Nature, Ritual and Renewal
July 11-16, 2027 · Costa Rica
A 6-day Continuing Education Retreat for Helping Professionals
For the Helpers, the Healers and the Deep Feelers
You love what you do.
But loving your work doesn't mean you're immune to the weight of it.
You spend your days helping others reconnect with themselves, yet it can be surprisingly difficult to create that same space in your own life. Somewhere between holding space for clients, caring for the people you love, and keeping up with the demands of everyday life, you may have started to feel a little disconnected from yourself.
Nature, Ritual & Renewal is an invitation to pause. To step away from the noise, immerse yourself in the wisdom of the natural world, and remember what it feels like to feel fully alive again.
Maybe you don’t need more
We're taught that growth comes from adding more. More knowledge. More training. More tools. More ways to become better at what we do.
But some things can't be learned from a book or a webinar.
Sometimes growth looks like standing quietly in the presence of a horse. Following a trail just to see where it leads. Noticing a bird you've never seen before. Moving at the speed of nature. Sharing a conversation that stays with you long after dinner is over. Letting yourself be surprised, moved, challenged, and changed by an experience you couldn't have planned.
Maybe you don’t need more information. Maybe you need space for curiosity, connection, and discovery.
Picture yourself here….
You wake on your first full morning in Costa Rica, step outside your door, and find a double rainbow stretching across the valley. A giant Friesian horse is waiting just outside your room, ready to greet you with the enthusiasm of an oversized puppy.
You sit down to breakfast, where fresh Costa Rican coffee is waiting alongside warm gallo pinto and homemade juice made from local fruit. Around the table, the group is beginning to settle in. You pull a card, set an intention for the day, and somewhere in the trees above you, a pair of toucans arrives.
And you notice something beginning to shift.
Your shoulders drop. You're not checking the time. You're listening to birds you've never heard before and getting to know people who, somehow, already feel familiar.
Over the days ahead, you'll spend time with horses, wander through wild places, learn through your body instead of only your mind, share meals and stories, laugh more than you expected, and experience countless moments of wonder and awe.
This place has a way of getting into your heart. Of inviting you to soften, get curious, and pay attention.
And by the time you leave, it may feel a little like home.
What if we learned differently?
Somewhere along the way, we decided that professional growth happens under the fluorescent lights of a hotel conference room. We sit in rows, listen to speaker after speaker, and take notes on information that can start to sound suspiciously like the last five trainings we attended.
What if we did it differently?
What if learning happened outside—with horses, in the jungle, around a table, and through experiences that engage your whole self instead of just your thinking brain?
Nature, Ritual & Renewal is a spacious immersion designed around experiential learning, nervous system support, meaningful reflection, and the kinds of conversations and experiences you won't find at your average therapist conference.
There is time to learn here. But there's also time to wander. To integrate. To be curious. To connect with other helping professionals. To notice what happens when you aren't rushing to the next session.
It's professional growth that makes room for the person behind the professional.
And yes—you'll still come home with your CEs (and that tax write-off.)
The Retreat Experience
Space to Reconnect With Yourself
Step outside the roles and responsibilities that usually fill your days. Through somatic practices, time in nature, and spacious reflection, you’ll have room to listen inward again—to your body, your intuition, your curiosity, and the parts of yourself that are easy to lose touch with when you’re busy caring for everyone else.
Continuing education you'll actually remember
You'll explore somatics, nature-based learning, nervous system awareness, and experiential approaches by participating in them yourself. Some of the deepest learning may happen with a horse, on a trail, in a moment of noticing, or in a conversation that takes the idea somewhere you hadn't considered before. You'll leave with new ways of thinking about your work—and practices you can adapt for the clients you serve.
Where the space holds you
Helpers are accustomed to being the ones who hold the space. Here, you get to experience what it's like when the space holds you. The land invites you to slow down. Your hosts anticipate the details so you don't have to. Nourishing meals appear at the table. The horses meet you exactly where you are, without asking anything from you in return.
Why Costa Rica?
