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The essence of your transformation lies in our signature 8 Element Method, Life Nutrition for the Nervous System™ – an ancient healing approach designed to nourish your body, calm your mind, and awaken your spirit.
Informed by the deep intelligence of the land, this journey of self-discovery gently leads you back to the innate wisdom of your body, which holds the perfect design for healing from the root.
The 8 Elements of Life Nutrition™ work in harmony with the body’s natural hierarchy of survival needs, acting as vital pathways for the land’s inherent healing energy to flow into your being.
This natural process guides your nervous system back to its inherent state of safety, allowing your most authentic self – your Sol – to shine.
The state of your nervous system determines how you perceive reality and the quality of your life.
As a society, despite all our advancements, we are living in a state of near-constant survival.
As the body diverts energy to its fight, flight, or freeze responses – and gets stuck there, this activation creates a chemical response that results in:
Weight problems
Sluggish digestion
Fatigue (or feeling wired but tired)
Decreased libido
Body aches and pains
Skin sagging
Toxicity
Worry and overwhelm
Compulsions/addictions
Hormonal issues
Insomnia
Blood pressure issues
Brain fog
Weak muscle tone
Immune and autoimmune challenges
Inflammation
Challenges in relationships
Emotional reactivity
You may try various methods to change your behaviors to ‘fix’ your symptoms, but nothing at the mental, behavioral, emotional, or spiritual level will stick, unless we first tend to the source of the primal stress response, and where all trauma is stored – inside the body.
Everything we do at Hacienda del Sol supports this bottom up approach of caring for our being, starting with tending to our animal selves, so that transformation begins at the root cause for lasting change.
We do this with reverence for ancient holistic technologies of the earth that for eons have brought us back to home to our essential nature.
When your body begins functioning optimally, it becomes your inner compass and reconnects you to your intuitive knowing. As you start to listen to its messages – and respond accordingly, you regain confidence in your self-authority.
You begin trusting yourself.
All of this renews your innate sense of safety, from which place you source real purpose and power – allowing your unique essence to shine through.
Pouring into the world from this overflowing cup, you receive even more Life Nutrition in return.
And the upward spiral continues.
Sympathetic Nervous System Activation
Primal yoga + fitness sessions + jungle walks in the morning, followed by:
Parasympathetic Nervous System Activation
Meditative and restorative movement classes + beach strolling & sunset watching in the afternoon.
From here, your central nervous system can calm and regulate, and in turn, restore your body’s natural ability to function optimally.
Our Philosophy centers on a fundamental truth: the body’s sense of safety is paramount for overall well-being. Just as a seed needs fertile ground to sprout, your essential nature flourishes when your nervous system feels secure.
This is why Our Mission is to elevate this sense of safety through the intentional care and repair of your nervous system.
Our signature method returns you to the state you are meant to be living in the majority of the time: Safety.
From this place, you feel calm, centered, grounded, secure, easeful, open, trusting, relaxed, authentic, compassionate, curious, mindful, clear, energized, connected, sovereign, and present.
Your body in its infinite wisdom begins to return its lifeforce to all the systems that it had previously cut off in order to divert its energy to the stress response.
Vitality courses through you:
Metabolism regulates
Weight optimizes
Muscle tone increases
Hormones rebalance
Inflammation releases
Mobility is enhanced
Libido returns
Digestion normalizes
Sleep deepens
Circulation increases
Detox processes turn on
Our experience of pain lessens
You develop a conscious relationship with your body that makes it your best ally.
And, instead of unconsciously living in the red zone of reactivity (or completely shut down in collapse), we are able to hold our emotions and become aware of the thoughts and behaviors that are no longer serving us. We witness and release them with gentleness, from their core, where they were previously stored in the traumatized tissues of our body.
Your true self can only emerge when your body no longer believes its living under constant threat. From there, the emotions, mind, and spirit are free to unwind organically and uplevel exponentially, and any work done at these levels actually creates shift.
We are here to support you in your highest growth, from the foundational tending of the body – which houses your infinite essence – to creating an aligned life that is the masterpiece of your ultimate pleasure, passion, purpose, and potential.
All of our mouth-watering meals contain nutrient-dense, locally-sourced whole foods, which are rich with living enzymes, fiber, plant and local animal proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Naturally grain-, dairy-, and sugar-free, we are firm believers in feeding our bodies as they were designed to eat, what we call ‘primal’, for maximum energy and nourishment.
Because our modern diets are so nutrient-depleted, our bodies are starving even if we are eating ‘enough’ calories.
Conversely, if we are eating ‘healthy’, but it doesn’t taste good, this puts a sense of restriction on the body. It doesn’t believe that the delicious foods it wants are available in abundance.
Both polarities, nutrient-depletion or pleasure-depletion, put undue pressure on the nervous system, which thinks it’s in a famine state – causing an exacerbated, constant stress response. Skipping meals just worsens the situation.
When you stay with us, this imbalance gets corrected and the body finds its metabolic equilibrium.
We are located in the heart of one of only five Blue Zones in the world.
Blue Zones are very unique places where people live quantifiably longer, healthier, happier lives.
By combining our Primal Nutrition focus with the flavorful and nutrient-dense local foods of our Blue Zone, we create a perfect energetic combination to nourish you on every level.
We call this ‘Blue Primal’ cuisine.
We grow as much of our produce as we can on site and receive the rest from farmer’s markets, organic when possible.
We are always aware of how our animals are raised – locally, ethically, sustainably, naturally, and of the highest quality environments.
