☀️ PURA VIDA ☀️
A pure life is a simple life.
Hi Friends,
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WELLNESS WEDNESDAY
Your wellness fix in all dimensions.
💪 PHYSICAL: Strong Core Workouts on Sweats and the City’s ORRO app
💗 EMOTIONAL: Empowerment Meditations with Melissa Wood Health
🧠 MENTAL: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - Notes by Anthony Pompliano
🙏 SPIRITUAL: Discover your Dharma with Sahara Rose
😎 SOCIAL: Check out our Soiree Calendar below for our recommended local and international wellness events!
🌎 ENVIRONMENTAL: Join DJ Blondish’s Bye Bye Plastic Foundation as a Community Volunteer
🌊PLACE: Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection in Costa Rica
Where nature cradles the soul and inspires new adventure.
As soon as our charter plane touched down near the foothills of the Talamanca mountains of Pérez Zeledón, we were mesmerized by the beauty of the breath-taking landscape, but also the incredible personalized hospitality of Hacienda AltaGracia. The level of detail was astounding with our own personal ‘compas’ escorting us to every amenity on the sprawling property. In Costa Rica, the pura vida lifestyle resembles a simple, pure lifestyle, and one steeped in nature. As busy working professionals, we were grateful for this time away to connect with nature, ourselves, and appreciate the simplicity of the space we were in. Hacienda AltaGracia was a beautiful experience due to the remote location and also the partnership with THE WELL on-site, where we were able to immerse ourselves in nature and also experience all the pillars of wellness. Mucho Gracias to Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, and THE WELL for an unforgettable getaway.
A typical schedule from our stay:
6 AM: Wake up and catch the sunrise. Make a cup of French Press coffee and drink a full glass of water. Stretch and do some yoga poses. Pull an intention card for the day.
7 AM: Grab a hearty breakfast from the organic farm.
8:30 AM: Complete yoga and meditation classes from THE WELL.
10:30 AM: Walk around the campus to catch the wildlife, the birds, and visit the on-site butterfly garden.
12 PM: Grab some organic lunch by the poolside, with breath-taking views of the Talamanca mountains. Listen to a motivational podcast and/or meditate.
2 PM: Take a horseback riding lesson on the campus and/or try a sample coffee tasting with fellow travelers. Learn about the history and culture of the region.
4 PM: Go back to THE WELL to experience the infinity pools, energy healing, spa treatments, infrared saunas, and more. Sample some energy cleansing from the crystal monument and/or river bath.
5 PM: Get ready for dinner by relaxing in the casita, and be pleasantly surprised by personalized wellness treatments like a foot massager, heated pillow, robes, chocolates, and more personalized complements.
5:45 PM: Catch the beautiful sunset with a poolside drink at the fire pits.
7 PM: Dinner time at Grano, the on-site organic restaurant with sweeping views of the city below the mountains.
10 PM: Journal thoughts and reflections from the day and go to bed!
ABOUT HACIENDA ALTAGRACIA:
An escape for those seeking total well-being and unbridled adventure, balance at Hacienda AltaGracia is founded with the belief that total well-being comes from being able to move fast or slow. This serene 50-casita resort features 180 bird-song-filled acres of untamed tropical forest, a coffee farm, equine stables, organic chef’s gardens, and a well-being center by one of the world’s leading holistic wellness providers, THE WELL. Experience the escape of our soul-stirring wellness journeys, soulful cuisine, and adrenaline-packed adventures through bespoke itineraries – personally curated to elevate your experience and leave you transformed.
ABOUT THE WELL @ HACIDENA ALTAGRACIA:
Across 180 acres of land and over 20,000 square-feet of amenities, our remote wellness escape welcomes guests to reset, rewind and recharge. Surrounded by the Talamanca Mountains, we have a deep connection to Mother Earth, Pachamama. Each treatment, program, and experience is an homage to her and the bountiful gift of life she gives to all on earth. Our integrated holistic approach draws from thousands of years of healing rituals across eight treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy tub, a thermal suite, multiple ranchos for outdoor mindful movement classes, and an on-property healing garden.
⛰️PROFILE: MARK WRIGHT, GM of Hacienda AltaGracia
The leader behind the amazing hospitality and breath-taking property.
1. What is your background and role at Hacienda AltaGracia?
My background is hospitality for the past 20 years, but in many different guises; bartending in Austria, bicycle tour guide in Munich, and tennis coaching in Greece. When the time came to get a serious job, I worked at a luxury bespoke tour operator in London called Ampersand Travel, for 7 years. After this time, my passion for luxury hotels grew, thus before moving into hotel operations, I studied for my MBA at EHL, a hotel school in Lausanne, Switzerland. After this, I took management positions at Amankora, Bhutan & Amandari, Bali, before making the move with my family to Costa Rica and reopening Hacienda AltaGracia. A slightly more unusual path to hotel management than most. My role here is General Manager.
