From Kara Loop, Halifax, Nova Scotia 

“This was the most profound journey I’ve ever taken. It was waiting for me with its arms wide open and thirteen other souls where there to meet me for the ride. I am forever changed and have learned so much that will help me in both my current and future life and healing paths. Meigan and Andrea are an inspirational duo and the trip exposed me to going places both physically and mentally that I never thought possible. The Farm of Life family introduced me to some of the purest and healthiest foods I’ve ever tasted. Every morsel was made with so much love that it was hard not to smile with every bite. If it seems too good to be true, it really was…I’m still pinching myself. Thank you to everyone that made the trip what is was. I’ll be back! “

From Tim Ginley* … 29 Jan 2013

“Blissful completeness: In any journey to yogic strength there comes a tipping point that demands a change or challenge to move you forward. Hours in a studio takes one to that moment; getting beyond requires a generous guiding hand. With Animar Retreat comes an embracing of that next phase toward physical and spiritual wholeness. As was the case with Costa Rica 2013 Animar’s locations are thoughtfully picked, with days holistically programmed to integrate their unique locales. Guiding the journey are its spiritually intuitive facilitators, Meighan and Andrea. Journeys such as the one I took, this past January, needed caring personal guides, and that’s exactly what I found in this dynamic duo. They recognize that leap of faith, encouraging it with grace and beauty. Costa Rica 2013 was the most amazing 10 days of growth, spiritual and otherwise, I have every had. From its twice daily yoga sessions, to its glorious beach days, to its therapeutic massage, and life altering reiki session; the wonderful partnering with Farm of Life shone throughout. Not to mention the exquisite vegetarian fare, that fails to be described by words, or the impressive facilities provided. Animar recognized that challenge that takes place along a journey’s path, and in that they also recognize that while success comes from within, it is often the outward trappings of setting that can determine success in that moment when practice and passion fuse. Namaste.”

*Tim is a playwright/director/actor/photographer and general all round searcher who has been practicing yoga for 10 years in studio in the Ottawa area. He now likes to call Upward Dog home. Costa Rica 2013 will mark the beginning of many more retreats.

From Jasmine Regalado, 20 years old, Nurse Aid in San Diego, California
“Andrea and Meigan, your Animar Retreat has been an amazing experience for me. The title “Animar Enliven” is very true, that is exactly what happened and I am great full to be part of this amazing group of people. When you follow your heart you find people that love the same things you do and having come to this retreat I met so many wonderful souls. Everyone including Meigan and Andrea made me feel very comfortable even though I knew nobody from the group. The yoga, massages and adventures we went on helped my body open up and relax in the best way possible and Costa Rica being the foundation to it all really put the cherry on top. Both of you are amazing, fun, loving hosts and I’m so happy to have met you!! Thank- you a billion times.”

Kat Pipin, age 32 …
“Spending a week at the Farm of Life was an amazing holistic experience. The daily bootcamp and yoga classes were challenging, the hiking and surfing days were incredible, the massage and reiki sessions were invigorating, and the delicious meals were only surpassed by the company of a great group of women. Anyone considering this retreat should stop thinking about it and just do it. It’s life changing. Thanks Andrea and Meigan!”

Julie Jordan – Halifax, Nova Scotia …
“Thanks again to you and Andrea for an amazing, life-changing week. It’s obvious how much thought, care, and love went into arranging such an extraordinary week. I look forward to my next one!”

Chantale Plante, Ottawa, Ontario …

“I have been one of Andrea’s Yoga students for a couple a years now and have always wanted to go on one of her retreats. When I kept hearing how amazing the Dec 2011 retreat at Finca De Vida was, something inside me pulled me to go. I am sure glad I listened to my gut. The retreat and the Finca are amazing. From the well organized outings to surf, the beach, amazing hikes at waterfalls, to the amazing food that Mary the Chef prepares with loving hands, to Brian and Jody’s love for healing and teaching the ways of that path , to all the incredible women I met on the trip – everything really resonated with me. I feel a positive energy in my life, and the retreat really shift my outlook. Since I returned I am still on the path to eating better and looking at life differently. As organizers Meigan and Andrea truly have a gift for finding places that sing with beauty and love. They are also incredible women – Meigan is an amazing massage therapist, and Andrea’s yoga classes were inspired. They are beautiful, amazing women. These words here can even begin to say here what this retreat has meant to me. It was so great I’m sending my husband on the next one! I’ll certainly be attending another Animar retreat in the near future! Thank you Meigan and Andrea for a life changing experience.”

