Therapist Biographies

ALEXANDRA

Alex has studied and applied various healing modalities for over 14 years. She received her foundational 600-hour training as a massage therapist at the Body Works Institute in Virginia, USA. Since then her professional development has linked hands-on practice with continued studies in Healing Arts at the Upledger Institute and an Esthetician’s degree from the Boreal Esthetics Institute in Costa Rica. Alex uses her intuition to create a personalized therapy that may also integrate her experience with EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), controlled breathing and cellular regeneration.

ESTER

Holistic Balance Instructor. Ester has been involved in yoga, bodywork and healing arts since 2003. She studied at the GAIA Holistic Institute in San José, where she specialized in Hatha yoga, Shiatsu, Reiki, Deep Tissue, Yoga Assisted Stretching, Bach flowers, Sound Healing Vibrations and Swedish massage. As a yoga instructor, Ester understands the benefits of stretching and massage and indulges her clients by combining them in the art of Thai massage. Ester’s love of water attracted her to use this medium in Watsu & Aquadynamics to open the heart center and awaken the inner healer in all.

KARINA

Karina was trained first in Traditional Chinese Healing Arts by CU San Judas Tadeo and then as an E.F.T (emotional freedom techniques) and T.A.T (tapas acupressure technique) Practitioner by ACEP (Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology). Several renowned international spa trainers then instructed her to become an Esthetician and Body Worker. Additionally, she is certified by the NCBTMB to give Russian clinical massage and as a Cranio-Somatic practitioner.

KATTYA

Kattya received a ten-year training in Holistic massage, Chi Kung, Tai Chi and yoga in the Southern Pacific mountains of Costa Rica, studying with masters Gailon West and Patricia Mitchell. In 1999 she received BodyTalk instruction from Dr. John Veltheim, and has focused her attention on working in this health treatment modality ever since.

MAR Y SOL

Mar y Sol’s passion for Eastern philosophies started at the age of 15 when she lived in Japan as an exchange student and joined the Zen tradition of Japanese Archery or Kyudo. Years later in Costa Rica she trained as a Holistic Balance Instructor at the Gaia Holistic Institute, where she studied Reiki, Shiatsu, Swedish massage, Yoga, Aromatherapy, Bach Flower Remedies and others healing techniques that she still uses in her treatments. Her love of yoga took her on a journey to find the styles that resonated most with her inner spirit – in Canada at the School of Conscious Living she learned Gaia Yoga, and later in India she studied the Himalayan Masters Tradition under the guidance of Swami Jnaneshvara. These experiences completely changed her focus and point of view on Yoga and Life.

The treatments that she offers here are not only her favorite but also her way of practicing loving kindness through her hands.

NATI

Nati has been involved in yoga, bodywork and healing Arts since 1999. She studied at the GAIA Holistic Institute in San Jose to become a Yoga Teacher and Holistic Balance Instructor; which involves several techniques including Breema, Shiatsu, Reiki, Reflexology, Acupressure, Deep Tissue, Holistic Hypnotherapy, Yoga Assisted Stretching, Thai Massage, Chi Nei Tsang, Sound Healing Vibrations, Swedish massage, Yoga and Meditation. Additionally, she studied Physiotherapy at Santa Paula’s College in San Jose and became a Licensed Physical Therapist. Every year Nati travels to different parts of the world to keep learning other healing modalities and share her gifts.

EMANUEL

Emanuel has more than twenty years of experience in disciplines related to the body, movement and self-knowledge. He´s a Massage Therapist, Yoga Instructor, Dancer and Actor; and has also been involved in several Eastern traditions, meditation techniques and sports.

He studied Therapeutic Massage at Therapeutic Institute of Costa Rica at the same time he was finishing his artistic studies. After this, he was certified in the teaching of Hatha Yoga by Yoga Mandir School, followed by a certification in Anusara Yoga by Anusara School of Hatha Yoga, and a certification in Thai Massage by Yoga Mandir School.

His holistic approach makes him understand the body not only from a technical and physiological point of view, but also from direct experience and intuition.

In his own words: “I´ve been blessed with the possibility of devoting myself to what I love, therefore I honour and celebrate life by embracing this blessing with gratitude, expressing it with passion and sharing it with joy.”.

