Nosara’s Blue Zones

It seems like Costa Rica makes headlines everywhere you look these days: CNN’s top 11 places to go in 2014, NY Times lists Nosara in their TOP 45 Places to Go article, National Geographic’s Top 20 Surf Town includes Nosara, and on and on. In 2004, population researcher Dan Buettner teamed up with National Geographic and the world’s leading longevity experts to identify pockets around the world where people lived longer and better. He named these areas “Blue Zones”. In these Blue Zones he found healthy, active, and thriving communities, inhabited by an inordinately large concentration of people enjoying life in their 90’s and 100’s. He visited these areas to study the lifestyles, community, diets, etc. in an effort to distill the essence of each Blue Zone and share his findings with the world. Buettner discovered Blue Zones in Japan, Greece, Sardina, and more recently the Nicoya region, which includes Nosara!

  

Everyone who comes to Safari Surf seems to get swept up in the vibrant energy that defines Nosara. The inviting warm ocean, blazing sun, good food, yoga, amazing surfing, and Pura Vida vibe serve to put the spirit in a happy place. Now to be informed we are encompassed in a Blue Zone – well it all starts to make sense! Spending a week surfing in Nosara is good therapy for the body, mind, and soul. I am convinced that the youthful population of Nosara’s local surf population will yield many future nonagenarians. The defining characteristics of Blues Zones vary from place to place but generally include diet, exercise, lower stress, family, community involvement, worship, and even taking sun! In Nosara surfing can be added to that list. I once heard the ocean referred to as Big Blue. Better add salt water to the list!

  

My dad and I watched a ‘60 Minutes’ broadcast that featured a California doctor’s recent research and report on an active senior community developed in the 70’s called Leisure World. The doctor looked into old files and records of the original residents. She then went to check up on them, see if they were still ticking, and indeed found that many were still actively enjoying life. My dad lives in a ‘senior’ community in Florida, originally set up for retirees from all branches of the military. I find this to be a very cool place – everyone waves, helps each other, swims, walks, plays golf, square dances, and gathers at the community clubhouse. I attended a weekly dominoes game of 90 somethings and was immediately recruited as a player. It was fun, fast-paced and competitive, and required quick thinking. I was amazed at their sharp minds, wit, and math skills. The 60 Minutes broadcast stated that the largest growing segment of population in the U.S. was that of 90 years olds and higher, who are living longer and better. And from what I have seen in Nosara and Florida, I believe this to be 100% true.

  

[L to R: Instructor Pio’s folks in Nosara; Dad’s Florida dominoes team; Delightful Sue heads home.]

BLUE ZONE HEADQUARTERS

As I see it, Safari Surf School is a Blue Zone Destination. We all want to get more years out of our life and more life out of our years. A Safari vacation will put you in touch with those things we lose touch with in our busy lives. When is the last time you sat around a dinner table for three hours with new found friends and even your own kids?! Surfing together and immersion in Nosara’s abundant tropical pleasures will do you (and us) a world of good. See you soon and Pura Vida!

 

“IN LIFE, BALANCE IS EVERYTHING”

Hey Gang, it’s May 5, Cinco de Mayo! I am in Florida visiting my very cool 94 year old dad and prowling around my old stomping grounds in Melbourne Beach.  So today all the Mexican restaurants and bars here are jammed with people drinking margaritas at 10am and all I wanna do is go to the beach. I did manage a morning surf yesterday and that felt good. I ran into my old pal Hunter “Indo Man” Joslin, the creator of the Indo Board Balance Trainer. We use this ingenious device at Safari Surf School and man it really works. My dad and I paid a visit to Hunter at his office/warehouse facility and had a blast. True to form Hunter had my dad ‘Log’ on an Indo Board grooving! In terms of surf training, the Indo Board is a great tool. We have one in constant use at Safari, it just kind of draws you to it, enticing you to get on. I thought a little profile of Hunter and his inspired product would make an informative and useful blog!

 

INDOBOARD PRACTICE AT SAFARI HOUSE

 

Hunter Joslin hatched his balance board idea 40 years ago as a young swimmer/surfer in Palm Beach Florida. He placed a basic wood platform on a roller and voila! He loved the sensation, it was fun but it also provided serious exercise and a balance challenge that would entertain him and his friends for hours. Then life took over and Hunter became involved in numerous surf industry ventures; owning and operating  a bikini company, importing & selling merchandize from Bali, announcing professional surfing and skateboarding events, and co-owning a surf-trip travel agency called Surf Express. Hunter hired me at Surf Express and our #1 surf trip destination was Costa Rica. It was here that I began my love affair with Costa Rica, and over my 10 year stint at Surf Express I became very well acquainted with this magical little country. Hunter ended up selling his share of the travel agency and launched full-on into developing the Indo Board Balance Trainer.

“INDO MAN” HUNTER JOSLIN AT FLORIDA HQ

 

PL: Great to see you mate! So things are hopping in Indo-World?

Hunter: Yes business has been good. We have been spreading Indomania across the globe!