From Ruth … Blog 41 – June 2, 2012 Reiki

“When I was in Costa Rica at the end of April a reiki session was included as part of the package. For me it was scheduled on Day 5 of the retreat, a day of rest on site. The location was an organic farm, high in the mountains, isolated, at the end of a dirt road more suited to horses and jeeps than regular cars. Brian, the owner of the farm and retreat centre, is also a reiki practitioner.

My reiki session was early, before breakfast. It took place on the outdoor porch of one of the cabins, facing the mountains, on a massage table. I wasn’t familiar with reiki. Brian explained that he would apply his hands gently successively on each of the seven chakras. He invited me to close my eyes and start breathing my yoga breath. Although open and intrigued I was at the same time skeptical and amused, and did not expect much from this experience except additional relaxation. This is not what happened
however. The external world started to vanish almost right away, at the first chakra, the top of the head.

By the time his hands were on the second chakra, the third eye, I was no longer conscious of the breeze, the table I was on, the forest noises and even of Brian himself. At some point a huge, brilliant, silver screen with rain drops invaded my brain. Although I wasn’t able to retain this beautiful image, I felt warm tears flowing freely along my cheeks and thought that the rain was both water and tears, washing away failed love and sexual misery, and whatever other sadness I had in my life since I was a child. After that I don’t know what happened exactly. There were no thoughts just sensations, hot and  cold, completely outside of reality and consciousness. Finally I heard Brian repeat a few times as he was stroking the inside of my elbow: Ruth it’s over, we’re finished, take your time to wake up. His voice was far, far …. I had a hard time ungluing myself from the table, as my limbs were slowly awaking. When I sat, I started to sob. Brian took me in his arms until this too ceased.

Apparently the session lasted close to two hours. Brian confided to the two organizers of the retreat that this was his deepest, strongest experience ever with reiki. He cancelled the next session to rest. I did the same and slept soundly for a couple of hours. Although nobody within the group dared ask me what happened, I was told that when I appeared later that day I looked transformed. Since then (does this have anything to do with this?) I am being told regularly by colleagues and friends that I am glowing.

I have tried to understand what occurred but, honestly, I don’t know. All I can say is that more than at any other time in my life, the conditions for me to be able to let go were ideal. I was on holiday, doing yoga three hours a day, in a gorgeous setting, eating perfect food (organic, vegetarian, beautiful, delicious), with people I liked and trusted. Two days prior to the reiki session I also had a strong physical and emotional experience which may have opened ways within. The occasion was a strenuous hike all the way up the mountain, ascending slowly in the clammy heat for several hours, stopping first on a plateau with a tropical garden accessible only on a horse or, like we did, on foot, then on a second plateau where we did yoga in a cave behind a waterfall followed by a picnic before climbing again to the third plateau. I did not believe before the trip that this hike was accessible to me but the night before Brian took me apart and swore that after observing me for a couple of days he was convinced that I could do it. He said: We’ll take it slow and I’ll stay behind with you if necessary. Don’t worry. Well the hike was strenuous all right, no false advertising there. On the way up my heart gave me trouble, on the way down my knees. Brian took my pack and touched my shoulder once in a while. In the last hour as I kept falling he kept helping me get up, distracting me as a parent does with a tired child, fooling around, making monkey noises to attract the howler monkeys (they came very close), promising that we were almost there and not that far from the rest of the tribe, waiting patiently when I asked to stop to swallow tears of exhaustion. Although my initial opinion of Brian was that he was a bit of a lunatic hippy, during that hike I became both more respectful as well as quite fond of him.

