The question today is What is left of the trees, these magnificent creatures that are with us and dominate our landscapes? How they have dominated the valleys and mountains of our lands, particularly in the Tropics, covering it with a green carp?

Trees provide under its canopy, countless ecosystems where life has evolved to produce an explosively rich terrestrial biodiversity. They also protect and enrich the soil and retain rain water in ecosystems, provide shade and provide food for a chain of living organisms.  Today the forests are predominantly composed of vascular plants, which means with a circulatory system to conduct water and nutrients (but without a heart), and a cellulose skeleton on which they grow to stay closer to the sun. Its leaves have green granules which capture solar energy through photosynthesis. Cellulose, a polymer (chain of molecules) the consists of rings containing carbon is one of the most abundant organic substances in the tree and is the main component of wood.

Plants, through photosynthesis, capture carbon dioxide from the air, CO2, since ancient times, trapping it to form sugars and other substances such as cellulose. It is estimated that the primitive atmosphere contained abundant CO2, that by photosynthesis was transferred to the earth, and eventually to organic deposits such as coal, oil and natural gas. Today, exists in small amount (0.035%) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its presence is important to keep the hot surface because without the greenhouse effect the Earth's surface would be frozen. We know that it’s presence in excess, would make life impossible, the extreme case is the planet Venus with a 97% CO2 atmosphere and an atmospheric temperature of 900oC! (It is two times hotter than a conventional oven, and therefore no water or ice).

Another vital gas for living beings is oxygen (O2), which is not found in another part of the solar system, only on earth. It is proposed that the atmospheric oxygen, which now represents 20% of the air, is the product of photosynthesis, which captures the CO2 and release it as by-product.  All plants and animals use this oxygen for combustion of the sugars we get to eat. Our life depends on photosynthesis because it is the biological mechanism that captures solar energy directly, and introduces oxygen into the atmosphere which allows the burning of sugars when cellular respiration. Oxygen is very reactive and its abundance in the atmosphere is unusual. For this reason, NASA researchers use oxygen as a marker of life in the investigation of planetary systems outside our solar system.

Life originated in the sea and therefore we have to seek the origin of the trees in the marine ancestors, photosynthetic cyanobacteria far above the vascular plants and who were responsible for photosynthesis during most of life at the sea. Its fossils remain dating back up to 3.5 billion years ago, long before the invasion of life on earth. Cyanobacteria are bacterial cell type that developed green pigments that function as antennae to capture sunlight and bringing this energy to the synthesis of many substances.

Vascular plants are composed of other cells called eucariónicas, much larger, a core, able to trap and digest small bacteria. To visualize the difference in size, if the plant cell were of the size of a watermelon, the bacteria would be of the same size of the seeds. Studies indicate that millions of years ago cell eucariónica ingested a cyanobacterium and ended up developing a symbiotic (mutually beneficial relationship) between them, that during the evolutionary time was consolidated with the transfer of a lot of the genetic information to the core of the bacterial plant cell, now a days the ancestral bacteria, the chloroplast may not be reproduced without the cell nucleus. With a simple light microscope  we can see the clusters of green pigment called chlorophyll, within the cytoplasm of the cells in a leaf. Through this journey this wonderful plant life sprouted across the land. The invasion of the land is a recent event in the history of life, the forests are now very different to primary forests.

There is a special gift waiting a few hours from San Jose in the upper parts of the National Park Braulio Carrillo, a forest of tree ferns which takes us back through time to the forests of the Devonian, 350 million years ago. A treasure that is priceless. Thanks to Life, thanks to the trees!

Coordinator Peace with Nature, Casa Presidencial.

About the retreat:
Enjoy early morning jungle meditations, 2 yoga classes per day, 1 Anusara Inspired and 1 Jivamukti Yoga per day, as well as lectures from her new training on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective as taught by Geshe Michael Roach and Llama Christie McNally. Each evening we will experience ecstatic kirtan. The mid-days will be entirely free to surf  and swimdown in the local town, Puerto Viejo, and dance at night in the local reggae clubs.

About Michele:
Michele has been teaching yoga full time since 1998 and currently teaches Jivamukti Yoga and Anusara Inspired Yoga in New Orleans. Her teachers are Sharon Gannon, David Life, John Friend, and Ram Dass. She also a an Advanced certification in  The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali from Geshe Michael Roach and Llama Christie McNally. She is the founder of Swan River Yoga Shala, and is the director of The Swan River Yoga Teacher Training. Michele is also a musician in the band Karuna, leading vocals in kirtan.

For more information: www.swanriveryoga.com <http://www.swanriveryoga.com>

Samasati Nature Retreat

Costa Rica

Summer Special

May – September 2009

Relax your mind, rejuvenate your body, nourish your spirit and have fun! Included in this package: exotic accommodations nestled in the forest, one or two daily yoga class, one pampering massage.

Daily options: lazy strolls between the Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean and the hammock in your verandah, beach and jungle excursions.

Remember, is the Caribbean sea with its emerald blue green water that waits for you… toucans, monkeys, blue butterflies and the magic of the primary forest.

 *  Accommodation x 7 nights

*  Three daily vegetarian meals

*  One yoga class per day

*  One massage during the week

*  Taxes.

We had a wonderful and fun honeymoon week in Costa Rica!  It was truly unlike anything we had ever experienced before!  We loved all the girls, and especially appreciated Jemima, Merrica, Lindsey, and Kim!  (We maybe leaving some one off, but the staff just made everything so comfortable and welcoming... including you, my friend! )  George and I had a fantastic time at our Samasati honeymoon retreat!  I know, "roughing it" in the jungle is not for everyone, but for the two of us, it was perfect.  I already miss the good food, and am craving the banana cake with cocoa frosting from our last evening meal.  Do you think you could get the recipe?  If its in Spanish, it's ok, I'll have my sister translate it for me!  (Seriously!) 

Overall, our trip to Costa Rica was amazing, and we will recommend Samasati on the trip advisor website and to all of our friends!

Hugs and many thanks!

May 30 - June 6

June 6 - June 13

 This Six Days course teaches the Thirteen Essential Postures of Tai Chi Chuan. The participants will learn a 20 minutes sequence of postures and transitions that they will be able to practice on their own, receiving all the benefits of Tai Chi practice. No experience is necessary and all abilities are welcome. 

Tai-Chi is a sequence of gentle flowing movements that cultivate relaxation and develop concentration. Tai-Chi practice also develops physical strength, emotional calm and serenity, and mental clarity. Maximum effect is achieved with minimum effort.

Tai-Chi has been recognized for its numerous health benefits. It improves circulation, enhances joint flexibility, opens the compression of the spine, lowers blood pressure, and naturally improves posture.

Daily schedule :

Morning meditation

Breakfast

3 hours session:

Introduction to Tai Chi Chuan

The Essential Postures

Lunch

Afternoon beach/free excursion time

Dinner

 Troy McPeak is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Pranassage Practitioner®, Registered Professional Engineer. He was certified in the 13 Essential Postures of Tai Chi Chuan in Chiang Mai Thailand.  He teaches courses in different countries, between them Costa Rica, United States, Thailand and Europe. 

Rates include accommodation for seven nights, all meals and Tai Chi classes. 

samasati@samasati.com

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