2. How would you describe the Hacienda AltaGracia experience, and what makes this property unique?
The experience at Hacienda AltaGracia is like no other, focusing on becoming the preeminent well-being resort in the world with our 3 core pillars of Wellness, Adventure & Culinary. Ensuring that no matter what form of well-being you're looking for; world-class visiting practitioners, 6-hour hikes in the Talamanca mountains, or delicious locally sourced ingredients prepared by our loving Chefs Arno & Liezl, we have it to offer.
3. As a partner with THE WELL, what specific wellness offerings are at this location, and why is this an important part of the experience?
THE WELL is a fantastic partner in all things well-being related, and beyond. They are as curious as we are and as passionate about having each experience, visiting practitioner and retreat be the best, and have a truly authentic sense of place to its feel, namely Costa Rican. This is important as it becomes a differentiator in what we offer, and how we offer it. A perfect example is a Natural River Bath - a service that is unparalleled to any wellness offering anywhere and has a unique sense of place in the jungles of Costa Rica. More info here. We are blessed to have them as partners at Hacienda AltaGracia.
4. What are some of the sustainable elements of Hacienda AltaGracia and why are you focused on these efforts?
We make our best efforts to commit to all 3 key components of sustainability (the 3 key ones I adhere to anyway); sociological, ecological, and economical. Despite the high focus on ecological (no-plastic, water purity, waste management) & economical (ensuring our business is sustainable to support our team, owners, and community partners), my passion lies in the sociological element. I could write a whole thesis on this element, but in short, it's how we hire locally, partner on adventures locally, and source our ingredients hyper-locally - essentially every element of how we operate, the first question we ask ourselves is; "will it benefit the community in some way" - if it does, the answer is invariable yes. This is imperative to working in remote areas where you have to be a leader in the community and support local businesses as much as possible. This to me is the key to long-term sustainability. By doing this at your core, the economy begins to look after itself & the ecological is looked after by passionate team members leading the charge.
5. What are your predictions for wellness tourism and how is Hacienda Altagracia playing a role in this movement?
I would forecast that wellness tourism is going to continue to become more holistic in its approach. Knowing that wellness is becoming more subjective than objective, and means different things to different people, depending on what they are personally going through. To me, wellness is a great night's sleep followed by a hearty & healthy locally sourced breakfast, a 6-hour hike, and a crisp Gin & Tonic surrounded by my nearest and dearest friends & family. However, for my wife, Jemma, it would be a 2-hour treatment at THE WELL followed by an immersive experience at our Natural River Bath. Both forms of well-being & wellness. The more personalized approach you can offer, the more you will succeed in this field. We have recently hired an on-site Health Coach that will speak to every guest prior to arrival, to help tailor each guest’s personalized well-being journey at AltaGracia.
6. What are some upcoming experiences or highlights that guests can expect?
We are constantly looking to develop experiences that highlight our 3 core pillars of Wellness, Adventure & Culinary. For 2023 we are focusing on our Wellness retreats, which can be found here, as well as developing world-class partnerships on the Culinary & Adventure side. In October 2022 we developed 3 large areas; El Cultivo (our organic garden dining), Caligo (stunning butterfly garden and Jugando (unique children's rope course) - our aim is to continue to develop them into our programming and build on these world-class experiences. We are also continuing to explore Cedral valley for the next adventure (hiking, e-biking, horseback riding), there is so much untapped potential in the mountains!
SOIREES: THE WELLNESS WAY
🗽 NYC:
Embracing the Future You with Tony LeRoy @ The Well - 3/6 @ 6:30 PM, email reservations@the-well.com
Brooks Pilates by EBOOST @ Showfields - 3/3 @ 12 PM, 3/18 & 3/26 @ 11 AM
Change Your Patterns, Change Your Life with Vienna Pharaon @ The Well - 3/20 @ 6:30 PM, email reservations@the-well.com
KARMA CLASS: Mat Pilates - 3/26 @ 2 PM, email reservations@the-well.com
🌴 MIA:
Twin Hearts Mediation with Agustina Caminos - 3/5 @ 3 PM @ Faena Hotel (also 3/12, 3/19, 3/26 at Faena Hotel)
Kundalini Yoga and Sound Meditation with Vila Vedya - 3/6 @ 6:30 PM
Meditation Retreat with Amanda Gilbert & Frank Anderson - 3/11 @ 10 AM
Sound Healing and Mantras in the Hammam @ Faena - 3/13 @ 6:30 PM
Ultimate Wellness Event with Julia Smith @ Faena - 5/12 @ 5:30 PM
🐪 MOROCCO:
🍝 ITALY:
Interested in a curated, private wellness event(s) and/or growth consulting for your business?
Contact us at auraswellcollective@gmail.com.
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