I read about similar experiences, through yoga for example, (Stephen Cope in the wonderful Yoga and the Quest for the True Self recounts many of those) but I always believed that I had too much of a rational mind to experience that type of trance. But it’s happened. I don’t know how much of an actual turning point in my life this is. Will the glow last? Have I changed? Have I understood something which I didn’t before? Am I wiser? I don’t know. Future will say I guess.”

From Benoit C, age 48, P.Eng. …

My wife and I were easily convinced by Andrea to attend Andrea and Meigan’s ‘Enliven Your Life Retreat’ in Costa Rica, in December of 2011. After all, Andrea has been our yoga teacher for several months and we knew we would enjoy a yoga retreat with her in such a beautiful country. But we had no idea on how much this would be an incredible experience.

We had the pleasure to stay at the “Finca the Vida” Farm of Life during our retreat. The owners, Brian and Jody are so passionate about what they do and believe. Their energy is contagious! My wife and I have been traveling at different resorts in the past, but we have never seen hosts so dedicated to please their guests like Brian and Jody. Their site located in the mountains and the scenery, the yoga sessions on such a beautiful platform and all the healthy food (brilliantly prepared by Mary) were incomparable to any health resorts we have been to.

Hiking to Diamante Verde and Nauyaca Falls , spiritual yoga in the caverns, surfing , Andrea’s morning boot camps and Meigan’s well needed massage therapy were all highlights of an amazing and beautiful life changing experience. We are now strongly considering to attend the next Animar’s retreat in Guatemala in 2013.

Amy L., Ottawa, Ontario …
“Andrea has been my yoga instructor for a few years. After attending her classes and being inspired by her challenging and creative teachings, I decided to attend not one, but two, of the Animar Retreats.

My first retreat was in May 2011 and most recently, in December 2012, I attended the retreat at Finca de Vida. The scenery, food, accommodations, yoga classes, hiking to Diamante Falls, massage therapy, white water rafting, surfing, and the camaraderie, are just a few of the things that made this last trip so memorable. At the Finca, we were also fortunate to learn from Brian and Jody, the owners, about how to live in a way that is more natural and sustainable. Being there prompted a lot of reflection and even motivated me to make some changes in my life. Since coming back to Canada, I’ve been able to adopt many of the things I learned and I’ve experienced a great deal of positivity as a result.

What also makes this retreat so special is that Andrea and Meigan are such kind, fun-loving, adaptable and accommodating organizers. It’s obvious that they love what they are doing and they are dedicated making sure that they offer a unique, holistic and extra enjoyable experience. To top it all off, Costa Rica is an amazing country! The diversity of plants and animals, the coastline, the mountains, the cuisine and the people, make for a phenomenal experience. Whether you’re looking for a rejuvenating get-away or if you’re in dire need of adventure, Animar Retreats will fit the bill.

Krista Zvanitajs, Barrie, Ontario …
“I was looking for a break that would push me out of my comfort zone (being a real city girl i was excited to try surfing, horseback riding, waterfall hikes,…..), and this Animar retreat was truly life changing.

The trip was so well organized every step of the way (meeting in san jose, transport, meals, activities) and Andrea and Meigan were so welcoming. The daily yoga classes with Andrea were some of the best I’ve ever taken. She was really in tune with our individual needs. As was Meigan. She has such a wonderful energy, and you could really feel how passionate she is about healing people through her massage therapy. The setting at ”Finca de Vida” couldn’t have been more perfect. With the views, the gorgeous organic food, the secluded mountain location —- truly magical, not your typical tourist resort. Brian and Jody, our ”Farm of life” hosts also went above and beyond to help us get the most from the retreat. I was so impressed with how involved they were, supporting Andrea and Meigan, and taking so much time to talk to us, teach us about organic living, spiritual growth. Their sincerity radiated as brightly as their smiles, and I’m sure we all left changed for the better in our own way. (for me, it was the Reiki sessions with Brian that unblocked physical and emotional tension beyond any expectations.)

There was a great mix of people on the retreat, and everyone was able to find new friends to connect with.

I can’t say enough to recommend Animar…….not only will you have an amazing vacation in a beautiful tropical location, but you will open your heart and mind to a whole new way of living. My life truly has been ‘Enlivened’.”

