Follow the Balanced Glow
With Darci Lechner & Donya Rawlings
A Yoga & Wellness Adventure to Reconnect and Restore Balance
About Costa Rica/ Jaco: Costa Rica may be a small nation, but they have made a big impact. Costa Rica is home to the highest density of biodiversity of any country – containing as much as 6% of the world’s species, and 26% of its land mass is protected. We offer the ideal combination of natural resources and modern infrastructure, creating an inviting setting for those in search of a more balanced lifestyle. Costa Rica’s tropical climate and welcoming atmosphere have long made it a treasured destination. Costa Rica is a safe nation, but like any tourist destination, petty theft can be an issue, so please don’t leave your items un attended. Another thing that is important to be aware of riptides. Please follow signs posted on the beach and know how to get out of a riptide safely if you encounter one. The tap water is safe to drink and they use the same electrical outlets as the US. Costa Rica uses the Colones. You may find an exchange app. helpful in converting exchange rate. Most places in Jaco will take the US dollar, so there is no need to exchange money before your visit. You will be given colones and change. Please note, many places and taxi drivers will not be able to brake $100 bills, so having smaller currency is recommended. There are several ATM’s in Jaco if you find you need to get additional money. Credit cards are excepted at most locations, however, please have some cash on hand for street venders, taxis, and some tours. Restaurants includes a 10% service charge. Typically, its custom to tip an additional 5-10%. In addition, you will need to ask your server for your check, as it is considered rude for them to bring it to you if not asked. Check with your cell phone service provider to find out charges for data, calls and text. What’s Up app. is the best way to communicate during your travels in Costa Rica. It will allow you to text and make phone calls with wi-fi. Most locals will want to communicate this way. Be patience- the laidback and easygoing pace is what you'll love, but remember with that means that nobody here is ever in a rush. So, keep that in mind when traveling and just try to relax and embrace the Pura Vida lifestyle.
Upcoming Retreats
0 days to the eventSep 05, 2026, 4:00 PM CST – Sep 12, 2026, 11:00 AM CSTHotel Amavi, C. Hidalgo, Provincia de Puntarenas, Jaco, 00506 Costa RicaJourney to Costa Rica for a retreat that balances inner healing with joyful living. Yoga, Ayurveda, service, sunshine, and adventure.
Dosha Quiz
Taking a dosha quiz helps you discover your unique mind-body constitution (Prakriti) in Ayurveda, revealing patterns in your physical traits, emotions, and behaviors to guide personalized diet, lifestyle, and wellness choices for better balance and vitality.
Your Teachers
I’m a native Kansan who first set foot in Costa Rica in 2010 and instantly felt a deep connection to the land and its people. What began as a visit soon blossomed into a second home. Today, I’m joyfully navigating the journey toward Costa Rican residency, fully embracing the spirit of Pura Vida that has so profoundly shaped my life.
Costa Rica has become the backdrop for my greatest passion: creating meaningful, heart-centered experiences that invite others to slow down, reconnect, and come home to themselves. With years of experience in yoga, meditation, Pilates, and energy healing, I’ve attended numerous retreats and transformational experiences around the world. Each offering I share is infused with intention, compassion, and the wisdom I’ve gathered along my own path.
These experiences have culminated in a long-held dream—to create and host my own retreats, beginning in Costa Rica and, over time, expanding to other sacred destinations across the globe. This retreat is the first step in bringing that vision to life.
Pura Vida, Darci
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, RN, and lifelong student of yoga. For more than two decades, yoga has been my steady anchor—bringing clarity, calm, and balance to a full and passionate life. What began as a personal practice has evolved into a deeply meaningful path of teaching, connection, and service.
I became a certified yoga teacher in 2015 and have since accumulated over 1,300 hours of teaching experience, along with advanced and upper-level trainings in meditation, alignment-based yoga, Ayurveda and hatha yoga through the Shambhavananda school. My teaching is rooted in thoughtful alignment, mindful awareness, and the belief that yoga is a powerful tool for both healing and self-discovery.
Supported by an incredible community of family, friends, and fellow teachers, my journey continues to expand. I am now honored to share this work beyond borders, beginning with our first international offering in Jaco, Costa Rica. With gratitude and joy, I welcome you to practice, explore, and grow alongside me.
Namaste, Donya
Our Support Circle
Fran Brynford Jones
Fran is a Slow flow, Yin Yoga, and Yoga Nidra teacher trained in Sydney, Australia, now based in Jaco, Costa Rica. She is the founder of Our Space in downtown Jaco and brings a deeply nourishing presence-based approach to the practices supporting physical, emotional, and nervous system well-being. We are deeply grateful to Fran for sharing her wisdom and expertise with our retreat.
Leyla
Leyla, the visionary behind Ojo de Horus Eden, is a sound healer and intuitive guide whose work weaves sound medicine, ritual, and ancestral wisdom into deeply transformative experiences. Rooted in presence and prayer, her offerings invite release, remembrance, and embodied healing.
We are deeply grateful to Leyla for sharing her gifts and holding space through sound at our retreat.
Delphine Raveau
Delphine is a French artist based in Costa Rica whose “Happy Art” radiates peace, joy, and love. Through her gentle and welcoming approach, she invites all levels to reconnect with creativity and their inner artist.
We are grateful to Delphine for sharing her joyful artistry and presence with our retreat.