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8th Annual
2010 Pain Management in Paradise
Erik Dalton. Ph.D.
San Jose, Costa Rica at the Pura Vida Resort and Spa
May 1 - May 8, 2010Set in a tropical paradise hidden in the hills of Costa Rica,renowned Educator, Author Erik Dalton P.hD. conducts a lively,entertaining and informative certification (26CE) workshop. Special video animation, anatomy dissection and hands-on demos stimulate the visual learner, while relaxed practice sessions delight kinesthetically-attuned therapists. |
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Where is the Seminar held?
- San Jose, Costa Rica at the Pura Vida Resort & Spa
When is the Seminar
- May 1 - May 8, 2010 (Saturday through Saturday)
What are the hours of the seminar?TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Saturday: Participants usually arrive on the afternoon of Saturday,May 1, 2010. Dinner is served from 6:30 to 8pm. Erik will give a one-hour welcoming presentation from 8 to 10pm.
Sunday: 9 to 10am is morning orientation. This welcoming ceremony by the gracious Pura Vida staff will answer all your questions about their lush resort including available adventure excursions, spa treatments, eating times, free yoga and nutritional classes, etc.
Classes will be held Sunday afternoon 2 to 6pm
Monday: Morning is open for excursions, relaxing by the pool, hot tubbing, massages, etc.
Classes run from 2-6pm.
Tuesday: Classes run from 9am to 12 and 2 to 5pm with evening free.
Wednesday: Full day off for adventure excursions, shopping or just relaxing at the beautiful spa .
Thursday: Classes run from 9 to 12 and 2 to 5pm… evening free for Salsa lessons provided by the staff or excursions into San Jose to dance, etc.
Friday: Friday morning is open for excursions, relaxing by the pool, hot tubbing, massages, etc.
Classes run from 3-7pm
Saturday: No classes...participants depart Saturday May 8, 2009. Checkout time is 11 am. Note: Some participants choose to arrive a day early or stay a day longer. Pura Vida will charge a daily room rate and must be notified in advance.
Note: Class schedules are flexible. We want you to enjoy an unforgettable Costa Rican vacation as well as an incredible learning experience.
Travel:
Do I need a Passport?
Citizens of the U.S. and Canada may enter Costa Rica with a valid passport. Please note that Costa Rican law requires your passport be valid for at least 90 days after the date you enter the country. This means that if your passport will expire within the next 90 days, you must renew it before your trip. Check with your airline or travel agent for more information. You are required to carry your passport with you at all times. If you are stopped by officials, a photocopy with your photo, passport number and entry stamp will usually suffice and is recommended.
Do I need shots?
No shots or vaccinations are needed for visits to Costa Rica.
What airport do I fly into?
When booking flights to Costa Rica, you will want to come to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose (SJO). Airlines with regularly scheduled flights into this airport are American, Continental, Delta, United, Taca, Copa, MartinAir, and Iberia.
How do I get from the airport to the resort?
Pura Vida enrollment includes airport pickup and drop off. After disembarking, you will go through Immigration (Imigración). After proceeding through Immigration, you will see someone holding a sign saying "Pura Vida Villas" and your last name. This person will give you a VIP sticker to put on your clothing. This sticker will facilitate your progress through the rest of the airport. Next you will go to the baggage claim area and get your luggage.From here proceed to Customs (Aduana) where your bags may be checked. Once through Customs, you will exit the airport building. Look for our driver who will be holding a sign saying "Pura Vida" and your last name. From the airport it is only about a 20-minute drive to Pura Vida.
You will need to phone Michael at Custom Massage Care Inc. / Takemyregistration.com office at 1-800-766-1942 with your flight arrival information no later than 10 days prior to your departure to guarantee a pickup. He will need: airline, flight #, departure city, and time of arrival.
How much is the Airport Departure Tax?
When departing Costa Rica, you will need $26 non-residency departure tax. Cash, Visa or MasterCard is accepted.
