Yin Rising Retreat:

The Medicine of Kuan Yin

Uvita, Costa Rica –April 18-23rd 2027 

Early bird pricing ends on November 3rd, 2026

A women’s Qigong retreat to explore what it means to truly listen: to ourselves, to our bodies, to one another, and to the world around us—held in the lush jungles of Costa Rica.

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I have seen what becomes possible when Qigong is woven together with storytelling, ritual, contemplation, and community. The medicine comes alive in a different way.

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Much of the Qigong taught today has come to us through the doorway of martial arts. Because of this, many of the forms and practices were developed within male bodies and male systems of training, with little attention given to the womb, the rhythms of blood, or the changing tides of emotion, intuition, and energy that move through a woman’s life.

Over the years, as I listened to my clients and students speak about their struggles with menstruation, menopause, exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, and the many transitions of womanhood, I began adapting the practices I taught to better support them. I simplified certain forms, added meditations and practices from Chinese medicine, and began creating Qigong forms specifically to support feminine flow.

I created Yin Rising, both the retreat and the online course, because I believe in the power that awakens when a circle of women gathers with intention and begins to weave a new narrative together. Sometimes we need to step outside the patterns and responsibilities of our daily lives to see ourselves more clearly.

We need space to recognize what we are ready to put down, what is asking to change, and what within us needs tending and support.

Yin Rising is for women who are ready to put down the patterns that contribute to dis-ease, soften the constant efforting, stop carrying everything alone, and learn how to receive. It is for those who give and give, yet rarely take the time to fill their own well. It is for women who long to gather with other women, restore vitality to the womb space, and deepen their understanding of Qigong and women’s health.

Each year, we gather around a story or feminine archetype that becomes a thread running through the retreat. Last year, we journeyed with the fairy tale of The Handless Maiden. This year, we will enter the world of Kuan Yin, the bodhisattva of compassion and mercy. Her name, Kuan Shih Yin, is often translated as “the one who hears the cries of the world.” She is the one who listens deeply enough to hear suffering and who responds with compassion.

Throughout our time together, we will explore her stories and teachings through Qigong, meditation, ritual, contemplative practice, and compassion practices. We will explore what it means to truly listen: to ourselves, to our bodies, to one another, and to the world around us. We will ask what compassion requires of us, including the moments when compassion needs boundaries, courage, or fierceness.

These are the themes I want to bring into our circle this year, and I can think of no better guide than Kuan Yin.

I would love for you to join me.

-Stephanie

This is not a vacation, but a practice retreat—an immersive space for personal transformation and journey of remembrance.

This retreat is an invitation to listen, receive, restore…

About the Retreat

Yin is the feminine force, and it is a powerful energy that rises.

Yin energy flows up the channels, from the feet toward the head, while Yang energy flows down from the head toward the feet. Though Yin is yielding and dense, it is also powerful, magnetic, and life-giving.

This retreat is about reclaiming that Yin power and learning how to work with it consciously. Together, we will explore what blocks its natural movement and how thousands of years of repression of the feminine continue to live within our bodies, families, and inherited beliefs. Through Qigong, storytelling, contemplation, and ritual, you will be invited to notice the patterns you carry and what you may be ready to release.

A multi-level house is built into a lush, green forested hillside featuring multiple outdoor terraces and a pool.

Together we’ll explore Qigong, Yin Yoga, meridian stretching, embodied acupressure, storytelling, and ritual to tend the feminine energy within us and cultivate practices that nourish rather than deplete.

Through Qigong, we will work directly with the energetic body. We’ll practice forms that nourish the Liver, supporting the smooth flow of blood and emotion, and forms that strengthen Kidney essence, the root of our vitality and trust. We will also work with the extraordinary vessels, including the Du MaiDai Mai, and Ren Mai, which play an essential role in women’s health and the movement of Yin and Yang through the body.

This year, the teachings of Kuan Yin will be woven throughout our time together. Through her stories, meditation, and compassion practices, we will explore what it means to listen deeply and to meet ourselves and the world with compassion, including the forms of compassion that require boundaries, courage, and fierceness.

You will leave with a deeper connection to your own essence, a clearer sense of what is asking to emerge in your life, and a more embodied relationship with your feminine strength.

Together we’ll explore Qigong, Yin Yoga, meridian stretching, embodied acupressure, storytelling, and ritual to tend the feminine energy within us and cultivate practices that nourish rather than deplete.

Throughout the retreat, we’ll journey with the stories and teachings of Kuan Yin, exploring compassion, receptivity, listening, and the many ways these qualities can be embodied. Her presence will offer a thread through our practices and an invitation to consider where we might soften, where we need stronger boundaries, and what we are ready to release.

Our time together is designed to give you space away from the demands of daily life to practice, reflect, rest, and gather in community. You’ll leave with practices you can bring home with you and a deeper connection to your own rhythms, energy, and feminine strength.