There’s a reason people talk about the magic of Costa Rica.
There’s a reason people talk about Costa Rica magic.
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth—a country where rainforest tumbles toward the ocean, volcanoes rise above the clouds, and life seems to be everywhere you look. Toucans flash through the trees. Monkeys call from the canopy. Tropical rain arrives suddenly and dramatically, followed just as quickly by brilliant sun.
There’s a different rhythm here, too. Meals are meant to be enjoyed. Hospitality is warm and generous. The phrase pura vida—literally “pure life”—is used for everything from hello to thank you, but after spending time here, you begin to understand that it’s also a way of moving through the world.
Costa Rica invites curiosity. There is always something new to notice, taste, hear, or explore. And for a retreat centered around nature, nervous systems, wonder, and returning to what matters, it gives us an extraordinary place to do that work.
And tucked into the mountains of Guanacaste, we’ve found a place that holds all of that magic beautifully- Tula Vida Ranch.
Your Nature, Ritual and Renewal Guides
A Retreat Experience co-created by wild haven and Tula Vida
Melissa Rosinski
This retreat was born from Melissa’s longtime dream to offer nature-based experiences in Costa Rica—a place close to her heart where she once lived and has returned to many times. That dream deepened during the pandemic, when Melissa turned to the natural world for inspiration and healing. These practices sparked a renewed sense of purpose: to share the healing power of reconnecting with nature.
After visiting Tula Vida and working with Sally and the horses, Melissa knew this was the perfect place to bring her vision to life. She weaves together her background as a therapist and group practice owner with advanced training in Somatic Experiencing, Ecotherapy, and Reiki, along with her certification as a Morning Altars Teacher. Guided by these practices, Melissa creates retreats designed to invite helpers and healers reconnect with themselves, the natural world, and the deep wisdom that lives within.
Founder & Coach, Wild Haven 
Sally Nilsson
relentless pursuer of authenticity and personal growth, Sally Nilsson's journey from the corporate corridors of London lawyer life to the vibrant rainforests of Costa Rica was guided by a golden thread—her profound connection with horses. During her corporate career, horse riding vacations were Sally’s escape to solace and rejuvenation. A pivotal encounter with a horse named Beauty in Costa Rica sparked a profound shift, a path of personal re-alignment and a deep dive into the practice of horse-led coaching. Today Sally lives in Costa Rica and, in collaboration with Beauty and the horse herd, guides others on the path of authentic self-discovery. Sally invites individuals to bridge the gap between life in the comfort zone and aspirational dreams, utilizing the transformative power of the nervous system and the natural world.
Co-Founder, Tula Vida
Co-Founder, Tula VidaEric Kolesar
Eric Kolesar is co-founder of Tula Vida with Sally Nilsson, guiding people to self-empowerment through experiences with horses, yoga, coaching and adventure. With understanding, compassion and mindfulness as the cornerstones of his beliefs and life work, Eric uses a variety of techniques firmly grounded in neuroscience to balance both mind and body, and to liberate the authentic self to share its gifts with the world. As well as the transformative power of nature and horses, Eric is an expert in multiple modalities of energy work and movement and weaves these in to create profound, personalized and powerful adventures in personal growth.
Tula Vida: Your Retreat Home
Nestled in the mountains of Guanacaste, the 80-acre ranch looks out toward three volcanoes—Tenorio, Rincón de la Vieja, and Miravalles. Natural springs move through the property, and primal jungle surrounds it, home to countless bird species, monkeys, coatis, ocelots, and more.
Tula Vida has its own little microclimate. It can be cool and breezy, brilliantly sunny, misty and raining—and back again—all within an hour. The land feeds us, too, with fresh, nourishing meals made with ingredients grown right on the ranch and sourced from the surrounding community.
And then there are the horses. Over the course of the week, you'll spend time alongside Tula Vida's rescue herd, gradually getting to know their rhythms, relationships, and individual personalities. As the days unfold, the horses become more than part of the landscape. They become partners in the experience, inviting presence, curiosity, reflection, and connection in ways that often surprise us.
