Day at the Choose Again Attitudinal Healing Centre in Costa Rica
A Day at the Centre
Morning
The day starts at 6.30 AM. Three times a week we practice Yoga from 7-8.15. On the other days we enjoy the experience of Yoga Nidra, a profound, deep meditation. Breakfast is served between 8.30 and 9. Between breakfast and the beginning of the morning circle is a time of study, contemplation and meditation. At 9:30 staff and engage in a three hour intensive circle. Here they learn to take a leadership role, express themselves freely and explore new ideas. At 9:30, staff and clients gather in a circle and engage in a 3-hour intensive group-therapy session. A team of trained counsellors facilitates this circle. Participants learn to see how their process is similar to others'. They may see that a middle aged woman on multiple medications for depression has the same core belief as a retirement age gentleman who appears to be successful but came to work on relationship issues.Participants come to see how their process is similar to others'. They may see that a young teenager who has come to the Centre because of a drug addiction has the same core belief as a middle-aged man who appears to be successful but came to work on relationship issues. In other words, they see how alike they are and how their problems are not “problems” but simply evidence for beliefs. A belief is, by definition, not true. The group process provides a safe place to look at beliefs and release fears. Another fascinating aspect of our circles is that all of us, staff and clients alike, are engaged in the same process. We are all students and teachers and we are all on the same journey. Newcomers are invariably amazed at the level of honesty and unconditional acceptance they experience at the circle, there simply is no judgment!
Afternoon
In the afternoon, after lunch, we offer a variety of activities including one-on-one sessions, small group work, yoga, hikes, swimming, art therapy, journaling, horseback riding and myofascia release sessions.
Once a Week
Once a week clients participate in a breathing technique called Holotropic breathing. The purpose of the breathing is to potentially release past traumas that a client may hold and to access feelings which may have remained buried for many years. We offer this process once per week (more often on an individual basis if needed) and clients have reported remarkable transformations and shifts as a result. Holotropic breathing is also an effective tool with new clients who have never accessed feelings let alone spoken about them. Also, once a week we leave the Centre for an off-site experience. This may consist of a trip to the hot springs, a day at the beach on the Pacific Ocean, a volcano exploration, or a zip-line excursion to name a few.