RODRIGO

Rodrigo is a Costa Rican therapist and has been part of Pura Vida since its conception. He has been practicing Natural Healing Arts for almost 30 years. During this time, he has been certified in such disciplines as Iridology, Natural Nutrition, Homeopathy, and Hydrotherapy, among others. Rodrigo’s favorite area, however, has always been Body Work, so much so that he has devoted the last 20 years of his life to exploring and improving his aptitude in this field. An intuitive and skilled therapist, Rodrigo is also a yoga instructor and is always ready to help you in your transformation process.

THAÍS

Thaís’ practice of contemporary Dance and hatha yoga awoke her curiosity about the human body within the framework of Eastern Philosophy, inspiring her to become a practitioner of healing arts based on ancient wisdom like Ayurveda. Having received teachings from Ahimsa school of Yoga-therapies in Venezuela, Dr. Prerak Shah (Ayulink India), Kerala Ayurvedic Healthcare center (India), Dr. Vasant Lad, Thai Massage in TMC school of Thailand, Sunshine Network, Vedic Conservatory, Naga Center, and studied reflexology and Watsu, she has practiced since 2007 in Venezuela and Costa Rica at yoga retreats/centers & in private practice. As a therapist she whole-heartedly shares an integrated approach with the intention of reconnecting with our pure consciousness of totality.

LUCIA

Lucia is a Licensed Psychologist with a Bachelor’s in Special Education, Yoga Instructor and Watsu Therapist. Lucia has been certified with national and international teachers where she has practiced Hatha Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Gaia Yoga and Yoga Kids. She appreciates yoga as a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual practice, using her own mat as a space for deep personal growth. Her daughter Avril has been her biggest inspiration both on the mat and off. One of Lucia’s main passions in life is performing Watsu and Aquadynamics, where she connects to the spirit of the water while flowing with her heart, intuition and compassion. She has being certified with WABA (Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association) and enjoys sharing this beautiful healing water art with others.

AKUA

Akua is a Vibrational Therapist, World Aquatic Body Work Provider and Sound Healer.  Passionate about natural healing and ancestral wisdom, she dedicates her life coaching others promoting wellness, good health, mindfulness and living consciously.  Akua first learned the wisdom of Sound Healing in 1998 traveling and participating in meditations around the world in Tibet, China, India, Nepal, Bali and Thailand just to name a few.  She has studied different vibrational therapies in Uruguay, Argentina, Costa Rica and the United States.   She works with several ancestral instruments and loves working with dolphin and whale sounds and other frequencies in her Sound Healing Sessions.  Akua invites you to take a journey of the soul traveling through the Universal Language of Sound and Vibration.  Experience personal life transformation improving your wellbeing.

ZARE

Zare studied Physiotherapy in 2010 at Santa Paula’s College in San Jose and became a Licensed Physical Therapist. She started in the Aquaticbodywork since 2008 and had learn different types of techniques such as: Bad Ragaz, Halliwick, Watsu, Water Pilates, Craniosacral in Water, Ai Chi, Aquadinamic and Aquatic Manual Theraphy. Also as a Yoga Teacher she has discover a unique way to hold space for everyone who is open to experience surrender and deep meditation in water and land.

ESTER

Holistic Balance Instructor. Ester has been involved in yoga, bodywork and healing Arts since 2003. She studied at the GAIA Holistic Institute in San Jose, where she specialized in Hatha yoga, Body Balancing, a synthesis of several techniques including Breema, Shiatsu, Reiki, Deep Tissue, Yoga Assisted Stretching, Sound Healing Vibrations and Swedish massage. As a yoga instructor, Ester understands the benefits of stretching and massage on and was thus attracted to the art of Thai massage. Ester has always been attracted towards water in her life and she found in Watsu & Aquadinamics an amazing way to open hearts and awaken the inner healer in us all.

SERGIO

Holistic Balance Instructor & Licensed Physical Therapist. Sergio has been involved in bodywork, meditation and healing since 1998. Graduated from the Gaia Institute and Santa Paula College in San Jose, Sergio has explored different eastern medicinal arts, such as acupressure, Applied Kinesiology (touch for health), Shiatsu, Reiki, Breema, Sound Therapy, Kum Nye, Lymphatic drainage, Swedish massage, yoga and meditation. Extensive study and practice have precipitated transformational processes that have enabled him to feel a greater connection with and understanding of the world around us. Combining his certifications and personal experiences, today Sergio focuses on his passion for the aquatic methodologies, Watsu & Aquadynamics.