Yoga has become so popular in Costa Rica that you can pretty much find a yoga class or instructor in nearly every part of the country.

In the favorite expat destination of Atenas, Costa Rica, classes at the Atenas Yoga Center are one of the main things to do in the community. Yoga classes are not only good for exercise; they become social events and are a great way to meet other expats.

Atenas is a top place to retire and live internationally in Costa Rica, with an expat population estimated at about 1,500 full-time residents, most of which are retired. The large international community created the demand to unify various individual yoga instructors, who were teaching in different areas of Atenas, into one centralized yoga center in 2013.

The Atenas Yoga Center is located at Hotel Colinas del Sol in the center of town about 100 meters after the main entrance to the Roca Verde gated residential community. The central location, clean airy space, and beautiful views of green hills, mountains and the hotel pool and gardens, make it easy to attend classes.

Popular for the benefits that yoga offers — flexibility, strength-building, stress-relief — on any given day you can find dozens of people in the classes. “Yoga is available to anyone — all ages and body types,” said yoga instructor Leah MacLauchlan, who has been teaching yoga in Atenas for 14 years.

Yoga classes are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., and Saturdays from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Instructors are British-born Leah MacLauchlan (classes in English) and Colombian-born Clara Ines Angarita (classes in Spanish). Classes cost 3,000 colones ($6.00 USD), which is incredibly affordable compared to the U.S. or elsewhere in Costa Rica where yoga classes can cost up to $25. Yoga mats can be rented at the Atenas Yoga Center for 1,000 colones, or US $2.00. You can find the full schedule and more information about the Atenas Yoga Center on their website.

Yoga retreats are held three times a year in different beautiful locations around the country. And starting in January 2017, Tai Chi and Qigong classes are happening on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

Written By Shannon Farley: Shannon Farley is a travel blog writer for Enchanting Costa Rica and Profimercadeo in Costa Rica. Originally from Southern California , Shannon has lived, worked and traveled all over the world for 20 years; she has been living and working in Costa Rica since 1999. She lives in Atenas, Costa Rica with her husband, 5 dogs and 2 cats.

Improve Your Health When You Live in Atenas at the Atenas Yoga CenterArticle ID Number 9129

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