Rocket Yoga Retreat & Training
Costa Rica • January 2026Saturday, January 17—Thursday, January 22, 2026
with Cat Crawford and Amber Jean Espelage
Rocket in the Jungle of Costa Rica.
Remove yourself from the daily stressors of life and immerse yourself in the powerful practices of yoga in the lush, serene jungle of Costa Rica. Spend your days with your (soon-to-be) yoga besties, practicing asana, adventuring in the jungle, or relaxing by the pool.
Our home away from home.
Our retreat center, AmaTierra, is nestled deep within the jungle, offering a serene and peaceful environment for your yoga journey. Surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of exotic wildlife, you’ll find the perfect setting to reconnect with yourself and the natural world.
Traditional practices led by experienced teachers.
Rocket Yoga is based on the traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice, so the practice in this retreat will be rooted in the traditions of the Ashtanga lineage. You will learn the history of Rocket and Power yoga practices. But don’t worry—we’ll balance out the vigor of our morning practices and workshops with sweet evening yoga nidra and restorative practices.
Continuing Education for Yoga Teachers.
We got you.
Once you land in the San Jose airport in Costa Rica, every detail of your retreat will be taken care of, from airport shuttles to the retreat location, meals prepared by staff to suit your diet, down time to unwind, and time for us to come together as a yoga community.
Your Retreat Facilitators
AMBER JEAN ESPELAGE
Owner, Yoga Ah! Cincinnati, E-RYT 500
Amber Jean, a.k.a. “Rocket Girl,” is the founder of Rocket Yoga Academy and her studio in Cincinnati, Yoga ah. She was one of the first Rocket Yoga instructors in the United States after graduating from her first Teacher Training with Larry Schultz, the founder of Rocket Yoga, in May 2000.
Amber Jean began assisting Larry in his Rocket training intensives in San Francisco, and after 10 years with Larry, he granted her to lead Rocket Yoga Teacher Trainings in Cincinnati. To this day, her teaching upholds the spirit, philosophy, and methodology handed down to her by her teacher and friend, Larry Schulz.
CAT CRAWFORD
Owner, 502 Power Yoga, E-RYT 500
Cat first experienced Rocket Yoga in Louisville circa 2011 when a handful of instructors offered the class around town. As those instructors moved on to other modalities or moved away from Louisville, Rocket offerings disappeared from class schedules. But Cat found her way back in 2020 when she took an online Rocket Yoga Teacher training with Jaimis Huff during Covid. Her passion for this challenging but fun sequence inspired her to pursue additional in-person training which is how she found Amber and Yoga Ah with whom she has completed nearly 100 additional hours of Rocket training. Full circle: It turns out that Amber (and Larry himself!) taught Cat’s first Rocket instructors nearly 15 years ago.
What’s included
Your enrollment (fees listed below) includes:
- 5 Nights at AmaTierra – A comfy queen-sized bed in a spacious suite.
- All of your meals – Enjoy lovingly prepared farm-to-table meals featuring locally sourced and organic food
- Daily led yoga classes – Expect Rocket, Bottle Rocket, and Modified Primary series as taught in the Larry Schulz “It’s Yoga” system
- Advanced technique workshops – Deep dives into Hands on Assisting, Handstands, Arm balances, and deep relaxation techniques
- 25 Hours Continuing Education – Yoga Teachers will earn a certificate for 25 CEU’s in Rocket Vinyasa Yoga.
- Waterfall Adventure – We will experience a backwoods waterfall nestled in the jungle. Dive if you dare!
- Airport Shuttle – All those arriving/departing within the designated timeframes will receive shuttle transportation from the San Jose Airport to AmaTierra (~60min drive).
What’s not included
- Airfare – Select the flight that works best for you!
- Alcohol – Beer and wine are available with dinner
- Shopping – Gifts and souvenirs
- Additional Excursions – Anything outside of what’s listed here
- Tips + Gratuities – Please tip your staff!
- Travel Insurance – better safe than sorry!
Lodging & Rates
The rooms at AmaTierra are tastefully designed and decorated for you to enjoy the serenity of your surroundings. Each suite features one or two queen beds, a spacious private bath with shower/bath tub, and your very own terrace and garden with outdoor seating. Hardwood furniture and a locally harvested teak wood ceiling bring the ambiance of the forest into your room.
The rooms each have ceiling fans, a refrigerator, tea/coffee maker, and WiFi (if you want it!)
SHARED SUITE: SOLD OUT
- $1,795 – Early bird rate available through May 31
- $1,945 – Standard rate available beginning June 1
PRIVATE SUITE: SOLD OUT
- $2,295 – Early bird rate available through May 31
- $2,445 – Standard rate available beginning June 1
Payment Plan Info
A $295 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your room.
The remaining balance will be paid in monthly installments with the full retreat balance due by November 15, 2025.
Payment plan examples below are for shared rooms:
- Register by March 31 (early bird): Eight monthly payments of $187.50
- Register by April 30 (early bird): Seven monthly payments of $214.29
- Register by May 31 (early bird): Six monthly payments of $250
- Register by June 30 (standard): Five monthly payments of $330
- Register by July 31 (standard): Four monthly payments of $412.50
- etc.
Terms & Conditions
- Deposits are non-refundable
- If enrollment is canceled on or before November 16th, 2025 any payments made toward the balance, less a 10% cancellation fee, will be refunded.
- If enrollment is canceled on or after November 17th, 2025, no refunds will be issued. However, if another person can be found to take your place, then we may offer you a refund, less a 10% rebooking fee, at our discretion.
- There are no refunds for an unused portion of the retreat.
- If the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of your Insurance Policy, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance.
- Full Terms & Conditions will be available upon registration
FAQ
Click the question to expand! If you don’t see your question answered below, email us and we will help (and add the question here to help future yogis!)
Does my partner/bestie need to fill out a registration form, too?
If you are planning to room with a partner or friend, and you will be making the payments on behalf of both of you, your partner does NOT need to complete a registration form. Just be sure to include their name on the registration form as your roommate so we don’t sell their spot to someone else!
What flight should I get?
ARRIVING: American Flight #AA3333 from Miami arrives at SJO at 12:05PM—Please try to get on this flight to be able to share our shuttle to AmaTierra.
DEPARTING: American Flight #AA318 into Miama departs SJO at 3:50PM. Shuttles will depart AmaTierra around 12:30PM.
How far is the retreat center from the airport?
It will be a 55-60 minute drive from SJO to the retreat center.
Will there be planned activities on arrival and departure days?
On Saturday, arrival day, dinner will be provided, and potentially an evening movement session depending on arrival times and how everyone feels. Breakfast will be provided on Thursday, departure day, and there may be a morning yoga session.
Will I need a passport?
Yes! Be sure your passport will not be expired by the date of the retreat.
Is there air conditioning in the rooms?
There is not air conditioning, but there ARE ceiling fans. Because the retreat center is nestled at a higher altitude in the jungle, the evenings in January will be cool enough for comfortable sleeping.
Are there laundry services on-site?
TBD
Will the meals served accommodate my allergies/preferences?
YES! You will specify and food allergies or preferences when you fill out your application and those requests will be provided to our chef. The meals will be designed just for us! Expect healthy, fresh, local, mainly vegetarian choices, with gluten-free and dairy-free options.