Tula Vida is sacred land. You don't need to believe anything in particular to feel it. There is something about this place that asks you to pay attention.
By the end of the week, you won't just have stayed at Tula Vida You'll have been in relationship with it.
Each day, you'll gather around the table for authentic Costa Rican meals prepared on site, using recipes and traditions passed down through generations. Much of what lands on your plate is grown right on the ranch or sourced from nearby farms and communities, connecting each meal to the place you're here to experience.
Expect tropical fruits, locally made cheeses, homemade desserts, and abundant plates filled with colorful vegetables, rice and beans, fresh herbs, plantains, hearty soups and stews, and traditional Costa Rican dishes prepared with whatever is fresh and in season.
The food is nourishing, delicious, and prepared with a lots of love and care. And the table quickly becomes one of the focal points of the retreat—the place for conversations, stories, and community building.
A Taste of Costa Rica
For the Helpers, the Healers and the Deep Feelers
You've spent years learning how to hold space for other people.
You're good at it. You show up, you stay present, you carry what needs to be carried — and most days, you wouldn't trade this work for anything.
But somewhere along the way, you started to notice: the container you offer your clients is not always one you step into yourself.
You may be carrying more than most people realize — supporting others through burnout, grief, trauma, and the weight of a world that keeps shifting. You may still love this work and feel exhausted by it at the same time. You may be longing not just for rest, but for something deeper: beauty, inspiration, meaningful connection, and a professional space that feels genuinely human.
Nature, Ritual & Renewal was created for therapists, healers, and helping professionals who are ready to receive care and support. For those who believe that healing happens through relationship: with nature, with community, with the nervous system, and with the parts of ourselves that rarely get tended to while we're tending to everyone else.
"Melissa led our group with her heart and soul and seems to have a natural gift at facilitating. I’ve been on many retreats but this one really brought me back home to myself, highly recommended."
— Kristen P.
More than continuing education.
This is not a room full of PowerPoints and name badges.
Across six immersive days in Costa Rica, you'll engage in experiential learning, somatic and nature-based practices, equine experiences, ritual, and the kind of unhurried conversation that rarely happens in professional settings. You'll earn CEUs — and you'll also exhale in ways you may have forgotten were possible.
Many therapists don't realize burnout can be quiet. It doesn't always announce itself. Sometimes it just looks like continuing to show up, continuing to care, continuing to hold everything together — while privately feeling a little more hollow each time.
This retreat offers something different: a chance to slow down, be witnessed, and remember what it feels like to receive.
By the time you leave Costa Rica, you may find yourself:
More grounded and reconnected to yourself
Professionally inspired in ways that feel sustainable
Emotionally nourished — not just refreshed
Clearer about what you need in this season of your life
Part of a community of like-minded practitioners who actually get it
This is not about escaping your life. It's about returning to yourself inside of it — so you can continue doing the work that matters, without losing yourself in the process.
This is your invitation to come back to yourself.
The 2026 Nature, Ritual and Renewal Retreat: Find Yourself in nature
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Nature Immersion
Experience pristine Costa Rican nature with rainforest trails, tropical wildlife, and the soothing sounds of the jungle all around you.
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NBCC Continuing Education Hours
Earn NBCC-approved continuing education hours while engaging in experiential practices designed for healing professionals.
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Shared Experience, Lasting Connection
A community of fellow healing professionals offers connection, understanding, and support—reminding you that you’re not alone on your journey.
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Daily Facilitated Horse Experiences
Connect with Tula Vida’s gentle, intuitive horses through daily facilitated sessions designed to foster presence, reflection, and connection.
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Luxury Hot Springs Outing
New this year: Soothe your senses in the world-famous Tabacón hot springs—natural thermal pools nestled at the base of the stunning Arenal volcano.
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Extras to Enhance Your Experience
Enjoy a sound healing and plant essence ceremony, optional massage, yoga and qi gong, hiking, birding, and swimming in the pond.
