Read first hand about what it is like to participate in a Yoga Trade (www.yogatrade.com) opportunity! Here Raquel Alexandra inspires as she writes about her Yoga Trade experience at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa:
Blue Osa magically appeared to me from the depths of the internet, as I searched for opportunities to hang out in Costa Rica for a while while immersing myself in one of my deepest callings, yoga. I had never visited 
Blue Osa, but there was such good energy surrounding the volunteer program and opportunities and it just felt right. Speaking to Aaron via Skype solidified all the good vibes! I was so excited there was room for me to contribute to Blue Osa as a writer and yoga teacher.
Everything from the stunning lap pool, the statues of goddesses, the organic garden and fruit trees…everything here creates a platform for such peace and restoration. It’s all on the opposite side of the spectrum of my hometown, Chicago, and it’s so refreshing to get away from the noise of the city. The exotic surrounding here are integrated into everything, melting into daily life. I was shocked at how quickly living here became so comfortable; the other volunteers and staff are such kind, compassionate, hilarious people. Add in the beach, beautiful grounds and you’ve got paradise!
and history while preparing them for leadership positions on an international playing field. They’re also big into community development, getting local businesses and resorts to combine forces with the students’ parents and the school staff. We’ve already had the chance to visit the school and talk to the teachers and kids, and they’re doing such great work. It feels awesome to contribute to an important resource for the town of Jimenez.
Raquel is inspired, challenged, ignited, and balanced by yoga, and is honored to teach such a sublime practice. She started on the path of yoga in 2007, and realized few other things allowed her to connect with her body in a joyful, powerful way. Her first downdog led to countless others, and in 2012 she completed her 200-hr certification at Moksha Yoga. She leads creative and playful classes, linking breath with movement and incorporating breathwork and meditation for a well-rounded, comprehensive practice. She is grateful to Ashley Turner, Seane Corne, Rod Stryker, Aadil Palkhivala and many others for their teachings that influence her own practice.
When she’s not teaching, Raquel is a holistic wellness coach specializing in helping women cultivate nourishing relationships with their bodies. She remains passionately curious about yoga, wellness, tribal arts and indigenous herbalism, and continues her studies to better serve her students. A proud lifelong Chicagoan, Raquel also loves running, writing fiction, growing food and cooking with it, magical-realists, and mid-morning dark chocolate.
