Pura Vida

Last February 26th, my husband R. and I returned home at about 3:30 a.m. from a life-affirming, rejuvenating eight days at the Pura Vida Spa in the mountains of central Costa Rica. The timing couldn’t have been better, as I’d slipped on ice, sustaining a left radial head fracture (elbow area), bruising my arm, hip, and thigh on 2/14, less than three days before our departure. I spent as much time as possible in the spa’s hot tub under the stars and swam a lot in the solar heated, salt water swimming pool. The trek to the hot springs mid-week was also very healing. But the six different spa treatments I received were probably the best of all for my battered body. 

I was not with a structured group program this year as I had been in previous years, so R. and I spent a lot of time together. We lay in hammocks resting and sleeping and were there for each other’s treatments with a deeply gifted healer who practices a unique, hard-to-describe technique called Body Talk. 

A highlight– of many– occurred at the very end of our time in the verdant land of Costa Rica. We were invited by the wonderful assistant manager of Pura Vida, Miguel, and his lovely wife Mar Y Sol (a yoga instructor and massage therapist there) to their home in the nearby town of El Roble (“The Oak”). They live next to a jungle and large creek, which the four of us walked a long with their five dogs before entering their cozy house for some delicious tea and conversation. Later, we convened at a local restaurant for dinner, a game of pool, and more warm socializing. 

The trip home was a bit arduous, given that our connecting flight out of Fort Lauderdale, FL was delayed over two hours, but it was all well-worth it. 

We look forward to seeing dear Miguel and Mar Y Sol again, including at our place here when they make a road trip to the States in October. 

Our hearts were warmed and wide open while our bodies continued healing from all the skilled, loving hands that worked their magic on us at Pura Vida. It felt so good to be alive.