Taylor | Costa Rica 200hr YTT Testimonial
It is a beautiful thing to outgrow certain situations, friendships, loves, and even former versions of yourself. Shedding, as they call it. A quiet unraveling. A soft release. My soul had been craving a shed for longer than I cared to admit. It whispered to me in dreams, in passing thoughts, in the stillness between breaths. For months, maybe even years, it nudged gently at my heart. And because I wasn’t fully listening—because I was comfortable where I was—it began to speak louder. It placed shiny shells along my path. Shells I couldn’t simply walk past. Shells I felt compelled to pick up, turn over in my hands, and press close to my chest.
It amazes me how the universe continues to send the same message in different forms until we are ready to truly see it. Until we decide to soften. Until we gather the courage to leap into the unknown. And once we leap—once we finally surrender—we realize we were never falling without support. The universe always has our back. Personally, I’d say she even holds my hand.
You know when you crave a scoop—maybe even a double scoop—of ice cream? When the sweet creaminess of coconut gelato or the vibrant tang of passion fruit sorbet calls out your name so clearly that resisting feels impossible? That is how the Costa Rica 200H training with SYI was calling to me. It wasn’t a quiet idea; it was a full-bodied craving. I felt an undeniable pull to deepen my practice, to reconnect with my soul, to form meaningful connections, and to immerse myself in experiences that would stretch and soften me all at once.
For weeks, I researched diligently. I wanted to ensure I was choosing a training aligned with my spiritual beliefs and personal values. I wanted something that felt authentic, grounded, and expansive—not performative or surface-level. I read testimonials, compared curriculums, explored locations. I waited for that inner yes. Then, as if on cue, an advertisement for this specific training appeared on my Instagram feed. It felt like divine timing. Like sky meeting sea. Something inside me clicked into place, and from that moment forward, everything seemed to align in the gentlest and most affirming way.
Still, a part of me hesitated. I told myself I wasn’t ready. That the timing wasn’t ideal, that maybe I should wait another year. But when I sat quietly in meditation, I realized something simple yet profound: ready is a choice. There will always be reasons to postpone growth. There will always be comfort in staying the same. Choosing readiness meant choosing expansion. And so, I chose it.
The stars, it seemed, conspired in my favor. Circumstances unfolded seamlessly, and before I knew it, I was stepping onto my mat at the breathtaking Indigo Yoga Retreat Center in Mal País, Costa Rica. The lush greenery, the warm ocean air, the golden light filtering through palm trees—it all felt surreal. When I reached out to the SYI team prior to arriving, their tenderness and attentiveness reassured me that I was in the right place. Their energy alone felt like a warm embrace.
Our two extraordinary teachers, Javiera and Janani, welcomed us with calm, radiant, grounding presence. There was something deeply reassuring about them—something that felt both ancient and familiar. Their voices carried softness but also strength. They held space with such intentionality that it was impossible not to feel safe. Having not felt “at home” within myself for quite some time, their presence gently reminded me what that feeling was like. They embodied it. And through them, I began to rediscover it within me.
Beyond our inspiring teachers, I was blessed with a group of fifteen incredible women. From the first hug, there was an authenticity that felt rare and precious. In a world where genuine connection can sometimes feel elusive, what we shared felt immediate and real. We laughed until our stomachs hurt. We cried without shame. We shared stories, fears, dreams, and insecurities. We supported one another through moments of doubt and celebrated each other’s breakthroughs.
There is something profoundly healing about being witnessed without judgment. About being held in collective vulnerability. Throughout the training, I felt seen, understood, and deeply cared for. That sense of sisterhood became one of the most transformative aspects of the experience. It reminded me that growth does not have to be solitary. That expansion can happen in community.
On our very first evening, we gathered in a circle to set intentions for our journey. When it came time for me to speak, the words felt clear: I am here to let go. As we say in French, ‘l’art du laisser-aller’. I wanted to release fear—the fear of not being enough, of not being ready, of being misunderstood. I wanted to let go of attachments that were limiting my expansion, of a past relationship I was still quietly holding onto, and of expectations that no longer served me.
That intention became my anchor. It followed me onto my mat each morning and whispered to me during challenging moments. It reminded me to soften when resistance arose. I later chose to tattoo the words “let it flow” on my body—a permanent reminder of this chapter. Of surrender. Of trust.
As a Taurus, I naturally gravitate toward routine. Structure brings me comfort and clarity. Our training days followed a rhythm—morning practice, lectures, workshops, practice teaching, evening reflection. Yet, despite the repetition, no day felt redundant. Each sunrise brought new insight. Each session revealed layers within myself I hadn’t fully explored. Sacred philosophy intertwined with embodied practice. Ancient teachings met modern understanding.
Our asana practices ranged from grounding Hatha to fluid Vinyasa. Moving between the two taught me balance in its truest sense—structure and freedom, stability and surrender. Through breath and movement, I noticed subtle shifts. My jaw unclenched. My shoulders relaxed away from my ears. My breath deepened. My nervous system softened. I felt myself inhabiting my body with more gentleness.
Though my muscles occasionally ached, my heart felt lighter than it had in years. My cheeks rarely rested from smiling and laughing. If anything, I returned home with deeper crow’s feet—and I wear them proudly as they are proof of joy.
And then there was Mama Ocean. Just steps away from our shala, she greeted us each morning with shimmering waves and endless horizon. My tide-pool swims and ocean dips became sacred rituals. Immersing myself in salt water before practice felt like an energetic cleansing. As I floated beneath the rising sun, I could feel heaviness dissolving. Sitting on the rocks afterward, listening to the rhythmic crash of waves, I often slipped into a meditative stillness unlike anything I had experienced before. The ocean held me in her vastness and reminded me of my own depth.
This training expanded my understanding of yoga beyond the physical postures. Yoga is not merely shapes on a mat. It is presence. It is awareness. It is how I respond instead of react. How I nourish my body. How I speak to myself. How I move through relationships. It is the art of living with intention.
The magic of this YTT feels almost impossible to articulate fully. It was not just an educational certification; it was a remembrance. A return. A shedding of what no longer fit and an embracing of what felt true. While the twenty-one days eventually came to an end, their imprint remains etched into my soul.
For so long, I had felt slightly displaced, slightly untethered. Through this journey, I realized I was not searching for a place—I was searching for myself. And somewhere between the sunrise flows, the shared laughter and the ocean dips, I came home.
From the deepest part of my heart, I am endlessly grateful to the SYI family, to Javiera and Janani, and to the radiant women who walked this path beside me. This adventure may be complete in form, but its essence continues to unfold within me. And as I step forward into the next chapter, I carry with me the softness, the courage, and the knowing that I can always choose to let it flow.
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