From Corporate Cubicle to Sacred Land: My Journey to Becoming Costa Rica's Retreat Coach
Jun 23, 2025
Article by Robin Sabine:
Sometimes the most profound transformations begin with the simplest childhood memories—and a willingness to listen when the universe calls.
The Seeds of Connection
As a child, I discovered something magical: when I stepped into nature, time simply ceased to exist. My best days were spent exploring the woods behind my house with my childhood friend Jerry, pretending we were great explorers discovering new worlds. Little did I know these weren't just games—they were glimpses of my true calling.
They say if you find something that makes time disappear, that's your passion. Nature has always been mine.
The Corporate Awakening
Fast forward to my early corporate career in Chicago. During those frigid winters, I'd count down the days until summer, when I could spend my lunch breaks on the landscaped fields of Abbott Laboratories. Even in that manicured corporate setting, I found myself communing with Nature.
It was during those quiet moments that Mother Earth first spoke to me clearly: "This predictable path you're on isn't where your soul belongs."
But I wasn't ready to listen. Not yet. I still carried the programming that success meant climbing the corporate ladder, becoming "somebody" in the traditional sense. It took several more years of that persistent inner voice before I finally got the message—and the courage to act on it.
The Leap of Faith
When the call became too strong to ignore, I made a decision to move to Costa Rica.
Landing a job in tourism felt like coming home. Suddenly, that explorer child was alive again, traveling throughout this incredible country, scouting the best hotels, beaches, and trails. But my secret passion lay in discovering those hidden gems—the places that existed off every tourist map.
I now call these Sacred Sites, because that's exactly what they are: places rich with energies, frequencies, and codes that activate cellular memory, shifting our ways of being and expanding consciousness beyond our current limitations. This land is potent—you better believe it.
The Dark Night of the Soul
But life had deeper lessons in store. When my father—my hero, the person I most adored—was diagnosed with cancer, my world shattered. Nothing was the same after that. When he passed, my mother followed just two years later.
Losing both parents was devastating, yet somewhere in that pain, I knew there was deeper meaning. A knowing arose from within: "I had to lose everything I had to gain everything I ever wanted."
Apparently, I hadn't lost enough yet. The universe had more to teach me.
I got divorced. Then, just two weeks before COVID changed the world, I quit my job. Talk about radical transformation.
The Land Chooses You
During this period of complete upheaval, I found myself purchasing a beautiful piece of land in the mountains of Costa Rica's Central Valley with a friend. We had big plans, but as I like to say, the land had plans for us.
Everything we tried fell flat. Finally, I surrendered completely and allowed her to hold me.
What followed was perhaps the most profound year of my life. I spent it in solitude with the land—no social media, minimal social interaction, just me and Mother Earth. For two months, I dedicated 6-8 hours daily to simply lying on the earth, allowing her to take me through an initiation and deep healing.
Sometimes I'd feel waves of nausea, and she would settle me. Other times I'd slip into trance-like states, simply allowing her embrace. Occasionally, I'd receive simple yet profound messages that gave me deeper understanding of what was at work and why.
During this time, my relationship with the land transformed in ways I'd never experienced. She loved me—I felt it, knew it, and she knew I knew it. My heart opened to her.
The Birth of Elevate Joy Retreats
When I eventually returned to the world, I found work at a beautiful retreat venue in Costa Rica. It perfectly combined my love of travel with wellness and transformation—essential elements after losing both parents and embarking on my own spiritual ascension.
But I quickly recognized what was missing from most retreat experiences: genuine, deep connection and communion with Nature. Hosts and guests were treating Costa Rica as merely a pretty backdrop for their content and photos. I saw a much greater opportunity—true partnership with the Land herself.
This is where Elevate Joy Retreats was born.
My Mission as Your Costa Rica Retreat Coach
Having developed such a deep, intimate relationship with this sacred land, I now serve as a bridge between retreat hosts and the living essence of Costa Rica. I'm attuned on a profound level to her essence, which allows me to guide and facilitate greater capacity for retreat hosts to connect and partner with her.
What makes me different as your Costa Rica Retreat Coach:
- Deep Land Relationship: I don't just know Costa Rica's logistics—I commune with her spirit
- Extensive Tourism Background: Years of professional scouting across the country
- Sacred Site Knowledge: Access to hidden gems that most will never find
- Transformation Experience: I've walked the path of profound personal change this land offers
- Energetic Attunement: I can sense and work with the subtle frequencies of different locations
Creating Retreat Experiences That Transform
My retreats aren't just about beautiful locations and good food (though we have both). They're about creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and seekers to partner with the living essence of this sacred land.
When you work with me, you're not just getting a retreat coach—you're getting someone who can facilitate genuine communion between you and the profound energies of Costa Rica. I help create experiences where transformation isn't just possible, it's inevitable.
Your Invitation to Sacred Partnership
If you're an entrepreneur or facilitator called to host transformational experiences, I invite you to discover what true partnership with the land can create. Whether you're planning your first retreat or your fiftieth, Costa Rica has gifts waiting for you and your guests that go far beyond the postcard-perfect scenery.
This land chose me, initiated me, and transformed me. Now, I'm here to bridge that same profound connection for you and those you serve.
Stop struggling with retreat planning alone. When you work with me, you're not just booking a location – you're accessing years of deep relationship with Costa Rica's sacred sites, trusted local connections, and the wisdom that comes from creating soul-aligned experiences in harmony with nature's rhythms.
I'll streamline your entire process, ensuring every detail serves your vision while honoring the land's gifts. From selecting the perfect sacred site to weaving local wisdom into your program, together we'll create something truly magnetic – an experience that calls to your ideal participants and transforms everyone who attends.
Ready to step into sacred partnership and create your most powerful retreat yet?
Reach out now: [email protected] Visit: www.elevatejoyretreats.com Connect: LinkedIn Facebook
Your transformational retreat is waiting. Costa Rica is calling. Let's answer together.
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