What type of currency is accepted?
Pura Vida accepts U.S. Dollars, Colones (the Costa Rican currency) and traveler's checks. It is not necessary to exchange Dollars for Colones before you arrive in Costa Rica as almost all stores, restaurants, tour companies, etc. will accept Dollars. If you need to obtain Colones, you can exchange small amounts at Pura Vida or you can go to any local bank.
Is there an ATM?
Pura Vida does not have an ATM on the property but there are numerous ones available in the nearby town of Alajuela.
Attire:
What type of clothing should I wear?
Hat, bathing suit, shorts, sweater/sweatshirt for cool evenings, rainwear - poncho is best.
What kind of shoes do you recommend I wear?
Walking or hiking boots, sneakers and sandals with straps.
For white-water rafting you need shorts and waterproof sandals
or shoes that you do not mind getting wet and that will not
come off in the water (those with Velcro or strap fastenings
are fine).
What else do I need to bring with me?
Flashlight, Alarm clock, Sunscreen, Beach towel, Back pack, Insect Repellant, Toiletries, Hair dryer (optional).
MASSAGE TABLES WILL BE PROVIDED…do not bring a table!!!!
Continuing Education Units (26 CE’s)
Is there a written test during or upon completing the seminar?
No test is given during or at the end of the seminar.
Do I receive Continuing Education Units (CE’s) for this seminar?
Yes, 26 CE’s, approved by:
- The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education provider under Category A.
- The State of Florida and most other state certifying agencies.
Can I apply some of the 26 CE’s from this seminar to my next renewal period?
- The NCBTMB will allow you to carry 12 CE’s over to the next renewal period.
- The State of Florida Board of Massage Therapy does not allow this option.
Food / Cuisine:
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes, the water at Pura Vida is safe to drink from every faucet on the property. We filter our water on the premises with both a 1-micron filter and a UV filter. Countrywide, water quality standards in Costa Rica are generally quite high and visitors normally do not have any problems.
What meals are included in my tuition?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your tuition. For the kitchen staff at Pura Vida, delicious, wholesome and nutritious cuisine is a number one priority. Pura Vida is famous for its great buffet cuisine.
Our guests, both vegetarian and those who enjoy fish or chicken, return to us not only for our world-class yoga and outstanding spa treatments, but very much for our delicious healthy cuisine. It's an exquisite marriage between the inspirations of many international chefs. We are committed to serving you a huge variety of freshly prepared delicious recipes with exotic ingredients from the tropics and many home made chutneys, freshly baked cookies, granolas and other surprises.
Breakfast: For breakfast we serve only freshly squeezed juices, a huge variety of fresh fruit, yogurt, German bread, home made granola and a variety of hearty dishes like made-to-order omelets, tamales, home made tortillas, whole grain pancakes and more.
Lunch: Our lunches are famous for the huge selection of delicious gourmet salads, soups and main dishes, fresh juices and . . . a surprise every day!
Dinner: Dinners are a feast of international cuisine, piquant flavors and aromas from many different countries along with a freshly made dessert every evening.
The best Costa Rican coffee and exotic tropical fruits are available in our restaurant all day long at no additional cost. Our 'Buena Vista' cappuccino and smoothie bar will serve you the best coffee drinks and fruit smoothies for a small charge.
This menu contains delicious low-fat cuisine, prepared fresh every day at Pura Vida. Specific items vary each week depending on the availability of ingredients and the creative inspiration of our chefs. If you have a specific food preference or sensitivity, please let us know prior to and upon your arrival.
Telephone / Computer:
Can I use my cell phone?
It has been our experience that cell phones brought from outside the country do not work here in Costa Rica. You can place international calls by purchasing a calling card available at Pura Vida front desk.
Can I use my laptop?
You are welcome to bring your laptop with you but we do not offer a phone line for connecting to the internet. For a nominal fee you can use Pura Vida’s Internet system to send and receive e-mails.
