Costa Rica Yoga Retreat for Compulsive Overeating Recovery

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This fall, a new kind of yoga retreat will be offered at Vida Asana Eco-Lodge Retreat in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. Body, Mind, and Spirit Yoga retreat offers a journey of recovery from compulsive overeating and food addiction.

This fall, Fort Lauderdale, FL yoga teacher Helene Kopel is offering a retreat connecting the body, mind, and spirit. But, this isn’t your ordinary yoga and meditation retreat. This one will be geared to those who struggle with food addiction and compulsive overeating.

The retreat will take place at Vida Asana Eco-Retreat and Yoga Center in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, November 8 – 12, 2017.

Participants are encouraged to take part in gentle yoga classes, daily meditation, and group discussions to support body acceptance and recovery from eating issues.

No previous yoga or meditation experience is necessary; the sessions are intended for all body types, sizes, and flexibility levels.

“I wish I’d discovered yoga back when I was 275 pounds. The gentle, meditative classes I fell in love with could’ve benefited me in so many ways and I wouldn’t have struggled due to my level of fitness,” says Kopel.

Helene Kopel is now half her body size. The early part of her weight loss journey involved major bariatric surgery with side effects that left her barely functional for six months – though she lost 140 pounds. Once she recovered, however, she quickly began putting the weight back on. As a compusive overeater, she found ways around the surgery. Instead of binging, she then grazed, eating all day long and retraining her smaller stomach to handle the “forbidden” foods.

“Eventually, I had to learn and accept that I’m a compulsive overeater and food addict. That there is no will power when it comes to eating. Certain foods and eating behaviors are for me what alcohol is to an alcoholic.”

That’s when she began a program of recovery which emphasized spirituality. Eventually, Helene shared the message with her childhood best friend, Michelle Kloian, who also struggled from similar issues with compulsive overeating.

Years later, broken-hearted from a breakup, Michelle, now a yoga teacher in Northern New Jersey, suggested yoga as a path to healing. Visiting Helene in South Florida, they went together to a yoga class and Helene was hooked.

Both of them had come to discover that yoga provided physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. And, that yoga’s benefits complemented their recovery program for their eating issues. Michelle furthered her training, becoming a Y12SR Certified teacher – Yoga for 12 Step Recovery.

Helene lead her first retreat in early 2017 at Vida Asana and realized their clean, organic meals were almost exactly perfect for her “abstinent” food plan.

“Sean and his team were so accommodating for my special needs. I don’t eat sugar of any kind. I was alerted to any items with sugar in it and a separate version was prepared for me without it. I also requested a couple of snacks I’d need outside of our regular meals, and they packed it up for the refrigerator in my room.”

That’s when she realized Vida Asana would be the perfect home for a retreat for others in her situation. She called Michelle to join her on the journey and teach with her, in Costa Rica.

Body, Mind, and Spirit retreat will also offer a rainforest hike and tour, and plenty of options for sightseeing, surfing, spa services, shopping. It’s still a vacation, after all.

Visit zenrenewal.com or vidaasana.com for more information.

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