Vision, Values & Lineages
We are more than a retreat center or Eco accommodation.
We are an immersive experience and community hub that invites you into presence through movement & meditation, creative expression, art and nature. Whe strive to create an otherworldly experience where Alice in Wonderland meets Buddha. All held by solid values and a clean framework to live together and relate.
What makes Serra Vida a Place of Presence are the practices we offer, which help you to come out of your mind and into the moment.
Our schedule of daily classes, weekend workshops, retreats, and ceremonies help you create a new way of connecting to yourself, to others, and your environment.
From yoga to meditation, sound healing to breath-work and dance, we are and have access to experienced teachers that can take you by the hand and guide your journey into presence.
We are firm believers of creative expression being an ideal self-reflection tool. We offer a platform which allows you to discover and express your inner world by playing with the diverse tools offered by the Arts. Be it visual or performance art, music, singing or writing. Retreating in nature is a wondrous experience in itself, by adding the element and experience of immersive art we intend to inspire and invite our community into an otherworldly experience.
A place where the eyes of our inner child are opened to see beyond the mind’s perspective and experience life as a playground, where presence is the key.
We dream of a magical place where all who visit can develop a stronger heart connection to themselves, to nature, and to others, as an alternative to living purely led by the mind.
Our Values & Lineages
Stillness
When we allow stillness, we allow integration as the things that have moved within us fall into place.
It is only when we slow down, that we really see, listen and observe. We have gained so much through stillness that we feel passionate to extend this ever-so-simple yet foundational gift to our visitors through daily silent sitting.
Connection To Earth
We are our planet, we love mother earth, protect our home, and honour every living being and therefore ourselves. The unconditional love, healing and joy we receive by living in connection with nature is unparalleled. And are grateful to offer Serra Vida as a place where the importance of this connection can be honoured, remembered and restored.
Embodiment
Where to start on the importance of this Value! We are embodied spirit and this is nothing short of brilliance.
An amazing portal that allows you to move from your mind into the present moment through the combination of our body and diverse practices. Not only is the body used as a tool for healing by moving stagnant energy but also creates self- awareness and connection. Embodiment explores the relationship between our physical being and our energy, allows us to connect with our intuitive wisdom, enhances our energy levels and an all-round lust for life.
Creative Expression
Through creativity we are enabled to express our inner world, our soul through the arts. In our humble opinion one of the BIG benefits of being a human being and a great source of joy. Creative expression is a potent tool for self-reflection and radical self acceptance, which ignites curiosity and playfulness in the discovery of oneself. So much of our inner critic and limiting beliefs surface whilst expressing oneself creatively, making it an ideal opportunity to bring these barriers to our awareness and serves as a teacher in liberation. When we allow our inner Artist to surface, everyday life becomes our canvas to create.
Spiritual Lineage
Further, the tradition of Satsang is close to our hearts as shared by Satya Katiza passed on from her guru H.W.I. Poonja (Papaji) and inspired and transmitted by Sri Ramana Maharishi. Beyond practicing with Satya and Sahaj we have enjoyed various inspiring meetings in satsang with Tyohar, spiritual guide and founder of Pachamama community, Costa Rica which is greatly inspired by Indian mystic Osho and the native American red road tradition including Temezcal and other shamanic rituals and ceremonies.
We practice the red and white Tantric path and implement these practices in our daily lives, taught to us by Iris Disse, founder of Durgas Tiger School of Tantra, Yoga, Arts and Shamanism in Ecuador. When it comes to the world of dance, we are moved by the 5-rhythms, a movement meditation practice created by Gabrielle Roth. We follow the spiritual guidance given to us by Lex Empress through her divinely guided Soulsong, this helps us grow and connect as individuals and as guardians of the land. We are grateful to have Lex as the voice of our land, as she informs us on the nature and desires of the spirits who live with us here at Serra Vida.
We intend to share and honour wisdom closely to the lineages which this knowledge and practices have originated from.
Mindfulness practices at Serra Vida are closely related to and inspired by Zen Buddhist practices as taught by late master Thich Nhat Hanh. Our main teachers Kevin, Sahaj Wood and Satya Katiza passed on what they have learned from their teachers to us and were in direct student teacher relation to teachers like: K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India, the late Tibetan Dzogchen Master Namkhai Norbu, Tibetan Bon Dzogchen with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Vajrayana tantric buddhism with Lama Tsultrim Allione and Tulku Sang nang Rinpoche, Kuala Tantra Yoga derived from Bhagavan Shanmuka Anantha Natha and Tibetan Yantra Yoga with Fabio Andrico.