"The Nature, Ritual, & Renewal retreat was a tender, nourishing, transformative experience. Much of the potent healing power of the experience emerged from unseen forces that move between animals, humans, and the elements of the Costa Rican mountainside. The practical elements - container, programming, learning, etc - were impeccable as well. Seamless harmony between natural and organized elements. I absolutely plan to return."
— Becca B.
Your Stay at Tula Vida
Ready for an unforgettable stay? Tula Vida’s 80-acre off-grid ranch offers the perfect blend of rugged beauty and modern comfort. Explore jungle trails, share space with the beloved horses, and taste the rich flavors of authentic Costa Rican cooking. Here, you’re not just visiting nature—you’re living it, fully immersed in the rhythms of the land and the heart of pura vida.
Explore miles of hiking trails through lush rainforest, share quiet moments with the resident jungle dogs, and watch scarlet macaws and toucans fly overhead. As the day winds down, settle in for breathtaking sunsets during our shared dinners, or sit beneath the stars listening to the hum of the jungle. Tula Vida is more than a retreat space—it’s a living, breathing sanctuary where every path, every view, and every sound invites you deeper into connection.
Choose your room
Private Room $3399
A private Villa or Lodge room with full or king size bed and a private bathroom. Add $100 for payment plans.
shared room $3149
A shared Villa or Lodge room with 2 full or single beds and 1 bathroom. Add $100 for payment plans.
Cancellation policy: Your $750 deposit is nonrefundable as it helps us prepare this experience for you. If you need to cancel, you’ll receive a full refund (minus deposit) before March 14, 2026 or a 50% refund before April 12, 2026. After April 12, all payments are nonrefundable.
Sample Retreat Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Meet your fellow retreat travelers at the airport and journey together to Tula Vida in shared transportation. Arrive just in time to savor your first delicious Costa Rican dinner while watching the sun melt into the horizon. After settling in, we’ll gather for an opening fire circle beneath the stars—setting intentions and beginning our journey in community.
Day 2: orienting
Wake on your first morning to misty volcanic views and the soothing sounds of the jungle. Today you’ll meeting the land and the beings who call Tula Vida home and partner with your horse. Experience the wisdom of the herd through nervous system regulation practices with Sally and the horses, then deepen your connection with somatic healing in nature led by Melissa. Close the day with mindful movement on the yoga deck.
Day 3: Connection
Begin the day by tapping into nature and creativity during an earth altar workshop with Melissa. In the afternoon, explore connection and herd dynamics with Sally and the soulful Tula Vida horses. As evening falls, settle into a plant essences and sound healing ceremony—sipping cacao or herbal tea as a famous Tula Vida sunset colors the sky.
Day 4: Giving back
Begin the day with Qi Gong with the horses, moving mindfully and connecting with their grounded presence. Next, head to the local village of Tierras Morenas for a meaningful service project, offering gratitude and giving back to the land and people who have welcomed us. In the afternoon, nurture yourself with a visit to the luxurious Tabacón Hot Springs, soaking in thermal waters to restore body, mind, and spirit
Day 5: Integration
Spend the day connecting with the land and exploring ways to bring nature into your everyday life and practice. Build a community altar with Melissa, Sally, and the horses, integrating the week’s experiences. Close with a fire ceremony, where we will gather as a community to share our gratitude, reflections and support each for other’s transformations beyond the retreat.
Day 6: Departure
Enjoy one last incredible breakfast at Tula Vida before we say “til next time.” Then we’ll take shared transportation back to Liberia Airport for your flight home, or onward to Tamarindo to begin the optional Beach Weekend, where you can relax, explore, and soak in the beauty of the Costa Rican Pacific coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need more info? We’ve got you covered!
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Your retreat fee covers everything you need for a fully immersive, restorative experience:
Airport transfers to and from Liberia Airport
Accommodations for 6 days / 5 nights on the ranch
All meals, prepared with fresh, local ingredients
Continuing education workshops (CEs) for healing professionals
Daily facilitated horse experiences to connect and reflect
All classes and activities, including yoga, qi gong, and more
Day trip to Tabacón hot springs, including entrance fees
Plant healing and sound essence ceremony
Exclusive use of the ranch, including hiking trails and quiet spaces
Two follow-up community calls in August and October to stay connected after the retreat
Everything is designed to help you relax, reconnect, and deepen your practice in nature.