Gillian Badger(27), Ottawa, Ontario …

“Animar exceeded my high expectations in every way. The chance to train, reflect and recharge under Andrea and Meigan’s instruction & care was priceless – not to mention the breathtaking setting, gorgeous accommodations and delicious food. My Costa Rican adventure was the perfect escape. I came back feeling rested, strong and refreshed – and certain that this retreat will not be my last!”

K.M. – Ottawa, Ontario … “I like to be active when I’m travelling and the retreat met my expectations. I met great people and realized my dream of surfing. Costa Rica is an amazing, beautiful country. The best spot for a week-long adventure retreat. Andrea and Meigan are awesome hosts and well organized. We were in good hands! I definitely recommend Animar if you are looking for a different kind of vacation.”

Margaret Lerhe (58), Ottawa, Ontario … “Andrea is a first class instructor who makes it easy for anyone to follow as her instructions are so clear. She coaches and encourages, providing support for beginners and experts alike.

I have been telling all of my friends about it. It truly was a great experience for so many different reasons. I think the most important factor was your two personalities. You’re serious about what you do but you have fun doing it. You cater the very diverse needs of the group, innovating each day as plans, weather and/or circumstances dictate.

I wish had taken an extra one. The experience was so relaxing and therapeutic as my aches and pains were well care for by expert hands. Meigans calming approach added to the relaxation.”

Mia Kakebeeke Meldrum (35) Ottawa, Ontario … “This was a life changing retreat. After the loss of my mother a year prior and raising two young boys 2 and 4, it was exactly what I needed to find myself again. The fitness boot camps, lead by Andrea, were top notch and could challenge the fittest individual, and her modifications allow anyone of any fitness level to follow. The variation on the daily yoga classes was amazing. As a beginner; I was able to sample so many types of yoga, and the instruction and corrections were great. And the massages in paradise … Meigan is amazing … especially great after a morning of horseback riding! Meigan and Andrea are amazing hosts and the location is breathtaking. I will for sure return to Costa Rica after this experience. After jumping off & sliding down waterfalls, learning to surf, and tarzan roping. I realized that to be my best self, I must conquer my fears, and my life is changed forever; and for the better. Thank you ladies.”

Shannon Roach (left in picture), Saint John, New Brunswick … “I would say this retreat was probably the most well balanced trip I’ve been on including all the most important vacation necessities: FIRSTLY, an OUTSTANDING group of people!! The mix of people we had totally made the week awesome, and the people that you get to spend that time with are always the most important factor 

And a special thanks to Meigan, and Andrea – you girls are amazing, and really lead us through an awesome experience filled with lots of fun!!

SECONDLY, THIRDLY, ETC….. all the fun activities throughout the week, the great fitness, new challenges, and of course, great food (you can never be without good food on a trip!), and also the occasional dancing here and there!!!

In saying that, I think we should all go back ASAP!!! Thanks again for a truly amazing retreat!!”

From Isabelle … “My one week Animar retreat in Costa Rica definitely completed its promised enlivening effect. The energy that increasingly took hold of me as the week unfolded from one activity to the next was amazing. Instead of being wiped out by the physical challenges of daily yoga, hiking, surfing (and the occasional night out dancing!), I actually found myself revived, and felt great. With all that we experienced, it’s hard to believe it was, after all, just one week.

Thanks to the spirit of the retreat, the intentions of the organizers, the way it flowed, the energy that was created, I felt the exquisite way time can slow down when one completely breaks from the routine and fully immerses oneself.

For me, Animar feels like a long, long deep breath in, filled with all the things that count the most for me when travelling and vacationing: novelty, learning and being challenged, a gorgeous, well-chosen location, unique and high quality activities with great people, and of course, lots of priceless moments such as catching a surf lesson’s last waves as the sun is setting on the Pacific Ocean.

Thank you for making this wonderful experience possible!”

From Emily … “My Animar experience was full of adventure, great people, delicious food, and wonderful relaxation. A very well organized retreat with much flexibility.

