From your Trip Leader/Yoga Teacher, Kat Sorensen

Written By Kat Sorensen

“About 6 years ago I was facing some pretty serious health issues and during that time I decided to make some big changes. This is when I discovered the endless benefits of yoga, meditation and other wellness practices. Shortly after I began practicing yoga, I noticed my physical and mental health were improving dramatically and I was hooked. I decided to study to become a yoga teacher so I could help others reap the amazing benefits that this practice has to offer. For the past few years, I have been teaching regular classes at studios close to home, and when leading trips for CCJ I am always game to lead my fellow travelers through a morning practice no matter where we are! Now, having recently completed 1,000 hours of teaching, I am beyond thrilled to be leading CCJ’s first wellness retreat to Costa Rica! I will be guiding our travelers in daily yoga, meditation and breath work practices in the amazing shala at AmaTierra.” - Kat Soronson

AmaTierra is one of the first yoga and wellness centers in Costa Rica. Owners Bob and Jill Ruttenberg told CCJ that one of the reasons they chose Costa Rica as the site for their center was “because of its friendly and helpful people. For many years, Costa Rica has been deemed the happiest place in the world. In the small towns...you will see people...greeting each other by shaking hands, kissing on the cheek and saying “Pura Vida” which means “Pure Life” and it is used as a greeting to mean “All is well. We are happy.”

Bob and Jill explained to us how they were searching for “an oasis where people could relax, rejuvenate and start fresh...and landed upon this 8-acre plot of forestland, originally a mango farm, with butterflies, over 1,000 trees, and a stream running through it. The land radiated healing energy around every curve of the trail.” AmaTierra “is also a working farm where we grow turmeric and ginger, raise chickens for eggs and grow many medicinal and culinary herbs.”

A message from Bob & Jill Ruttenberg:

“We invite you to come to our little corner of paradise if you are looking to expand your horizons to learn about a new culture, to relax into a daily yoga practice, and have some fun adventures, anchored at our peaceful retreat center. If you love nature, the Pura Vida is alive and well in the forest. Healing energy abounds. We can’t wait to welcome you on your retreat to AmaTierra.”

Kat Sorensen

Kat joined CCJ in summer of 2022, and has taken an important role to oversee and manage the 'backroom' coordination and trip-planning for most of our itineraries, as well as interaction with travelers for pre-departure logistics. Kat lives in Kingston, WA on a 10-acre hobby farm with her husband, Mat, and their menagerie of animals. When she's not chasing alpacas and goats, she can be found practicing yoga. Kat is a Certified 500-Hour Yoga Teacher with over 800 hours of teaching experience. She received trainings from schools in Bali and Costa Rica. In addition to farming and yoga, Kat loves to travel plan...almost as much as taking the trips themselves! You will see Kat on some future trips, likely including yoga, meditation, healthy food, and lots of adventure! She’s always game to lead our travelers in a morning yoga class!

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