About NYI

“Iʼve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

– MAYA ANGELOU –

GROW - CONNECT - INSPIRE

About

The Nicaragua Yoga Institute began in the once sleepy fishing village of San Juan del Sur. A longtime magnet for surfers and sun lovers, this Nicaraguan gem became the base of operations for NYI in 2005, drawing yogis from around the world with daily studio classes in town at our Zen Yoga Studios and luxury Tree Casa resort.

Our mission is to provide access to the world’s most beloved yoga instructors and teachers in the world’s most sacred and natural settings.

We believe in more than introducing travelers to the practice of yoga in a beautiful setting. To come to Nicaragua is to discover a destination that still has that magical essence of the untouched. With huge swaths of protected natural lands, immense volcanos, massive lakes, and expansive beaches, Nicaragua brings together natureʼs abundance and outright wonder. Our vision is to foster better living, taking away the constant distraction of modernized living to reconnect you to nature, inspiring healthy everyday living through mindful connection. In a world where the more connected one is, the more disconnected we feel, we strive for better.

Make friends for life.

Vanessa Pattison Nicaragua Yoga Institute
FOUNDER

Vanessa Pattison

Vanessa Pattison is the founder of Zen Yoga Studio which she opened in 2011 after the vision popped into her head one evening while talking to a friend. They sketched the studio on a napkin, broke ground a week later and never looked back. Beyond running Zen Yoga Studio and sister retreat business Nicaragua Yoga Institute, she still loves to get in the studio and lead a class or two a week. Vanessa is also a doula to many expats and local women who live in the San Juan del Sur area.

GIVING BACK

San Juan Del Sur Day School

NYI values education on all levels. That’s why we have partnered with our sister company, Zen Yoga to support the San Juan del Sur Day School scholarship program, opening the doors of learning to underprivileged youth in Nicaragua. Learn more about their incredible program and consider donating today!

When you practice at NYI, you support Nicaragua!

Suggested Readings

“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present”

– JIM ROHN –

FAQ

The Incredibly Long List of Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet

THE NICARAGUA YOGA INSTITUTE
Michael Greger, MD, recently wrote for NutritionFacts.org about the many benefits one can experience when eating a plant-based diet. The list is so incredibly long and well-researched, you might be convinced to give up meat altogether; however, if you’re not, you can at least learn about these many benefits and consider going veggie just one or two days a...
Travel

14 Reasons You Need a Beach Vacation

THE NICARAGUA YOGA INSTITUTE
As the winter draws to a close, many people feel like the dark nights and cold days are never going to end. In the two months after the holidays, as we get back into the swing of work and daily stressors, we dream of traveling somewhere warm for a little well-deserved relaxation time. Turns out,...