and alone. I think this was the first time I felt good about being alone with myself and my thoughts.