The Location: Uvita, Costa Rica

This is not simply a villa; it is a temple of nature, beauty, and luxury, created with the intention of offering deep nourishment to the soul.

Modern multi-level house with outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, outdoor seating areas, glass railings, surrounded by lush green trees.

Perched high on the emerald mountainside above Uvita, with uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean and the famous Whale’s Tail, lies Casa de las Diosas & Hecate — a sanctuary designed for rest, renewal, and awakening.

 

From the moment you arrive, you are enveloped in the magic of Costa Rica

The sounds of the jungle, the colors of the ocean, and the warmth of the sun weave together to welcome you into a space where time slows down. Every corner of Casa de las Diosas invites you to exhale — from the infinity pool that stretches toward the horizon, to the floating jacuzzi where you can soak beneath the stars.

The villa’s architecture seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living.

Expansive terraces open to the sea breeze, adorned with a king-size hanging bed for dreamy afternoons, a grand outdoor dining table for shared meals, and cozy lounge areas where toucans and macaws fly past in flashes of color. Even the most private spaces carry the imprint of this natural abundance.

Each bedroom offers sweeping ocean views, private balconies, and elegant ensuite bathrooms — some with outdoor jungle showers and secluded hot tubs.

Beyond its luxurious accommodations, Casa de las Diosas has been thoughtfully designed for gatherings like Yin Rising.

Calm ocean waves at the shoreline with cloudy sky overhead.

Between sessions, you may wander to the games room, refresh in the dip pool, or linger at the beach bar as the day gives way to glowing sunsets.

A floating yoga shala, open to the ocean on all sides, becomes a temple for practice, movement, and stillness. A second outdoor yoga deck offers sunrise meditations with panoramic vistas.

Tucked below the main villa, a private casita offers an intimate retreat within a retreat — complete with its own kitchen, veranda, and bedrooms framed by jungle and sea. It’s a space for rest, privacy, or quiet contemplation, while still remaining connected to the larger group.

A Day in the Yin Rising Retreat

Imagine waking up to the soft light of dawn and the sounds of the jungle gently calling you into a new day. Each day unfolds in a nourishing rhythm designed to restore your body, mind, and spirit.

Example Day

7:00 am

Morning meditation and gentle movement session, welcoming the day with breath and presence.

8:00 am

A wholesome, organic breakfast to ground your energy and fuel your body.

9:30–11:30 am

Morning Qigong workshop

12:30 pm

A vibrant, nourishing lunch shared in community.

1:30–3:30 pm

Free time to rest by the pool, journal, or receive optional bodywork and massage sessions designed to deepen your retreat experience.

3:30–5:30 pm

Afternoon Yin practice, meditation, and creative time—a gentle unfolding into stillness and inner listening.

6:00 pm

Dinner infused with local flavors and mindful nourishment.

8:00–9:00 pm

Evening sound healing with Tish or guided meditation with Stephanie, inviting the body to integrate the day’s energy in a field of deep peace and resonance

Open-faced sandwich with tomato, avocado, cheese, lemon slice, and toppings on a white plate with flowers in the background.

*daily schedule subject to change

Each moment is crafted to help you remember your wholeness, reconnect with your natural rhythm, and return home renewed—soft, open, and deeply resourced.

You will leave with a deeper connection to your own essence, a clearer sense of what is asking to emerge in your life, and a more embodied relationship with your feminine strength.

What’s Included

  • 5 nights / 6 days luxury accommodation at our villas

  • Daily Qigong, yin, yoga, meditation & workshops.

  • All meals (plant-based, healthy, local organic).

  • Soundhealing

  • Waterfall Excursion

  • Return Airport transfer in shared shuttle

  • Community support + Retreat gift

What’s Not Included

  • Flights.

  • Travel insurance.

  • Optional extras (tips,massage, excursions, etc.).

You’ll enjoy nourishing, locally sourced, plant-forward meals prepared by our in-house chef. Meals are designed to support cleansing, grounding, and vibrant energy throughout the retreat.

Accommodation & Pricing

By registering for this retreat, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these Terms & Conditions.

Luxury Retreat in the Jungle

Tier 1: Private VIP with Ocean View and Tub - 1 spot

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Tier 2: Private King Bedroom - 3 Spots

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Tier 3: Private Queen

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Tier 4: Shared Bedroom (Queen or Twin) with either 2 or 4 beds (first come first serve)

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The Villas

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Meet Stephanie

Stephanie Nosco is a somatic educator and dedicated practitioner of Qigong, yoga, Chinese medicine, and depth psychology. Holding degrees in Religious Studies, Education, and Counselling, her work bridges emotional, energetic, and spiritual healing through embodied practice.

