We have had so many wonderful experiences together in and around NYC, and in far-away places of great beauty – they have bonded us with beautiful memories and helped to create a worldwide community!

Retreats

Here’s what’s coming up!:

November 13-15, 2026, our Women’s Retreat at the Dharmakaya Center in the Catskill Mountains, is completely sold out… but we have other retreats coming up! : )

February 13-20, 2027, we are returning to Costa Rica, but to a different location, more deeply in the jungle, on the Osa Peninsula. Yay! Monkeys and birds and beauty, oh my! : ) All the info is further down this page.

March 12-14, 2027, Stephan’s Men’s Retreat is happening again in the Catskills! Positively life-changing for all attendees. Find out more and register here: https://dharmakayacenter.org/all-programs/3256/the-3rd-annual-yoga-retreat-for-men-cultivating-our-power-inner-calm-spring-2027/

We just booked Dharmakaya in the Catskills for a Summer Retreat that Ingrid & Stephan are co-leading from July 22-25, 2027! We are aiming to have at least 24 hours of the retreat be silent. This is a great way to experience silence if it's your first time! Stay tuned for developments! : )

Workshops

Our Thanksgiving Day Workshop is open for registration! It’s on Thursday, November 26, 9-10:30am. It’s always full and fun! Register here, and come 10 minutes early to find your spot! We’ll start right at 9: https://api.hellowalla.com/previews/148583?b=112&type=enrollment

We are planning more Workshops! Contact Us to let us know what you’d like to learn more deeply! : )

2027 COSTA RICA YOGA RETREAT:

JUNGLE PARADISE ADVENTURE AND DEEP SELF-CARE

with INGRID A. MARCROFT and STEPHAN W. KOLBERT

February 13-20, 2027

We are finally returning to the incredible Osa Peninsula after 13 years! It’s on the southern tip of Costa Rica, home to 2.5% of the world’s total biodiversity, including abundant plant life as well as scarlet macaws, tapirs, toucans, sloths, and four species of monkeys. We’ll hike in nearby Corcovado National Park, which covers nearly half of the peninsula and protects the largest lowland rainforest in Central America.  The Pacific Ocean beckons from 1.5 miles away for those people wishing to explore the coastline. We’ll be staying in a renowned eco-resort that we are beyond excited to explore and share with you! This will be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure where, aside from the plentiful yoga, we will delight in the abundant wildlife, discover waterfalls, and bathe in the vibrance of the jungle. This video helps you understand the beauty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb__dXNKmLE

While we flood our senses with the sounds, smells, and textures of this magical place, we’ll be nourished by the dedicated staff at Luna Lodge, which has been hosting groups for 26 years and is dedicated to protecting their pristine environment. Our delicious meals are crafted with fresh, local, and often organic ingredients. They also offer a full menu of spa treatments.

In addition to our signature yoga classes, each guest will enjoy a one-hour massage, the Corcovado National Park hike, and plenty of time to rest (although you may just be exploring the whole time). It’s a nature lover’s paradise with the option of numerous hikes (moderate to difficult), wildlife discoveries, swimming holes, lagoon kayaking, surfing, or simple lounging by the saltwater pool.

Whether you have a longtime yoga practice or are a yoga newbie, this retreat is an opportunity for you to deepen your practice and connect with yourself, with old and new friends, and with the transcendent beauty and healing power of the jungle, ocean, sunsets, and stars. Twice-daily classes, led by Ingrid and/or Stephan, will be crafted to meet students’ needs and will be both vigorous and restorative. As necessary, we will divide the group into foundational and amplified practices so every participant can work at their most comfortable level. Discover how a week of daily yoga and meditation brings your practice (and your life!) to a deeper level of inquiry and joy!

Our classes will be held on two open-air Yoga Decks: One perched above a lush valley with sweeping views that stretch to the Pacific Ocean and another offering an idyllic setting among primary and secondary rainforest. The rest of the day is yours to plan! Extra excursions will be coordinated on site. Whether you decide to fill your days with hikes and activities or take time to sit and relax, we know you will refill your well on this retreat. It’s up to you! 

 OUR YOGA RETREAT INCLUDES:

• 7 nights’ accommodations (check in 11am, check out 11am)

• 3 fresh and local meals per day (all offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, fish, and chicken options)

• daily yoga and meditation sessions (2x daily)

• 1 hour-long massage

•  the Corcovado National Park hike

 • all resort taxes

• free time to be you!

Additional Excursions are not included: but can be arranged and paid for on site.

Flights, airport transfers, and staff tips are not included. 

Luna Lodge  is remote and requires a second flight to access. We’ll first fly into San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO). Then, there are two primary options to arrive at Luna Lodge:

Option 1: There are two airlines that fly from SJO to Puerto Jimenez: SANSA and Green Airways. These will likely be 25–30-person crop engine planes for the 50-minute flight. Next, we’ll help arrange the van transfer, a 2-hour drive from Puerto Jimenez to Luna Lodge. We promise it will be worth it!

Option 2: There is a tiny airstrip (Carate) 15 minutes from our destination. 4-5 passengers with a total weight of 750 lbs. can charter a private flight from SJO to the Carate airstrip, with Luna Lodge picking you up from there at no charge.  

Once registered for the retreat, we will support you in arranging your 2nd flight and ground transportation for those landing in Puerto Jimenez. There are multiple flights per day from NYC to SJO, and SJO to Puerto Jimenez. The less expensive flights to SJO and Puerto Jimenez leave Thursday or Friday (2/11 or 2/12), giving you the opportunity to explore the magical Golfo Dulce, one of only four tropical fjords in the world and home to hundreds of dolphins and many whales. Morning boat tours are your best bet for calm waters and sightings. Several students are arriving at least one day early. 