Aside from Yoga on the beach, surfing the waves, shopping around the town, falling asleep to the sound of a waterfall, and enjoying a massage while listening to the natural surroundings, I returned home with a new understanding of exercise and have been able to keep my motivation months later. A trip with the perfect balance of fun, exercise, and adventure.”

From Ruth …

“Blog 41 – June 2, 2012 Reiki

When I was in Costa Rica at the end of April a reiki session was included as part of the package. For me it was scheduled on Day 5 of the retreat, a day of rest on site. The location was an organic farm, high in the mountains, isolated, at the end of a dirt road more suited to horses and jeeps than regular cars. Brian, the owner of the farm and retreat centre, is also a reiki practitioner.

My reiki session was early, before breakfast. It took place on the outdoor porch of one of the cabins, facing the mountains, on a massage table. I wasn’t familiar with reiki. Brian explained that he would apply his hands gently successively on each of the seven chakras. He invited me to close my eyes and start breathing my yoga breath. Although open and intrigued I was at the same time skeptical and amused, and did not expect much from this experience except additional relaxation. This is not what happened
however. The external world started to vanish almost right away, at the first chakra, the top of the head.

By the time his hands were on the second chakra, the third eye, I was no longer conscious of the breeze, the table I was on, the forest noises and even of Brian himself. At some point a huge, brilliant, silver screen with rain drops invaded my brain. Although I wasn’t able to retain this beautiful image, I felt warm tears flowing freely along my cheeks and thought that the rain was both water and tears, washing away failed love and sexual misery, and whatever other sadness I had in my life since I was a child. After that I don’t know what happened exactly. There were no thoughts just sensations, hot and  cold, completely outside of reality and consciousness. Finally I heard Brian repeat a few times as he was stroking the inside of my elbow: Ruth it’s over, we’re finished, take your time to wake up. His voice was far, far …. I had a hard time ungluing myself from the table, as my limbs were slowly awaking. When I sat, I started to sob. Brian took me in his arms until this too ceased.

Apparently the session lasted close to two hours. Brian confided to the two organizers of the retreat that this was his deepest, strongest experience ever with reiki. He cancelled the next session to rest. I did the same and slept soundly for a couple of hours. Although nobody within the group dared ask me what happened, I was told that when I appeared later that day I looked transformed. Since then (does this have anything to do with this?) I am being told regularly by colleagues and friends that I am glowing.

I have tried to understand what occurred but, honestly, I don’t know. All I can say is that more than at any other time in my life, the conditions for me to be able to let go were ideal. I was on holiday, doing yoga three hours a day, in a gorgeous setting, eating perfect food (organic, vegetarian, beautiful, delicious), with people I liked and trusted. Two days prior to the reiki session I also had a strong physical and emotional experience which may have opened ways within. The occasion was a strenuous hike all the way up the mountain, ascending slowly in the clammy heat for several hours, stopping first on a plateau with a tropical garden accessible only on a horse or, like we did, on foot, then on a second plateau where we did yoga in a cave behind a waterfall followed by a picnic before climbing again to the third plateau. I did not believe before the trip that this hike was accessible to me but the night before Brian took me apart and swore that after observing me for a couple of days he was convinced that I could do it. He said: We’ll take it slow and I’ll stay behind with you if necessary. Don’t worry. Well the hike was strenuous all right, no false advertising there. On the way up my heart gave me trouble, on the way down my knees. Brian took my pack and touched my shoulder once in a while. In the last hour as I kept falling he kept helping me get up, distracting me as a parent does with a tired child, fooling around, making monkey noises to attract the howler monkeys (they came very close), promising that we were almost there and not that far from the rest of the tribe, waiting patiently when I asked to stop to swallow tears of exhaustion. Although my initial opinion of Brian was that he was a bit of a lunatic hippy, during that hike I became both more respectful as well as quite fond of him.

I read about similar experiences, through yoga for example, (Stephen Cope in the wonderful Yoga and the Quest for the True Self recounts many of those) but I always believed that I had too much of a rational mind to experience that type of trance. But it’s happened. I don’t know how much of an actual turning point in my life this is. Will the glow last? Have I changed? Have I understood something which I didn’t before? Am I wiser? I don’t know. Future will say I guess.”