Based on Vancouver Island, she draws inspiration from nature, dreams, and the wisdom of the five elements. As the founder of Nosco Learning, she shares Qigong and energy-based teachings with a global community and has guided over 500 women through her signature course Yin Rising. She is also the author of Follow Your Tao, a guide to the physical and spiritual intelligence of the five primary organs in Chinese medicine

“I’ve witnessed the quiet, unstoppable power that awakens when women practice Qigong together.” – Stephanie

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Meet Tish Natashia Steenkamp

Tish Steenkamp is a sound practitioner and ceremonialist with a gift for weaving sound as a pathway to remembrance and healing. Her journey began over a decade ago when she was gifted her first set of crystal bowls—an initiation that opened her to the profound intelligence of vibration and the unseen world of resonance. Since then, her offerings have become sacred spaces of prayer, intention, and safety, where every tone is an invocation for the heart to soften and the body to return home. Through her sound journeys, Tish invites others to rest deeply, release gently, and remember the harmony that lives within all things.

“When we listen deeply, we begin to hear the quiet rhythms of nature moving through our bones — calling us into harmony of body, mind, and soul. May we honor sound as a timeless vessel for healing and restoration” – Tish

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What our guests say..

  • “I want to say again how beautiful learning our qi gong set with you was and how essential and transformative even those five days have been for me. I am very much carrying the practice into each day and allowing the space it makes in me to integrate into my life.”

    Erica Kane, MD.

  • I had never been to a Qigong retreat before but when I saw this offering it sounded so good. I was dealing with some grief and stress and doing Qi gong and meditation. A beautiful place felt like it would be just what I needed. It turned out even better than I imagined. I was held in silence and the whole program. The things I I learned on Stephanie’s retreat have become a restorative part of my daily routine. I couldn't recommend it more highly!

    Doren Day, L. Ac.


Each moment is crafted to help you remember your wholeness, reconnect with your natural rhythm, and return home renewed—soft, open, and deeply resourced.

Travel & Logistics

Please fly into the international airport Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), located in San José, Costa Rica.

 

Pricing, Payment Plans & Early Bird

Tier 1: Private VIP room with Ocean view and tub *VIP Room Price:$6,000

Price: $6,000

Early Bird: $5,850

Spaces: 1 total

Tier 2: Private King Bedroom Price: $5,750

Early Bird: $5,500

Spaces: 3 total

Tier 3: Private Queen Price: $4,750

Early Bird: $4,500

Spaces: 2 total

Tier 4: Shared Rooms Price: $3,750

Early Bird: $3,500

Spaces: 10 total

*Early Bird Deadline November 3rd, 2025
All prices in USD

Payment plan options:
A 3-part payment plan is available. Please note that the final balance must be paid in full by February 7th.

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Yin Rising is for women who are ready to put down the patterns that contribute to dis-ease, soften the constant efforting, stop carrying everything alone, and learn how to receive.

It is for those who give and give, yet rarely take the time to fill their own well.

It is for women who long to gather with other women, restore vitality to the womb space, and deepen their understanding of Qigong and women’s health.

If you feel called to join this intimate circle of women-

to not only practice Qigong, but to remember the deeper wisdom that lives within you, to listen to your inner truth, and to strengthen your capacity to live from that truth—then this retreat is for you.

While online gatherings offer beautiful opportunities to learn, there is a unique potency that arises in person—especially within circles that honour the rising feminine energy so needed in these times. It’s such a joy to connect face-to-face, to share tea and conversation, and to experience the way our practice deepens when we devote a full week to it together.

I truly hope to meet you in Costa Rica.

Please apply now, as space is limited to 16 women.

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FAQ

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Terms & Conditions

Cancellation & Refund Policy

• Up to 4 months prior to check-in: 80% of payments refunded, minus a $200 administrative fee.

• Up to 2 months prior to check-in: 40% of payments refunded, minus a $200 administrative fee.

• Within 30 days of check-in: Payments are non-refundable.

• If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your spot to another guest with prior approval from the retreat organizer.

Payment Terms

• A non-refundable deposit of $1500  is required at the time of booking to secure your spot.

• Remaining balance is due no later than December 31st, 2027 or otherwise agreed with Stephanie. 

• Your registration is not complete until payment is received and confirmed.

Assumption of Risk & Responsibility

• Participants are responsible for their own health, well-being, and travel arrangements.

• Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

• Retreat organizers are not responsible for any injuries, illnesses, accidents, or losses that may occur during travel or the retreat.

Health & Safety

• Please inform the organizers of any medical conditions, allergies, or dietary requirements upon registration.

• This retreat is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment.

• Participation in all activities is voluntary.

Travel Responsibility

• Participants are responsible for booking and covering the cost of their own flights.

• Transportation to the retreat venue will be provided only as specified in the retreat inclusions.

• Any additional nights, excursions, or travel costs are the responsibility of the participant.

Please read our liability waiver.