 

PL: Great to hear. So what does the Indo Board do?

Hunter: The Indo Board is a fun and very effective balance trainer. The simple act of balancing the deck atop the roller engages your core and stabilizer muscles by challenging the rider with “instability” which must navigated. In scientific speak it’s called ‘Proprioception’: The ability to sense stimuli arising within the body regarding position, motion, and equilibrium.

 

PL: What are the key elements in balance training pertinent to surfing?

Hunter: A centered, “planted” stance is the key. Knees should be slightly bent, back straight, arms at your sides. If you can remember these basic elements, your surfing will improve. I see many students struggling with bending/leaning over – “butt-out-itis” – or throwing their hands up in the air which throws you off balance. If you always remember to return to the core stance you will progress. The Indo Board greatly helps with this!

 

PL: Outside of surfing, where has the Indo Board found audiences?

Hunter: Any sport or movement activity can benefit from Indo Boarding. We are working with Pro golfers, PE teachers, dance instructors, personal trainers, skiers, runners, swimmers, martial arts; the list is ever-expanding. Our latest product is the Indo YOGA board which has become very popular.

PL: As you know, Nosara has developed into a major yoga destination so this is very welcome news.

Proper Posture for Balance Training (from indoboard.com)
A centered and balanced posture on the Indo Board is achieved by

PL: The Indo Board comes not only with the roller, but a mouth inflated cushion. What does the cushion do?

Hunter: The IndoFLO cushion offers the user a less intimidating balance training experience. Unlike the roller, the cushion stays in one place and you can’t be thrown off. This is ideal for rehabilitation exercises and for older folks who want to take it slowly. Now, let’s get your dad on it!

My Dad – 94 years young – getting’ INDO it!

 

PL: Well to us it’s always been about surfing! Thanks Hunter and Pura Vida!

We’ll have you come down and do some training sessions when the Olas Verdes opens next year.

Hunter: See you in Nosara

 

Indo Man in Indo

FLORIDA!

 

Introducing Safari Manager: Jeffrey Noguera

One of the great things about living here is getting to know the local people. I find it very easy to make friends here as everyone you encounter seems upbeat, cheerful, and exuberantly social. My all-time favorite Tico and closest friend is Jeffrey Noguera. Jeffrey migrated here from the big city (San Jose) and decided to make Nosara his home. He began working at Casa Tucan as a waiter, and eventually got coerced into management by Tyler and Tim. He has learned the hotel/restaurant/surf school business from the ground floor up, but also hit the books on nights and weekends, graduating with a college degree in business management. Jeffrey really came into his own after Casa Tucan was sold and we moved into the transitional ‘Safari House’. He became the resident manager of Safari Surf School and really found his niche. I have enjoyed every moment working with this outstanding gentleman, and will always treasure our friendship.

PL: When did you get here?

Jeffrey: I moved from San Jose in 2009. My dad lived here and I visited him and got to check out Nosara. I had just come from a hectic city life where I mainly played   soccer professionally. Man it was so beautiful and laid back, everyone was smiling, carrying surfboards, girls in bikinis………. I told myself this is where I belong!

PL: When did you start working?

Jeffrey: Soon after I came here I got a job at Casa Tucan as a waiter. Tyler and Tim were Co-owners and Safari Surf School was located there. As time went on I got pulled into hotel and restaurant management responsibilities and I liked it. I had also started business management classes at the University of Costa Rica campus in Nicoya.

 

  

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS – AT CASA TUCAN

PL: Were you a surfer at that time?

Jeffrey: No, my sports background was in soccer. I played professionally for the National Team in Alajuela. But the guys got me out on the beach and in the water, and ahhh it was great!

 

LIFES A BEACH – JEFFREY’S A NATURAL!

PL: You recently graduated from college?

Jeffrey: Yes I graduated from a 4 year business management program. Now I am a “Licensia”, kind of the same thing as Bachelors degree. It was a very good program. I learned a lot about business law and finances, things I use every day here at work.

LICENSIA JEFFREY NOGUERA & MOM

PL: How do you like your new role at Safari House?

Jeffrey: Everything is very different from Casa Tucan. Now we do not have a public restaurant and hotel to manage. I like it because we can give our full attention to the surf school guests. I am much more involved with the surf lessons and do all the scheduling, which can get pretty complicated when we are busy. I also live here so am pretty much always on the job.

PL: And you are the resident PING PONG CHAMPION!

Jeffrey: Yeah man I even won a bottle of tequila at one of our tournaments!

  

  

        

  

GRANDE FUN AT SAFARI HOUSE!

PL: You have worked hard and saving money. Now you have a blue MacBook, a blue iPhone, and now a new blue car! Dude you are living the dream.

Jeffrey: Yeah man, I like blue!

PL: How do you feel about the opening of Olas Verdes?

Jeffrey: It is going to be really special. The location is very private and close to the beach. For sure it will be the #1 hotel in Nosara. I am very proud to be here!

OLAS VERDES – OPENING IN 2015!