ACCOMMODATIONS: All resort taxes are included. No hidden costs! Single rooms are very limited. Please consider rooming with a friend (old or new!). 😊 All rooms and tents have private bathrooms, mosquito netting around the beds, as well as fans and electric access.

Bungalows: for 2 people $3,450 per person, 3 people $3,050 per person, or 4 people $2,850 per person. SOLD OUT

The spacious bungalows have 1-3 beds, blend modern comfort with nature’s calm. Ideal for families or friends, each bungalow features private terraces, canopy views, and authentic Costa Rican craftsmanship.

Hacienda Rooms: for 2 people $2,955 per person, or 3 people $2,645 per person. ONE LEFT

Hacienda Style Rooms feature two beds (queen and single), a terrace, and sweeping canopy views, perfect for small families or friends traveling together.

Glamping Tents: 1 person $3,200, or 2 people $2,350 per person. THREE LEFT

These are our only single-person options with either a double or two single beds. Live a unique glamping experience in these Safari Tents, where adventure meets comfort. Surrounded by the tropical rainforest, these eco-luxury tents feature private terraces and immersive canopy views that bring you closer to nature. The tents have private bathrooms and are ideal for anyone not wanting to share a room.

A $500 non-refundable deposit will hold your room. Final balances must be paid by November 15, 2026. We highly recommend sharing rooms and will assist if possible.

Cancellations made before December 1, 2026, will receive a refund of monies paid, less the $500 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations after December 1, 2026, are non-refundable unless you (or we) find a replacement for you. Any bookings made after November 15, 2026, providing availability, must be paid in full at the time of the bookings.

Payments: You may pay by Zelle, check, or cash. Credit card payments carry an additional 3.5% surcharge. Please contact Stephan or Ingrid to make payments.

Travel Insurance: We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance. Poop happens every year to someone. There are many options to choose from for travel or even medical coverage.

Email Ingrid and Stephan at info@uwsyoga.com to ask questions or to sign up today! You cannot register online directly, so we look forward to connecting with you personally.

Stephan W. Kolbert and Ingrid A. Marcroft are spouses, parents, and business partners (co-founders and owners of Upper West Side Yoga and Wellness in NYC, uwsyoga.com). They are both E-RYT 500s and Urban Zen Integrative Therapists, and Ingrid is also a Reiki Master, Ordained Interfaith Minister, and Feng Shui consultant. Stephan was a Senior Teacher with the Lineage Project for 8 years, as well as a Kindergarten Teacher, Outdoor Educator, and Actor. Together and independently, they have traveled in and explored over 40 countries and have spent three decades working with diverse populations (with yoga and in previous careers) that include the homeless, incarcerated, hospitalized or dying, as well as peak-health practitioners. 

Retreat Testimonials

I have a hard time describing what a wonderful time I have had on my yoga retreats. Stephan and Ingrid are both incredibly good teachers, with different and complementary styles. Their retreats are relaxing, integrating, restorative and interesting. There are always options for extra activities, both for those who prefer more vigorous activity and for those who prefer more quiet time. The retreats have provided a deep sense of community and have been a source of long-term friendships. Stephan and Ingrid are attentive to everyone’s needs without being at all intrusive. They have a gift for choosing beautiful places and ensuring delicious food. They are wonderful teachers and wonderful hosts. I hope never to have to miss one of their retreats.

—Caroline, 64: Nicoya Peninsula Costa Rica 2018 and 2019, Lake Atitlan Guatemala 2020, and counting!

The retreats were everything I dreamed of and so much more—brilliant yoga, magnificent vistas, wholesome and delicious food, terrific rooms and, most important, a gathering of lovely people coalescing around the community Ingrid and Stephan have built. I return restored and renewed, ready and awake for the next chapter of my life.

—Janice, 65: Tulum Mexico 2016 and Nicoya Peninsula Costa Rica 2019


I didn’t join last year’s retreat, and I spent the whole week regretting it—and I vowed there and then not to make the same mistake again! This will be my fourth week-long retreat with Ingrid and Stephan. And what a treat—a week in great company, with delicious food and warm weather in a beautiful setting, lapping up a new and interesting culture—all that and then several hours a day of blissful yoga practice. I feel so lucky to have found these wonderful retreats.

—T, 56: Osa Peninsula Costa Rica 2014, Tulum Mexico 2016, Chacala Mexico 2017, Lake Atitlan Guatemala 2020

Ingrid and Stephan's retreats are truly wonderful. Not only do they have a knack for choosing the most beautiful places with stunning accommodations, but they manage to gather around them a truly lovely group of people. I originally went on my first retreat not knowing anyone besides Stephan and Ingrid and was so nervous, but I quickly made connections with the other retreat goers and ended up making life-long friends! They manage to choose places with beautiful accommodations and delicious food and there are two wonderful yoga classes per day. I loved waking up for morning meditation with the sun and then enjoying a beautiful AM class and restorative PM class. Stephan and Ingrid complement each other perfectly and it's wonderful to be able to take two classes per day. I also was always able seek out modifications or more advanced instruction depending on how I was feeling that day. Stephan and Ingrid were always happy to help me tailor my practice towards what I needed. I also really enjoyed the balance of yoga and relaxing with the options to explore the local surroundings. There were plenty of opportunities for adventures or just to simply relax. Overall, I really loved all my trips with Stephan and Ingrid and feel it is a super special experience, and I have joined them on three yoga retreats abroad.

—Elia, 30: Tulum Mexico 2016, Chacala Mexico 2017, Nicoya Peninsula Costa Rica 2018