Where is the nearest internet café?
There are a number of internet cafés in the nearby town of Alajuela. This is about a 15-minute ride away by taxi.
Taxi / Car Rental in Costa Rica:
How do I get into town?
The easiest way to get to town is by taxi. We can usually have a taxi for you in 15 minutes or less. The cost to downtown Alajuela is about $5 per taxi. There is also a public bus route that picks up near Pura Vida and goes to downtown Alajuela once per hour. The cost is less than 50 cents per person.
How much is a cab?
Taxicab rates depend, of course, on the distance you want to travel. Taxis in Costa Rica charge by the trip, not per person. So, sharing taxis can really cut down on the cost. Generally taxis can accommodate up to 4 people. A trip to downtown Alajuela is about $5 each way, to the airport is $10 each way, to downtown San José is around $20 each way.
Can I rent a car?
Yes, it is easy to rent a car if you wish. You can either arrange it with the major car rental companies before you come or we can help arrange it once you are here. There are several companies that will drop off your rental car to you here at Pura Vida. You will need a valid driver's license, passport and credit card.
Climate:
What is the temperature?
The ambient temperature at Pura Vida is about ideal. We get the warmth of the tropics combined with the mountain freshness of being at almost 5,000 ft. elevation. Thus, none of our rooms or facilities has air conditioning or heating. The year round temperature is 70 to 80 degrees during the day with mild nights.
Are there a lot of bugs?
No, we don't have a lot of bugs at Pura Vida. Being in the tropics,
there is a lot of insect life in general in Costa Rica. However, our
elevation keeps this issue at a minimum and our guests find it
remarkably bug-free here.
Does Costa Rica have Malaria?
Malaria is all but non-existent in Costa Rica and is isolated to certain lowland areas. The vast majority of travelers to Costa Rica should have no concern about contracting this disease.
Registration & Tuition:
How soon should I register?
To guarantee your place in Pain Management in Paradise sign-up as soon as possible since registrations are limited and accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Payment is required to secure your registration.
What forms of payment do you accept?
All payments must be in the form of US funds. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover & American Express . Checks and money orders made payable to Custom Massage Care Inc..
What is the tuition?
Total Tuition for a Tentalow is ($1,419.00 double occupancy & $1,633.50 single occupancy) (accommodation upgrades available). As a courtesy to our students we have offered the below payment schedule. After February 1st tuition is due in full at time of registration. (Non-Participants - $1,149.50)
Payment Due Dates Amount
Upon registration. . . . . . . . . . . . $500.00
By February 1, 2010 . . . . . . . . . $419.00
Total Tuition (minus upgrades . . ) $1,419.00
How do I register?
Call Toll Free 800-766-1942
(Mon - Fri. 9am - 9pm EST)
Custom Massage Care, Inc.
Cancellation & Payment policies:
Deposits are non refundable . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000.00 upon registration
Up to November 1st, 2009: . . . . . . . . . . . . Full Refund
December 1st- February 1st, 2010 . . . . . 70% Refund
Final payment due by Feb. 2nd
February 1st – April 1, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . 30% Refund
Upgrades by April 1st, 2010
After April 1st, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NO REFUNDS!!!
Accommodations:
What type of accommodations is included in my tuition?
A luxury Tentalow is included in your tuition. The Tentalows combine the adventure and feel of the outdoors with the amenities of a room. These 12 ' x 12 ' x 12 ' luxury tents have carpeted floors, very comfortable beds (the same as in our other accommodations), electricity, space for your clothes and plenty of fresh mountain air. The shared bathrooms are set in lush gardens, are very attractive, and are conveniently located nearby.
1 King or 2 Twins.
Rooms going fast... |
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| Tentalows . . . . . . . . . . | SOLD OUT! |
| Standards . . . . . . . . . . | SOLD OUT! |
| Deluxes | 3 left |
| Super Deluxes . . . . . . | 5 left |
| Suites . . . . . . . | SOLD OUT! |
Are there beds in the tentalows?