We purchase whole, pasture-raised lamb from a beloved local farm and we always use the entire animal. For example, we use the organ meats in our dehydrated nutrient-dense, bioavailable supplements (available for you each day by request of the kitchen).
Local animal products such as daily caught fish, eggs, shrimp, and occasional chicken are also used.
To be as fresh and close to nature as possible, our meats are served on our ever-changing daily primal specials menu based on their natural availability, rather than our regular plant-based menu.
With the addition of our 400-square meter hydroponic greenhouse and vast outdoor natural garden, we are designed to be 80% self-sustainable with farm-to-table nutrition.
In addition to all of our food being grain-, sugar-, and dairy-free, Hacienda Del Sol offers 3 different types of speciality meal plans:
The Primal Keto and Vegetarian options can be chosen by meal via our two daily menus (e.g. our Daily Primal Specials menu for primal keto and our Signature Menu for vegan/vegetarian). You may also select from both menus to create a delicious and nourishing ‘Simple Primal’ daily diet.
All options on both menus are considered ‘Primal Blue Zone’ Cuisine.
Note that the Juice Cleanse meal plan must be led by a facilitator in the custom retreat and wellness pack designed for this option.
At Hacienda Del Sol we believe that physical movement should be treated as a nutrient that feeds your body’s freedom to move: creating space, gaining pain-free mobility, and melting away stress hormones.
We also believe in cultivating a deep and mindful connection with your body, in order to use it more efficiently and not force it into chronic shut down. In other words, ‘more’ is NOT better.
Activities that support this process are what we call ‘Nutritious Movement’.
This is achieved by physically and mentally reaching your edge, but not pushing past it.
Our class offering are all rich with nutritious movement that feeds your body, rather than depletes it.
Every detail of our location was selected by design to immerse you in the healing power of nature. We are surrounded by acres of untouched Guanacaste jungle.
We are located a couple of kilometers from several pristine and protected beaches in the world’s largest ‘Blue Zone’. Blue Zones are known for their rich and measurable quality of life – where people live longer, better.
Each of our bungalows has private terraces which open to the native tropical landscape. Our pools are saltwater, our amenities are sustainable and biodegradable, and our entire footprint is eco-friendly.
As part of Life Nutrition, we also encourage the use of our natural-stone sun deck to gently receive the healing power of heliotherapy (gradually – meaning ‘tan’ but don’t ‘burn’), which produces essential Vitamin D and mood-regulating neurotransmitters.
Every element of our resort – from our boutique bungalows to our zen-like pool area – was designed for optimal comfort and ease so that when you lie contentedly in your hammock or sink into your cloud-like bed listening to the white noise of soothing jungle sounds, you rest and sleep deeply.
We invite you to slow down to the pace of being.
In addition to our comprehensive menu of Spa and Healing Services, all of our retreats offer flexible downtime to simply journal, relax, reflect, and be.
We can live for weeks without food. Days without water. But only minutes without breath.
Awareness of breath is what helps us feel present, alive, and connected to our spirit.
Oxygen is incredibly vital for the nervous system. This is part of why being immersed in nature can be so healing. The plants breathe life into you with their exhales of oxygen. And you breathe life into them with your exhales of carbon dioxide. You feel CONNECTED. Symbiotic.
Breathing alone can tell your body that you are safe.
Oxygen reduces inflammation in the body, which mitigates seemingly unrelated mental and physical symptoms.
For this reason, we have incorporated breathwork classes into our regular schedule.
Our bodies are made of earth and water – we are resonant with it. Water cleanses, soothes, and calms, both energetically and physically.
This pertains not only to the quality and quantity of water we drink, which includes electrolytes and minerals, but also to immersing yourself in natural bodies of water for holistic healing – like our natural stone salt water pool or nearby ocean.
Also, we apply the age-old practice of hot and cold hydrotherapy in our sauna, saltwater hot tub, and cold-plunge pool for its proven effect on strengthening resilience in the nervous system.
A strong connection with our bodies is foundational to being able to feel at home with others, and to building relationships that fulfill you rather than deplete you.
What you’ll find at Hacienda del Sol is that you feel held – we create an environment that allows you to come home to yourself.
Furthermore, in today’s world, it’s often hard to ask for help. We operate very isolated lives compared to the communities of our ancestors, thinking we have to ‘do it all ourselves’.
With us, you’ll feel supported as you were meant to. Our friendly staff welcome you, and our healers and facilitators are world-class space-holders.
Our resort is small and intimate, so you will find that – if you choose – you can also connect with other guests on a similar wellness journey, as you deepen your connection with the most important person of all – YOU.
Nothing brings us back to the present like delighting all of our senses.
Our aim is to provide you with a full sensorial experience that naturally balances dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphin levels (what we call your daily ‘D.O.S.E.’)
For example, taking in the soft sounds of the jungle, the flavorful tastes of the fresh food, the stress-melting feel of relaxing massages, the soothing smell of the ocean breeze, and the bright beauty of the tropical flowers.
This practice creates steady and sustained balance in your life that you can take back home with you, so you feel truly satiated – on every level.
Please note before booking that Hacienda Del Sol is NOT a medical facility. We do NOT have medically trained staff, and we do NOT give medical advice. All participants are responsible to get clearance from their doctor before participating in any of our programs. Furthermore, Hacienda Del Sol is 3 hours from the closest hospital and 45 minutes from the closest clinic, therefore participants with health conditions that require fast access to health care should take that into consideration before making a reservation.
Get the exact transformation your soul is craving.
Take a moment to get quiet and go within to discover the perfect retreat for revitalizing your mind-body-spirit, leaving you refreshed, renewed, and in love with your life.