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While your retreat fee covers most of your experience, the following items are not included:
Flights to and from Costa Rica
Travel insurance (required for your protection)
Alcoholic beverages – Tula Vida does not serve alcohol, though you’ll have the option to purchase drinks at Tabacón Hot Springs and during the optional Beach Weekend add-on
Massage – optional, available for an additional fee
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No prior horse experience is required. During the retreat, we do not ride the horses—all activities are focused on gentle, facilitated interactions, presence work, and connection with the horses on the ground. Everyone, regardless of experience, can safely participate and benefit from these experiences.
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Yes! A valid passport is required to enter Costa Rica. It must be valid for the duration of your stay—and ideally for at least six months beyond your entry date.
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
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Please book your round-trip flight to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Costa Rica.
Important: Your flight should arrive before 2 PM on July 12, 2026.
All major U.S. airlines—Southwest, American, United, and Delta—fly into Liberia.
Your return flight will depart from LIR, whether you leave on July 17 or stay for the optional Beach Weekend.
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The Beach Adventure Weekend is an optional two-day extension after the retreat, designed to give you extra time to relax and explore Costa Rica’s beautiful coastline. We’ll travel to Tamarindo, where you’ll enjoy:
A sunset sailing excursion on the Pacific Ocean
An ATV beach tour for an adventurous coastal ride
Plenty of time to swim, shop, and soak up the sun
This add-on is a great way to connect further with fellow attendees, experience the vibrant energy of Costa Rica’s beaches, and take some time to integrate your retreat experience before returning home.
See more info and register for this optional add-on here: https://wildhaven.thrivecart.com/beach-weekend-add-on/
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Hosting a retreat like this requires significant early investments—securing the venue, accommodations, staff, and resources well before the event begins. The $750 nonrefundable deposit ensures your spot is reserved and allows us to make these commitments on your behalf.
Our refund policy is designed to be as fair as possible while honoring these advance costs:
Before March 14, 2026 (120+ days prior): Full refund, minus your deposit.
Before April 12, 2026 (90–119 days prior): 50% refund, minus your deposit.
After April 12, 2026: All payments are nonrefundable because we’ve already committed resources to make this experience happen for you.
We require travel insurance to protect your investment in case of unexpected changes.
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No! Continuing education credits are offered for mental health therapists, but the retreat is open to all helpers and healers!
Some examples include: coaches, people working in community services, body workers, medical professionals, teachers, activists, caretakers, medical and health service managers, yoga/pilates teachers, death workers, etc!
Melissa has a gentle, attentive presence as she seamlessly adapts to the needs of the moment. Whether adjusting plans in response to the weather or intuitively sensing the group's energy, she leads with both professionalism and heart. Her ability to go with the flow while holding space for each member creates a nurturing and transformative retreat experience.”
— Kristin A.
SOLD OUT
Not ready to go home?
Add a weekend at the beach!
After the retreat, keep the magic alive with our Optional Beach Weekend Add-On. We’ll unwind in a private house at a charming boutique hotel, savoring the ocean breeze and laid-back vibes. Your adventure includes an exhilarating ATV ride to secluded beaches and ends with an unforgettable sunset sail along the stunning Pacific coast. See more of the incredible beauty Costa Rica has to offer while taking time to integrate your retreat experience before heading home.
You will have the option to add on on your full-price beach trip during checkout, or click the button below if you’d like a payment plan option.
Reserve Your Spot Today!
Join us for the 2026 Nature, Ritual & Renewal Retreat in Costa Rica. Heal, restore, and earn CEs with somatic practices, equine healing sessions, and earth-based rituals. This is a small group experience and spaces are very limited—reserve your transformative retreat today!
6-month payment plans available at checkout.