Yes, all the tentalows can be arranged with two single beds or one king size bed. The mattresses are very comfortable and are the same as we use in our other accommodations.
What are the shared bathrooms like?
In the tentalow area there are two sets of bathrooms. Each set has two showers and two toilets. The shared bathrooms are set in lush gardens, are very attractive and are conveniently nearby. The bathrooms for the standard rooms are also shared. There are two toilets and showers here, too. These bathrooms are quite lovely, have ceramic tile floors and are mere steps from the standard rooms.
How far are the shared bathrooms?
In the tentalow area the bathrooms are between 10 and 40 meters away depending on which tent you are in. The standard room bathrooms are only a few meters from the rooms. How many people share the shared bathrooms? The maximum amount of people sharing the 4 chalet tent bathrooms would be 24. For the standard rooms the maximum would be 8 people for 2 bathrooms.
Do men and woman use the same bathroom?
Yes, the shared bathrooms are all unisex. Of course, each toilet and shower stall is individual with locking doors.
Do your rooms have locks?
All our rooms, except for the tentalows, have doors that lock. We have a very secure property and have no problem with theft from guest rooms. Additionally, we have a safe in our office in which you can store your valuables like cash, credit cards, passports, etc.
Are there refrigerators in the rooms?
Except for the Pagoda, none of our accommodations are equipped with refrigerators.
Do you have heat and air conditioning?
The ambient temperature at Pura Vida is about ideal. We get the warmth of the tropics combined with the mountain freshness of being at almost 5,000 ft. elevation. Thus, none of our rooms or facilities has air conditioning or heating. The year round temperature is 70 to 80 degrees during the day with mild nights.
Can I upgrade my accommodations?
Yes, the following upgrades are available for an additional fee:
Standard - The Standard Rooms are simple, comfortable, colorful and cozy surrounded by lush gardens. They can be arranged with two single beds or one king size bed. They have ceramic tile floors, coffee makers and a space to hang clothes. The four standard rooms are set in our lovely gardens and have shared bathrooms only a few steps away. They come equipped with coffee makers, 1 King or 2 Twins. ($1,507.00 double occupancy & $1,782.00 single occupancy) (Non-Participants - $1,220.00).
Deluxe - Our deluxe accommodations are the A-Frames and Vistas. They each have a private balcony with stunning views, their own baths, balcony and coffee maker. 1 King or 2 Twins. ($1655.50 double occupancy & $2,007.50 single occupancy) (Non-Participants - $1,353.00).
Super Deluxe - All our Super Deluxe accommodations have breathtaking views of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. The Villa is the ideal family accommodation. It has one queen-size and two single beds along with a living area, private bath, coffee bar and its own balcony. Our other super deluxe rooms are the Kivas and Tri-levels. These accommodations have plenty of space and comfort, offering a living area, private bath, balcony, and a coffee bar. 1 King or 2 Twins. ($1,765.50 double occupancy & $2,227.50 single occupancy) (Non-Participants - $1,452.00).
SUITES:
SOLD OUT - Zendo - A wraparound balcony and huge picture windows allow magnificent views all the time. It comes equipped with a king-size bed and coffee maker. In addition to all this, the Zendo has an outdoor shower which makes it a most special place to stay.
SOLD OUT - Master Suite - Wake up in a king-size bed with an incredible vista and luxuriate in your own Jacuzzi hot tub. The Master Suite also features a coffee maker, walk-in closet, balcony and a living area.
SOLD OUT - Pagoda - In a class of its own -- The Pagoda is your own private "home" with sunken living room, wonderful views, kingsize bed, Jacuzzi bathtub, mini-fridge, outdoor deck, and even a private enclosed "Bali style" outdoor shower.
It is very popular with honeymooners. Unique and luxurious, the Pagoda is an experience in itself, offering memories that will last long after you've departed.